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Bandar Seri Begawan Travel Blogs

Background: The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in the developing world.

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By autumncs
October 27th 2009

One day in Brunei Asia » Brunei » Bandar Seri Begawan

Kuala Lumpur LCC Terminal

Feeling bored in (tiny) Singapore and having withdrawal symptoms from my "travel-addiction", I decided to take a short trip to Brunei and collect another stamp in my passport. Since direct flights between Singapore and BSB (Bandar Seri Begawan) were ridiculously expensive, I chose to fly on AirAsia and transit at Kuala Lumpur. Upon arrival at BSB airport, it was already 8pm and there were no more buses. (Buses stop running after 7pm.) So I had no choice but to take a B$25 cab to my hotel. Along the way, I had a sense of deja-vu. The streets of BSB looked like [View Full Entry]

By extremewalk
October 17th 2009

the little girl.s eyes Asia » Brunei » Bandar Seri Begawan

Brunei Water Village

Touch down. Language that I can not understand. Even English is not English. It is Indian-Malaya-Chinese-Hot Lunch time penne with cheese hybrid. From the plane to the airport terminal exit. Shall I take a cab? Shall take a walk? These and other strange questions I have been asking myself before I have decided to discuss a proper fare for a cab to get my lazy ass to downtown. Discussion was very educational for me. Quick dialog with the taxi driver: -Hi! Nice day huh? So how much to the city downtown? -25$; he replied. -25$ ? Lets make 19, the lady [View Full Entry]

By Frisco
October 14th 2009

De Kota Kinabalu a Bandar Seri Begawan Asia » Brunei » Bandar Seri Begawan

Le ciel s'embrase sur BSB

Derniers jours au Sabah Mon ultime halte avant de quitter le Sabah s'appelle Kota Kinabalu, la capitale de l'Etat, dont les blocs, tantot modernes et rutilants, tantot vieux et décrépis, bordent la Mer de Chine du sud. Trois petits jours tranquilles passés a se reposer, a organiser la suite du voyage et a sécher mes grolles :) Un séjour des plus sociables, dans un backpacker du centre ville. J'ai eu le privilege d'y faire des rencontres extremement variées et intéressantes, comme cette Japonaise avec laquelle j'ai pu parler des rues bondées de Shibuya, ou elle vit, cet universitaire [View Full Entry]

La Mosquée du Sultan et ses domes en or 24 carats

By Achua
August 8th 2009

Brunei Stopover Asia » Brunei » Bandar Seri Begawan

Mosque in BSB

Yesterday, I boarded a flight from Singapore to Manila with a 7-hour stopover in Brunei. I could have easily booked a direct Singapore to Manila flight but as I've never been to Brunei before, I decided to give it a try. Anyway, the ticket price was higher by only SG$100. I figured that since I would be unlikely to book a separate trip to Brunei in the future, this was a good method of going there. A few days before the trip, I learned about the haze which was especially bad in Brunei. Singapore was affected as well, but in Bandar [View Full Entry]

By Cessna152
July 27th 2009

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei Day Trip Asia » Brunei » Bandar Seri Begawan

Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque

“I hope you haven't got any bullets on you,” I said to Angela as we came in to land at Brunei's rather small international airport. “Because if you have, you're done for. You're not even allowed to have them on necklaces.” I'd just been reading the information about entry requirements to the country. Possession of a bullet was a serious offense; the punishment was imprisonment and a whipping of no less than three strokes. Possession of drugs was even worse. On the back of our immigration card, in large red letters, it read: THE PENALTY FOR DRUGS IS DEATH. The tiny [View Full Entry]

Street Scene of central Bandar Seri Begawan

By Shabs
July 24th 2009

Welcome to Brunei Asia » Brunei » Bandar Seri Begawan

Mosque - Like An Oasis

The story goes a little something like this......... Tired of working & the cold miserable winter, looking for a break from the monotonous routine. The plan was that Saurabh was going to come and visit at the end of July. So I had booked my leave at work. Leave booked from 27th July - 10th Aug. Last week of work and Saurabh still procrastinating, no plans of coming, no visas applied for - nothing! Two options left for me really - either cancel my leave and continue working waiting for Christmas or book a ticket and go see him. If Mohammed [View Full Entry]

By JessicaDeane
July 7th 2009

Brunei 7th July 2009 Asia » Brunei » Bandar Seri Begawan

Brunei 7th July 2009 Hey everyone :) Me and Hayden are doing well and are on our last leg of the travel journey! We went through Dubai yesterday... LUSH AIRPORT! Flight was 6 hours so not too long. Food is nice on the plane... will upload pictures when we arrive in Auckland! We are now in Brunei... Took 8hours 30mins to get here from Dubai! Flight seemed much longer because we were tired and found it difficult to sleep due to LOUD kids! We arrived in Brunei 10:10 (local time - 7 hours ahead) and we leave at 20:10 (local time) [View Full Entry]

By GabiG
July 5th 2009

First Blog Asia » Brunei » Bandar Seri Begawan

This is my first blog.....so bear with me.....I'm new to this. I am currently in still in Kolkata-India, and I am soon to be having my leaving party. It's very very sad, I have been here just under a year, and have met some incredible people. The children are amazing, and secretly I want to take everyone of them with me! They have been busily making me a present (according the the youngest in my class, who naughtily tells me every secret), which I know will make me cry. I in fact have been crying for the last week, the only [View Full Entry]

By LivingTheDream
June 17th 2009

The smallest yet richest country in Asia (Borneo, Brunei Darussalam) Asia » Brunei » Bandar Seri Begawan

Mosque Omar Ali Saifuddien

(Day 439 on the road) Bandar Seri Begawan is a strange place. It is the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam, by far smallest country in South-East Asia, which is in turn by far the richest country here due to its abundant oil reserves. In fact, the Sulatn of Brunei is one of the richest men in the world. What Bandar (as the locals call it) lacks completely however, is atmosphere. It is difficult to imagine that a country enveloped by vivid Malaysia can feel so boring. Even sterile and policed Singapore has a much nicer feel to it. We [View Full Entry]

By geoffandmazi
April 30th 2009

Brunei in a blink...bus to Kuching Asia » Brunei » Bandar Seri Begawan

Brunei

We caught a boat from the main pier in KK to the busy port Island of Labuan for a short stop before catching the next boat (with no AC or outside airflow, yuck!) to Brunei. When we arrived in Brunei we found that there wasn't a money changer or ATM and we needed to catch the bus into town. A Swiss couple (who Geoff had previously met at Mt. Kinabalu) had already offered and paid for us. Later we found out that the bus took Ringhit and you can use Singapore dollars at par in most places. The first afternoon we [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Asia » Brunei » Bandar Seri Begawan