There are so many travel destinations in Asia and I feel extremely lucky to have been given the chance to visit most of them at one time or another. Some of these destinations are a favorite among tourists because of the great shopping experience that you can get out of your visit. There are countries that are frequented by tourists because of the landmarks and extraordinary architectures that are so photo-worthy. There are also Asian countries that are frequently visited because of their accessibility to various modes of transportation including budget airlines, ferries, etc. You will commonly hear Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, and Indonesia to be countries of choice and almost always included in travel itineraries. I guess you would agree with me that Brunei is usually left out.

This is why I grabbed the opportunity to visit Brunei after receiving an invitation from a friend whose entire family lives in Brunei. It was Hari Raya then and she said that she was going home to celebrate the Hari Raya Festival with her family in Brunei. I booked my flight in a heartbeat and was so excited to see Brunei.

Brunei is actually located at the north-west corner of Borneo. It is divided into four major districts namely Brunei Muara, Temburong, Belait and Tutong. Bandar Seri Begawan, the country’s capital, is located in the Brunei Muara district and just like any capital it is the center of administration and finance. The state is ruled by the 29^th Sultan, His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan (literally meaning “someone who is the Eminent Master of the State”) of Brunei Darussalam.

You can reach Brunei by taking a straight flight from almost any country, by taking a ferry or a cross country road trip from Sarawak, Malaysia. As for us, we decided to take the more adventurous route and chose to take the road trip in a private car from Sarawak. It was our first time to go through immigration in the middle of the highway onboard the car as if only paying for toll fees! I can say that it was quite an experience.

On the way to my friend’s house from the border, we decided to take a side trip and visit The Empire Hotel and Country Club. I’ve heard so many great things about this hotel and I was so excited to see for myself what the fuss was all about. True enough, the Empire Hotel did not disappoint from the moment we entered the gates.

I had to make a conscious effort not open my mouth in awe when I found myself in the grandest hotel lobby that I have ever seen. The grandiose high ceiling, furnishings that are adorned with semi-precious stones and the gold plated decorations will surely take your breath away. This luxury resort hotel offers extremely lavish suites and numerous five-star rooms. Because of the hotel’s extravagant offerings, it is often the official residence of visiting heads of states, diplomats, and even celebrities.

Come to think of it, it is hard not to fall in love with this hotel when you can find everything that you looking for in your dream accommodation here. You can spend your afternoon playing golf in the championship golf course which was designed by The Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus. If you feel like perfecting your tan then you can choose from, not one, but eight pools wherein the sand bottom lagoon is the largest. You can also head over to the beach resort by the South China Sea. Be entertained by catching a movie in the Empire Cinema. If you get hungry, then you can choose from the hotel’s restaurants namely the Atrium Café, Bunker Café, Lobby Lounge, Li Gong, Pantai, Spaghettini or Spike Lounge. Another facility that should not be missed is the Spa where you can have massages, facial and body treatments, etc. that will surely energize and invigorate you in no time.

That’s not all. The rooms are also a sight to behold! The most inexpensive rooms, the Superior Rooms, are already quite impressive. These rooms are big enough for four people plus you can enjoy a king sized bed with fluffy pillows and Egyptian cotton sheets. The magnificent bathrooms are decorated with elegant marble from floor to ceiling, have walk-in showers and bathtubs.

But the most notable of all rooms is the Emperor Suite. It has been named “The World’s Leading Presidential Suite” by the World Travel Awards in 2003 and 2004. The regal amenities include the following: spacious bedroom, grand piano, living rooms, dining room, bathrooms, a study room, a huge movie screen, a private pool and its own elevator. At B$ 14, 375 (about US$ 9, 700) per night, this suite is truly fit for royalty.

So if you would like to live like a Sultan for a day in Brunei then you should make it a point to spend at least one night at the Empire Hotel and Country Club.

Posted in Attractions, Brunei

This entry was posted on Friday, October 24th, 2008 at 4:16 pm and is filed under Attractions, Brunei. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.