Seria, Brunei

With a population of just 21,082, Seria is a small oil town where the British oil company Brunei Shell Petroleum has long held sway. Despite the financial growth driven by the oil industry, the overall welfare of the local population has only marginally improved, as the British colonial policy kept the indigenous population insulated from the disruptive effects of rapid development. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the 1951 strike over wages that led to the disbandment of the local security force. Yet, for those drawn to Seria's unique environment, where the oil company operated almost like a state within a state, the town may hold a certain appeal.