Instead of “Encik” and “Puan”, they use “Awang” and “Dayang”, though these could also be a family name. So, I was addressed as Dayang M. I saw “Awda” in their literature and I thought it was a typo for "anda"; but no. It is the combination of Awang and Dayang. So in a sentence, it is used like this: "Awda dijemput untuk ke majlis...."
“Kami” means “Awak”. So if you are eating with your Brunei friends, and they say “kami bayar”, it means they want you to pay.
Their official baju is called MIB, or Melayu Islam Beraja.There are about 380,000 people living in the whole sultanate, out of which a third are foreign workers or expats.
Bruneians do not ride kapcai unless they are McD delivery boys, couriers or newpaper men. Most drive to work. They ride super bikes after office hours.
Cars are cheap here. Vios costs B$23K. Mercedes B$80K. B$10 petrol can fill up the gas tank.
The drivers are very polite. They readily give way and patiently wait for you if you make a wrong turn. Generally, honking is frowned upon. You risk of getting slapped on the face if you happen to honk at the “wrong” car.
Kain ela is "the" thing to bring home. They have the "latest" designs and price is very the cheap. My friends and I enjoyed shop hopping the outlets of Nazmi, Hong, KoFom and YMRM and their branches all over Bandar Seri Begawan and Gadong.
Starting salary for a graduate working with the Govt is B$2,600. He/she enjoys free medical coverage and housing. After 15 years of service, he/she can perform the Haji for free.
Every Bruneian can apply for a piece of land or “tanah kurnia”, but it cannot be sold.
Despite their good salary and many perks, Bruneians are big borrowers; they borrow money even for hari raya celebrations.
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