
Indonesia vs Brunei
Indonesia
17,508 islands belong to the largest island nation. Indonesia is the fourth largest country in the world. More than half of all Indonesians live on the island of Java. In the capital Jakarta alone, 18 million people live.
Indonesia has its own language with Indonesian and is a presidential republic. The head of state and head of government is the President Susilo Bambamg Yudhoyono.
The area of Indonesia is almost 2 million square kilometers. Almost 240 million people have a population density of 126 inhabitants per km².
Of the 17,508 islands, only around 6,000 are inhabited. The north-south extension of Indonesia is 1875 kilometers long and from east to west the island nation measures over 5000 kilometers. Indonesia is a dangerous place, there are several active volcanoes, but earthquakes and seaquakes also make life difficult for people. Nevertheless, the island of Java is very densely populated, because the soil is very fertile and allows intensive agricultural use.
Around 200 million Muslims live in Indonesia, making it the state with the largest Muslim population. Islam is not a state religion in Indonesia. All citizens of Indonesia have to commit to one of the 5 world religions. Some ethnic groups are committed to Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism or Confucianism, but live an animistic religion.
There are extensive slums in all major cities. Around 27 percent of the people in Indonesia live in poverty. There are about 1.7 million street children, the male street children are often picked up by radical Islamist groups and put into illegal Islamic schools.
Rice is a staple food of the Indonesians. You eat it up to three times a day. You can find rice terraces everywhere that run through the country.
The gamelan and angklung are typical instruments in Indonesia. The Indonesian often devotes his free time to the shadow play Wayang.
Batik is an art that is very sophisticated and is often exported.
Brunei
According to best-medical-schools, the Sultanate of Brunei is located on the island of Borneo in the South China Sea. The correct name for Brunei is Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam, which translates into German as much as place of peace. The official language is Malay and the capital is Bandar Seri Begawan. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah rules as an absolute monarch over the area of 5770 square kilometers and over 388,190 inhabitants.
Between the 16th and 19th centuries, Brunei was a much larger sultanate. The entire north coast of Borneo used to belong to Brunei. The eastern part of Brunei, which is hardly developed, is connected to the western part by sea. Belait is the longest river in Brunei. Many rivers flow north to the coast.
The border with Malaysia is the only border. It is 381 kilometers long. The coastline is 161 kilometers long.
The coast is densely populated, while in the interior there are tropical rainforests. Various birds, monkeys and reptiles live in Brunei. Many mangroves have disappeared due to the production of oil near the coast.
The population in Brunei is composed of 66 percent Malays, 15 percent Chinese and about 7 percent indigenous people. The state religion is Islam, but religious freedom is laid down in the constitution. 10 percent of the population are Christians.
The children have to go to school for 9 years. The education system is at a high level and school and university attendance is free.
Public consumption and sale of alcohol is prohibited in Brunei. However, foreigners are allowed to import a certain amount of alcohol into Brunei.
Brunei is divided into 4 districts, which in turn are divided into 39 mukims. The four districts are Belait, Brunei-Muara, Temburong and Tutong.
80 percent of the food that is consumed is imported. However, one tries to achieve self-sufficiency. There is rice, fruit and vegetables in Brunei. Rubber, animal skins and pepper are of less economic importance.