The one who attended Singapore's 45th Birthday

Singapore is still considered a young nation as compared to other countries in the world.. and she has just turned 45 years old! It was quite a delight to be able to attend the little dot's birthday at the Padang :)

The celebrations returned to the Padang after 5 years of absence. I too attended the parade ( preview) when it was last held at the Padang in 2005. how can i not remember that day.. someone broke my heart on that fateful day.. :P It was such a bitter sweet day.. we held hands for the final time while watching the fireworks back then..

I tried balloting for the ever popular tickets this year ( i ' helped '5 of my family members to ballot too.. ) but to no avail. I was quite thrilled when my aunt gave me and my brother 2 tickets to the parade . She & my cousin has no interest, so naturally it was given to us

We arrived at the Padang around 5pm and wow, it was quite packed already. Some of these people were seated as soon as the gates opened at 3.30pm. Pity we didn't manage to secure 'good seats' but I guess I should be happy enough to attend :)

We're quite blessed to have a good weather

for the parade...

Just take a look at the sky!
The sun was shining down at us...

Trying my best to shield myself from the
harsh sun..

yup...we went prepared to be

soaked in perspiration

Here are some photos to relive those glorious moments at this year's NDP :)

look..

there are washing machines trialling behind the van

one of my fav.part of the parade

Some of the photos were taken by my brother
on his newly aquired toy!
Meet Sony Nex-5D

Goody bag!

There were 7 designs in all..
mine was quite plain.. :/

There's a 'Fun Box'
in each bag...

The contents :)

sight and scenes

wow....she managed to gobble down
noodles! : D

the noise maker/clapper
does looks like an axe :P

Happy Birthday Singapore 新加坡 生日快乐 ！！

Sat 2 Aug 08
Sengkang West National Day Dinner

A gal friend (Wei Ting) and I were invited by our friend to join her in the above National Day dinner celebration last week. I for one never really like such CC/RC dinner , but thought wouldn't be such a bad idea since we 3 ladies haven't met in months. This would be a good chance to catch up.

To cut the story short... we arrived to the venue via the LRT , albeit the long route. We were greeted with a big tent set up on the sprawling green field. Just I as I have imagined, security was tight as one of the VIP invited was PM Lee Hsien Long.

I've got sun in my eye

Step right up for a body scan and security check

The stated time for the dinner was 7pm, but of coz with all dinners, it was expected to start an hour later. In the mean time , we were entertained with a variety of programs put up by school children and the CC groups.

We got bored and started snapping random pictures :P

I didn't deck out in red n white :P
Wei Ting and Eileen

In the midst of our cam whoring, we did enjoy some of the performances , though I really wonder why did the event organizer engaged such a CMI host for the night. He couldn't create any rapport with the crowd, neither could he articulate . My guess is perhaps there is a budget constraint ( of coz there is a budget constraint!) so they had to get someone who's affordable cheap The three ITE students did a much better job at hyping up the crowd.

Okay, for this once, I didn't bother snapping any food pics. Erm, what can I say, they don't really look 'nice' .

Yes yes, the crowd went mad when PM Lee made his appearance. The crowd whipped out their cameras and started snapping at him. (some of his bodyguards were kinda good looking :P ) So there were at least some eye candy for us :P Anyway, he didn't stay thru out the dinner for there was another NDP dinner he had to attend in another constituency. Oh, the VIP table was just right behind ours :)

Let's give a toast to the Nation

We created a Guinness book of record that night
The most number of people to blow out birthday cake at the same time

Happy 43rd Birthday, Singapore!



Here's the Chinese Version of this yr's NDP Theme song
I prefer this to the english one
晴空万里






How bout this one from 2006?
I like it too

-----------------


end note

as read in today's Straits Times

44 pounds( approx 19kg!!) cat in the States looking for a new home
The owner could no longer take care of him.
The cat will undergo a dieting program

isn't he adorable?

So big as compared to the normal size cat

Singapore's 43rd Birthday NDP08-National Education Show

*photo intensive post*

The Lims at the National Day Parade 08--National Education Show

As with the previous years, I tried my hands at balloting for the NDP tics..but to no avail this year. It was a delight when Chrissy told me that she is able to get preview tickets! She's one of the teachers from her school to 'chaperon' the students for their practices and performances.

It really makes a difference being at the parade itself , soaking in the cheer and the whole celebratory atmosphere. This is my first time watching the parade at it's new venue. I have been to other NDPs at the stadium and Padang, and in comparison, I would still prefer the old venues.
The backdrop of Marina bay just spoils the whole feel :P

Anyway, Chrissy parked over at Shaw towers and we strolled over to the bay. We were all donned in red except for Mark ( He took part in the Osim triathlon earlier in the morning~ ) .

Getting to our seats was a breeze..there weren't any pushing nor chaos. The ushers were friendly and helpful enough. I must say we had quite a nice view of the stage.

It seems almost obligatory to experience the baking in the sun before the start of the program. The slight drizzle in the noon did nothing to the weather after that. The sun was shining brightly and harsh! Everyone was drench in perspiration~ eeks. We welcomed the breeze and cooler weather by early evening, just before the start of the performances :) Ok! Without further delay.. here are the photos!

ps: The mass displays were so so..nothing fantastic :P but still it was pretty colorful and eye catching enough to watch. We love the red lions and black knights!! Everyone seems to be waiting for these two . The best is still the fireworks! How can anyone not like fireworks!! :P

Under the umbrella, ella, ella :P


Cutie in red


Mark and his caffeine

I don't like the noise


Total Defence Contingents
Man in screen--Parade Sergent Major


The flyer


Adrian Pang...one of the hosts


Line up of the hosts


Weeeeeeeeeeee...here comes the Red Lions~


Soaring in the sky!


Cheering on for the Lions
She's so enthusiastic!



Black Knights!!



Airshow.. wow..



Cheerleaders
Nice costumes


Bright colorful 'balloons'
There were many many people over at the Merlion and adjoining bridge
They were there quite early..


Night falls
Look at the wonderful displays of cranes in the backgroud :X


Singer Jacintha
She didn't even bothered to fake a smile
throughout her performance.
The VIPs weren't present mah...


Christine's school mass display


Silat


We have no idea what was this performance about..nor
what was the message it was trying to deliver
Whimsical and fairy tale like though~


The statues were suppose to rise
But the one in the middle had some technical clinch :P


Sprouting water~
Water is good.. means prosperity haha


The finale
Everyone is awaiting for the fireworks!


Wow! Here comes the fireworks
It was just right in front of us :)


~~I love fireworks~~

Okay folks~ That was it. We were there from 4.15 -8.30pm!! Nicole got hungry and chomped down one of the buns in the fun pack. The rest of us were tired, hungry and sticky after the parade. It was another stroll back to the car and off we went for teochew porridge at Kovan.

oops! Nearly forgot to mention about the fun pack. I guess the authorities are also on a budget lah Bo lui!! That bad huh..had to give out 'paper' bag as fun pack.... look at the funpack ... so unlike the past years :X Look at the difference in pictures below

Taken from the NDP website

"The artwork by the students is a collage of their perspectives of the Singapore Spirit based on their personal experiences. And lastly the “Green” theme introduces the element of being environmental friendly and practical. The Funpack is made from the highly recyclable Tetra Pak, a familiar packaging material. "

I wouldn't expect anyone to be actually bringing this bag out :o no offense to those who likes it.
It looks like a normal paper bag.. hardly functional.

Some of the stuff in the pack
blah..



This is the me carrying the fun pack from NDP 2006
The last parade at the Stadium.
This funpack is functional..
Students actually used it as a schoolbag..