Back then in prison...now in the palace. (Lunch with the Sultan of Brunei in the largest palace in the world.)

What a difference from our first visit to Brunei 5 years ago.

At that time we were handcuffed and arrested for "arms smuggling"

This time we are invited to lunch at the palace of the Sultan of Brunei.

But first things first.

(The "weapons smuggling" was a "fun" adventure which you can find in the logbook under December 2019.)

We received the invitation to the palace from the General Manager of the Royal Brunei Yacht Club, Thomas Wong.

Until the pandemic, it is tradition that the Sultan opens his palace to his subjects for two days a year on the feast of breaking the fast at the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.

Now, in 2025, this happened again for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic. On these days, all visitors are served a lavish feast free of charge, and everyone also receives a small gift.

It all sounds very nice, but it can be even nicer.

The Sultan of Brunei isn't just a squire like the kings of Europe, but he wields absolute power. He speaks his mind! He is the law!

He is generous! Every family in Brunei receives their own house almost free of charge, and healthcare and education are free! He shares some of his wealth with his subjects, but there is also the fact that since 2019, the Sultan has introduced Sharia law in the country.

There is no alcohol or cigarettes to buy and the only leisure activity seems to be visiting the numerous luxurious mosques.

Crime is almost at zero and the police should therefore receive their salary at the end of the month wrapped in gift paper

But back to the topic.

Thanks to the manager of the yacht club, we had the advantage of a more exclusive VIP experience, and we had the opportunity to have a brief personal meeting with the Sultan and all his male relatives: royal brothers, princes, and the crown prince.

Although Frel was allowed to attend the palace and lunch, she was not allowed to attend the personal meeting with the Sultan, as this is reserved for men only. (My suggestion that she state that she identifies as a man, in keeping with the spirit of the times, would hardly have been advantageous here.)

Then we stand before this powerful autocrat.

The Sultan is an unspectacular, small, thin, elderly gentleman who, as we shake hands, asks me where I'm from and where I'm going... and I think to myself, Bühring... that's probably the richest little hand you've ever shaken!

Speaking of wealth: Each of you has heard of the Sultan’s legendary wealth.

The palace will take off your shoes!

The Sultan's modest home comprises 1,788 rooms, 18 elevators, 44 staircases and 250 bathrooms on a living area of 200,000 m² .

The Sultan's throne room seats 2,000 people, and the banquet hall seats a good 5,000. Window and door arches are made of pure gold, and 64,000 square meters of wall space are clad with 38 different types of marble. The magnificent building is intended to be a mixture of Arabian tents and Malay longhouses. The building complex stands on a 120-hectare site. [

The palace complex includes a 10,000-square-meter underground garage that can accommodate 110 vehicles from the Sultan's collection. His entire collection of luxury cars is said to number 7,000! 7,000!

There are also air-conditioned stables for 200 horses on the palace grounds.

Of course, there are also golden toilets for His Majesty and golden baths.

It goes without saying that the Sultan doesn't have just this one palace in Brunei. There are others that are quite far from the social housing.

On top of all that, of course, there are plenty of private jets and helicopters. Whoever has them, has them!

As we leave this gigantic palace, I wonder if the little big rich sultan is as happy as I am.