[what a way to party]
the difference between organising and being invited is a very big difference... orgaising means you have to be on duty where your boss wants you to be... means staying in the not so hot spots and ushering people... being invited means you have the means to wander around and see what you want to see...

and so, i present the istana garden party...

the routine starts when you enter the gates of the istana... then you go through the necessary security checks...

the journey begins...

you then take a mini bus up the pathway, a long and winding road, into the bowels of the istana... there, the majestic building awaits.... as you alight, you end up at the foot of the building and can only wonder what is inside... then slowly, mps and ministers stroll out... and click and flash, and smiles and crowds...

and one important thing to carry around is a camera... so you can capture the magnificent scenery and ambience...

when i arrived, i saw transport minister yeo cheow tong... then george yeo strolled in... and mayor zainal...



then slowly, other ministers arrive...

then the prime minister comes from the garden suddenly taking everyone by surprise.... then in a matter of seconds, he is surrounded by hoardes of people...



and then, our senior minister arrives...



and when the president's car strolls onto the driveway, the prime minister is ready to greet him... simultaneously, minister mentor walks past the president and heads towards the carpark with some seven bodyguards in tow in an array formation... now, that is cool...

then when the action dies down at the top, you head down a flight of stairs to the garden for food... and also group photos with your fellow grassroots leaders with the respective mp or minister...



the food was served under a large tarpaulin tent... with several interaction areas marked with yellow numbers...



so i went over and volunteered to help my senior manager with some hougang photos.... several groups could be seen around the various 'celebrities' at the istana...

and then, some photos of the surroundings...



and the istana at night...



and yes, this is a yearly affair for some several thousand grassroots leaders...