Three weeks on

The fasting month Ramadan is fully on its way, and as I wrote recently, it is the first one in Brunei (and in our lives) where all food outlets are closed other than for take away until the dusk. That marks iftar or Breaking Fast. Life has taken a new pace also in our household although we haven't participated in the fasting other than via the imposed no drinking in public rule. The government offices shut early, so we've witnessed long queues in the offices before midday (and then its good to start closing to be ready to leave at 1.30 as no one should really work until the end of the working day), abhorrent never-seen-before traffic jams on the motorways at 1.30 (as no one should really stay in the office until the end of the working day) and mad rushes in shops with empty shelfs (no have...). 

As it happens, the half day "rule" seems to apply to our family too. On paper this may sound amazing but in reality there is very little to do outside home comforts. No lunches out, no coffee breaks and no outings as we shouldn't be carrying water around. 

After few phone calls we've gathered that the international hotels only serve hotel guests and the 5* local hotel has decided to take the opportunity to renovate their pool area. So no swimming even, let alone drinking. in comparison to the Middle East for example there doesn't seem to be enough expats in Brunei to cater for non-Muslims even in the way of more lenient regulations. 

The "worst" time has been the two day public holiday to mark the Sultan's birthday as his celebration day marks one of the two days a year when most shops are closed. Two of the Bruneian's favourite past times, eating and shopping, have been banned - what to do! Most expats escaped over the border as whilst Malaysia is a Muslim country, too, it is much less prohibitive than ours. Phil didn't have his passport back from the immigration so we stayed put.... As many people have said before, this time around we have seen how fundamentalism has taken fun out of everything.