To Kampong Ayer, a photo from Brunei and Muara, West

Photographer's Note

‘Bandar Seri Begawan - To Kampong Ayer’

Kampong Ayer means ‘Water Village’.
This large settlement of houses on stilts is a part of Brunei’s capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.

In general, travel guides don't pay too much attention to such villages, but I think they are very special.
Previously I have shown pictures of a smaller village on stilts on Labuan Island in East Malaysia and yes, in Kampong Ayer in Brunei, again I found it so pleasant to wander around on the wooden walkways that connect the houses.

More than 1.000 years ago, people in Brunei lived already in such dwellings.
A century ago, half of Brunei’s Malay population lived in Kampong Ayer.
Some houses are in very bad shape. After all, they brave monsoon storms year after year.
However, there are also new and decent homes. It is important to know that not everyone in Kampong Ayer is poor and lives in the water village out of necessity. Many Bruneians prefer living on the water to living on dry land.

Kampong Ayer consists of two large parts.
One part can be reached via a new bridge over the river. My picture here was taken at the end of that bridge. That part of the village continues to the right behind the nearest building in this photo.
The largest part at the other side of the Brunei River can be reached by boat (or via a very long detour over land and the bridge you see in the distance). Transfer boats are sufficient and not expensive. Waiting booths to cross can be found at various places.

The town of Bandar Seri Begawan and the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque are behind me.

holmertz, pierrefonds, Fis2, pajaran, ikeharel, Royaldevon, jean113, lucasgalodoido, ChrisJ, mcmtanyel, COSTANTINO, macjake, adramad ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (102008) 2021-07-04 11:02

Hello Paul,
Three good photo from this fascinating part of BSB, more interesting than the modern mainland city, as far as I remember and what Google photos seem to confirm. For the main photo you waited patiently for the two ladies to reach a suitable point of the bridge. For WS #1 you found a nicer frame than the one provided by the tourism authorities, and WS #2 gives un an interesting closer view of the village. What's in the pipeline beside the bridge? Fresh water? Gas? My strongest memory of this area is that these bridges seemed very rickety and unsafe, but maybe they have been restored and strengthened by now. So much else has been improved.
Best regards,
Gert

lousat (138623) 2021-07-04 11:11

Hi Paul,I remember the other village of stilt houses that you showed some time ago, curiously the name is very similar even if we are in different countries. 3 beautiful photos as always, the long runway is captured perfectly. it is a pity that the tour guides do not take this very particular neighborhood into consideration. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

Silvio1953 (220637) 2021-07-04 11:14

Ciao Paul, great view of original pedestrian bridge, fine details, excellent clarity, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

pierrefonds (113610) 2021-07-04 12:03

Bonsoir Paul,

La passerelle envoie mon regard au loin ce qui donne de la profondeur à la composition. La prise de vue permet d evoir les détails de ce village sur pilotis. La qualité de la lumière embellit les couleurs de l'image. Bonne soirée.

Pierre

Fis2 (169759) 2021-07-04 12:07

Witaj Paul!
A very interesting view, bridge makes impression.
Good framing and colors.
The women add flavor to this photograph.
Well done.
Good evening.
Krzysztof

ChrisJ (171252) 2021-07-04 14:49

Hallo Paul

It's good that they have used the pedestrian bridge to support & partly hide the blue pipeline, which would look very out of place on its own. Good to catch a couple of people coming towards us. Reminds me of Penang out near Batu Ferringhi for some reason. Tfs!

pajaran (114945) 2021-07-04 21:27

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled i trenutak, dobar tekst ...
Lepo selo na vodi, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom, perspektivom i uhvacenim trenutkom.
Lepa arhitektura na obali, zleno drvece i oblaci koji dolaze.
Dobar rad sa lepim fotografijama u radionici.

Zelim vam sve najbolje.
Paja

ikeharel (112467) 2021-07-04 22:02

People actualy living on water stilts houses there, Paul, walk daily upon the wooden narrow bridge and water supply use it as well.
View across has good clarity, and you well allocated the picrure space.
Have a nice new week,
Ike

ifege (46985) 2021-07-04 22:06

Hi Paul
Local villages are always interesting. Your composition with the great leading line of the walkway is an interesting one. I'll be looking forward to some more detail next time.
cheers
Ian

jemaflor (146312) 2021-07-04 23:19

Salut Paul,
Bien cadré depuis ce POV, intéressante vue de cette région, bon effet pour la composition avec ces deux personnes et la perspective donnée par ce passage en bois.

