South East Asian Trips

About 60,000 people lived in the capital city of Brunei. Bandar Seri Begawan is the only town of any size. The city is neat, clean, and modern with wide roads and extravagant public buildings. Tourists will feel awed with the Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, one of the most impressive and modern mosques in the East. This giant golden-domed mosque was originally built in 1958 near to the Brunei River in its own artificial lagoon. It was built with pure luxury in mind - the interior is covered with Italian marble walls, plush carpeting and an elevator,

At the Brunei River is Kampung Ayer, a centuries-old collection of 28 water villages built on stilts. 30,000 people inhabit the place and a visit to this place would be a real highlight to any tourists. Kampung Ayer is a strange mix of modern and ancient. Do not miss out on this place! The capital city also sports some excellent museums. There is the traditional Brunei Museum and the lavish Malay Technology Museum. Here, you will get to see exhibits on water village architecture and the various technologies used by the people who lived in them. Should you wish to visit the Sultan's magnificent palace, you must plan your visit towards the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. The Istana Nurul Iman is open to the public then,

If you are looking for a happening nightlife, this is not the place for you. The streets are almost deserted at 9 pm. Overall, the people are friendly and easy to get along with,

Bandar Seri Begawan is famous among the tourist destinations in Brunei and is visited by thousands of travelers from all over the world. Bandar Seri Begawan is famous among the holidayers because no one wants to leave Brunei without visiting the capital of Brunei. Historical facts state that the first human settlement of Brunei cam around 7th century. The early inhabitants of Kampong Ayer came around this time. Traces of the early civilization have been found near the Brunei Museum. It is known that Seri Bandar Begawan, Brunei got its name from Sir Omar Ali Safuddin who is the late father of the present Sultan. The Seri Bandar Begawan in Brunei was named so in the year 1970. It is known that initially Seri Bandar Begawan was called by the name "Bandar Brunei",

The name of Seri Bandar Begawan has an interesting history. It is said that Begawan which means "god" is derived from Sanskrit. On the other hand "Bandar" in Persian refers to port. In 2007 with the permission of the Sultan of Brunei the area of Bandar Seri Begawan was extended. It grew ten times its original size. It is known that the main sources of income for the people of Bandar Seri Begawan are related to textiles, timber, furniture and handicrafts. Transportation in Bandar Seri Begawan is not at all a problem as you will find the city is well-connected with the rest of Brunei through the extensive roadways. You can always travel to Malaysia and then take a car to reach the capital of Brunei,

If you are visiting Brunei for the first time it is always better to take a plane to the Brunei International Airport which is close to the Bandar Seri Begawan. You can hire a car from the airport and within minutes you will be able to reach the capital by taking the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Highway. Enjoy the exclusive journey in the water taxi or the "penambang" which runs from Kampong Ayer to Bandar Seri Begawan. You can also avail of the services of the speedboat. Some of the important tourist destinations in Bandar Seri Begawan include the famous Royal Regalia Building, the Malay Technology Museum and the Royal Ceremonial Hall. Among all the tourist attractions the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is the most important and tops the list of must-sees,

If you are looking for a happening nightlife, this is not the place for you. The streets are almost deserted at 9 pm. Overall, the people are friendly and easy to get along with.