Istana...

Istana, the President of Singapore's house (which would be the equivalent of our White House), is open to the public a couple days a year. So on Hari Raya Puasa day we decided to check it out. It's a public holiday so Jason and Mayah both had the day off...we first went to get some lunch in one of the hawker centers to show my mom some of the local culture. A hawker center is a food centre with a bunch of little booths set up with local food. I was also excited to show her how crazy it is in the city with the MILLIONS of people that live here...basically like living and walking in a constant mob (not fun with kids). Jason wasn't thrilled about the idea of going to the President's house so he took Connor and Ava home (definitely the best decision of the day), while Mayah, Grammy and I trekked it up to Istana. The main thing I remember about it was the long walk all the way up to the actual house, the heat and humidity, Mayah complaining the entire time, and the disappointment of not really being able to walk around in the house and really see it. It was something to say I've done, but nothing I'll do again! Jason just laughed at us when we got home and were miserable from all the walking and gave us the look of "I told you so!!" Oh yea, it is also worth mentioning that this was the day after my mom arrived in SG and she was still up for being dragged around the city with jet lag-crazy! Despite the long miserable day we did get some good pictures :-)

The grounds were beautiful
This is Mayah's true expression pretty much the whole time...even with her ice cream!
Here is Mayah's smile after I threatened to eat her ice cream if she didn't smile for the picture.

She was smiling in these ones b/c I was holding her.

She was happy and energetic on the way down b/c 1) it was downhill and 2) we were FINALLY on our way home.