Tue (91604) 2021-07-05 0:35

Hallo Paul,
De compositie is mooi in balans, vooral dankzij de houten loopbrug die naar de huizen aan de rechterkant loopt. De groene heuvels en de grote brug vormen een mooie achtergrond. Het zonlicht en de kleuren zijn heel aangenaam.
Lars

Royaldevon (85606) 2021-07-05 2:29

Hello Paul,

I really enjoy perusing your photographs!
You have so many good ones to share; any of the shots you have posted today would have been good enough for a main post! I particularly like how the arch of the waiting booth is framing the mosque.
Your photographs have excellent guide lines and your notes are invaluable to understand what we are seeing.

I was fascinated to learn that many people prefer to build their new houses on the water than on land. Maybe there is something in the DNA after living for so many centuries on the water!

Have a good week,
Bev :-)

mkamionka (73410) 2021-07-05 3:38

Hi Paul,
very interesting series of photos showing a less popular aspect of Brunei. Yes, the guidebooks are sometimes biased. I remember the guidebooks to Poland are often short. For example a guidebook to Ireland a country which is several times smaller, is twice as thick. In Poland, a place to be touristically advertised for international tourists -it must be a UNESCO world heritage site or something like that. In Ireland every little stone or ruin is mentioned in the guidebook. In the guidebook to the UK as well many areas are just not mentioned at all, because they are traditionally not considered attractive. Hence I keep discovering my neighbourhood by the word of mouth sometimes rather than guidebooks.
Anyway, good composition with the wooden bridge. This area contrasts so much with the rich photos of the mosque.
Great reportage,
M

jean113 (27639) 2021-07-05 7:46

Hello Paul, three interesting views from Kampong Ayer.
Its history is fascinating, and the fact that some villagers prefer to live on the water rather than dry land!
The presence of the two women is useful as a guide to scale as well as creating a focal point.
The very modern bridge in the background is in sharp contrast with the wooden buildings and walkway.
Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards, Jean.

kasianowak (17672) 2021-07-05 14:13

Hi Paul
Fascinating reportage from this water village. It may not be something tour guides promote but it's truly interesting all the same.
Love your graphic composition in the three images and here the two ladies add something extra special.
Best wishes
Kasia

lucasgalodoido (27698) 2021-07-06 5:36

Olá Paul,
interessante registro dessa localidade, gostei desse caminho sobre a água e a maneira como enquadrou a cena. Belo trabalho.
Parabéns e Abraço,
Lucas

mcmtanyel (67681) 2021-07-11 21:06

Hello Paul,
Indeed, a very interesting village that needs to be visited before it becomes a tourist trap.
Regards,
MT

COSTANTINO (115563) 2021-07-11 22:21

Hello dear friend
thanks for the sharing
and thanks for your
explanation that Kempong aYER
MEANS water Village.....
but why travel guides dont pay
too much attention to such
villages????/
its a great pity indeed....
thanks for your useful notes
regards
Costatino

macjake (98262) 2021-07-14 22:31

Hi Paul
reading your note, its always interesting to hear what local guides believe tourists should see or not see. Often, its the opposite of what we want! interesting too, to hear you say alot of locals prefer to live on the water than dry land. So different from our cultures. I would love to see the inner city shots, of modern buildings, sky scrapers etc....just to compare. these have been very educational for me. great posts
cheers
Craig

adramad (72564) 2021-07-16 12:40

Hello Paul.
This panoramic view of the river and the houses of the "Pueblo del Agua" is formidable, these wooden walkways seem to offer a beautiful experience through the houses.
Good perspective of the image, very pleasing to the eye.
Very good composition, magnificent presentation.
Have a good weekend.
Warm greetings.
Luis.

jmdias (114296) 2021-09-12 2:44

paul

excellent view of the local daily life and architecture with the modern bridge ahead. we can see as the water goes there in this blue pipe.

take care

jorge