Shopping in Brunei is practically a national pastime – Bruneians love to scout the shopping malls searching for the best deals while lamenting the country’s limited variety of retail havens. With pensions for all, education and healthcare on the house, free sport and leisure centres, subsidised houses and cars, short working weeks, the highest minimum wage in the region and income taxes are unheard of, the people of Brunei remain happy with their lot. So it comes as no surprise that high-end purchases from ritzy big brand names such as Versace, Guess etc. are commonplace. The micro-nation’s only traffic jam occurs every night in Gadong, Brunei’s main shopping district, when locals clamour to find parking space for their nightly retail fix.