Vania C.
Yelp
I've never been to a mosque before so this was quite a new and interesting experience for me. The mosque is located right near Arab Street and conveniently located in between Little India, Arab Quarter, and near Bugis Junction. I basically walked everywhere that day - from the Mosque to Malay Heritage Center to Bugis and later to Marina Bay Sands.
I was to meet a friend in Singapore but her flight was to land later that night so I went to go explore by myself for a bit. The mosque is really something - beautiful gold design and a bold structure. It is a grand building. The staff are also extremely nice - one lady offered to take me in and show me around; she also took pictures for me and with me when I asked. I knew that girls had to dress very conservatively when visiting the mosque but the weather was just so hot I couldn't help but walk around in shorts and a tank top. Because of this, I expected I wouldn't be allowed to go inside the mosque. Most of the female tourists I saw coming out from the mosque were wearing scarves and the Arab women were covered from head to toe. However, I decided to walk up and try to go in all the same. Fortunately, the mosque provides a long dress robe for visitors who are not "appropriately dressed." I was actually estatic - I love wearing cultural clothing when I am visiting new countries.
The mosque is very quiet and solemn. The praying area in the center of the mosque is blocked off but you can watch from the sides. It was such an interesting sight. There are also two small galleries near the entrances where they explain the religion, history, and practice of Islam. I spoke to one volunteer for nearly an hour and a half, just asking questions. He was very kind and patient, and even offered me two small books to read. (He might have been trying to convert (or "revert" as I learned) me but he was otherwise very open-minded when I expressed my own opinions on certain matters.) The visit to the mosque was educational and enlightening, and I would recommend visiting even if only as a tourist spot.