Random Play by Graham Reid

Brunei? Isn't everything paved with gold?
Know next to nothing about the place, but I can tell you that when you're in Sabah you should check out Pilau Tiga (otherwise known as Survivor Island - one of those unfortunate "it's been on the telly, so that's what everyone calls it now" things) which is south of Kota Kinabalu by a few hours drive. Awesome beach, and a fun mud hotpool at the top of the island (oh, and Snake Island - where all the snakes go).
Or, if you're feeling a little more energetic try walking up the mountain. It's an overnight trip, is pretty cheap and gives A-MAZING views. It's the highest peak in SE Asia and is worth the climb.
Orrrr, go diving somewhere.
Or visit the Orangutangs.
Did that sound like something from the Visit Malaysia promo? Sorry, just got back from there and had an awesome time. I've been generally trying to entice people to go over there for trips. Sabah doesn't get the tourist trade quite as much as the rest of Malaysia, mostly 'cos it's seen as remote, so it's a bit more laid back and quiet.

Damn - Pulau Tiga (not Pilau Tiga). Idiot

When I was like, 12 or something (3rd form) we went on a school camp into the Malaysian jungle.

We learnt how to make traps to kill a "large animal" (the sort of traps you trip a wire and a large branch with long sharp stakes attached to it swings out and gets a "large animal" in the belly, as long as the "large animal is about 5'9")

We learnt how to cook snake, get water from vines, remove leeches from our body, scorpions from our shoes and survive on expired army rations.

When I moved back to NZ, we went on 4th form camp out the back of Wainuiomata and learnt how to toast marshmallows. Sigh.

I am happy to pass on any of the above knowledge to you G.

Brunei is a lawless place where bandits operate with impunity beyond city limits. I'd suggest you stick to the 5 star resorts and not leave poolside (you're S.O.P . anyway, I gather). It might be prudent to go to Herne Bay and have pictures taken of yourself at the gate of the residence formerly owned by The Sultan of Brunei. That way, if you are kidnapped and held for ransom you can tell them you're a friend of the Sultan's and he will burn their village unless they let you go immediately.

And watch out for the camels, they bite.

<heh heh>

The Brunei dollar is roughly the same rate as the NZ dollar.

They have a sultan - maybe that's why people think they're in the middle east?

Just went through my childhood stamp collection earlier this year - I remember getting my first Brunei stamp and finding out where that was. Sadly must acknowledge that this meant asking my mum and dad, not hauling myself off to the library like a good little autodidact.

Do many children collect stamps now? Perhaps learning about other cultures by having internet friends from them is the closest present-day equivalent? And having mostly American friends in your WoW guild is the equivalent of having mostly NZ stamps in your collection?

(We went on a school camp in Wainuiomata too! It rained, and some people got food poisoning, and I melted a bit of Kirsten W's suitcase by spilling Dimp on it. Sorry, Kirsten.)

First time I've ever seen stamp collecting referenced to WOW guilds.

thats another one off the list.

They have a sultan - maybe that's why people think they're in the middle east?

Yes. Also, known as a former "richest man in the world", from oil. I always thought Brunei was in the middle east. Shames!

oh WOW you write for public address? I'm so starstruck right now. You've just gone up like 50 places in my book of cool ppl. :D