Commonwealth |
1 - 5 March 1999 |
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FORUM ON OPEN LEARNING |
Bandar Seri Begawan |
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Empowerment through Knowledge and Technology A Celebration of Ten Years of The Commonwealth of Learning Co-hosted by the Brunei Darussalam
Ministry of Education and |
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Located in the northwest of the island of Borneo, Brunei Darussalam is a small country governed according to Islamic values and traditions by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah. The country’s official name is Negara Brunei Darussalam ("abode of peace"). It is a member of APEC, ASEAN, BIMP-EAGA, and the Organisation of Islamic States as well as the United Nations and the Commonwealth. The population of 300,000 comprises Malay (two-thirds) and other indigenous peoples, Chinese and expatriates. Bahasa Melayu is the official language but English is widely spoken and understood.
The capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, includes the world’s largest water village, Kampung Ayer, home to more than 30,000 people. Other places of interest include the Omar Ali Saifuddin and the Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosques, Istana Nurul Iman, the Royal Regalia Building, the ancient tomb of Sultan Bolkiah, the Malay Technology Museum, the Brunei Museum, the Arts and Handicrafts Centre, the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Shopping Complex, Jerudong Park Playground (the world’s first and only free-admissions state-of-the-art theme park) and the Kuala Belalong Rain Forest.
About seventy percent of Brunei’s 5,765 square kilometres is covered by unspoiled rainforest, which is home to many varieties of flora and fauna endemic to the island of Borneo. There are numerous parks and nature reserves. Wasai Kandal offers a jungle walk only 10 Km from the capital and the more adventurous can jungle trek and go by river boat to visit longhouses.
Brunei enjoys warm, equatorial climate year-round. Daytime temperatures average 32° C and nighttime temperatures average 24° C. Humidity is high throughout the year and heavy, sudden rainfalls can occur in October-March.
Brunei is eight hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of US Pacific Standard Time.
The local currency is the Brunei dollar (B$), which is on par with Singapore dollar and roughly equivalent to 0.6 US dollar. Dollar notes are available in denominations of $1, $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, $500, $1,000 and $10,000. Coins are in 1,5,10,20 and 50 cents denominations. Most banks handle travellers cheques and currency exchange but delegates are advised to convert their Brunei currency into their own currency before leaving the country as not all banks in other countries will accept Brunei dollars. [Currency converter web site]
Options for eating out include restaurants serving Asian and Western foods (Chinese cuisine is particularly popular), kedai makan (local eateries) and hawker food.
More about the country, its history, culture, ecology and tourist attractions, are available by visiting the Brunei Darussalam web site at (http://www.brunet.bn)
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Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD)
Opened in 1985 and occupying a modern and well-resourced campus overlooking the South China Sea, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) currently provides for approximately 1,500 students including more than 5% attending as international placements. Its 250 academic staff, drawn from around the world, offer undergraduate, postgraduate, research and consultancy programmes through the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Islamic Studies, Management and Administrative Studies, Science, the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education, and the Academy of Brunei Studies.
Further information is available from the UBD web site (http://www.ubd.edu.bn)
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Airlines
International airlines serving Brunei include Royal Brunei Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Philippine Airlines, Malaysian Airline System, Cathay Pacific and Thai Airways International.
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Malaysia Airlines is the official carrier
for the Forum. Please contact your local office to obtain special fares! |
An airport departure tax of B$5 is levied for flights to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and B$12 to all other international destinations.
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Passports and visas
All visitors to Brunei Darussalam must be in possession of valid passports. Nationals of most Commonwealth countries also require visas. These can be obtained from the nearest Brunei High Commissions, Embassies or Consulates before entering Brunei.
Visas are waived for Malaysians, Singaporeans and British nationals (with the right of abode in the UK) staying for up to 30 days. For nationals of Indonesia, Thailand, The Philippines, Japan, France, Switzerland, South Korea, Canada, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Principality of Liechtenstein, Sweden, The Republic of Maldives, Denmark, Norway and New Zealand visas are waived for visits of up to 14 days. Exemptions are also provided for residents of the United States of America within a period of 90 days.
Early applications are essential for nationals of countries without Brunei diplomatic missions as they must be processed through the Immigration Department in Brunei. In such cases, delegates are requested to send copies of the personal information pages of their passports (including a full residential address, if not evident on the passport) to the Pan-Commonwealth Forum c/o Dayang Husni Haji Matusin (Mrs.), Assistant Registrar (Chancellery), Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan BE1410, Brunei Darussalam (Fax: 673-2-249-519) in order to obtain a letter from the Immigration Department authorising a "Visa on Arrival". The Immigration Department may require a passport size photograph of the applicant if the photocopy of his/her photograph in the passport is not very clear.
