Brunei

Before visiting Brunei, I knew almost nothing about it. I saw there was a cheap direct flight from Ho Chi Minh City that fit perfectly into my Southeast Asia itinerary, so I decided to book it. The country felt every bit as remote as its location on the island of Borneo would suggest, with dense jungle, quiet roads, and very few tourists. The most memorable stop was the Royal Regalia Museum. Back in the 1990s, the Sultan of Brunei was widely considered the richest man in the world, and the museum is filled with remarkable gifts presented to him by world leaders, each reflecting the culture and traditions of the country it came from.

I also happened to be there during Christmas, but public Christmas celebrations were banned under the country’s strict interpretation of Islamic law. As a result, the holiday passed with almost none of the festive atmosphere I had grown up with in the U.S. It was a reminder that even something as familiar as Christmas can look completely different depending on where you are in the world.