Malaysia (Covid-19 National Recovery Phase 4 - My Staycation No 19 to Royal Museum, Old National Palace, Kuala Lumpur) Friday Dec 10 2021

Old National Palace (Istana Negara), Jalan Istana, Kuala Lumpur 

The Throne Hall, Royal Museum, Old National Palace (Istana Nagara)
 Jalan Istana, Kuala Lumpur 

The Gallery, Royal Museum
Old National Palace (Renovation in progress)

The New National Palace, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, Segambut, KL
which opened in 2011 replaced the Old Istana Negara (visited on Oct 15 2012)

" My Staycation & Jalan Jalan (Walkabout) free & easy visit (10.30>12.30) together with my wife to the Royal Museum, Istana Negara (Old National Palace), Kuala Lumpur on Friday Dec 10 2021, traveling by own vehicle (using Waze); my 19th outdoor trip after a National Lockdown (Movement Control Order / Emergency) imposed by the Malaysian Government on May 5 2021 due to a spike in Covid-19 cases, a National Vaccination Campaign is currently being implemented by the Malaysian Government (Phase 1 started in Feb 2021, as at Dec 8 2021, a total of 23.7 million people or 97.1% of the adult population in Malaysia have completed their Covid-19 vaccinations); Selangor (my home state) is now placed under the National Recovery Phase 4 (NRP4) starting from Monday Oct 11 2021 hence the Malaysian Government has eased restrictions allowing individuals with vaccination certificate or card for inter-state travels, dine-in restaurants, hotel accommodations & homestays, outdoor activities etc)

Total expenses incurred: Rm15 (US$3.50, petrol); Subang Jaya to Istana Negara (Old National Palace, Kuala Lumpur is approx 21km (one way). 

 

TGIF (Thank God Is Friday Dec 10 2021) - a lucky day for me as my 3 or 4 attempts to visit Royal Museum, Old National Palace had not been successful in recent past due to the Movement Control Control (MCO) imposed by the Malaysian Government in 2020 & 2021 caused by the dreadful Covid-19 pandemic, but this morning, in accompanying my wife to Kuala Lumpur for a medical appointment & on our way home, I took the opportunity & showed up at the Royal Museum along Jalan Istana, the former National Palace & former residence of the Yang di-Pertua Agong or King) of Malaysia (the old National Palace has seen 7 out of 13 coronations of the Agong) before it was officially closed on Nov 2011; the old Istana Palace stands on a 13 acre site located on a commanding position on the slope of a hill of Bukit Petaling overlooking the Klang River, along Jalan Syed Putra, the old Istana was built in 1928 as a private residence for a Chinese tin tycoon called Chan Wing, the palace was acquired by the Malaysian Government in 1957 ! 

The entrance fee (Rm5=US$1.20 for Malaysian adults & Rm3 for senior citizens) was waived as the main Gallery is currently under renovation but the Throne Hall is opened for free public viewing, visitors have to take off the shoes before entering the Throne Hall, low visitors turnout at the time of our visit !  

1) Front entrance of the Royal Museum, Old National Palace (Istana Negara), Jalan Istana, Kuala Lumpur & the surrounding. 

2) Old National Palace (Istana Negara), Jalan Istana, Kuala Lumpur 

3) The main Galley is closed due to a renovation in progress, hence unable to view the Reception Hall, Royal bedrooms, Sleeping Chambers, Reading room, Dining Hall, Resting Lounge of the King, the Royal Office etc (so I only win half of the battle), I may have to make another visit in 2022 when the museum is fully opened to the public ! 

4) Lush green garden, Old National Palace (Istana Nagara), Kuala Lumpur  

5) External compound of the Old National Palace (Istana Negara), Jalan Istana, Kuala Lumpur 

6) Throne Hall, Royal Museum, Jalan Istana, Kuala Lumpur - elaborately furnished with extravagant use of yellow, the royal colour & plenty of gold leaf, the floor is fully carpeted ! Free admission ! 

7) The Conference of Rulers Meeting Room, Royal Museum, Jalan Istana, Kuala Lumpur 

8) Exhibits in Royal Museum, Jalan Istana, Kuala Lumpur 

The new National Palace (Istana Negara) is the official residence of the Yang di Pertuan Agung, the monarch of Malaysia, this golden-domed palace was opened in  2011 & replaced the old Istana Negara which I visited on Friday Dec 10 2021. On Oct 15 2011, together with my travel buddies, KF Wong & Thompson Tham, our group visited the new National Palace, very magnificent looking indeed ! A great outcome for me having seen both the Old & New National Palace (Istana Negara) in 2021, a difficult year amidst a Covid-19 pandemic !  

Tuesday Dec 7 2021 - an earlier sunrise before the start of my morning (07.00) walk in front of my house in SS17, Subang Jaya, Selangor; LIFE is getting up an hour early to live an hour more ! 

Monday Dec 6 2021 - completed my booster dose (Pfizer) in Klinik Iman, USJ Heights Avenue, Selangor, expiry date for this 3rd dose is April 30 2022. In June 2021, I had completed 2 Sinovac doses in Setia City Convention Centre, Shah Alam, Selangor.