So after a little arrangement with my trusty always-never-pangsei-me shiliang we arranged to meet at Dhoby Ghaut at 1pm. However due to unforeseen circumstances (to be more precise, grand aunties turned up unannounced for visitation and I got a little distracted
I arrived at Dhoby Ghaut finally at 1.20pm and yes, I was 20 minutes late (sorry kid!). And since shiliang was on a self-declared healthy diet (oops was I allowed to say that?), we decided to go with...
I had a footlong Subway Melt (left, extra honey mustard and extra extra mayonnaise thank you very much, not very healthy) while shiliang had a 6 inch Tuna Delight (right, ok lah quite healthy)After finishing our food we were (finally) on our way to the Istana. Cutting through Plaza Singapura we reached Istana only to see...
So bo bian we had to
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| queue... | and queue... | and queue... |
No lah actually we didn't wait that long, haha. The queue moved very fast (what to do we Singaporeans so efficient, even give out money during elections also so fast take back. Efficient or not!) and within 15 minutes the most we were inside the Istana, inclusive of bag checks and metal detectors etc.
The first thing we were greeted by when we stepped into the Istana was...
Can die! Our HDB flats are getting smaller and smaller and this guy has a golf course on his front yard. On prime land no less! But what to do, must look good in front of foreign delegates or they will see us no up (kan bu qi wo men)
So then shiliang and me went trigger happy and started snapping away with our cameras like a bunch of suaku tourists.
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| tourist photo #1 | our foreign male immigrants taking the opportunity to picnic | china kid's stylo hair |
The Guards-Of-Honour also made a minor hoo haa as they marched down hill for the changing of guards when an assemblage of locals, tourists, adults and children alike (myself included) came clamouring after them as if they were dressed up as flamingoes and parading down Orchard road as part of the Chingay troupers. We Singaporeans are so deprived of men in uniforms.
Foreigners were required to make a mandatory $1 donation to the community chest upon entry into the Istana while locals and PR could enter free (of course if you want to donate also can lah!). The community chest was also selling "exclusive" Istana souvenirs (Istana umbrella - $10, Istana postcards - $4, Istana collar pin - $2, Istana fan - $2 etc.) |  |  |  |
| the "exclusive" Istana merchandise | wah so low budget! | tourist photo #2 | me and the guard of honour |
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| shameless me taking a photo with the policeman | tourist photo #3 | tourist photo #4 | me and queen victoria (one boy behind me: why she so fat!) |
And of course how could I forget...
There was also a special tour of the inside of the Istana building for $2 (which went to the community chest as well, you think free meh?). There was the official dining and reception room (photo taking not allowed so sorry no pics) which was rather small, and the main ballroom (also rather small, about the size of my aunt's terrace house's living room) which displayed presents from the head of states of various countries to S.R. Nathan. I have to mention that they seem to be fond of giving rather useless objects like boat models (courtesy of Bahamas), traditional bells (Korea) and silver goblets (England, ala harry potter and the goblet of fire). At least China gave a beautiful tea set that could be used. But of course like shiliang said, "they only for bai sui mah!"
At the end of the day not only did I get blisters but my slippers (actually not mine, my cousin's, which made it even worse!) broke! But of course that didn't deter me from the lure of kinokuniya so...
