Brunei aka: Negara Brunei Darussalam

Brunei is an acquired taste. That’s all i can say :D

- One of the few places in the world where you can still see hornbills. There is still quite a lot of unspoilt jungle.

- Please respect the local customs and dress modestly. Sorry ladies, no exposed bosoms, minis etc. You’ll also feel more comfortable this way, trust me.

- No alcohol, FYI.

- Helps if you know someone who lives here, it is difficult to get around without a car.

Update: oh look, I already commented below a few years and pretty much said the same thing. Old age is a sad thing. Oh well …

It’s an awesome place to grow up or grow old. It’s safer than most places i know. And if you want to travel here, go crazy and live in awesome resorts like Empire hotel because the price is considerably alright for a kickass service and accommodation. Find a local guide or best of all, make friends here, they’re better guides.

When in BSB, take a water taxi out to see the palace, and to cruise around the many houses built on the water. The mosques are quite amazing as well. Brunei is often overlooked – go here if you like to discover a country for yourself, but don’t expect it to be the most amazing place you have ever been. Every country is very unique in its’ own way.

Brunei is a very small country with not more than 400,000 inhabitants. The capital is Bandar Seri Begawan, which is very quiet. Not so many tourist attractions here. You can visit some luxurious mosques and palaces as well as a very elegant hotel called Empire Hotel.

The cost of living is relatively high, compared to its neighboring countries. Singaporean Dollar is also accepted, apart from Bruneian Dollar.

Public transport is not very good. It’s recommended that you have a car. Every family here at least owns two cars. That’s why they don’t need a sophisticated public transport.

I found the people here are so relax and are very into cars. No wonder since they got everything. Their people tend to go overseas (Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, etc.) for vacation rather than exploring their own country. Once I visited Kuala Belait in West Brunei and found out that some people in Bandar Seri Begawan never came to that place.

I was there for six months for an Oracle implementation project back in 2002. It’s a very nice experience to stay in Brunei but sorry to say that I’m really glad to finish my job on time and could go back to a more living city.