Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

If you're expecting some kind of lavish mini-Dubai, think again – Brunei may fancy itself as an oil state, but there's no nouveau-riche ostentation here, and the country's capital is as polite and unassuming as its people, wearing its wealth almost prosaically in places. The most interesting buildings in the quiet centre, eg the main mosque and the bigger shopping malls, certainly reflect the expenditure put into them, but without much sense of flashiness, and on the whole there's little to distinguish BSB, as it's usually known, from any medium-sized city in Malaysia. You'll have to head to the suburbs to start to see the stupendous riches at play here. For most visitors, BSB forms the entirety of their experience of Brunei, and while there's plenty to keep you occupied for a couple of days, the city itself is unlikely to inspire any great devotion. However, if you take the time to relax and talk to the locals, you may find you start to understand what makes this modest metropolis tick. Although most people refer to it as BSB, Bandar Seri Begawan is the official name of the capital of Brunei. It is probably where you'll spend most of your time and money. You'll probably just refer to the city and its suburbs as simply Brunei or Brunei City, since the country is so small. You can see most of BSB's sights in a day. One of the most impressive things in the whole country is the Omar Saifuddin Mosque. At night it's particularly stunning with green lights illuminating the dome, casting a pleasant reflection in the pool below. It's the first religious institution I've ever seen with an escalator! Something not to miss if you like all that is gold and glittering is the free Royal Regalia Building, a museum of the sultan's treasures. You can see the sultan's coronation regalia as well as a myriad of gifts presented to His Majesty by various heads of state. If you are interested in seeing a water village, take a river taxi to Kampung Ayer, where you can walk around on wooden planks that connect some of the houses. Amongst backpacker crowds, the Jerudong Playground was once one of Brunei's major (if not only) attraction because it was like a free Disneyland. However, they began charging admission in March 2000 and since the amusement park is located in a suburb, you will have to take an expensive taxi back to your hotel. If you are staying at the Pusat Belia, you may be able to hook up with their pre-paid tour. If you need to pick up some groceries or just long for a stroll in the mall, you can shop at The Mall, Brunei's only shopping mall. It's right across from the mosque and although very sterile, it has many brand name shops.