"Transit Pass" visas can also be issued to passengers on arrival at Brunei International Airport, providing that they do not stay for more than 72 hours and have onward flight tickets.
Delegates are advised to check these entry formalities with their travel agents as soon as possible, as travellers who need entry visas and have not obtained them in advance are likely to face severe problems on arrival and may be refused entry by Immigration officers.
Brunei Darussalam missions overseas
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Inoculations and health
Yellow fever inoculations are required for visitors from infected areas. Malaria, cholera and smallpox have been eliminated from Brunei and inoculations are not needed. Delegates should consult their doctors about the advisability of safeguards against polio, hepatitis and tetanus.
Brunei enjoys modern medical facilities but the normal health and travel insurance is recommended.
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Water and electricity
Tap water is generally safe to drink although some take the precaution of boiling it.
Electricity supply 220-240 volts AC, 50 cycles. UK-style three square-pin plugs are used so an international adapter is recommended.
Television operates on the PAL system.
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Common courtesies
Visitors should observe the codes of behaviour common in Islamic countries. Immodest, revealing clothing should be avoided. When visiting mosques, women should cover their heads, arms and knees, shoes should be removed and it is important not to pass in front of someone at prayer and not to touch the Koran.
Bruneians shake hands lightly and then bring thier own hand to the chest. It is not customary to shake hands with members of the opposite sex. Gifts, and particularly food, should only be passed with the right hand, but it is acceptable to place the left hand under the right wrist for support. Pointing should not be done with the finger but with the thumb of the right hand with the four fingers folded beneath it.
It is polite to accept even a little food and drink when offered and to touch the plate lightly with the right hand when declining anything.
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Hostel accommodation
At no additional cost, registration for the Forum entitles delegates to up to six nights’ stay in a single room in UBD’s segregated men and women students’ hostels which offer clean, basic non-air-conditioned rooms with shared washroom facilities. Daily breakfast is also included. UBD has reserved accommodation for up to 150 overseas delegates in these hostels.
Hostel reservations must be made through the Forum registration form, and is available on a "first come, first served" basis (upon submitting completed registration and fee).
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Other accommodation
Delegates who prefer accommodation other than the UBD hostels may choose to stay at their own expense in the UBD Guest House, SEAMEO Voctech International House, the ASEAN-EC Management Centre or hotels in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei Darussalam. Reservations should be made through the Forum registration form, as reservations made through UBD qualify discounted room rates, but delegates are responsible for direct payments of all charges. Early reservations are strongly recommended as accommodation is at a premium in Bandar.
UBD Guest House
Delegates may pay an additional fee of B$45 per single occupancy per night for a limited number of air-conditioned bedrooms with single bed, private bath and TV at the on-campus UBD Guest House.
ASEAN-EC Management Centre
The ASEAN-EC Management Centre offers air-conditioned, single bedrooms located in six apartments, each equipped with spacious lounge, satellite television, telephone, a dining table, cutlery, refrigerator, resting chairs as well as two separate bathrooms and multimedia room. (B$50 per person per night, B$10 per day per extra bed).
SEAMEO VOCTECH International House
The Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education (VOCTECH) International House (Jalan Pasar Baharu, Gadong 3186) is located 10 minutes from the airport, UBD and the city. VOCTECH International House offers air-conditioned accommodation with private bath and TV in a range of suites (B$120-200 per night plus 5% service charge) and twin bedrooms (B$70-90 per night plus 5% service charge). It offers a restaurant, room service, a prayer room for Muslims and free laundry and kitchen facilities.
Hotels
(new lower rates, posted June 18, 1998)
Sheraton Utama Hotel, 154 rooms/from B$198 (plus 10% service charge), Jalan Tasek, Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB)
Riverview Hotel, 126 rooms/from B$131 (plus 10% service charge), Km 1, Jalan Gadong (BSB)
Brunei Hotel, 75 rooms/from B$115 (plus 10% service charge), No 95, Jalan Pemancha (BSB)
TerraceHotel, 84 rooms/from $96 (plus 10% service charge), Jalan Tasek Lama (BSB)
The Centrepoint, 215 Rooms/ from $166 (plus 10% service charge), Jalan Gadong (BSB)
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Transportation
Metered taxis are available at the international airport and most hotels and shopping centres. "Purple B$3.00 taxis" or City Transport Services (CTS) also operate in the city, Charging B$3.00 per trip within the CTS Zone or B$4.00 per trip for pick-ups requested by telephone. There are bus services within the city and to major towns outside Bandar and water taxis are available for transport within Kampong Ayer and to other places of interest (water taxi fares are negotiable). Car and four-wheel drive rental is available at daily, weekly or monthly rates. There are 38 licensed travel agents who can arrange city, rainforest, longhouse and water village tours, golf excursions and travel to the diverse range of attractions in Sabah and Sarawak.
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