Brunei Adventure Mosques

Jame'Asr Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque.

We were photograhing the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, in Bandar Seri Begawan, minding our own business when a nice local man started chatting. He told us that he could take us to a bigger mosque which was beatiful at night time. Even more beautiful than the Omar Ali Saifuddien mosque. At first I was reluctant, I carried on taking photos. Ruth carried on talking and negotiating. Eventually a deal was struck and we climbed into the gentleman's relatively new four wheel drive for a night time tour. It turned out to be a very pleasant evening with a most informative guide. We got to see the largest Mosque in Brunei, the Sultan's Palace, from the outside and completed a drive-by of some of the grandest royal homes.

Strolling the brightly lit grounds,
Turning each corner, beauty abounds.
Gardens immaculately groomed.
Peacefulness and serenity,
With many a photographic opportunity.

We could not venture inside this time, but we were free to wander anywhere outside.
There were many corners and angles within the well kept gardens. Apparently the white marble staircases came from Italy. The crystal chandeliers came from Switzerland. The gold on the domes is 24 carat. All of the materials used on this Mosque are of the finest quality. No expense was spared.

Brunei, clean and welcoming.
Safe for everyone to wander.
Very quiet after 8.00pm.
Leaving time for reflection.

The Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque.

It may not be the biggest mosque in Brunei but it certainly commands respect. Throughout our day spent exploring Bandar Seri Begawan we were continually presented with different views of it.

This is the first Mosque that I have ventured into. I felt welcomed and did not feel as though I was intruding. The people of Brunei are laid back, relaxed and make you feel welcome.They genuinely enjoy chatting with tourists. There was no pressure to spend and it was not bustling making this a great destination for our CNY holiday.

Stunningly white,
Cutting through dark shadows,
Rising out of azure blue skies.
One passes this place in awe.

Interesting curves, angles and shapes
Capturing the imagination.
Which ever way you look at it,
This is a spectacular building.

Night time settles and the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque continues to dominate its surroundings.
We found the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque to be spectacular under any light, at any time. It is close to the centre of town and the lagoon provides a different perspective to the building.

Under the cloak of darkness,
Lights illuminate beauty,
What was spectacular in the light of day,
Radiates as a precious gem.

Brunei National Day is on 23 February. We noticed that there was a lot of activity happening in Bandar Seri Begawan, especially around the stadium. Where ever you stand in the Stadium there were enormous banners depicting the 29th Sultan of Brunei. The locals have a lot of pride in their country and they have good reason to. We found it be very clean, very safe and generally a great place to visit.

Two Mosques both beautiful,
As for which was more beautiful,
you can be the judge.