Sandwiched between the Bornean states of Sabah and Sarawak lies the small, prosperous country of Brunei.

I knew little about Brunei but decided to spend a bit of time there on my trip to Borneo. It turns out that despite it’s small size Brunei has a lot to offer the adventurous and curious traveller.

After weeks of long hikes and getting dirty in the jungle, I decided to take it easy and enjoy the capital city of Brunei – Bandar Seri Begawan. The city itself is a bit sprawling and spacious, but still easy enough to walk around to visit the Mosques and Markets or relax down by the waterfront.

One feature that stood out for me was the accessibility of Tasek Park. A large park built with a series of specially designed jogging trails and even a reflexology walking path for massaging the soles of your feet! Amazing. When I first arrived I imagined how beneficial it would be to have such a park centrally located in every city of the world. I arrived towards the end of the day, as it was getting cooler and people seemed to be finishing work. The park quickly became a hot spot for people going out for a walk with friends or run along the trails.

Steep hills up a mountain, lush flower beds, jungle trails and special jogging paths all gave the park a colourful and welcoming atmosphere. There was a nice playground area for kids and plenty of open spaces and designated areas for group activities like tai chi. Even the local wildlife was enjoying the park as I saw some curious monkeys in nearby trees.

There were people everywhere but it wasn’t crowded at all and you could take off on a smaller trail to get away from the main circuit.

It took me about 1.5 hours to just walk around the main park area and take pictures, but you could spend a half day here just to enjoy it all, especially the soothing waterfall area. Easily one of the best ‘urban’ parks I’ve seen on my travels! There are small shops outside the entrance that sell water and snacks too, which made me realize afterwards how un-commercial it was inside the park, what a welcome relief.

The park went through a big upgrade not long ago and is in great condition. Oddly, there wasn’t a single street seller or beggar in the park either, which made the experience that much more relaxing. If you need a bit of exercise or just a peaceful escape, Tasek Park is the place to go in Brunei.