Kg. Ayer
Brunei's very own Kampung Ayer, a water village, known as the Venice of the East, is one of the most unique thing about Brunei. It is located at the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. Most tourists come to Brunei Darussalam as they are fascinated by these traditional and historic houses built on stilts over the water, spanning the greater part of the Brunei River.
Brief Information
About 30000 people live there and you can access Kampong Ayer by water taxis or wooden bridges from Bandar Seri Begawan. The government has provided various modern facilities for the residents, such as schools, clinics, police station and mosques. A visit to Brunei would not be complete without a trip to the this unique and intriguing place.
Brief History
The history of Kampung Ayer is stated in the early Chinese records in about 518 AD. It was known as Poli during that time. It was then known as Puni in 1370 AD. History suggested that the name Brunei came into being when the founders found the capital and declared it as 'Baru nah', literally translated into 'now we found it', which eventually became Brunei.
It is believed that Kampung Ayer existed as early as during the reign of Sultan Muhammad Shah (1363 - 1402). Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian traveller described Kampung Ayer as a water village made up of about 25, 000 households with a palace built in the middle. It was a major port for barter trading. However, after the loss of Brunei's huge empire, the wealth of Brunei declined, and in 184, Brunei had an approximate population of 15, 000.
posted by C.
