Mentiri, Brunei

Mentiri feels like a quiet administrative zone with industrial edges. The Salar Industrial Park dominates the local economy, and you'll see more factory workers than tourists. Don't expect expat cafes or international schools—Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja is the only secondary school here, and the Saudi Embassy is the lone diplomatic outpost.

Living in Mentiri means accepting Brunei's strict Islamic laws (no alcohol, limited nightlife) and a landscape that's half urban sprawl, half coastal scrubland. The islands off the north coast—Pulau Salar, Pulau Simangga Besar—are undeveloped. This place works if you're posted here for industrial work or government contracts, but digital nomads will find it stifling.