TCK was dubious, he had never gone to such an open house, and he was wont to go in univited. "How can we simply walk into the istana uninvited!!"
But Uncle David was already in, so we joined....wow! no queue, spacious grounds, manned hawker stalls all around, we could take our pick of any Johorean delicacy!!!
No protocol too..no such thing as 'orang awam' or 'vip' segregation!
We partook of all the delicacies offered!
At the palace grounds, so spacious, big son wandered off, Dad held new baby, while we went off to get Raya goodies
Small Ah E getting food, Emelda, Ryzie and Indon maid already tucking in
Dad seated under the marquee with K now, someone else must have been holding the baby TJ.
Ha ha, Emelda is holding the babe, while I must have been the shutter-bug
Time for a group shot...dunno where big daughter is...must be still enjoying the rendang
The old istana is still intact, there's a modern palace too. There is an orderly queue at one of the hawker stalls, absolutely no jostling and plenty of food to go around.
Posing with palatial collection of artefacts
Then, who should appear but the gracious hostess herself, the consort of the crown prince of Johore: Raja Zarith Sofia. This is the modern part of the palace
Here I "jabat tangan" and "salam" with royal princess: This part of the palace has been featured in Women's Weekly, together with her family.
So nice of her to be on hand to greet her guests,
No insanely long qs outside, and the minimal of guards
unlike the time we queued to get in to the istana
or at the Official residence of PM at Putrajaya
(queue started in the car itself!)
Note the descreet security, totally stress-free for us.
We are now leaving the istana after having a nice open feast, better than our originally planned dim sum breakfast.
The TMJ?
We did not get to meet him that day.
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