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Quiz about Your Vacation to Brunei
Quiz about Your Vacation to Brunei

Your Vacation to Brunei Trivia Quiz


So you want to go to Brunei, huh? Or did the Funtrivia Bus Ride just take you there? Either way, come on in to learn the ins and outs of this tiny Southeast Asian sultanate!

A multiple-choice quiz by adams627. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
adams627
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
345,310
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Easy
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
6842
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: federererer (10/10), patrickk (10/10), JAM6430 (10/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. You can fly to Brunei via Royal Brunei Airlines, which will carry you to Berakas, just north of the nation's capital at Bandar Seri Begawan. Yes, the nation has its own state-owned airline, even though it makes up just 1% of the island which it shares with Malaysia and Indonesia. Which island, the third-largest in the world, is that? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Brunei is neither a tourist haven nor a particularly crowded country. In fact, the nation's population of around 400,000 puts it penultimate in a list of Asian countries by population. Which Asian country, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, has a smaller population than Brunei? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The Istana Nurul Iman, the Sultan's royal home in Bandar Seri Begawan, often makes visitors to Brunei gasp with awe. In fact, the building located on the Brunei River has won which of the following Guinness World Records? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Brunei's Royal Regalia Museum is perhaps the strongest testament to Brunei's wealth, a showering of precious metals devoted to the Sultan and to the royalty. In fact, the country itself has the fourth-largest per capita GDP in the world. To which natural resource can the small country's extreme wealth most directly be attributed? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. You certainly wouldn't want to miss one of the most notable tourist attractions of Brunei, an architectural wonder named for Omar Ali Saifuddin. The building has a dome made of pure gold, and an elevator in the minaret gives a panoramic view of the city. What type of structure is this masterpiece? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. If you're more in the mood for an eco-tour, take a boat ride down the Brunei River and stop in Brunei Bay. Inside the mangrove trees, if you're lucky, you'll glimpse a primate that is endemic only to Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. Which funny-looking animal species, named for its distinctive nose, can you see in Brunei? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. While staying in Bandar Seri Begawan, make sure that you visit the area of Kampong Ayer, or the Water Village. Around 30,000 people live in this area, getting from place to place using overwater bridges or water taxis. Unsurprisingly, after which European city is Kampong Ayer often nicknamed? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Driving from the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan to the city of Bangar is certainly possible, but it might be more difficult than it originally seemed. It's not that far: only about 28 kilometers. Which of the following would you have needed in the past to keep handy, though, on the drive? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Your visit to Brunei wouldn't be complete without an excursion to Ulu Temburong National Park, or to other similar areas in the country. Ulu Temburong protects which of these natural features, which make up about 70% of Brunei's land area? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. The cuisine of Brunei is especially diverse, and you will eat well during your stay in the country. Be careful, though, since there's one consumable that you won't be able to encounter no matter how hard you try. For religious reasons, which of these options is not publicly served in Brunei? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. You can fly to Brunei via Royal Brunei Airlines, which will carry you to Berakas, just north of the nation's capital at Bandar Seri Begawan. Yes, the nation has its own state-owned airline, even though it makes up just 1% of the island which it shares with Malaysia and Indonesia. Which island, the third-largest in the world, is that?

Answer: Borneo

Brunei is, interestingly enough, the only country located entirely on the huge island of Borneo. Malaysia only has the states of Sarawak and Sabah located on the island, while Indonesia is spread out among several islands like Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi. The tiny sultanate makes up just 1% of the land area of Borneo, which is only smaller than Greenland and New Guinea among non-continental landmasses.

Brunei is located at the tip-top northern corner of the island and is somewhat completely surrounded by Malaysia to the south and the South China Sea to the north. The southwestern islands of the Philippines are closer to Brunei than is, say, Thailand. The coastline is just 161 kilometers (100 miles), and its highest point at Bukit Pagon is 1850 meters above sea level (this is about average, as countries go).
2. Brunei is neither a tourist haven nor a particularly crowded country. In fact, the nation's population of around 400,000 puts it penultimate in a list of Asian countries by population. Which Asian country, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, has a smaller population than Brunei?

Answer: Maldives

Brunei's population of around 400,000 is only slightly more than the Maldives, a country of atolls located southwest of India, and less than places like Macau, East Timor, or Bhutan. Brunei is also tiny in land area. The nation is fifth-to-last in Asia in that regard, occupying just over 2200 square miles (about 5770 square kilometers).

