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• Tourists are required to observe the local dress code and should understand that revealing clothes are considered immodest and therefore socially unacceptable.
• Bruneians shake hands by lightly touching the hands and then bringing the hand to the chest: it is customary not to shake hands with members of the opposite sex.
• You should not point with your finger, instead use the thumb of your right hand with the four fingers folded beneath it.
• When visiting a mosque, you should always remove your shoes first and you should not pass in front of a person in prayer or tough the Quran. Women should cover their heads and not have their knees or arms exposed.
• Gifts and particularly food should only be passed with the right hand, although it acceptable to use the left hand under the right wrist for support.
• It is polite to accept even just a little food and drink when offered. When refusing anything offered, it is polite to touch the plate lightly with the right hand.
• During the Islamic fasting month, Ramadhan, Muslims do not take food from sunrise to sundown. It would be inconsiderable to eat and drink in their presence during this period.

Borneo is a large island in Southeast Asia. It is in fact the third largest island in the world, behind Greenland and New Guinea. The southern two-thirds of Borneo is controlled by Indonesia, and the northern one third by Malaysia, as can be seen in the map on this page. The Indonesian portion is called Kalimantan, which is further divided into four Indonesian provinces. The Malaysian portion is divided into two, the provinces of Sarawak and Sabah. In addition, the tiny oil-rich state of Brunei is wedged between the Malaysian provinces of Sarawak and Sabah. Approximately 16 million people live on the island of Borneo. About 2 million live in Sarawak, another 2 million in Sabah, 300,000 in Brunei, and the rest in Kalimantan. The island's population is quite low, compared to most surrounding areas. For instance, the island of Java, directly to the south of Borneo, has over 130 million people, yet it has only 1/5th the size of

This poor soil, plus its frequently hilly terrain and the fierce headhunter reputation of its inhabitants, ensured that the island remained underdeveloped compared to some nearby islands and countries. Many large rivers flow from the central mountains of Borneo into the sea, but few rivers are navigable more than about 100 miles upriver from the sea. Because of this, and the difficulty of building roads through the jungle, the interior of Borneo developed a mystique as one of the most mysterious and exotic places on Earth. The name Borneo sounds like an impossibly far off place to many, like Timbuktu or Tibet. For thousands of years, this image was fairly close to the truth. People have been living on Borneo for at least 35,000 years, and life changed little over the centuries. Most people lived in harmony with nature, maintaining a steady population over the years. Most lived nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyles, travelling over vast areas in search of wild boar and other products of the forest

Around three thousand years ago, traders from other lands increasingly frequented Borneo, connecting the island to a larger trading network that extended to China, India, and beyond. Locals collected exotic products like bird's nests and sandalwood, and traded them, but otherwise life went on as before. Approximately 500 years ago, outside influences started to increase along the island's coasts. Islam arrived, and a number of Muslim kingdoms were established at the edges of the island. The largest of these was Brunei, which controlled most of the northern coast. The name Borneo is in fact a corruption of the name Brunei (try pronouncing Brunei, but add an "o" at the end). The first Westerners also arrived at this time, and over the next few centuries slowly wrested control away from local rulers. The British came to control most of the northern coast, and the Dutch the south. Nevertheless, the impacts of Islam, Western colonization and Christianity failed to spread very far upriver.

The interior of Borneo remained a mystery to geographers until well into the 1900's. Although the British and Dutch developed a firm hold on the coasts in the 1800's, they generally maintained a hands off policy, being daunted by the jungle and its hardships. After a brutal occupation by the Japanese in World War II, independence came to Kalimantan when Indonesia became independent in 1953. Sarawak and Sabah broke free from the British and joined the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. Tiny Brunei finally became independent in 1984.

The British and Dutch had started some resource exploitation before they left, most notably drilling for oil on the north and west coasts. But it wasn't until the 1960's that the pace of exploitation quickened, and the island started to drastically change. Industrial logging was a huge factor opening up the island's interior. Remote people in the interior living basically a Stone Age existance suddenly came face to face with modernity, and the impact has generally not been good for them or for the plants and animals of the island. At least 30% of the island is completely deforested. There are places in Kalimantan where one cannot see a single tree from horizon to horizon, when that land had once been covered by trees hundreds of feet tall.

