Weekly Review: January 7, 2017

Lucky,

is that picture from The Empire Hotel and Country Club in Brunei?

Lucky - will you do a year end wrap up?

Number of points you redeemed
Number of points you spent
Cash paid for revenue tickets/hotels
Best/Worst redemption/flight/hotel

I'm hoping you'll post the trip report involving ANA business and first class, from October!

I had forgotten about the ANA flights! So a big +1 @David W

Though, I doubt Lucky will now have the time to put that trip report together.

Just an observation - your category: "Travel with Lucky" is deceiving, as some of those posts are from Tiffany. Don't get me wrong, I love Tiffany's writing, and find her to be refreshing, but, it seems disingenuous to put that under "Travel with Lucky", one logically would assume that those are Lucky's posts, not someone else's.

As one gay man to another, I have to say I'm stunned at your proclivity for cheerily promoting countries with the most draconian laws against homosexuality.

The penalty for homosexual behavior in Brunei is DEATH BY STONING.

One has to wonder if you possess even the tiniest degree of social consciousness. Or is your life just about quaffing endless flutes of Champagne while seeking airline bedding with the highest possible thread count?

@ Super VC10 -- Well, no, clearly that's not what my life is about, or else I wouldn't have flown a dry airline to get here, would I? See here for my logic on why I travel to countries like this:
https://onemileatatime.com/countries-gay-illegal/

Lucky,

Your travels are becoming very interesting. Switching from the same old bubble of high class travel to places and people that live everyday life. I wish you would start writing trip reports too more often. Not taking Uber from here to there, but a taxi or bus, standing in line, staying in airbnb etc.

HI Lucky,

Glad to see you've made it to Brunei. While the island of Borneo might be one of my favorite places on Earth, I wouldn't personally describe Brunei as the island's highlight. That being said, I hope you get a chance to walk around Kampong Ayer, maybe take the speed boat over to Temburong, or even just have a coffee on BSB's waterfront.

Brunei's an interesting and friendly place for a few days. Enjoy your time there.

If you have time in Dubai and want to visit the real heart of Dubai away from the mallls and bling, let me know, will be glad to show you around 🙂

@Lucky - will you get some time to explore Bandar Seri Begawan?

The arts and crafts center sells some lovely textiles and Brunei made goods. It's along that main road on the waterfront, to the left if you're looking at the floating village from the city. There's a bus you can take from Empire into town which costs a dollar.

And for all those people giving Lucky grief about visiting Brunei and being gay and threatening to report him to authorities - get a life and learn about international relations!

The last thing Brunei would do is piss off the US government by arresting an American citizen over something like that if he's minding his own business in his hotel traveling solo.

Brunei and the US have a good relationship (visa waiver country, defense cooperation on South China Sea issues, etc.) that they wouldn't want to jeopardize with the current and new administration about to come in.

While it's true that is the law in Brunei on the books and Americans are subjected to the laws of the country they are in, enforcement and applicability of that in practice is is another story.

The Brunei authorities aren't stupid, it's not some backwater country with incompetent people at the top running it.

I find it despicable that in the 21st century there are still countries which take legal action against gay people. I am genuinely concerned for your safety, lucky and hope nothing goes wrong during ur stay, but I would advise not to go visiting countries where it is clear that you're not welcome because of your sexuality.

@Lucky - big fan of your blog and not trying to be a troll, but I thought I should point out that in the link you provided in response to @Super VC10, you specific cite Brunei as a place you wouldn't feel comfortable travelling to. Since that reference post is only a year old, I guess the question becomes - what has changed (either in Brunei or in your thinking on the matter)? Safe travels!