| The Sultanate of Brunei is a small but thanks to | | | | personal income is unheard of and the average per |
| natural gas and petroleum resources very rich | | | | capita salary. |
| country located in Southeast Asia. It is surrounded by | | | | The explanation is simple oil, first discovered in 1903 |
| Malaysia and has two parts physically separated by | | | | at the site of what is now the town of Seria. That |
| Malaysia, almost being an enclave. Strategically located | | | | said, the problem remains that Brunei is more |
| on the South China Sea, close to vital sea lanes linking | | | | expensive than neighbouring Malaysia or even |
| Indian and Pacific Oceans, it has an exclusive | | | | Singapore hotel prices in the capital are at least |
| economic fishing zone that extends as far as Louisa | | | | double those in nearby Kota Kinabalu or Miri. |
| Reef in the southern Spratly Islands although it | | | | Most travellers still end up in Brunei either because of |
| makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs. | | | | an enforced stopover, or as a stepping stone to |
| The tiny, but thriving, Islamic Sultanate of Brunei | | | | either Sabah or Sarawak. In the latter case, |
| perches on the north western coast of Borneo, | | | | however, it can work out cheaper to take an internal |
| completely encircled by the East Malaysian state of | | | | MAS flight between Miri and Labuan or Kota Kinabalu |
| Sarawak which divides it in two. | | | | rather than bussing it through Brunei. |
| It has a population of 350,000, nearly seventy | | | | Bruneis climate, like that of neighbouring Sabah and |
| percent of which is made up of Malays and indigenes | | | | Sarawak, is hot and humid, with average |
| from the larger ethnic groups like the Murut and | | | | temperatures in the high twenties throughout the |
| Dusun the rest are Chinese, Indians, smaller | | | | year. Lying 440km north of the equator, Brunei has a |
| indigenous tribes and expats. | | | | tropical weather system, so even if you visit outside |
| The national language of Brunei is Bahasa Malaysia, as | | | | the wet season usually November to February theres |
| spoken in Malaysia. English is also widely spoken. | | | | every chance that youll see some rain. |
| They enjoy a quality of life that is quite unparalleled | | | | The food in Brunei is very similar to that of Malaysia, |
| in Southeast Asia, with the literacy rate a staggering | | | | though unlike Sabah and Sarawak youll find a good |
| 93 percent of the population. Education and | | | | deal of Indian and Bangladeshi dishes here. Alcoholic |
| healthcare are free houses, cars, and even | | | | drink is illegal. |
| pilgrimages to Mecca are subsidized taxation on | | | | |