Some change is inevitable, but modernization does not need to completely destroy all the cultures, people and wildlife it comes in contact with. The Borneo Project was founded in 1991 with the vision of helping the indigenous population of Borneo help themselves, in meeting and adjusting to the forces of the modern world on their own terms.

Bruneians are predominantly Malay, and customs, beliefs and pastimes are very similar to those of Peninsular Malaysia. Adat, or customary law, governs many of the country's ceremonies; there is even a government department responsible for preserving ceremony and advising on protocol, dress and heraldry. Brunei is a fairly strict Muslim country and a Ministry of Religious Affairs fosters and promotes Islam. The constitution does, however, allow for other religions to be practised.

The official language is Malay, but English is widely spoken. Jawi, Malay written in Arabic script, is taught in schools, and most signs in the country are written both in Jawi and Roman script. During the height of the Brunei sultanates, brass and silver artisans produced finely designed brass gongs, cannons and household vessels. They were often embossed with designs of serpents and animals or verses from the Koran. Many crafts failed to survive the decline of the sultanate, but silverwork and weaving are two traditional crafts that have been preserved.

Brunei's culture mainly derived from the Old Malay World, which encompassed the Malay Archipelago and from this stemmed what is known as the Malay Civilisation. Based on historical facts, various cultural elements and foreign civilisations had a hand in influencing the culture of this country. Thus, the influence of culture can be traced to four dominating periods of animism, Hinduism, Islam and the West. However, it was Islam that managed to wound its roots deeply into the culture of Brunei hence it became a way of life and adopted as the state's ideology and philosophy.

Brunei Darussalam is richly endowed with cultural heritage steadfastly maintained until today. The setting up of the Arts and Handicraft Centre in 1975 is a living testimony as to the preservation and the proliferation of the arts and crafts of the bygone days which Brunei was renown for such as boat making, silver-smithing, bronze tooling, cloth weaving as well as mat and basket weaving. Relics and other various artistic heritage of Brunei Darussalam besides the ones mentioned above include Malay weaponry, wood carvings, traditional games, traditional musical instruments, 'silat' (the traditional art of self defence) and decorative items for women. Some of these are kept in the Brunei Museum and the Malay Technology Museum; not only for the world to see but most importantly for today's generation to admire and be proud of, for future generation to emulate, perhaps and something to remind us of our forefather's natural skill, creativity and innovativeness which over generations has been ingrained as one of the richest traditional culture in the Malay world.

The life of the average Bruneian revolves around his religion, Islam, with certain things being forbidden (haram), certain things tolerated but not encouraged (makruh) and certain things which fall under the embrace of Islam (halal). Pork, the consumption of alcohol, eating meat not slaughtered under Islamic guidance, casual touching, adultery, and coming into contact with the wet nose or hair of a dog are baram. Smoking and eating shellfish are considered makruh. Bruneians shake hands by only lightly touching hands and then bringing the hand back to the chest; it is not customary to shake hands with members of the opposite sex. You should not point your finger, instead use the thumb of your right hand with the four fingers folded beneath it.

To call a taxi or attract someone's attention, wave the whole hand with the palm facing down wards. Do not smack the fist of your right hand into your left palm, because it has a different meaning in Brunei to that of Western countries. When visiting a mosque, you should always remove your shoes first and you should not pass in front of a person at prayer or touch the Koran. Women should cover their heads and not have their knees or arms exposed. Gifts and particularly food should only be passed with the right hand, although it is acceptable to use the left hand under the right wrist for support.

