Pages

Sunday, 27 March 2016

KAMPONG AYER: THE WORLD’S BIGGEST WATER VILLAGE


wps76FC.tmp
The Water Village of Kampong Ayer
By Kaushik,
Amusing Planet, 14 March 2016.

On the banks of Brunei River, which flows through Brunei's capital city Bandar Seri Begawan, is a settlement consisting of 42 contiguous stilt villages called Kampong Ayer, or the Water Village, which has been inhabited for over 1,300 years. Half of the city’s population live here - about 30,000 people, which is nearly 10% of the entire population of the country. Kampong Ayer is the world’s biggest settlement on stilts.

wpsBED5.tmp
Photo credit: Bernard Spragg/Flickr

Apparently, things are quite nice here. There are schools, police stations, fire stations, clinics, markets and mosques, all constructed on stilts and linked together by 36 kilometers of walkways and footbridges. Houses are simple but modern and built with concrete and wood, while older houses are being continually repaired with modern materials. Each house is supplied with electricity and clean water. Transport lines, sanitation, garbage disposal system, internet access and postal service are some of the amenities available.

wps8032.tmp
Photo credit: thintruman/Flickr

The banks of the Brunei River was first settled probably in the 8th century. From the 15th to the17th century, during the Bruneian Empire period when the Sultanate ruled much part of Borneo including the southern part of the Philippines, the water settlement became the center of the administration and an important trading center. Kampong Ayer’s fortunes declined when the Sultanate rule came to an end in the 18th century due to the arrival of western powers such as the Spanish, Dutch and the British.

wps8CE2.tmp
Photo credit: Bernard Spragg/Flickr

Originally, Kampong Ayer was situated much closer to the mouth of the Brunei River at Kota Batu. It moved inland to its current location most likely in the 17th century during the civil war between the 13th and 14th Sultans of Brunei.

Today, Kampong Ayer is a national heritage and efforts are being made to preserve this lifestyle.

wps7233.tmp
Photo credit: Ron Knox 2001/Flickr

wps348C.tmp
Photo credit: e_chaya/Flickr

wpsD270.tmp
Photo credit: MyBukit/Flickr

wps36C7.tmp

wpsC4A1.tmp

wps3A7E.tmp



Top image: Sunrise at Kampong Ayer (Water Village) - Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Credit: Romel Jacinto/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

[Post Source: Amusing Planet. Edited. Top image and video added.]

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please adhere to proper blog etiquette when posting your comments. This blog owner will exercise his absolution discretion in allowing or rejecting any comments that are deemed seditious, defamatory, libelous, racist, vulgar, insulting, and other remarks that exhibit similar characteristics. If you insist on using anonymous comments, please write your name or other IDs at the end of your message.