Among the Shadows of the Sultans at Brunei Darussalam

"Yes, the roof of the palace is made of 24 carat gold, pure gold!" She beamed me a wide smile, and as if that wasn't enough to shock us, she continues, "and the tip of the gates and the fences around the palace are painted with 18 carat gold."

I wanted to befriend this Sultan, whose wealth is among the world's top richest thanks to the large pool of oil deposit right beneath the country. Brunei Darussalam, a small country wedged between the two Borneo states of Malaysia, has got the bling. The Sultan's residence is the largest residential palace in the world, with 24 carat gold roof and 18 carat gold gates. The palace is only open for visitors three days in a year during the Hari Raya festival of the Muslim calendar, when the royal family greets and blesses the public, including any international visitors and provides a three day free feast at the palace grounds.

When in Brunei, you are reminded of the royal family everywhere you go. Everyone seem to have a photo of the Sultan and the Queen hung on their walls, their pictures are along the streets and sold at markets, and 'His and Her Majesties' are spoken well of among the people. There is a museum dedicated to the current Sultan (The 25^th Sultan of Brunei), displaying photos of the Sultan from school age onwards, his gold plated chariots and guard uniforms, a small replica of his palace, and gifts to the royal family from other nations of the world. The Sultan is highly spoken of in this country. Perhaps they are forced to like the royal family, or perhaps they like him for a good reason.

In Brunei, there are no income taxes; water and electricity are subsidized by the government; education is almost free; and if you happen to be a great scholar, you are sent to London to attend university all expenses paid, along with 5000 dollars a month spending money. Or it could simply be, that his name takes anyone about a week to learn, with a name like 'Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Al-Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Almarhum Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien', you probably would want to respect him too. Brunei is certainly an interesting country to visit for a few days. Besides basking in the Sultan's glory, there are beautiful mosques, serene national parks, and Kampong Ayer, the water villages to visit. Take a leisurely boat down the river and you may even spot a proboscis monkey, swinging around the tree branches, seeking for the youngest shoots for breakfast.