The majority of the Bruneian population lives in or around the nation's capital of Bandar Seri Begawan- the urban metropolis houses around 275,000 people. The nation is divided into four districts, and the capital is located in Brunei and Muara, which is located in the far north, bordering on the South China Sea. Most of the populace speaks a form of Malay, but English and Chinese are frequently used in the nation as well.
3. The Istana Nurul Iman, the Sultan's royal home in Bandar Seri Begawan, often makes visitors to Brunei gasp with awe. In fact, the building located on the Brunei River has won which of the following Guinness World Records?

Answer: World's Largest Palace

It's no secret that Brunei's sultan is fabulously wealthy-he is widely considered to be one of the wealthiest men in the world, and his assets are valued at around $20.0 billion. However, the country itself isn't too poor, so it's not the wealth gap that's shocking. Rather, the sheer size of the palace is astounding, ranking in at over two million square feet (200,000 square meters). That's larger than Beijing's entire Forbidden City, and nearly three times as large as the Palace at Versailles! When the palace was built, it was the largest residential home in the world.

Housing more than 1700 rooms, including a dining room for 5000 and a huge mosque, the palace also suits the sultan's quirky affections. His 200 polo ponies have a huge air-conditioned stable of their own. There are five swimming pools, eighteen elevators, and 257 bathrooms. Did I mention the car collection? The sultan keeps nearly 2000 cars handy in the palace, including 20 Lamborghinis and 165 Rolls-Royces. Not only massive, the landmark is elegant, too. The designer of the palace's interior also worked on the famed Burj-al-Arab in Dubai. Unfortunately, tourists aren't allowed inside, but seeing the grounds from the outside is astounding enough.
4. Brunei's Royal Regalia Museum is perhaps the strongest testament to Brunei's wealth, a showering of precious metals devoted to the Sultan and to the royalty. In fact, the country itself has the fourth-largest per capita GDP in the world. To which natural resource can the small country's extreme wealth most directly be attributed?

Answer: Oil

Oil and natural gas are responsible for the sultan's excesses: the tiny country produces the fourth-most liquefied natural gas in the world, and it can also produce 180,000 barrels of oil every day. The oil industry is run by Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP), which is half-owned by the government and half by Royal Dutch/Shell. In fact, the government's provisions of healthcare and subsidies for food and housing have been ridiculed by some as "Shellcare," because the company plays such a large role in the Bruneian economy.

Oil production is so prominent, in fact, that the per capita GDP was eighth in the world in 2010. Brunei is generally listed as a developed country, although its economy is so little diversified. Although deepwater reserves may be tapped if necessary, one wonders what will happen to this wealthy nation when oil reserves are depleted around 2015.
5. You certainly wouldn't want to miss one of the most notable tourist attractions of Brunei, an architectural wonder named for Omar Ali Saifuddin. The building has a dome made of pure gold, and an elevator in the minaret gives a panoramic view of the city. What type of structure is this masterpiece?

Answer: Mosque

Islam has had a major historical presence in Brunei, first brought by Muslim traders to the region around the 1400s. The sultanate emerged around 1450, and quickly grew to be a maritime power in Southeast Asia. Under the rule of Bolkiah, the fifth sultan, the empire grew to include much of present-day Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Of course, when European Christians flooded into the area and sought converts to Catholicism, the sultanate wasn't pleased, and fought several wars with Portugal and Spain in protest. Although Brunei fought back the invaders, its dominance was weakened, allowing the British to come in and occupy the territory. Refusing to join in independence with Malaysia in 1963, Brunei regained its independence from the UK in 1984.

In the early 21st century, Islam still dominates. About 2/3 of the population is Muslim, with sizable numbers of Buddhists and Christians too. Much of the capital city's famous architecture is built around two central mosques. The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, with a golden dome, is the more famous, with its blend of Italian Renaissance and traditional Mughal designs. The interior of the mosque is incredibly ornate, although photography is of course not allowed. The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque is one of the tallest buildings in the capital, and its top provides an excellent view of Bandar Seri Begawan. The other mosque is the Jame Asr' Hassanil Bolkiah, which was named after the longtime ruler of Brunei. This elegant structure has four towering minarets and a gold dome, and is the tallest mosque in the country. Allegedly, at the mosque's opening, the sultan gave every attendee of the celebration a prayer rug embroidered with gold.
6. If you're more in the mood for an eco-tour, take a boat ride down the Brunei River and stop in Brunei Bay. Inside the mangrove trees, if you're lucky, you'll glimpse a primate that is endemic only to Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. Which funny-looking animal species, named for its distinctive nose, can you see in Brunei?