Some historians claimed that Islam came to Brunei Darussalam as early as the 7th century but the modern scholars place the spread of Islam to Brunei Darussalam around the 13th century. In the context of Brunei Darussalam the so-called "Malay Culture" had its base in pre-Islamic animistic and Indic culture. Islam then gradually refined and cleansed the animistic and Indic elements; thus the "Malay culture" is now more identifiable with Islam. Not only Islam transformed the social perception and outlook towards belief and approach to life, moreover the cultural manifestation that contradict the Islamic ethos have been phased out. In short, Islam transformed the culture of pre-Islamic Brunei, both philosophically and practically.

Most importantly, it introduced "tauhid", a belief in monotheism, that Allah is the one and only God. In material terms, Islam introduced important architectural features such as the mosque "surau" and "balai ibadat". Other culturally enriching additions include the use of Jawi script, religious texts, manuscript and, in particular, Hukurn Kanun Brunei Laws). Islam provides an ideology that offered a system of ethics and worldview Brunei Darussalam, known as the "Abode of Peace" is proud of its strong Islamic tradition. His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzadin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan, Bnmei Darussalam is head of the faith in the country and is responsible for upholding and promoting Islam and the Islamic way of life.

Islam is the core-element in the nation's philosophy. Thus, when Brunei Darussalam resumed its full independence and sovereignty in 1984, His Majesty the Sultan highlighted the concept of Malay Muslim Monarchy. In many ways, His Majesty the Sultan continued to emphasize his commitment to the national. policy of Malay Muslin Monarchy. In one of his "Titah" (speeches), lie noted that "Brunei will strictly adhere to the Malay Muslim Monarchy concept without resorting to fruitless political culture. Futile politics will only lead to chaos and destruction." In line with the national policy, the Ministry of Religious Affairs was set up which worked towards implementing the teaching values and laws of Islam in Brunei Darussalam.

According to the records Muslim converts grew in number consistently while other infrastructures such as the building of mosques, religious schools and other religious institutions added the nation's commitment to progress alongside with the Islamic principles. Another milestone in the national development programmes to consolidate the concept of Malay Muslim Monarchy was the creation of two important Islamic financial institutions such as the Islamic Bank of Brunei (IBB) formerly known as the International Bank of Brunei and the Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB).

The kingdom of Brunei is undoubtedly an ancient one, and the history of her early existence can be pieced together by using Chinese, Javanese and local Brunei records. The first ruler, Sultan Muhammad Shah, known as Awang Alak Betatar, is said to be responsible for introducing Islam to Brunei. Low's version of the "Salasilah" mentions that "the first who held the sovereignty in the city of Brunei, and who introduced the Mohammaden religion and observed the institutions of the Prophet Mohammad, on whom be peace, was the Paduka Seri Sultan Brunei". The second ruler was Sultan Ahmad. The third Sultan was an Arab, and a descendant of the Prophet Mohammad. He was called Sultan Sharif Ali, also known as Sultan Berkat, and he married the daughter of Sultan Ahmad. He consolidated the Islamic faith. Succeeding Sultan SharifAli was Sultan Sulaiman, who in turn was succeeded by the most renowned of all rulers in Brunei's early history, Sultan Bolkiah, the fifth ruler. It was probably during the time of Sultan Bolkiah that Brunei began to expand into an empire.

Brunei's golden age centred round two remarkable rulers, Sultan Bolkiah' and Sultan Hassan. Under their rule, the Royal Court developed a splendour and ritual on par with that anywhere in the world, and the territorial and religious influence of the country reached its peak. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate and in 1906, the British Residential System was introduced. Brunei was granted internal self-government, which revoked the 1906 Agreement, when the Sultan promulgated the new Constitution on 29 September 1959. From then on, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien, the 28th ruler of Brunei Darussalam, was able to work out plans for the future development of Brunei Darussalam, based on the guidelines provided in the Constitution.

In 1967, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah was made the 29th ruler of Brunei Darussalam. The most historic and significant event during his reign was the signing of an Agreement in 1979, which led Brunei to achieving independence in 1984. The Sultan himself declared Negara Brunei Darussalam ("Brunei the Abode of peace") as a sovereign, democratic and independent Malay Muslim Monarchy (Melavu Islam Beraja) which would be administered according to Islamic teachings.