ainsliebullion will store your gold for free if you buy more than $10K worth. It's quite simple to open an account with them and start accumulating physical gold. Governments have confiscated gold in the past and they can do it again. Storing it offshore can protect your asset.
in crashproof peter schiff suggests a solution for gold in western australia. Because of the way its stored/agreement written, you don't have to disclose it as an asset. Its basically configured in a way to achieve the results you want. You have to pay 2% commission + $50 to buy it this way tho.
only possible reason I could see owning a gold bar or two is a party trick to impress people for 30 seconds. then somone tries to steal it. too much hastle.
If some one wants a decent bullion wholesaler in the Far East, Try United Overseas Bank,Singapore.They are very big. Mnay gold wholesalers,big jewellers in sing,malay,Indoneisia,India deal with them, UOB bring in tola(114gm) & 1 kg bar from mines in South Africa,Australia & of course UBS branded bars (Union Bank of switzerland) You can pick & choose which brand bar only at the time of delivery ( subject to availability). You have to have a bullion futures & physical a/c with them. Buy in futures over phone while confirming price & inform well in advance when you need physical delivery.Full payment in US$ /S$ should be done before you go to the vault for delivery.
If you let expire the future contract, that will force the delivery, and the costs are quite strong to count! More, and the complete payment of the package, and you are not prepared for that!