Answer: Proboscis monkey

The proboscis monkey, also known as the Bekantan in its native countries, is on the endangered species list. Native only to the island of Borneo, the primate is best-known for its extremely prominent nose, which appears somewhat like a dwarf from "Snow White." (At least to me, anyway!) The omnivorous monkeys live in social groups of one adult male and several females and children.

The major habitat of the monkey is in Kalimantan (the region of Indonesia on Borneo), but it is found in Brunei Bay as well, particularly on the island of Pulau Selirong.

The mangrove island teems with other wildlife as well.
7. While staying in Bandar Seri Begawan, make sure that you visit the area of Kampong Ayer, or the Water Village. Around 30,000 people live in this area, getting from place to place using overwater bridges or water taxis. Unsurprisingly, after which European city is Kampong Ayer often nicknamed?

Answer: Venice

Venice has nothing on Kampong Ayer, a region of the capital built almost entirely on wooden stilts and connected by bridges. Bandar Seri Begawan is situated on the Brunei River, which connects via the Brunei Bay to the South China Sea. Where the river passes directly through the city, the so-called Water Village inhabitants make their lives, often using water taxis rather than cars for quick transportation. About 10% of Brunei's population, 39,000 people, live in Kampong Ayer.

In 1521, when Ferdinand Magellan's crew was circumnavigating the world, crewmate Antonio Pigafetta called the area the "Venice of the East." Since then, the label has been applied to various locales, including Bangkok, Thailand; Jakarta, Indonesia; Basra, Iraq; Osaka, Japan; and Srinagar, India.
8. Driving from the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan to the city of Bangar is certainly possible, but it might be more difficult than it originally seemed. It's not that far: only about 28 kilometers. Which of the following would you have needed in the past to keep handy, though, on the drive?

Answer: A passport-- the two cities are separated by Malaysian territory

The Malaysian state of Sarawak lies directly south of Brunei, separating the three western districts from the easternmost, Temburong. The capital district and Temburong are easily accessible via water, but to drive, you'd have to pass through Malaysian territory first (a bridge was constructed in 2020 so this drive could be avoided).

This situation is what geographers call a "practical exclave." An exclave is the situation in which a country has non-contiguous territory separated from it by another country. A practical exclave is one in which water or a narrow strip of land separates the two areas, which are directly connected by another nation.
9. Your visit to Brunei wouldn't be complete without an excursion to Ulu Temburong National Park, or to other similar areas in the country. Ulu Temburong protects which of these natural features, which make up about 70% of Brunei's land area?

Answer: Rainforest

Brunei's government has taken great strides to protect the nation's rainforests, which are better-preserved than many other countries'. Forest reserves guard 32,000 hectares, while national parks have 50,000 allocated acres of land. Among these, the most famous is Ulu Temburong, located in the district of Temburong, home to hundreds of rare flora and fauna.

The park is accessible only by sea but offers tremendous views of the wildlife living in the dense forest. A canopy walkway, as well as kilometers of bridges over the forest, allows fantastic aerial views. Rare butterflies, snakes, frogs, lizards, and birds inhabit the area. One species you won't find at Ulu Temburong, though, is the orangutan; if you're a monkey person, your best bet for primates is the native gibbon.
10. The cuisine of Brunei is especially diverse, and you will eat well during your stay in the country. Be careful, though, since there's one consumable that you won't be able to encounter no matter how hard you try. For religious reasons, which of these options is not publicly served in Brunei?

Answer: Alcohol

To throw a dampener on your trip to Brunei, it's worth a reminder that the nation has very strict laws, reminiscent of Singapore, to which the sultanate is often compared. Public consumption or sale of alcohol is illegal, in a nation where Islam is so prominent. Other infractions carry extremely serious punishments. Drug trafficking carries a mandatory death penalty sentence. Other crimes might carry sentences of caning or prison, and apply equally to foreigners as residents. The media is state-sponsored, and Freedom House classifies Brunei as "Not Free" on its rating of civil liberties of the world inhabitants. Insults directed toward the royal family could get you in a lot of trouble.

Other negatives: high prices, especially for lodging, and a fairly hot climate (Brunei is only slightly north of the Equator). Just remember, if you do go to Brunei, play it safe and be careful!
Source: Author adams627

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor spanishliz before going online.
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