Imagine living in a tiny country on a tropical island, where you don’t have to pay any taxes, you get free education and health care, and you can even get a free house. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, that’s the reality for the people of Brunei Darussalam, a Muslim sultanate on the island of Borneo. The country is rich in oil, but not much else. Most of the land is untouched by humans, except for the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan, where the Sultan lives in his lavish palaces.
The Sultan is not just a ruler, he is a legend. He is the 29th Sultan of a dynasty that goes back to the 15th century. He went to school in England, and he has 12 kids. He loves cars, and he has more than 7,000 of them, all shiny and expensive, parked in his cool garages. He is also very generous, and he shares his fortune with his people. He pays for everything they need, from surgery to university. He even gives them a cheap place to stay in London, right in the heart of the city.
My friend Stenko, who lives in Brunei, told me that the Sultan is a very good man. He said that there is no real poverty in Brunei, only relative poverty. He said that if I have a less fancy camera than him, I am poorer than him. He also said that the Sultan’s palace is open to the public for 3 days every year, and anyone can go inside. Even me, if I happen to be there. I would love to see it. Wouldn’t you?
