I somehow avoid talking about what people should pack and why. I guess it is largely because I believe that people have their own individuality and what they choose to carry would be very different depending on their personality.
With three months of living in Brunei however I began to realize that experience counts. I learned what I needed and what I didn’t overtime and maybe sharing that experience as part of a packing list for Brunei wouldn’t be that bad an idea. So bear with me while I take the plunge.
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Let’s Talk About The Climate And Clothes
Situated on the island of Borneo, Brunei is a green country and has a tropical climate. Expect it to be hot and humid as the country has a long coast. In addition to this, you never know when the next downpour will strike.
Luckily, every downpour is followed by the bright sun peeking out from behind the clouds and all too often you will spot a rainbow which certainly will make you day.
So What Does That Mean When It Comes To Clothes?
I highly recommend cotton clothes on those hot days. Chances are you won’t be caught out in the rain unless you head out to one of Brunei’s many forest reserves and parks. In that case, I would try and keep my legs covered as far as possible because well… leeches.
They come out with a vengeance after the rain. A good pair of hiking boots is also a great idea. I personally love the Columbia Women’s Dakota Drifter trail shoe because of the grip that they give me. Plus, they are airy enough that my feet don’t sweat in them.
Shawn however prefers his Nike trekking shoes. To each their own and at the end of the day, I guess it depends on which brand and style makes you the most comfortable. What I would however strongly recommend is wearing a long pair of socks and looping them over the pant legs.
This prevents the leeches from coming in contact with your skin. I however digress from the main topic at hand and have wandered away into the jungles of Borneo. Let’s get back to talking about the clothes that you should carry in Brunei.
Since Brunei Is A Muslim Country What Does It Mean For The Clothes You Wear?
Brunei has been in the news for a lot of reasons lately and by now you probably know that it is a Muslim country. When it comes to dressing I have seen people wear a lot of different types of attire from the full burkha to shorts.
The rule of thumb however is to dress decently. It also depends on where you are headed. Longer short pants may work on the beaches and people certainly do wear dresses in the cities, but the dresses usually touch the knees or lower.
If you plan on visiting a mosque then both your legs and hands need to be covered or you won’t be allowed to enter. This holds true for both men and women. Luckily many of the mosques do provide the proper attire that you can don when entering but carry a scarf just in case.
Accessories
My packing list for Brunei would not be complete without talking about the different accessories that you should consider carrying along. I usually don’t carry much but what you need to understand is that the weather is volatile. From hot and humid to torrential rain. Here are a couple of items you should consider when on the move.
A Hat
I love hats. They are the perfect accessory in my mind. Mostly easy to carry and they add a touch of colour to the face. Plus… There’s a big plus here! They keep the sun from draining the life out of you. Lol! Yeah!
If you find yourself walking in the heat in Brunei you will be glad for every bit of respite you get from the heat. A large floppy hat is just the way to go. There are so many cool designs to pick from. I definitely suggest adding one of them to your packing list for Brunei.
Sunglasses
The sun is bright and when I say bright, I mean bright. Driving during the mid-day heat can be a pain if you don’t have sunglasses with you. Shawn and I landed up keeping a pair of sunglasses in the car and one in our bags. That way we were never on the road without them
. We both love the Oakley brand and have been happy with the pairs we bought a couple of years back. No matter which type of sunglasses you choose, make sure that you add them to your packing list for Brunei.
Rainwear
You’ve probably guessed by now that rainwear is important. Luckily most of the time people in Brunei commute using a car so you don’t really need much other than an umbrella that will take you from your car to your destination.
If you are headed out into the forests then think of a light rain poncho or a jacket because umbrellas aren’t practical solutions there.
A Scarf
It wasn’t till we headed to Egypt that I realised that one of my favourite accessories when travelling to a Muslim country is a scarf. The thing is that not only does it add a flair to your outfit, it is easily potable and can be used to change your outfit into a more sombre acceptable one.
Plus, if you wrap it around your head it acts as a hat while adding colour to your face. Needless to say, I landed up picking up a lot of scarves of different colours.
My favourite is a navy blue which I pair will all my bright coloured clothes. There are however numerous varieties of scarves that you can pick from for your packing list for Brunei.
Sunscreen
The heat will eventually get to you but make sure that it doesn’t get to your skin. Pick a sunscreen that suits your skin type. I prefer the reef safe versions without chemicals but since there isn’t really much swimming or diving in Brunei, it doesn’t matter as much.
Mosquito Repellent
One would not usually think of mosquito repellent when heading to Brunei and truth be told, we did not have much of problems with them in our apartment. We did however have to deal with them on our treks.
Another place that you will find it handy is when you walk on the beaches of Brunei which are infested with sand-flies. If you think mosquitoes are nasty, they pale in comparison to the bites of these vicious little insects.
Last but not the least, if you do find any leeches on you, spray them with mosquito repellent. The alcohol content in it causes them to drop off you. That was something new that we learned when we visited Niah caves in Malaysia. We found that we never left mosquito repellent off our packing list for Brunei after the first few mishaps.
Suitcase Versus Backpack: What’s The Best Idea?
The thing about travelling to Brunei is that most people don’t come to Borneo just to visit Brunei. No… People come to visit the different national parks on the island, and these could be in Malaysia or in Indonesia.
Since they are there, they also stop in at Brunei for a day or two on their way. Another reason why someone may visit is because they’ve stopped in the airport to catch a transit flight. Yes! Brunei is under visited and sometimes even goes unnoticed.
So that means that a majority of people who head this ay would prefer to pack light. If I was wandering through Borneo, I definitely would take a backpack. It is easier to carry and keeps you so much more mobile.
Plus, unless you are using flights to cross from one spot to another (which can get very expensive!), you will probably use buses. Portability of your luggage at all the remote places that you will get down will be well appreciated when you decide your packing list for Brunei and what to pack it into.
Luckily most of the stuff that you use in Brunei is required elsewhere so you don’t have to pack extras. Shawn and I are particularly fond of our front opening backpack which allows us to access its contents without emptying the whole bag.
Think about using packing cubes. They help you organize the contents of your bag well and serve almost like portable drawers. If you are confused on how to buy them, the check out our guide to buying packing cubes where we take you through the things you need to consider.
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