Singapore National Day Parade 2012 [Night Time - Show & Fireworks] at The Float@Marina Bay

This is a followup to my first post on Singapore's national day parade (NDP) 2012.

The night segment of Singapore's NDP has always been the one most citizens look forward to as it features a myriad of colours that could only be possible when the sun sets.

Without further ado, I shall start with the beginning of the "show" - which was announced with a big burst of fireworks that startled most of us (wasn't that a bit too early?).

Theme of this year's parade: "Reflection". An appropriate theme given the challenges Singapore faces; national identity, declining birth rate, inflow of immigrants etc. 

With a prologue, three acts namely "our identity, our spirit and our love" and a finale, the show is best watched on the television at home! All the performers were too far away and i had a hard time concentrating on the essences of the show. 

Shame on me as I started playing with my DSLR settings! The above is the LED torch against the backdrop of the floating platform and Singapore's corporate skyline! 

Don't you just love this photograph!? 

A panoramic view! That's the only benefit of being located at the farfetched green sector. 

Close up view of Singapore's skyline where you can see three of the country's tallest buildings (all of them at 280 meters). 

The Akira-branded air clappers with corresponding blue and red LED lights lit up the grandstand. In reality, it was a lot more impressive than what you can see from the above picture.

Gigantic sparklers on stage! 

Even the durians (the esplanade) were decked out in the nation's celebratory colours; red and white. Damn, this must have looked damn pretty on television!

I am restless and hot, and sweaty, and sticky!!!! But, most importantly, i was enjoying the atmosphere! 

Here are the much awaited pictures of fireworks! 

To be honest, the firework display was not as stunning as i thought they would be. 

Magnificent (maybe) but definitely not out-of-extraordinary. 

The finale before we broke up for the day!

Since it would take a while for all 30,000 of us to squeeze out of the grandstand, many compatriots took to taking pictures of themselves with the floating platform as the backdrop.

I could not resist asking my sister and mother to do the same! God knows how long it would be before i am once again lucky to ballot successfully for the NDP tickets! 

By the way, anyone is interested in my sister? She is still single!! 

A million thanks to the performers, volunteers, military and home team personnel! It would be impossible to pull off the event without their utmost support and dedication! 

Captured on the way to MBS - Singapore Flyer in red and white! 

Happy 47th Birthday, Singapore!

*better late than never, okay?!*

Singapore National Day Parade 2012 [Daytime - Pre-Parade Show and Parade & Ceremony] at The Float@Marina Bay

A friend and fellow compatriot commented that he took over 400 pictures during the recent national day parade - i beat him on that count with over 700 pictures!!!

Even after some "house cleaning", i am still left with too many pictures to be included in one single post! Hence, i have divided the parade into two parts for which the first one will focus solely on daytime programmes.

Note: i am not touching on every aspect of the parade; it's too daunting a task and my photo-taking skills are not great to begin with (even though i own a DSLR, auto is my favourite function).

By the way, this would be a pictorial post with minimal explanation! :)

Entrance to Helix Bridge - one of five entry points to Marina Bay Floating Platform where the national day parade would be held. Security was tight and we were checked thoroughly by the security personnel.

The grandstand which can hold 30,000 people.

I was allocated the green sector that does not have an optimal, front view of the stage. Not that i mind since i am already super happy to be attending the parade!

It felt so good to be able to walk along Helix Bridge without bumping into people! For my review on this bridge, please click here.

Even Raffles Avenue was closed to the traffic!

Collecting my fun pack! To know what is inside, please check out my post in here.

This is the famous floating platform with Singapore's central business district skyline as an iconic backdrop!

Most attendees wore red (or at least splashes of red) while the volunteers would dress up in another colour for differentiation purpose.

With cameras being so affordable nowadays, you can see a lot of shutterbugs (like me) clicking like mad!

p.s. it is about capturing the moments!

When you see a whole group of people running on to the stage, you can roughly guess that it is about time that the ceremony begins.

To catch a helicopter view of the ceremony, the skypark at Marina Bay Sands would be your best bet. Singapore Flyer would not be recommended as one rotation lasts only 30 minutes.

At this point, the hosts were telling us the items (contained within the fun pack) that would be used extensively for this year's parade. First up is the beautiful Singapore Scarf!

Then, the LED clappers which were used for both day and night time. Quality was either bad or i was too strong - one of my clappers popped (yes, like a balloon) after half an hour!

Atmosphere was incredibly good and the patriotic feeling has never been stronger!

For citizens who are undecided if they should migrate to another country, please attend the national day parade before making a decision. There's really no place like home.

Featuring the integrated precision drill by the feared military police! Not sure about the other spectators but i thought there was seriously an overuse of pyrotechnics.

