Asia

Bandar Seri Begawan (pop. 276,000) is the capital and only major city of the Sultanate of Brunei. Brunei is the only true Borneo nation and home to the Sultan of Brunei, one of the richest men in the world. Bandar Seri Begawan has some outstanding landmarks such as the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, traditional wooden river houses and the Royal Family’s Palaces.

Jakarta (pop. 10 million) is Indonesia’s largest city, capital and financial center. It’s located on the island of Java and the most populated city in all of South East Asia. Jakarta is a massive urban sprawl easily identified by its towering, modern skyline and other landmarks like the Istiqlal Mosque, the Merdeka Palace and the Taman Mimi Indonesia Indah.

XTS Rating: 7- Jakarta isn’t on the backpacker’s radar for several reasons- One, it’s a huge urban city with not much to do or see. Two, backpackers are drawn to Indonesia’s more interesting sights and don’t have to pass through the capital due to Indo being an archipelago nation with every island having its own airport. Three, it’s a little expensive because Jakarta, and Indo in general, is booming economically.

The three listings above are true, but that shouldn’t stop you from checking out Jakarta, especially if you’re interested in urban culture. In fact, since it’s not very touristy or even backpackery, it gives you the opportunity to experience its unique blend of Chinese, Muslim and Indo culture, wonder down some photo-perfect back alleys and befriend the locals who are known to be some of the friendliest in the world. If American, be sure to drop Obama’s names and you’ll be eating free the rest of the day. They love the guy since he spent several years of his childhood in there.

The Republic of Singapore (pop. 5 million) is an island city-state located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula between the Johor Straights and the Straits of Malacca. Singapore, which roughly translates to Lion City, gained independence in 1965 and has since grown to become one of the world’s richest countries in terms of GDP PPP. Singapore is recognized worldwide by its massive, modern skyline.

XTS Rating: 2- Singapore sucks. Sure, it’s triumphed to become a first world developed nation, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that there’re numerous authoritarian rules depressing the city. Restrictions on smoking, eating and drinking in public places, chewing gum and even dancing are strictly enforced by law officials and CCTV. If you break other rules, you’ll probably be lashed several times with a long wooden bamboo cane and, in severe cases, be executed. Even more, it’s so expensive that you’ll want to lash yourself with a cane after bankrupting your entire life savings.

However, the ethnic diversity of Singapore is phenomenal. There’s a fusion of Chinese, Indian, Malay and Western cultures, along with strong Buddhist, Taoist, Muslim and Hindu traditions. This mix of diversity has given Singapore a unique flavor in food and culture that can’t be seen in too many places.

KL (pop. 7.5 million) holds the seat of Malaysian Parliament and is also the country’s financial powerhouse. The once sleepy backwater town in the Klang Valley has grown to be an internationally recognized financial center and is one of the fastest growing cities of SE Asia. KL’s skyline towers into the clouds with the infamous Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower and National Mosque of Malaysia.

XTS Rating: 7- KL is cool for its immense diversity. It’s hard to remember what country you’re in sometimes due to the massive amounts of Chinese, Indian, native Malays and other Asian immigrants living in there. Everything from religion, food, language, public holidays and architecture is influenced by the metropolis’ immigrant wave, making it one of the most unique cities in the world. By far the best thing to do is get lost, sample different food and stumble upon a small festival or religious ceremony in one of the city’s ethnic neighborhoods.

The ethnic diversity, unfortunately, has also created problems. Although it goes unnoticed, many locals living there complain that ethnic tension is very present and, in some instances, violent. That coupled with the fact that drinking is regulated makes for a pretty lousy party scene.

Yangon (pop. 4 million) is the former capital and largest city of Myanmar. Yangon (or Rangoon which translates to “End of Strife”) is off many people’s “places to go” lists due to the military junta’s oppression and ailing economy. Nonetheless, the city boasts having SE Asia’s most intact colonial architecture and hundreds of gold plated Buddhist stupas in every direction.

XTS Rating: 8.5- Yangon is one of the world’s best kept secrets. The architecture is as grand as they say since the buildings of downtown are all leftover from the city’s colonial past and there’s zero foreign influence; so you won't find the tacky Golden Arches anywhere. Walking down the streets of Yangon feels like you're in the early 20^th century. There’s also a strong Buddhist influence with a plethora of temples just about everywhere you go. All that plus the kindness of the people and very cheap prices make Yangon an awesome place.

Unfortunately, Myanmar is plagued by a notoriously corrupt, brutal and oppressive government; a factor that no one ever wants to see in a country. They also regularly restrict entry into the nation which can really put a damper on your travel plans.