Turn the lights down low…

My absolute favorite shot from a sunset shoot at the beach over the weekend. Taken knee deep in water with just a hint of the final rays of the sunset in the background…

Here’s an interesting snippet I came across here:

“The official website of the Brunei government currently claims the country is hoping to attract one million visitors, doubling the previous year’s arrivals. The problem is that the announcement is dated 2000.

That’s not the only sign that Brunei isn’t really in top gear despite the rhetoric. An e-mail to the tourist bureau seeking an interview with a spokesperson was bounced because the mailbox hadn’t been emptied. A visit to the office during advertised opening hours found the place shut.

All this sounds negative, but in fact it’s a plus for those who want a relaxed crowd-free holiday. Make the most of the quiet because the tiny Sultanate at the top of the island of Borneo and hemmed in by the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah, has much to offer that’s easily accessible…”

Kinda makes one wonder about that double-edged comment… I like it but at the same time it makes me cringe. The author goes on to describe Brunei from the perspective of an aging “omputih” academic with the wrong expectations from the onset (see comparison of night tour with a Soho or Kings Cross pub crawl)

He ends with a rather interesting assessment: “Not bad for a cashed-up eco-minded couple’s mid-life honeymoon if all they want is to be left alone.” I’m sure these people should be one of our target segments, but many others will enjoy Brunei too. Just take a look at this travel doco on Brunei Darussalam and you’ll see why I think so.