Comments on: It’s Good To Be The Sultan http://everything-everywhere.com/2008/01/23/its-good-to-be-the-sultan/ Gary Arndt's journey to travel blog around the world Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:25:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gazza http://everything-everywhere.com/2008/01/23/its-good-to-be-the-sultan/#comment-16420 Gazza Sat, 26 Jun 2010 03:55:04 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2008/01/23/its-good-to-be-the-sultan/#comment-16420 I can say, living in Brunei, that most people are completely content about situations. Of course, as is mentioned, oil will soon run out, but luckily people within Shell, and the Sultan himself are starting to realize this, and that money isn't infinite. At the moment, a Canadian/Hong Kong company has been hired which is creating a 'master plan' to drastically improve the capital, and the rest of the nation. Hopefully this will attract more foreign businesses and eventually shift the dependency on oil a bit. I can say, living in Brunei, that most people are completely content about situations. Of course, as is mentioned, oil will soon run out, but luckily people within Shell, and the Sultan himself are starting to realize this, and that money isn’t infinite. At the moment, a Canadian/Hong Kong company has been hired which is creating a ‘master plan’ to drastically improve the capital, and the rest of the nation. Hopefully this will attract more foreign businesses and eventually shift the dependency on oil a bit.

]]> By: vincesportstoto http://everything-everywhere.com/2008/01/23/its-good-to-be-the-sultan/#comment-5980 vincesportstoto Thu, 12 Feb 2009 07:05:04 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2008/01/23/its-good-to-be-the-sultan/#comment-5980 What is in the country belongs to the people and the country should be managed by people who make up the country. <br><br>Trouble will brew when people feel stifled and the monarchy will be made redundant. <br><br>No wealth can last for 3 generations! God is great! What is in the country belongs to the people and the country should be managed by people who make up the country.

Trouble will brew when people feel stifled and the monarchy will be made redundant.

No wealth can last for 3 generations! God is great!

]]> By: Jewellery Talk http://everything-everywhere.com/2008/01/23/its-good-to-be-the-sultan/#comment-5334 Jewellery Talk Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:34:13 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2008/01/23/its-good-to-be-the-sultan/#comment-5334 et, to be intellectually honest, I have to confess that the picture I painted above about the Sultan is something you’d never ever guess from just being on the ground in Brunei. et, to be intellectually honest, I have to confess that the picture I painted above about the Sultan is something you’d never ever guess from just being on the ground in Brunei.

]]> By: Felicity http://everything-everywhere.com/2008/01/23/its-good-to-be-the-sultan/#comment-5102 Felicity Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:34:56 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2008/01/23/its-good-to-be-the-sultan/#comment-5102 Currently Brunei is looking to branch away from oil into other resources, such as a fertilizer manufacturing plant. Also they are surveying areas such as Temburong as a pontential source for building dams to generate hydro electricity to ease the people from oil dependency.<br><br>"He built a $3b theme park in Brunei that used to open to the public at no cost."<br><br>I wish to point this out that the theme park was built by his brother (not by HM), Prince Jefri when Prince Jefri was finance minister, and then was presented to His Majesty on HM's birthday.<br><br>I don't think we would go back to the dinosaurs when the oil is dry (we have two large fields in reserves and still exploring for more.) but I am concerned about how 'spoiled' we are. <br><br>People say that HM splurge away the country's money, but look at other nation's politicians. They spend millions for their political campaigns and put on a dog and pony show. While during such campaigns they arouse unrest and broken peace amongst the public. <br><br>"The crown prince recently married a 17 year old distant cousin."<br><br>We're talking really distant cousin here, example like the crown prince's great grandfather's sister's branch of the family. Plus the bride's mother is swedish. Throw that into the gene pool and I don't think we're gonna have any problems anytime soon. Currently Brunei is looking to branch away from oil into other resources, such as a fertilizer manufacturing plant. Also they are surveying areas such as Temburong as a pontential source for building dams to generate hydro electricity to ease the people from oil dependency.

