Bandar Seri Begawan

If you've ever wondered what it feels like to step into a BBC nature documentary-minus the comforting voice of David Attenborough narrating your every move-the Ulu Temburong National Park excursion delivers, and spectacularly so. Hidden deep within Brunei's lush wilderness in Temburong District, this isn't your average stroll-in-the-park; it's a thrilling, sweat-inducing odyssey featuring heart-racing canopy walkways suspended dizzyingly high above the rainforest floor and spirited river rides that make Splash Mountain look quaintly sedate. Plan on rising at a punishingly early hour (no later than dawn, because nature waits for no one) to catch wildlife at its most splendidly active and mist-shrouded beauty at its atmospheric peak. Book ahead by at least a few days-Mother Nature may be indifferent, but local guides appreciate advance notice-and budget roughly $100-$150 per person, a modest price for briefly feeling like Indiana Jones or, at the very least, his mildly hungover sidekick. Bring sturdy shoes, insect repellent potent enough to deter velociraptors, and a waterproof bag to protect your camera from spontaneous rainforest downpours and mischievous macaques. Even if dangling hundreds of feet above an ancient jungle canopy isn't your usual idea of fun, trust me-the bragging rights alone are worth it. Plus, years later, at some dreary office mixer, you'll casually drop, "Oh, that reminds me of the time I got lost in Borneo," and watch as everyone else's weekend brewery-hop story crumbles into insignificance.

When Jerudong Park Playground first burst onto Brunei's sedate scene in the nineties, it swaggered in as Southeast Asia's ambitious answer to Disneyland-with more neon lights than a Vegas honeymoon and a roller coaster that practically begged you to lose your lunch. These days, it wears its faded grandeur with a defiant charm, like a rockstar past his prime but still belting out ballads in smoky karaoke bars. Come just before dusk when golden-hour sunsets make the semi-vintage bumper cars look oddly poetic and queue times are delightfully nonexistent. Planning ahead? A week or two is generous; really, just wander in bearing about 15 to 20 Brunei Dollars for entry and rides-plus extra pocket money if you crave questionable snacks or glow sticks that break before you're back at your hotel. Embrace the irony and bring your camera-you're going to want photographic proof of that surreal Ferris wheel ride straight out of a 90s teen rom-com. Sure, you probably won't scream on the modest log flume or win plush toys worth more than your dignity, but you'll walk away with something even better: bragging rights to having rediscovered Southeast Asia's weirdest and most endearing playground relic.

If you've ever fantasized about spending a night marooned in a swampy paradise among mangroves older than the British monarchy's claim to etiquette, Pulau Selirong is your oddly specific Eden. A mere whisper away from Brunei's coast, this isolated nature reserve is refreshingly devoid of tourist mobs-probably because most rational folks don't actively seek bedtime stories told by mudskippers and fiddler crabs. Yet for those brave enough to swap room service for insect repellent, arriving just before sunset reveals an ecosystem pulsing with psychedelic bird calls and bioluminescent plankton flickering like the disco balls of nature. Book at least two weeks ahead, stockpile snacks and bottled water like a doomsday prepper (the amenities are charmingly non-existent), and budget roughly $50-$100 for permits and boat transfers. Don't forget sturdy shoes, bug spray potent enough to repel mythical beasts, and a flashlight bright enough to scare curious monkeys away from your midnight snack stash. Pulau Selirong is strange, swampy, and probably somewhat uncomfortable-but trust me, it's the most memorable night you'll ever spend regretting your wardrobe choices beneath the rustling embrace of mangrove leaves.