Brunei> Back to Malaysia

Heading down the Brunei homestretch as I write this. Our visit here, while brief, has included some astounding architecture, opulence, and out of hand wealth. We spent the evening touring with a guide who approached us while I was taking copious pictures of Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque at sunset. He drove us to take more pictures of an even larger mosque, that of the current sultan, the Jame'Asr Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque . Of course, that one only can contain 5,000 worshipers. Much to small for the sultan, who only visits the Jame'Asr around 10 times a year [but still has his own private entrance, complete with an escalator, that can only be used by him!]. So our guide Abdul also took us past the sultan's palace, the Istana Nural Iman, which we overlooked from a park and dined on Indian and Chinese food we picked up at a local street market. How big is this palace? How about 1788 rooms, 200 toilets, and a banquet hall that seats 4000. Price tag? $350US. And the private mosque? Big enough to hold 8000 of the faithful. This morning we also toured the Royal Regalia Museum after more tasty indian food. Last night's tour also included driving by some of the homes of the prince and princess's houses. The "smallest one" included a 20+ car garage. I almost forgot all the other people in the country. Very nice, very friendly, and many live in villages on stilts on the water front, in an area called Kampung Ayer.

Off to Kuala Lumpur tonight, then Penang in the morning.