NDP 2007 Fireworks

Armed with a mat, LED camping lights, my trusted Panasonic Lumix Fz10 digital camera with a tripod... and a whole lot of enthusiasm, the 3 of us headed to Marina Bay for the National Day Parade 2007 fireworks spectacle.

Stopped by EastPoint Mall for our dose of Tom Yam Seafood Noodle at Banquet for lunch, we were ready for some shopping to while the time.


Wifey wanted to look for curtains for our Hari Raya this October 13th, so we headed for Furniture Mall at Royal Plaza Hotel and found the ideal custom-made curtains for the whole house. The only not ideal was the cost of S$1,700.00 which I paid anyway.

Since the mall was near to Marina Bay, we took the MRT to City Hall... and once we got off the train, we were overwhelmed by the sheer number of people there.

Mostly wearing red and white, Singapore's national colors, these late comers were all heading to the parade site just like us.


With all the road blocks everywhere, meandering through the sea of people was somewhat exhilarating than taxing. Like a large school of sea-bass moving in sync, often bottle-necked when we had to go down and up the escalators in the underground paths to cross the roads and onward to Marina Square.

Thousands more were already there; the best spots picked, leaving mostly standing room on top of Marina Square Shopping Centre's garden.


Wifey found a spot where she was able to lay our mat while I got another spot good enough to set-up my tripod for my photo-taking... standing room only.

We were finally settled-in at about 7:30pm while waiting for the fireworks that was to start during the finale at about 8:15pm.


When there were bursts of small fireworks during one of the performances, the smoke from the firework trailed towards our direction... which I immediately felt was not a good sign... not for photo-taking that is.

True enough, when the fireworks started, the first few bursts were brilliant and fantastic, but subsequent bursts were enveloped by the thick smoke from the previous one bursts from our angle. Dread!


Few glimpses of fireworks were great, but mostly we had a spot where the wind direction blocked us from seeing the dazzling fireworks behind a blanket of smoke. Double dread!

I think I enjoyed the picnic... eating packed dinner we bought from Kandahar Street while sitting on the mat on top of Marina Square garden, more than the fireworks itself.


Well, so much for a good spot. Knowing Singaporeans, one would have to go as early as 1:00pm to get and keep one's good spot for the 8:00pm fireworks... it is worth it?

At least there will be an encore telecast of the National Day Parade 2007 on TV this Sunday, which would at least give some satisfaction than live event itself.


Thousands came and then thousands were going home at the same time. Let me not start on the ordeal with the "fireworks revelers," we were like sea-bass then, we were like sardines in the MRT. Yikes!

So, either get tickets to watch the event life or stay home at get the best seats in the house with pop-corns and chips on a big screen TV. That works for me next year...

Happy Birthday Singapore

Well, what do you know... this nation is 42 today. Happy Birthday Singapore!

I have applied for leave off work on Friday to relieve me off from all the going-ons of work-related stress, and reward myself with a long weekend.

Today, our planned to leave home early in the morning for a good camping spot at Changi Beach Park was interrupted by the sudden heavy downpour. Though it was unfortunate to our plan, everyone stayed in bed longer... just because it was comfortable to curl and cuddle up in bed in the cool morning.

It was that good that all of us woke up late instead; changed our plan for the obvious... to watch the fireworks at Marina Bay this evening at 8:00pm today. It was touted to be a big show-off this year at the new bay-view location.

Till then, we would go around shopping, take leisure walks by the waters and later have our dinner at a new-found restaurant Sfahi at Shaw Centre, a recommended place by my Sister.

From there we will be heading to Marina Bay for the fireworks and floats. Hopefully we get a good spot to set-up my camera and try to capture some good firework shots there.

Enjoy your National Day celebrations everyone.

TICKLE My Contentment?

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I Need Fridays

From time to time, I spill out my gut over the internet about my personal state of mind and then live another day to regret doing so... again.

I am talking about my last post Me Versus Monday. And like my posts of such nature, I am here again to explain myself for some cosmic reasons that are oblivious to me.

I know Mondays and any other days are days of the week and that I am the one to make the best of the day, whatever day of the week it is. In my case I blame Monday for something I cannot control. In this case, my clouded state of emotions, not the situation.

I cannot help but feel that as the days go by, so is my career in this place I call work. It is ticking and am I wasting away here. Am I?

All that positive thinking I have instilled in me, in my life seems like a superficial layer of the truth that I have to peel, face and eventually take actions for, as far as this situation is concern.

I cannot say I needed a sign. There have been too many out there shoved in front of my face, but I am not convinced if any of them is the right one.

Yes, my name is in the new organization chart... hurrah!

I guess, they figured I can still contribute. I guess it still is worth their while to keep me but I am not jumping for joy... though otherwise, I will not jump off the building either. Is it worth my while?

That lingering dilemma... Wifey thinks that I should hang-on as long as I can, because I told her I am working honestly as I am being paid to despite the working environment. The money is definitely good...

In the days that followed, many things happened at work. Nothing unusual... the good things, the bad as well. I did my best and addressed the issues at hand with some I have gladly resolved quickly and some before they got out of hand.

There are still this sense of achievement and the same sense of satisfaction I felt throughout the week. I felt I am still good at what I do and I got subtle praises from my superiors for doing a good job... but there is still something deeper that I just cannot finger it on.

This I have to figure it out for myself somehow...

Anyway, how bleak I look at it all this while, on way my to work on Friday, I was a little more than relieved when I saw a rainbow across the morning sky. The first I can remember seeing a rainbow so early in the morning. Nice sight!

The whole day was quiet and went smoothly, even when we had our first department meeting that should have been quite stressful.

Darn it! Is it all a state of mind? Or is it because it was Friday?

I guess I will know it come Monday.