Al-Akbar Mosque in Surubaya
Our first stop in Java, Indonesia was the Al-Akbar Mosque in Surubaya. A beautiful structure with an elaborate, and beautiful blue dome, both inside and out.
I felt very welcome here. People seemed eager to greet the westerners with the cameras. We respectfully removed our shoes before entering the courtyard, where there were several men sleeping. It is a custom to allow travelers to rest at the mosques.
When we stepped inside the main room, a security guard politely asked if we were Muslim and apologetically asked us to step outside. We were permitted to take photos from the doors and balcony above.
Sadly, this mosque is near the locations where a Muslim family, radicalized in Syria, chose to blow themselves up at three churches, two days after I took these photos, which was the Sunday that I returned to Surubaya. The family intentionally blew up their own young children in their suicide bombing.
The newspaper headlines read "We Are United" against this radicalism. I want to emphasize that we were always treated with respect.
Read MoreI felt very welcome here. People seemed eager to greet the westerners with the cameras. We respectfully removed our shoes before entering the courtyard, where there were several men sleeping. It is a custom to allow travelers to rest at the mosques.
When we stepped inside the main room, a security guard politely asked if we were Muslim and apologetically asked us to step outside. We were permitted to take photos from the doors and balcony above.
Sadly, this mosque is near the locations where a Muslim family, radicalized in Syria, chose to blow themselves up at three churches, two days after I took these photos, which was the Sunday that I returned to Surubaya. The family intentionally blew up their own young children in their suicide bombing.
The newspaper headlines read "We Are United" against this radicalism. I want to emphasize that we were always treated with respect.
