Anyone been to Brunei?

[the_bob_delusion]

It's one of the stopovers to London so wondering if I should stay for a couple of days and look around. What say you?

[polksaladallie]

No.

US raises concerns over Brunei sharia penal code

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-07/concerns-over-brunei-sharia-law-amid-beverly-hills-hotel-boyco...

Brunei is a destination country for men and women trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Brunei is mainly a destination country for men and women recruited from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and Thailand for domestic or low-skilled labor. A limited number of the 88,000 foreign workers in Brunei face poor labor conditions that amount to involuntary servitude.   - U.S. State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report, June, 2009  

http://gvnet.com/humantrafficking/Brunei.htm

[kopenhagen5]

I understood they only allow a certain number of visitors in each year and the visa is not easy to get?

Maybe that has changed?

The Sultan of Brunei flies his own big jet. Very impressive. 

I have an uncle in Denmark that was involved in building the Sultans palace. 

[kopenhagen5]

Never mind the question bob, another member has kindly pointed out that I was probably thinking of Bhutan.

And yes it's Bhutan that has limited visitors with permission required to visit, not Brunei.

Apologies all, I don't like to make errors, but I see the logic in the mix up. 

[jvharrison]

Bob i could think of better places to stop over in was there very recently:)

[tcmsecretuseid]

Bob, it's very tiny, and interesting if you are into totalitarian empires, and Muslim culture. It's stinky, and has a dirty river. There are empty condos, that were built for the poor people, who would rather live on the stinky river. 

If you were a beautiful woman, they would take your passport, and not let you leave the country. 

Other than that, have a great time in Brunei. All of the above was quoted from my husband. 

P.S. Bring your own beer... no alcohol. 

[artfulcreations4all]

Don't be stupid, Bob. It sounds horrible!

Not every place in the world is worth going to.

[soulart2]

OH has been there for work a few times and he describes it as...........quiet.

He took some great pics of an old fort/cannon etc. but can't remember where it is.  There's some type of club...yacht/sailing? that westerners go to, expensive to join and expensive to eat/drink.  There was a dive shop, don't know if it's still there.   I can't remember the name of the wildlife park but it's just over the border going south, it's suppose to be good.

OH didn't care about it being a "dry" place but if you like a drink everyday it's not the place for you.

People born in Brunei usually have a good life.....those not born there ? their jobs/pay/accomodation etc is related to where they are from......no such thing as equality. 

[durruticolumna]

The last time I went to Brunei,I dressed up as an Elvis impersonator before arriving and I was treated like royalty.

[soulart2]

Okay, forget about the fort !! lol it's in Dohar not Brunei.

OH said.............don't bother.

You can get a canoe up the river to a rainforest, go on a tour to see the floating city and golden dome of the palace.  Would take too long to go over into Malaysia to see the orangutans and there have been kidnappings in some areas just over the border.

Sounds like there are better places to spend a couple of days.