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The Yayasan Shopping Complex (its full name is Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah) is one of Brunei's most popular shopping centres and centrally located in downtown Bandar near the massive Omar Mosque.
One of the Sultan's lavish projects, Yayasan is beautifully designed in a classic sleek Asian architectural style. Two large air conditioned malls surround a spacious pedestrian area paved in polished granite and an impressive stone fountain.
There is plenty of choice for shopping within the two malls. Both feature supermarkets (downstairs) with a wide range of western and local foods. Both offer department stores and several levels of smaller stores.
Between the malls in the granite paved pedestrian area is a lovely and expensive looking granite fountain. This is a popular hang out spot for locals and the views from here of the Omar Mosque are breath taking both day and night. It can be incredibly hot sitting here during the day as there is no shelter from the sun.
The complex was opened in 1996 and has a good range of clothing boutiques, gift shops, franchise chain stores and restaurants. There is a wide range of stores specialising in sporting goods, shoes and cosmetics.
There are bargains to be had in some of the smaller boutiques and the stalls on the ground floor if you bargain well. Prices are lower than Australia and Europe although if you are heading on to Malaysia or Thailand you will get more for your dollar in those countries.
If you are hungry there are a number of air conditioned coffee shops and small restaurants. There is a reasonably priced food court. You can also get italian food (microwaved lasagne and and spag bol) as well as coffee and cakes at Delifrance. There are several fast food places including KFC and Jollibee.
There is a good range of Brunei cloths and silks as well as traditional headwear and islamic trinkets. There are photo shops which will do one hour prints from film or burn your digital camera memory cards to CD for B$10 per disk. On the upper floors you will find stores selling pirated DVD's and software.
We got a good deal on a Tissot watch at Chang Ein Hong Watch dealers, bargain hard and these guys will come down substantially on their listed prices.
You can also find a big range of VCD's, DVD's and audio CD's in both Malay and Tagalog, including traditional and contemporary music in both malls. There is an internet cafe charging B$3 an hour, ATM machines and a bank. You will get a better exchange rate, however, by leaving Yayasan and changing your money at one of several moneychanger booths located nearby.
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HOTEL RESERVATIONS 
