A Little Girl from the Abode of Peace

I have met this little beauty with her head covered with a white cloth on the North coast of the island of Borneo, in front of the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, considered one of the most impressive in the Asia Pacific.

At first glance, my eyes concentrated on big colourful flowers of her cloth similar to tropical flora of Southeast Asia and the white "hijab" preceding from Muslim traditions of this country, and representing typical clothing of women from the Sultanate. Moreover, her round face, peaceful and pleasant look transmit something more than happiness and light-heartedness of her childhood.

I would dare to say that she represents life of Brunei - the absolute monarchy, so close to the authoritarianism, and at the same time so far away from the democracy so well known to us.

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, belongs to the same dynasty which has been governing the county from the XIV century and he keeps maintaining the throne thanks to crude oil and gas resources available on his territory. Although the Sultan has been considered one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, he seems not to have forgotten about his citizens. In Bander Seri Begwan, more known as BSB, there is no poverty on the streets and nobody seems to be unfortunate. On the contrary, its inhabitants seems to be satisfied and proud of their small country with medical services, schooling and hospital care provided for all, and government subsidies for housing and food, in particular rice. Nevertheless, their happiness not only comes out of fact that Brunei's GDP per capita is the highest in Southeast Asia or that its citizens are exempted from paying income tax for individuals, but it is also related to their style of life, in particular due to their close relationship with village traditions.

Brunei seems to be like the face of this little girl - small, peaceful and happy or as the meaning of its original name Negara Brunei Darussalam - literally translated - Nation of Brunei - The Adobe of Peace.