Brunei Local Wisdom

 Many Bruneians have local traditional outdoor activities. It can categorize as hobby, but for some people it can be money sources. So I will tell you some of it which I have been tried here.

1.       Fishing and netting

Fishing night with cats, inframe Yayang (siamese cat)

People looking for fish not only at river, but also at sea. They take effort to drive from house to see with their own boat. Go to the stream and find the fish habitat on the sea off shore. Some of them more like to take the fish around beach with net. I saw mostly group of people or family did it, cause you need partner to handle the net. Here a lot of shop for fishing stuff, it sell all about fishing hobby and the shop owner usually know it well since they love it.

Why people like fishing? For me it’s so boring and exhausted waiting something uncertain, but for some people it give relax and leisure find free haul in the nature. And for your information, the price of fish and sea food is very expensive. So you can earn good money from it.

2.       Melukan/ looking for clamp

I tried to looking for clamp by myself in the first time and get guided by my friend. So how to find clamp? Find the habitat, it should near water kind like pond or beach. Bring your knife and basket as tools. Make a line on the ground with around 5 cm apart each. If you hear or feel something hard inside, it’s not stone. It’s the clamp!

Original version of clamp from nature

Clamp after get cleaned

3.       Looking for vegetable and fruit in the forest

-          Kambayau, It’s like peanut but in big size and juicy taste. You can enjoy it after it get boiled and mix with little sugar

The original Kambayau 

Kambayau after get procceced

-          Kalasan fruit, bigger size of rambutan. A bit taste less but so delicious and fresh in mouth

Inside of Kalasan 

-          Tapai, is fermented rice coated with leaves. Usually I find it from cassava in Indonesia. But here only white rice

Tapai beras, ready to eat

-          Membangan fruit, big version of mango

Membangan fruit in rape condition

-          Ulam, it’s kind like local version of salad. So some of raw vegetable mix with soury spicy sauce or sambal limau. Ulam can consist of one or more vegetable. But the most I like is ulam raja, it’s so delicious to enjoy with salted dried fish.

Ulam raja as side dishes on Ambuyat serving in Aminah Arif Restaurant

4.       Going to waterfall

Going to nature hiking around hills is very popular now. Everyone try to exercise while pandemic yet fun because they go with group of friends. We can find waterfall in the hills, and you allowed to swim or gathering there. Some people just take picture, but mostly people can miss the fresh water of waterfall. Yeah I can guarantee that it so fun dear! Clean and cold water, some little fish and shrimp, you find all in the same time

Wasai Kadir in Labi Jungle

enjoying waterfall dayout

5.       Barbeque

Making barbeque for special occasion is a must for many people here, the make the fire by their self. Choosing the menu: chicken, fish, sausage, shrimp, etc. Make the sambal or barbeque sauce, with rice. Don’t you think only women that good at cooking. Many men can manage barbeque party very well. So as a lady, we can sit and have chit chat while waiting it ready. Gathering family or friends called berlepak (in Bruneian language) is favorite activity, sharing their thought and tell about life lesson. We can enjoy the moment with some drink kind lemon tea, soda, or coffee. As a surprise, most local people like dangdut and karaoke. But since it’s forbidden here, so they take as private activity at home with nearest colleague.

Chicken butt barbeque (Tongkeng)

There are more of various good local things out of I talk about, maybe I will update later after try it. Thanks for read my blog :)