Red Lions (known officially as The Singapore Armed Forces Parachute Team) performing their annual duty to celebrate Singapore's birthday!

Screaming his commands from the grandstand was this year's parade regimental sergeant major; Master Warrant Officer Tamizh Kannan. In case you could not find him in the picture, please look out for the black border.

Vessels carrying the guns for the customary 21-gun salute to the President.

March by 32 contingents comprising of military, home team, civilian, uniformed group and combined band units. They are required to be on standby while waiting for the grand arrival of Singapore's ceremonial Head of State.

My direct view - the "lian hua" or lotus of MBS. Anyway, it was around this time that Mr Lee Kwan Yew made his appearance, quashing rumours that he has already kicked the bucket. Regardless of what he did, this man has succeeded in putting Singapore on the global map at a time when no one believes he (and his team) could.

Contingents on standby.

Shortly after the arrival of the President was the singing of the national anthem, which ran together with the flying of the gigantic Singapore flag. Maybe because i am older now; the singing of our national anthem is no longer an irritating chore. In fact, it stirs up the patriotic emotion that many Singaporeans can probably relate to in recent years.

I think this is the commando unit since the red beret is the sign of their elite status. Ignore the two guys by the side wearing "Media" vests. 

The setting sun was welcome by many! 

Sea display by Singapore Navy and the Police Coast Guard to commemorate the 45 years of national service. Like many male Singaporeans, i am required to serve a minimum of two years military service; a period i found to be most enjoyable! Albeit with pathetic pay.

Commandos again! I didn't really have much choice since they were stationed the closest to the green sector. At this point, they were preparing for the marchpast.

As you could probably guess, the "lotus" was bursting at the seams! It has the nearest, most direct view of the grandstand. And it comes free! 

Contingents marching out - it is part of tradition that they salute the President on their way out. There were also aerial shows but my fingers weren't fast enough to capture a good shot! 

With that, we have come to an end to the first two programmes of the National Day Parade 2012. There is another post on the night segment (known simply as Show on the programme brochure), featuring the all-time favourite; fireworks!

To read more, click here.

National Day Parade (NDP) 2012 Fun Pack [Goodie Bag] - Let's Check It Out!

Designed by a team of nine students from Temasek Polytechnic, the fun pack for this year's national day parade is definitely one bag i would not mind bringing for my overseas trips!

With four imprinted slogans emphasising the qualities of nationhood (mine was "love is the bond that unites us as one people"), the stylish bag pack is likely based on the useful waterproof bag from Thailand that has been slowly gaining popularity in Singapore.

Unlike the original single-sling waterproof bag, which can be torturing on the shoulder side bearing the full weight, the NDP revised version has provisioned for two shoulder straps!

Guess many of us are more interested in the goodies that went into the bag. Even i could hardly resist not opening the bag immediately once i am comfortably seated within my designated green zone at The Float @ Marina Bay.

There were the usual programme sheet, a book that contained the stories of ten Singapore's pioneers and the songs booklet with lyrics of national songs that i always hum with pride!

Majulah Singapura - Singapore's national anthem. Sadly, not many of us could actually recall the lyrics. Even i have not sung the anthem since secondary school 16 years ago. Thank god for the song sheet!

A postcard. Seriously, how many people would take the trouble and send postcards nowadays?

Discount vouchers booklet! Before you get sarcastic, the deals are frankly not too bad; one for one kopi at Wang, monetary discount to The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum, S$4.70 for a Tex Supreme at Texas Chicken etc etc.

The selection of drinks and snacks was much more than what i used to get over ten years ago at the national day parade! There was even a Sunshine-brand sugar butter bun that was bloody snatched away by my starving sister during the parade.

Interactive items play a very important role in the parade, often result in a spectacular visual picture that would otherwise appear dull on television. The festive-looking (hint: Xmas) "Singapore" scarf is one item i am really impressed; those who have caught the parade "live" on television will get what i mean.

Others include the essential Singapore flag (which now stands proudly on my computer table); the LED clappers that could not withstand clapping (one of mine popped barely half an hour into the parade) and the torch for illumination at night (shall elaborate more in my official NDP post).

Lastly, the miscellaneous. A folded fan, a wooden clicker (known as castanets), poncho, tissue paper, tattoo stickers, a snap band and a bandana.

It's a pity i could not afford the time to put on the tattoo during the parade! Nevertheless, i did attempt putting one on when i got home. Shall make another attempt when i attend the national day dinner tomorrow evening!

Most of us would not hesitate to use tissue papers although i doubt many of us would check out the tiny wordings on the cover.

I am damn glad i did; by presenting the tissue paper at any Gim Tim restaurants (http://www.gimtim.com.sg), you can get a S$50 discount for every S$150 spent! Valid only for the month of August!

*salivating at the lobster*