• Visit Date: January 24 2013
• Visited Post Office: Main Post Office, Pejebat Besar Pos
• Mailing Cost: USA 0,60 BND (0,40 Eur), Europa 0,50 BND
• Postcard Availability: Gift shops, airport and General post office
• Delivery Time: 2 weeks to Germany

Brief history of Brunei Postal Services:

In 1895, the Borneo Company established the 1st Post Office. In 1906(Treaty of Friendship),the Government Post Office was built by the British Resident. Since 1984, Postal Services Department is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Communications The first stamps for Brunei are issued in 1895. Since independence on 1 January 1984, Brunei has issued stamps inscribed as “Brunei Darussalam

Sources: www.post.gov.bn Postal history, Wikipedia

Our visit to the Post Office and a little more

In January 2013, en route to Cocos and Christmas Island we carved out a few days for Brunei. Our well-traveled friends warned us, “Two nights is plenty. Nothing happens there. It’s the most boring country in the world.” Armed with books and low expectations, we booked three nights anyway, and landed in this island nation with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Brunei Darussalam (officially the Nation of Brunei, Abode of Peace) is a small but immensely wealthy Southeast Asian country located on the northern coast of Borneo, bordered by Malaysia. This wealth is fueled by its abundant oil and gas reserves. It’s an absolute monarchy, ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who also serves as head of state, prime minister, minister of defense, and minister of finance. The country’s foundation is the MIB (Melayu Islam Beraja – Malay Islamic Monarchy) philosophy, and Sharia law plays a significant role in the legal system, meaning punishments for offenses can be strict.

Even the arrival from the airport hinted at the country’s… unique pace. Near our hotel, we spotted a large crowd gathered around a small building that was on fire. The sheer number of onlookers suggested this was indeed a major event. We even joked that this might be the biggest thing happening in the entire country!

We visited the main post office, located between our hotel and Kampong Ayer, a village built on stilts on the river, right next to the capital city. While we’d come to buy stamps and postcards, it turned out to be a mini-museum in itself. Stamps and photos were displayed everywhere, both on stands and tables, showcasing the history of Bruneian postal service. Besides us, there was only one other customer present, giving us a time to browse the collection.

This was our first time visiting a village built on stilts, and Kampong Ayer stood out. Originally founded as a fishing village, it has, thanks to Brunei’s wealth, managed to maintain its traditional customs while being well-equipped with modern infrastructure. We took a taxi boat with and sailed between the houses. There were everything from shops and mosques to fire stations and schools and of course living houses. I didn’t ask about a post office in the village, though. Like all stilt villages, its lifeblood is boats, which serve as the primary mode of transportation. In contrast, the stilt village of Makoko in Lagos is known for its poverty, while Ganvie in Benin was originally founded as a refuge for escaped slaves and is located on a lake, not a river

But that wasn’t the only surprise in store for us. Unbeknownst to us when we booked the trip, we arrived right in the midst of Mawlid, the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. The city was buzzing with preparations, and we even stumbled upon a parade!

The Sultan and his entourage walked just a few feet away from us during a grand parade, and we also saw part of his famous car collection.

Being among the few tourists present, we were ushered to nice viewing spots for the parade. I got seated next to a man from Denmark who was there for three weeks on business. He’d already been there for a week and told us “You’re lucky. You’re leaving tomorrow. There’s nothing to do here. the most boring country.” And then added: “You’re lucky to have seen the parade. Otherwise, absolutely nothing happens here.”

But for us, the trip was fascinating. The main post office with its stamp exhibit, the stilt village, the night market, and the parade. Brunei proved to be far from boring, offering surprises at every turn. Who knew the “most boring country” could be so full of life?

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