Brunei Darussalam, officially the State of Brunei, Abode of Peace, is a country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia. Apart from its coastline with the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the state of Sarawak, Malaysia, and it is in fact separated into two parts by Limbang, which is part of Malaysia. This is odd in the fact that it is a country separated into two parts, inside a country also separated into two parts. Malaysia, Brunei, the remnant of a very powerful sultanate, regained its independence from the United Kingdom on January 1, 1984 and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Once an empire that included all of the Philippines and Borneo, Brunei is now one of the smallest countries in the world, yet boasts some of the largest oil fields in Southeast Asia. Its underground resources have enabled Brunei to preserve the above ground beauty of its natural primary rainforests. Escaping the title 'mini-Dubai' and relaxing the strict Muslin theocracy that most people would expect, Brunei is a little country with big surprises. Experience the rainforest when visiting Ulu Temburong National Park or take an exhilarating ride by speedboat over open water, through mangroves to Bangar, a quiet little town. This can be a day-trip if you leave early, but the best way to experience Bangar is to stay the night and stroll through this picture-perfect little berg. Take in the opulence at the Royal Regalia Museum or wonder at the architecture of the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque located in Bandar Seri Begawan. It literally seems to float on the lagoon, while the marble minarets glow and the pure gold main dome reflects the brilliant sunlight and tells of the riches of this land. Walking the grounds, you will find flourishing gardens, scattered throughout with fountains. Brunei may be small, but it packs a huge impact and is sure to always be a fondly remembered vacation spot.

International Airline Carriers that fly to Brunei are limited. Out of Germany you can connect on Lufthansa or out of Asia on Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines or Thai Airways. You might consider a side-trip to Brunei for a couple of days during an Asian vacation tour of multiple cities. It's well worth the extra effort and nominal cost! Brunei only has one airport, Brunei International Airport and only one airline that is owned wholly by the government, Royal Brunei Airlines. Regular service by other commuter airlines is sketchy and changes rapidly. You might check Air Asia, as they are the leading low-fare airline in the area.