So, the week before we went there, Papa and I decided that we should take you guys there, to experience and appreciate the architecture, grandeur and Malay culture at its best! And thus, I began to google to know more about the palace, the location plan and everything about it that may be useful because we're not very familiar with the roads and streets of Kuala Lumpur - one wrong turn might take us miles and miles away from the intended location and then struggling to read the map and listening to GPS and following the instructions and then you'll find that the exit is closed due to constructions and the GPS won't cooperate! Okay, you get the idea?
And lost we did! Hahaha... after a few turns we managed to arrived to the destination - albeit through the rear gate. Hahaha.. And we entered the compound and parked our car and I remembered feeling "hmm... that was easy, not many people around and ample parking spaces. Wow!" And only after we finished our tour that I realized that the gate and the parking slots are actually for the staff and officials only. But luckily no one came and ordered us out although the guards were there! So, we can make the wrong turns and entered the wrong gates again next time. Hahaha...
I was (as usual) mesmerized and in awe of the palace. It looks small (for a palace) but once inside, there were so many rooms to visit, enjoy and appreciate. Although it was originally a mansion of a Chinese millionaire who then sold it to the government, it is HUGE! And the decorations and furniture are truely fit for Kings. Each room is the size of our entire house! And there are many rooms, once used for many functions and occasions. If only the rooms could speak, they'd tell us of the many different Kings and their consorts, interesting people and events, famous personalities and dignitaries, the gossips including hushed-hushed tales, if any, and so many other stories!
Meen ran around here and there. Tareeq seemed indifferent but followed the tour. Nina was trying to be cool. Asha was really interested in the architecture. Despite the different reactions, I was just glad that we spent the weekend together as a family.
The back road that leads to the rear gate.
I was trying to capture the insignia.
Why I didn't take the picture after we parked the car was beyond my comprehension too!
Favourite pose at the parking area.
Another one with me this time.
Nina always photobombed me!
Then, the walk to the main building. There were quite a number of tourists that day.
Meen was waiting for me.
When we arrived at the lobby/porch/foyer, we were told that we needed to buy the entrance tickets.
So, we had to wait while Tareeq went to buy the tickets at the main entrance.
The tickets were quite cheap - about RM5.00.
We didn't know about the tickets because we came through the back.
And while waiting, it's posing time, again.
Tareeq was still not here. So, we took the liberty to wander around the compound and took more pictures.
This fountain is in front of the porch. But there was no water. Only two girls trying to strike a friendly pose.
Another picture because Tareeq really took a while. It was a long walk to the main entrance.
In the background is a large lawn/field beautifully maintained.
Another one, now using the main building as the background.
Yellow is the color of royalties in Malaysia.
This is the spot where the King or foreign dignitaries would inspect a guard of honour,
before proceeding inside.
My focus was actually on the chandelier.
But I also didn't want to disappoint these two photo freaks.
While we were busy taking pictures, Papa and Asha were getting bored and not in the least bit interested to join us.
Now Nina was getting bored. There were actually too many people at the ticket booth.
And Papa would always smile at me!
Asha moved her boredom to another spot.
Meen was restless. Luckily she was excited about being in pictures.
So, I snapped away to take her mind off the present situation.
This was taken after the tour inside the palace. Tourists are not allowed to take photos inside.
I'm not sure why. So, we were lucky to be there to experience such beauty.
Another one with Nina in the picture. There were so many beautiful angles and we couldn't put everything here.
One more from us before we moved on to the next area.
It's a disappointment really because we couldn't take pictures inside.
I'm not good at describing the intricate details of the architecture or expressing the feeling felt once inside.
Some pictures would be nice, though. Pictures speak a thousand words.
After we went home, I told my friend of our tour and he said that when he was there some times ago, tourists were allowed to take pictures. I guess not anymore.
This swimming pool is closed to the public.
It looks to me more like a mausoleum with a pool. Hee hee hee.
We had to go down a very steep flight of garden stairs to get to the pool area.
It's gated but not guarded. This area is next to the large garden lawn.
Tareeq is never bored of Meen. The elder girls are not keen to entertain Meen.
That's why she always looks for Tareeq in time of need.
The wooded area in the background is part of the palace compound.
We could hear birds of different species chirping and competing with the sound of vehicles.
Everybody was ready and Nina was always too ready!
We came down here because the only public toilet available is here, just a few meters away.
There were many people at the toilet and the smell was ...... indescribable!
Maybe the authority handling the palace should use this toilet once in a while - or maybe using it always,
you know, just to get the feel of what other people had to go through or endure (a more accurate word).
That's the stairs I was talking about. The palace is behind the foliage, away from prying eyes.
However, right in front of the palace is actually the federal road and is always busy with vehicles.
So, there's no serenity there. Just a majestic building in the midst of the hustle and bustle of city life.
It was actually a treat to be able to visit the palace, a building we only normally see on TV and only the selected and lucky few were able and allowed to enter. So, next time, let's visit other palaces for other similar feelings and hopefully richer experience. After all, Meen always wants to be a princess. So, let's just entertain her dreams while she's still young and entertain us too - the young at heart.
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