Brunei

Wedged between two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo, Brunei is as exotic and unexplored as its name implies. Despite the fact that oil has made it the richest sultanate in the world, the friendly water-villagers of Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital, maintain their traditional values, living in stilted houses on the river. Only the TV antennae, the huge golden-domed mosque and the sultan´s opulent 1,000-room palace reveal the vast wealth that this tiny jungle nation enjoys.

Activities

From mountain biking, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, sport fishing, wreck and reef diving in the South China Sea, to jungle hiking on well-maintained trails, the ecotourism and adventure options in Brunei are endless.

Adventures

• Brunei is also home to some of Asia's best nature reserves and field study centres, such as the world famous Ulu Temburong National Park and the Kuala Belalong Field Study Centre, both of which offer an exciting array of ecotourism and adventure activities. Indeed, the longboat ride down a winding jungle river, surrounded on all sides by pristine rainforest makes the journey as much of an adventure as the destination itself.


• Stretching the full length of Brunei's coastline is a pristine, sun-drenched ribbon of sand caressed by the South China Sea. Take your pick from one of Brunei's many undiscovered beaches: Muara Beach, Meragang Beach, Serasa Beach, Pantai Seri Kenangan Beach.

Food

One will find that Bruneian fare generally exudes a unique flavour of cultural fusion due to the influence of the various nations that have left their mark on Brunei's culture. Arab, Indian and Chinese traders, European explorers and, of course, Malay and indigenous Bornean peoples have each introduced their own cooking styles and ingredients, adding to the masterful fusion that makes Brunei's cuisine memorable.

Currency

The local currency is the Brunei Dollar (BND).

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