7 Letters @ Heritage Fest 2016

This was a night spent under the colorfully lighted up skies of the Singapore National Museum. Heritage Festival 2016 was underway where street food stalls ply the compound, and patrons ate away on wooden tables and chairs. It was lovely. If you need more glittering photos of the night, see here.

We were here for the public screening of 7 Letters -  A local film made up of "seven short stories that tell of our heartland and its people through tales of lost love, identity, inter-generational familial bonds and tensions, unlikely neighbours, and even references to traditional folklore." The project was timely; celebrating Singapore’s 50th year of Independence. Being conscious of our difficult independence, and how the country had evolved over the last 50 years; the film serves as a good reflection. Surely, it meant different things to each one of us. It felt sentimental, right from the first story. And it continues to tug at the heart-strings till tears flow free. 

Fully supported by the Singapore Film Commission (SFC), the film was never ticketed. So catch it when you can.

S.E.A. Aquarium - of Sharks, Manta Rays, Tuna, Schooling Fish and Nemo!

Shark Seas!

S.E.A. Aquarium, the world's largest oceanarium opens in November 2012 in tiny Singapore, drawing huge crowds. Our first visit this evening as it extends its opening hours to 9pm from the usual 7pm; we prayed the place will be less crowded.

Shark seas greeted us at the entrance and got all of us awed! The gracefully swimming sharks stopped everyone in their tracks and lifted our gaze with slightly dropped jaws... Maybe i will even consider feeding myself to the sharks. They are majestic.

Below are some of my favorite shots and fishes.

Beautifully Crafted Aquariums

Goliath Grouper

Angelfish and the handsome Puffer!

'Finding Nemo'

Open Ocean

Now, the centerpiece of the Aquarium is the 18.2 million litre Open Ocean habitat which houses the world’s largest viewing panel (36 meters wide and 8.3 meters high)!

We had probably spend half our time here, gazing on the slow moving marine life - of gliding squadron of manta rays, glittering schools of scads, fusiliers and rainbow runners, gang of fat silvery tuna, more sharks and hammerhead, all coasting closely to the panorama panel, like we never exist. Seems to be reminding us, "Slow down..."

Before we called it a night, we visited the discovery touch pool to give a goodbye touch to the dark hairy pencil sea cucumber and the leathery knobbly sea star. The touch is most unforgettable.

Young Mata Rays in sync

Dance of the school of Scads!

8th Asean Para Games, 2015

Men's 400M - T52 (Above Elbow or Below Elbow Amputations) Final

It was a privilege for first-time hosts Singapore to organise the APGames. I felt this strongly at the Singapore Sports Hub today when i got caught up with emotions, watching a one-legged athletic performed the Long Jump. With all his might.

When was the last time i tried this hard for anything?

The resilience of the athletics struck me - something i could never comprehend, or ever wish to - cos it most certainly comes with life predicaments, when men are push beyond limits. A tough lonely road where one needs to overcome, your own self. 

There'll come a time when the sea gets rough and the wind blowing, i'll remember what i discovered today. And try to persevere. Hopefully. Like how these guys did.

Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not. - Oscar Wilde

Men's 800M - T46 (Wheelchair Race) Final

Christmas Wonderland in Singapore

Don't worry so much about your camera, photos or instant Facebook-ing. Enjoy the cool night air at the Gardens by the Bay, while holding the hands of your love ones. Take as many photos as you like, and the rest will fall in place. Grab a beer from the nearby kiosks. Get into the Christmassy mood.

Have a restful December.

River Nights Festival 2015

Walter the giant bunny - Dawn Ng

Delight, architectural light works - Yves Moreaux

This is the second year running for River Nights festivities by the Singapore River; our first attendances nonetheless. It was an evening stroll, with random shots for keep.

Four years of upgrading old colonial buildings at the Empress Place precinct seems to be coming to a close, as we see here a cleaned up Asian Civilisations Museum. Next month, the nearby Victoria Theatre and the transformation of the Old Supreme Court and City Hall into the National Gallery Singapore will be completed - what the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), in their 2014 Master Plan, terms as a "Civic and Cultural District by the Bay".

Surely, we have much to look forward to in River Nights 2016.

Les Voyageurs - Cedric Le Borgne

PAP Election Rally

Election 2015 is special for Singapore. It feels different; feels important. And you senses it fiercely at the People's Action Party's rallies.

Everybody know that the ruling party's rallies always attract miserable crowd, compared to the over flowing carnival at the Opposition's. But this election, you see a significant masses for the PAP. Serious heartlanders stood, motionless, listening intently. I'm dazzled.

My first at a PAP's rally site. It was dead silent when the chief speaker spoke for a good 30 mins. When he finished at 10 pm, the pragmatic people cheered wildly! Then breezily and swift, they dispersed into their nearby homes. 

This was the last night before Singapore goes to the poll.

Rally for East Coast GRC, at 155 Simei Rd. - 09.09.2015, Wed.

Rally for Aljunied GRC, at Defu Ave. 1 - 04.09.2015, Fri.

SG50 - Our Golden Jubilee!

We were filling up the seats... We kept our umbrellas... We raise our flag... Everybody roar! We are ready for the party of Singapore's 50th Jubilee Birthday! Yeah!! The nation is 50!

But sadness is close to our hearts, having lost our founding leader, Mr Lee Kuan Yew in recent March 23. In our cheers and laughters today, we remembered him. 

This NDP 2015 Parade and Ceremony (P&C) feature a total of 37 contingents on parade at the Padang, comprising four Guard of Honour contingents, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Colours Party, the Combined Band, five military and civil defence contingents, 10 uniformed group contingents, and 16 social and economic contingents (our largest volunteered participation from the private sectors, ever!).

Mobile Column Display: 179 Tanks, Marine craft, Combat Ambulances and other Defence Hardware.

The parade was our grandest.

Three aerial displays, including one of 20 F-16s flying in a "50" formation, with a "bomb burst" at the end, and an F-15 fighter jet doing a vertical climb over the Marina Bay area! Even the Singapore Airlines A380 came in for a wave. Our strong and expensive mobile column further accentuates the country's wealth and formidability. Then a rousing fireworks display that was on an unprecedented scale!

It awes us. Yes. But.

It is these united people who touches everyone viewing the mini parade. Overseas friends told us, "The scale of your celebration is nothing compared to bigger country. But it's amazing you people from all over the island, came dress in reds and whites just for the occasion, even those without tickets huddled out at public areas to celebrate!?" Yes. It speaks volume about the love and pride of Singaporeans for their tiny island, their barren motherland.

Night falls, we lighted up with twinkling chest pins, in reds and blues.

Contrary to previous years, we didn't have the national school choir singing patriotic songs this time. Yet we sang loudly. So loud, we could hear ourselves! It is electrifying. The spontaneous singing, standing ovation and cheers. The energy of all participants. We have never seen such lively Singaporeans on display!

Even TV home viewers have cited this as the Nation's most interesting parade so far. There was so much that everyone could relate to.

It is my guess that the people feel this is a special year for Singapore. As we celebrate the country's success of the past 50 years, we are looking forward to a renewed spirit to take us further. With the passing of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, we felt the responsibility on us, to love and cherish this country - the legacy of our beloved founding fathers.

Yes. The newly united people will take it up from here. Forever Singapore. I love you.