March Too Grateful

I have nothing but the feeling of being grateful with what had been happening today.

The highlight of the day was definitely the ride on the first public opening day of the Singapore Flyer. We got our ride at 2:00PM today but arrive just before noon to have a brunch there as well.


First. I am grateful that I still have my parents to enjoy this technical marvel in Singapore and ride together with my family.

Second. Unlike last weekend with the Singapore Airshow 2008, there was no crowd at the Flyer at all. Most probably because most people were not out from half-day work yet, so there was no congestion of human or the traffic kind. Phew!


Third. The whole place was "exclusively" ours. So photo-taking opportunities for me were great... no waiting for people to clear away. I was able to be at any spot and took my time snapping away without having somebody's body part in my composition or people passing into my shots.

Fourth. We had the privilege of having the staff to concentrate on serving us... Mom especially. No rushing, no queuing, no waiting... no frustration. Just us. Yes!


She received the VIP treatment. From being the centre of attention by the busker along the ticket counter on the second floor, to being taken up the VIP route to the Flyer's boarding platform while we went up the normal route with the rest of the passengers.

The whole gigantic wheel that normally would not stop revolving, came to a halt for the staff to bring her into the capsule.


Fifth. We got the whole capsule all to ourselves and nobody else. We had the freedom to roam in it that usually accommodates about 20 people for our 360 degrees view.

Wife and Sonny took turns to record the ride with our camcorder, while no-holds barred for me, snapping hundreds of photos with my digital camera... from all conceivable angles.

Sixth. I got to witness the excited and happy faces of my parents as we went higher and higher up the wheel. Dad was cracking jokes... something he does when he is happy while Mom was mesmerized by the sight, pointing "is that Indonesia?" to far away places.


"We're at the top, we're so high now!" Mom excitedly announced, beating the computerized voice-box announcement upon reaching the highest point at 168 metres.

"Woooo..." Wife started saying and everybody joined in when we were at the top going downwards. The view was nothing short of spectacular!

Amazingly, the haze that blew northwards to Singapore from the land-clearing fires in Indonesia and the drizzle during our ride, did not dampen our spirits. In fact, the morning rain had cleared away the haze to give us a clear view of the horizon.

We had a clear, new and heightened perspective of what this small island of 4 million people can achieve, so to speak.

Having lunch at Sour Puss in Marina Bay

We strolled down to Marina Bay and had our late lunch at Sour Puss, a Malay-owned halal restaurant that fuses Asian and western cuisine together. Mom had her usual favorite pasta while all four of us had Malay, Indian and western burgers.

Headed down to Carrefour at Suntec City where I saw for the first time, the side of Mom I had not seen before. She had been talking about getting a stationary exercise bike for herself. Carrefour was having a Hyper Sale and fitness equipment were on display.

Knowing how reserve and conservative Mom has alway been, she rose to my challenge to get on several of the bikes to test-ride them out.

Something she would not have done before, always embarrassed by the crowd. She instead got on several other types to try them out!

She settled on one, but the delivery would only come in two weeks time.

I sent my parents home while Wifey and Sonny went back themselves.

Dad had a surprise for me.

He had a sweet smelling white flowering plant he had been taking care of for a while now, ready for me to take home for my Corridor Garden.

Not sure of the species, so I will be on the internet to find out. What I do know is that my home will be sweet smelling when the wind blows in.


Seventh. "Thank you Imran..." Mom said to me with those nurturing eyes, "we won't get to see new things if not for you." Dad nodded with a big smile, "Best lah." He added.

My heart melted. I foresaw my only reward was seeing them happy and having fun. I never expected today to go so well and heartfelt. I have so many things to be grateful for.

It is only the first day of March and I am already in seventh heaven.