On special occasions, Singapore's President's palace, the Istana, is open to the public. The occasion this weekend is Singapore's 40th anniversary of independence from Malaysia, from August 9, 1965. The country is feverishly preparing to celebrate, complete with fireworks for practically a week leading up to the big night. The fervor is really contagious, and the country seems so sincerely proud of their independence...it does not have a braggardly or in your face affair, even though every facet of local life in the last week has been tinted with National Day pride. For a mere dollar to get into the grounds, four dollars for bottled water in the baking sun, and two more to walk through a loop in the palace, it was a pretty darn interesting way to spend an afternoon. Inside the palace were displays of the gifts other countries have given to Singapore over its 40 years of Independence. The US gave a Frederick Remington, which I find a little odd for some reason. Interestingly, most of the gifts from the industrialized first world nations were kitsch you find in tourist shops everywhere, just dipped in silver or gold. There was a gold Eiffel Tower, a Silver boat from Bahrain, and a Gold palm tree from Quwait. Each was relatively small, about the size of small bookcase decoration. Interestingly, it was the gifts from poorer countries that were the most elaborate and sizable - like the giant beaten silver ornate bowl from Myanmar, or the twin vases from Vietnam that were as tall as I am, an intricate (again) silver village from Indonesia, or the blended Hindu/Buddhist sculpture from Nepal. This building used to be the governor's palace when Singapore was a British colony. Interestingly, the life-sized statue of Queen Elizabeth that had been in the foyer during British years is now out in the garden in a gazebo setting. It is still pretty, but looks literally like they have put her out to pasture! She is showing some signs of aging and staining....it is probably an unintentional metaphor, but pretty interesting none the less.