Hi, guys.
It was a couple years ago, but I've never written about it. I went to Brunei in 2012. I still remember clearly about the days. That was the year I played in India. I went back to Japan once right after the season out there, and I booked a flight to knock about Southeast asia for the first time to find a team I could play for. I visited few countries, then I landed in Brunei.
To be honest, I was a bit freaked out when I got to immigration checks as I had no knowledge about the country but the entry visa. But nothing happened, I could just go through uneventfully. I grabbed a taxi just outside of the airport, and asked him to take me to the cheapest inn. Of course, I got ripped off by the taxi driver as always in Southeast asia. Lol You better brace yourself for it when you travel in those countries.
Finally, I started looking for teams in Brunei with a glimmer of hope. I found out that the domestic pro-league still exists and has been run every year that starts from December. I was in July, though...
Anyway, I felt that the country was so safe and rich with full of everlasting resources such as natural gas and oil. The country is a kingdom. So there is a king, who introduce the absolute monarchy to rule it. To be surprised, They had been conquered by Japan right up until we surrendered at Second World War in 1945. Moreover, There are no tax on every single item to be purchased, no charge for education and medical care.
And the big mosque called new mosque symbolizes it. It was erected by the king in an outrageous cost, which was 5 billion US dollars came out of his pocket. CRAZY!!!
だいぶ前ですが、ブルネイという国に行った話をしてなかったので少し。
２０１２年にインドでのシーズンが終わり、アジアを放浪してたときに行った場所。当時は国内リーグ戦はやっていたものの、外国人枠が撤廃された後だったのでプレーできませんでしたが、ここでやれたらすごい待遇を受けられるだろうとは感じました。
フィリピンから突然思い立って行った国だったので、入国できるのかもびびってました。地図もないのでタクシーの運転手に安宿を聞いて、料金をぼったくられ、そこに結局２週間くらいいたのかな？少しのアテを頼りにチームのクラブハウス探しから始まり、移動もヒッチハイクで簡単に乗せてくれたり、なんとも安全な国でした。街はどこかゆっくりしてるし、ブルネイ王国というくらいで、国王が統治する絶対君主制。１９４５年まで日本の支配下だったそう。
資源豊富な小国なので、その恩恵を受けて、医療費・教育費・消費税などは一切なし。ので物価は少し高めに設定されています。国王が国民の為に作った遊園地もあるし、作った当初は無料で入れたと言ってました。とにかくビックリなブルネイ。
そして国のシンボル、モスク。（上の写真）イスラムの礼拝堂で、仏教のお寺・キリストの教会のようなもので、総工費５０００億は王様のポケットマネー・・・。すごいです、この国。
続く。