“He built a $3b theme park in Brunei that used to open to the public at no cost.”

I wish to point this out that the theme park was built by his brother (not by HM), Prince Jefri when Prince Jefri was finance minister, and then was presented to His Majesty on HM's birthday.

I don't think we would go back to the dinosaurs when the oil is dry (we have two large fields in reserves and still exploring for more.) but I am concerned about how 'spoiled' we are.

People say that HM splurge away the country's money, but look at other nation's politicians. They spend millions for their political campaigns and put on a dog and pony show. While during such campaigns they arouse unrest and broken peace amongst the public.

“The crown prince recently married a 17 year old distant cousin.”

We're talking really distant cousin here, example like the crown prince's great grandfather's sister's branch of the family. Plus the bride's mother is swedish. Throw that into the gene pool and I don't think we're gonna have any problems anytime soon.

]]> By: pandan22 http://everything-everywhere.com/2008/01/23/its-good-to-be-the-sultan/#comment-4512 pandan22 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:11:24 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2008/01/23/its-good-to-be-the-sultan/#comment-4512 When education and healthcare is free , nobody complains. Just get married and have lots of children . After all , the state will take care of it. If you are ill , you can get overseas treatment free (plus one companion). If you study overseas , it is also free. If you are in the university, they give you a monthly allowance. Well fed people , don't complain. This way , the Sultan can continue to splurge away the country's money. Food is bad , I got food poisoning twice here. Others have the same complaint. However , nobody cares. Public transport is dirty , slow , packed , poor coverage too. Everyone goes home at 12 to send kids home , then back to work. When life is easy, why complain. This country will go back to the dinosaurs when oil is dry. The people will have nothing , but the Sultan will be fine in one of his many properties overseas. When education and healthcare is free , nobody complains.
Just get married and have lots of children . After all , the state will take care of it. If you are ill , you can get overseas treatment free (plus one companion).
If you study overseas , it is also free. If you are in the university, they give you a monthly allowance.

Well fed people , don’t complain. This way , the Sultan can continue to splurge away the country’s money.

Food is bad , I got food poisoning twice here. Others have the same complaint. However , nobody cares.

Public transport is dirty , slow , packed , poor coverage too. Everyone goes home at 12 to send kids home , then back to work. When life is easy, why complain.

This country will go back to the dinosaurs when oil is dry. The people will have nothing , but the Sultan will be fine in one of his many properties overseas.

]]> By: Cole http://everything-everywhere.com/2008/01/23/its-good-to-be-the-sultan/#comment-3722 Cole Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:17:06 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2008/01/23/its-good-to-be-the-sultan/#comment-3722 That is simply.. unbelievable.. and then you say.. people don't feel oppressed enough to do anything about it? incredible! That is simply.. unbelievable.. and then you say.. people don’t feel oppressed enough to do anything about it? incredible!

]]> By: mathx http://everything-everywhere.com/2008/01/23/its-good-to-be-the-sultan/#comment-1422 mathx Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:23:41 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2008/01/23/its-good-to-be-the-sultan/#comment-1422 I think americans (and brazillians - I am one) are going same way you mention in the end of the article - building economic sand castles. Due to the good results in world and domestic ecnomic development, most people (in middle-class) are going crazy spending money. In order to buy houses or cars, people here will willingly enter 80-month mortages or leasings, effectively paying double the price because of hight interest rates. I wonder when the "credit bubble" will burst around here. I think americans (and brazillians – I am one) are going same way you mention in the end of the article – building economic sand castles.

Due to the good results in world and domestic ecnomic development, most people (in middle-class) are going crazy spending money. In order to buy houses or cars, people here will willingly enter 80-month mortages or leasings, effectively paying double the price because of hight interest rates.

I wonder when the “credit bubble” will burst around here.

]]>