Brunei is located in the northwestern coast of the island of Borneo. It covers a land area of 5,765 kilometers. Its nearest neighbor is Sarawak, the eastern state of Malaysia. The districts of Brunei-Muara, Tutong and Belait make up the larger western portion and are dominated by hilly lowlands, swampy plains and valleys. The eastern district of Temburong is more mountainous and has a land area of 1,288 sq. kilometers.
Brunei's attractions include The Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, which is a stunning example of Islamic architecture. Other worthwhile sights include Kampung Ayer, a large collection of villages on stilts, and the Brunei Museum. The Jerudong Playground is a huge, free open-air fun park. The Temburong District, just 45 minutes from BSB, has the Peradayan Forest Reserve, which has walking trails and fine views.
Brunei is a Muslim country and has a Ministry of Religious Affairs to foster and to promote Islam. They are relatively strict in terms of religion and the ministry has special officers to investigate any breach of Islamic law by Muslims.
The official language is Malay, but English is widely spoken. Jawi, Malay written in Arabic script, is taught in schools, and most signs in the country are written both in Jawi and Roman script.
The stilt villages collectively called Kampung Ayer(which simply means 'Water Village') are BSB's biggest draw, though the city has some fine museums and its mosques are spectacular, especially at night . It's a good thing the mosques are illuminated because aside from TV, there's virtually nothing to do after dinner. On the plus side, there is a good selection of restaurants. If you're prepared to pay, you can tuck into some fine Italian and Indian food.