Have you ever heard of the story of a river that got its name thanks to a delicious snack? You’re standing in Mukim Serasa, a place rich in history and captivating tales. Mukim Serasa, meaning “fitting to the palates”, is a mukim, a subdistrict, in Brunei, located on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Mukim Serasa is the north-easternmost mukim in Brunei-Muara districts. It’s a place where time seems to have stood still, a place where the past can be felt in every corner. The stories of Mukim Serasa are woven into the very fabric of the land, and every street corner whispered secrets from the past.
Legend has it that Mukim Serasa got its name from a group of migrant workers who stopped by one of the village’s waterways. They were weary and famished, and they stopped to rest and enjoy the fruits of their labor. They took some of the pucukngajus (cashew leaves) and pucuk pawas (sprouts) that grew aplenty in the area, and they used them as side dishes. The taste of the pucuk-pucuk, as the leaves and sprouts are called, was so “serasa” (fitting) for their palates. They loved the taste so much that they decided to name the river after it, the Serasa River.
Today, Mukim Serasa is home to several villages, each with its own unique culture and history. It is a place where tradition and modernity coexist harmoniously. The villages are a testament to the richness of the Bruneian culture. Mukim Serasa is where the past meets the present, and it is a place that is sure to captivate you.