This morning I was awake by 3:30am Washington time. Clearly, I’m still affected by jet lag. Did a phone interview and by then I realised I was down with flu and was feeling feverish. Nevertheless I still wanted to give myself a chance to experience the excitement on the streets and have a taste of the inauguration fever (nevermind the body temperature)!
Throngs of people filled the streets and tried to find their way to the National Mall. Many streets were closed and we observed absolute tight security everywhere. Police siren pervaded the city. I walked street after street but realised that the National Mall was already very packed with people. The crowd gathered as early as 4am. Crowds were so large that portions of the National Mall were already closed by 9am, three hours before the inauguration ceremony started.
I knew then that I was not fit enough to endure the freezing winter for hours. It was wiser to turn back (a special room has been prepared in our hotel for all international guests of the United States Department of State to witness the ceremony indoor). On my way back, I managed to buy some Obama souvenirs for my family and close friends. The Obama souvenir craze was very evident on the streets!
When I got back to the hotel, I was informed by my friends who have gone early to the National Mall at 7:30am that they were not allowed to re-enter the National Mall after visiting the portable toilets. Millions of people, hence the tight security. My husband rang me from home as we were watching the ceremony, a friend in Australia sent sms informing me that he too was watching it from there. What a global affair indeed!
Personally, I love the fact that the ceremony started and ended with seeking divine help from Above. President Obama ended his oath with “So help me God” and I was reminded of the oath I took at the State Assembly – “Kepada Tuhan saya berserah” (“To you God I commit myself”). Again, I say it is
my personal belief that humanitarian effort alone cannot perfect our endeavour to fulfill unreasonably high expectations and accomplish all that the human race so desires [
words in bold to ensure that readers understand that this is my personal blog and I am entitled to my own conviction and I am in no way imposing this on anyone lest I get accused of trying to sermonize 🙂]. That to me is my most memorable moment of the inauguration. Off to get some medication and rest now before my program resumes tomorrow…
This morning I was awake by 3:30am Washington time. Clearly, I’m still affected by jet lag. Did a phone interview and by then I realised I was down with flu and was feeling feverish. Nevertheless I still wanted to give myself a chance to experience the excitement on the streets and have a taste of the inauguration fever (nevermind the body temperature)!
Throngs of people filled the streets and tried to find their way to the National Mall. Many streets were closed and we observed absolute tight security everywhere. Police siren pervaded the city. I walked street after street but realised that the National Mall was already very packed with people. The crowd gathered as early as 4am. Crowds were so large that portions of the National Mall were already closed by 9am, three hours before the inauguration ceremony started. 
I knew then that I was not fit enough to endure the freezing winter for hours. It was wiser to turn back (a special room has been prepared in our hotel for all international guests of the United States Department of State to witness the ceremony indoor). On my way back, I managed to buy some Obama souvenirs for my family and close friends. The Obama souvenir craze was very evident on the streets!
When I got back to the hotel, I was informed by my friends who have gone early to the National Mall at 7:30am that they were not allowed to re-enter the National Mall after visiting the portable toilets. Millions of people, hence the tight security. My husband rang me from home as we were watching the ceremony, a friend in Australia sent sms informing me that he too was watching it from there. What a global affair indeed! Personally, I love the fact that the ceremony started and ended with seeking divine help from Above. President Obama ended his oath with “So help me God” and I was reminded of the oath I took at the State Assembly – “Kepada Tuhan saya berserah” (“To you God I commit myself”). Again, I say it is my personal belief that humanitarian effort alone cannot perfect our endeavour to fulfill unreasonably high expectations and accomplish all that the human race so desires [words in bold to ensure that readers understand that this is my personal blog and I am entitled to my own conviction and I am in no way imposing this on anyone lest I get accused of trying to sermonize 🙂]. That to me is my most memorable moment of the inauguration. Off to get some medication and rest now before my program resumes tomorrow…