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Walk south down Jalan Sungai Kianggeh just past the Brunei Hotel on your left and the TMK (replace this) and right in front of a multi storey concrete car park is Bandar’s Chinese Buddhist temple.
The temple stands out both as being a deviation from largely Islamic Brunei, and for its vivid red portal and interior. It's also a nice change after wandering around the various mosques in Bandar Seri Begawan.
In true Chinese style the temple is bright red throughout and adorned with all manner of painted dragons and mythological creatures.
Inside the floor is tiled and the ceiling is cleverly constructed so that a small area is open and allows rain to fall in to the floor over a an area adorned with pot plants.
When it is raining this feature provides a refreshing coolness that keeps the temple free of the oppressive humidity outside.
The resultant indoor sunlight brightens up the displays within the temple, in particular several large columns embedded with hundreds, if not thousands, of tiny golden buddha images.
The friendly temple caretaker on duty in the corner at his desk when we visited and he was kind enough to show us the highlights of the temple. The caretaker is a Thai Buddhist, who like many in Brunei is an immigrant worker, brought to the country to look after and maintain the temple.
The caretaker advised that he is paid B$800 a month in his job, much better that the pay back home in Thailand and he hopes to work there for 10 more years before retiring. The only drawback to the job is the lack of access to alcohol, a deprivation he said he is willing to endure!
The temple is open to visitors during daylight hours and you are more than welcome to drop by, have a look around and enjoy the cool air in this idyllic little temple. Photography is permitted and entry is free, although donations are welcome.
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HOTEL RESERVATIONS 
