The first place we went was the field next to the Wisma where the elephants were. We had the opportunity to touch the elephants. The elephant keeper even gave Ling a piece of bread to feed one of the elephants! Met many people we knew! They were out with their families to witness this historic moment. After all, you don't really get an opportunity like this every year!
While waiting for the procession to start, Lil Rainbow got tired and Siah's legs became the convenient chair.
But some came prepared...with 'bangku' for the little one to sit. 8)
These are the 3 bands taking part. Asma, Keat Hwa I and Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid. They marched off 5 minutes apart.
The cavalry and the bahtera....horses looked magnificent. The sultan and sultanah sit in the bahtera.
The prefects from selected schools...I think they were from Kolej and Keat Hwa I...(but not 100% sure)
The unsung heroes... these people follow the procession with a big bin and some spades. They scoop up whatever the animals in the procession leave behind... 8)
The Sultan and Sultanah... must say the Sultan looks good for a man his age. He's 80+ this year.
The procession was a bit short, which is too bad. I feel it should be longer. After all, you don't find many sultans who reign this long. It is a historic moment!After the procession, the crowd went to the concourse at the Wisma to check out the new fountains. I saw this concept in Singapore quite some time back. Kids can play here.... should be quite fun for them. But we didn't get a chance to stay long cos it started pouring soon after. The rain chased everyone away!
We tried making our way to the Balai Nobat, opposite Masjid Zahir but the traffic was too heavy. We had to turn back after making it to Sentosa side.Anyway, at night there was a fireworks display in Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid. Went there and there was a small crowd there.
The 'rakyat' turned out today.... all races! We need celebrations like this...it brings the people together. It gives rise to hope that the different races do come together...that the people, regardless of their race consider this Sultan theirs. It's time our country move towards a Malaysian Malaysia, where her citizens are not known first as Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans, Kelabits...but just Malaysians. Racial politics should be a thing of the past. It's time to move forward and face the challenges of the 21st century as one single entity!
Related Posts:
Videos From the Royal Golden Jubilee
Sultan Kedah's Golden Jubilee
2 comments:
Wah, you posted this so soon. Immediately after the procession. I don't need to join the crowd and yet I can see what's happening. Thanks to you.
Great job! Thanks for sharing. Was planning (repeat: was planning!) to join the crowd but we overslept :-( By the time we moved out, didn't catch a glimpse of anything. The only thing we caught was the traffic jam!!!
Post a Comment