We pass this building every few times a week whenever we return home from town but have never ventured in till this last weekend when T1 and I spent a special night out together watching the latest musical in town. It looks so grand from the outside but I was very disappointed when I got in. Actually, I would have been even more disappointed had the Hubs not warned me how crappy it was. So I actually entered with low expectations already.
As you may or may not know, projects are a good way of making money. An easy way. I know exactly how so if you want to know, just ask me. It is unscrupulous though but do many people care? Not at all. I always feel that many buildings in KL, or Malaysia for that matter, are cheated of their true potential due to greedy parties. I digress.
My 1st experience with the centre was the parking. Because I had been warned of the crappy parking situation (of course, it’s been designed only for those with drivers!), we purposely went an hour early so we could find some parking. And we ended up parking by the road. Seriously, for such a huge building that can seat up to I don’t know how many people, the architects really should have accommodated for more parking.
Then we walked in and were enthralled by the vast expanse of space. Smashing! But at closer look, you’d notice that the finishes were all done cheaply. All I could think was the entire process of how all the under table negotiations had taken place. Sigh. What an embarrassment to tourists. An iconic building like that, a cultural masterpiece, something that aims to replicate 50% of other similar buildings around the world, doesn’t even come close to 5%. How?
Then the toilet! OMG. The toilets……were toilets out of Jaya Jusco! Maybe even JJ have better toilets! And again, the architect failed to allocate enough toilets as at intermission time, there was a huge queue and those at the last end of the queue had barely enough time to go to the toilet. How unfair to them. Those darn toilets. Can you imagine those matsallehs dressing up to the nines like they do at the Royal Albert Hall, or the Sydney Opera House, and then attending Jaya Jusco toilets?
The only 2 things that impressed T1 and I were the large clock (well, more so her than I) that sat above the theatre entrance door and the large art work beside it. I didn’t like the art work, just the size 🙂 Isn’t that so sad? I mean, if you were already allocating a budget of millions to build this, just build it darn well, for goodness sake!
And I must mention that not only did T1 and I start itching all over from mosquito bites or whatever bites the moment we got in, I ended up having a major sinus attack!! When was the last time they cleaned the damn place? I spent 2 hours blowing my nose and sneezing than enjoying the show and luckily the show wasn’t great or I’d have been mighty upset. Seriously, a dirty place is a sure sign of me getting a major sinus attack.
I don’t think I’ll ever go back there, not even for my grandmother’s birthday.
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I think Istana Budaya had its glory years. I recall being impressed with the vastness when it first opened, i think in the 80s when I watched “South Pacific”. Perhaps as a child, my views were different 🙂 But yes, it is a pathetic place now which is quite a shame but not surprising given that Malaysia is good at “building, but not maintaining”.
And they do not have enough signs to guide the patrons to the smaller stage when smaller productions have shows in IB. I remember having to walk to the grand foyer and direct people through walkways to the smaller stage and could see their expression change.
only went there once, to watch Mamma Mia. it’s really bad, parking also kelam kabut and I think patrons park all the way to titiwangsa lake.
The cafe is lousy n expensive too !
Finally, someone who feels the same way I do abt the Istana. You didn’t mention the seats, they are cramped like hell! Pay hundreds to watch a performance and end up with cramped legs even before intermission! I was shocked by the toilets too, I went years ago and it was my first and last visit. I wouldn’t even go there if the ticket was foc.