Mosques of Brunei

A day in the life of royalty 

Muslim mosques are found everywhere in Brunei.  One of my favorites is the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, named after the 28th Sultan of Brunei. The central dome is made of pure gold and sparkles beautifully against the sun’s rays.  The mosque incorporates Italian and Mughal architectural styles and sits in an artificial lagoon with marble bridges leading to the structure.  I especially like the reflection of the mosque in the still water during sunset.  To really see how the royalty lives in Brunei, a trip to the Royal Regalia Musuem is a must.  Everything from the gifts to the king to chariots in the royal parades can be found.  The Jame’asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque is the largest in Brueni, built for the commemoration of the Silver Jubilee of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah as Sultan. The marble minarets and gold domes of the mosque stand out in the picturesque scenery which is filled with lush greenery and flowers.

Brunei

Kingdom on Borneo 

The kingdom of long-nosed monkeys, lush mangrove and rainforests, and rich oil reserves-this is Brunei.  I visited this laid-back country and was surprised at its lack of developments even though it is one of the richest countries in the world.  This small country on Borneo is well-known for its oil industry, which is largely dominated by Shell.  Crude oil and natural gas production makes up 90% of the country’s GDP.  I was expecting to see highrises with elaborate architecture and design in this rich country, but was surprised at the flat terrain and simple way of living led by those living with Brunei.  It was interesting to learn from locals that the wealth of the country is distributed quite evenly to the citizens.  Did you know that free education extends through to university, even for university abroad?  Citizens also get free medical care and subsidized housing!  But one thing that I found quite annoying was the lack of public transportation and the huge amount of cars in this small country-not surprising with the cheap oil.  However, this was made up by the delicious and affordable Malaysian inspired cuisines found everywhere, at restaurants and especially night markets which is filled street food like nasi katok (rice with spicy gravy and chicken wrapped in paper) and seasonal fruits such as king bananas, durian, and rambutan.  What you won't find is alcohol though in this Muslim country. More on Brunei on my next blog!