Locals affectionately call Seria the "Black Gold" town, in memory of the fact that it was the place where oil was first discovered in Brunei in 1929. The occurrence was responsible for jumpstarting the country on the path of wealth and prosperity which it now enjoys. In fact, because of it, Brunei has one of the highest standards of living in the world, rivaling even that of the United States and Japan. Some even dub it as the "Shelltown" because it is the headquarters of the famed Brunei Shell Petroleum Company.
Seria is not all about oil-drilling, however. Actually, plenty of sights can still be seen in the city, although some of them are admittedly pretty much related to the oil industry. A tourist's first stop would likely to be the Oil and Gas Discovery Center, a nod to Seria's oil history. Inside, one will be entertained with interactive shows that tell the story before and after the discovery of the so-called "black gold."
Visitors can't miss the bizarre Billionth Barrel Monument which commemorates the billionth barrel of oil harvested from the oil fields of the city. One can only imagine how many more barrels have been produced over the succeeding years.
For the non-oil related content, there is the Pekan Seria Mosque - considered as the first of its kind in Brunei. It dazzles with the beautiful dome design featured prominently in its architecture. In addition, one can find the Jalan Maulana Roundabout which showcases a unique nodding donkey. Bird-lovers will definitely love the nearby Sungei Seria Estuary that is full of migrating birds in season, especially the beautiful hornbills.
Finally, one can unwind after a long day of explorations at the Jubilee Recreation Park, which was established by the Brunei Shell Petroleum Company in honor of the Sultan's Silver Jubilee Year. It features blue-water lagoons and recreational facilities that families are sure to enjoy.