Fireworks cost a bomb, bought using our taxpayer's money. Wouldn't it be a waste not to watch the free display?
The YOG closing ceremony marked the end to the fireworks galore this month. Which other month of the year can you see so much fireworks?
Since NDP and YOG are important national events, their fireworks display should be more extravagant and spectacular, compared to CNY and year-end countdown.
With the absence of Fireworks Festival since last year (usually held after National Day), I had been itching to watch decent fireworks again. Couldn't resist the temptation and went to watch the three consecutive major fireworks display this month. Indeed it didn't disappoint, as the displays were definitely up to standard.
IMO Esplanade Waterfront is the best spot to view fireworks at Marina Bay, especially when the main event is held at the floating platform.
Here's my take on the fireworks displays I had watched.
Nay: - Poor angle/location, sky partially blocked - Far too crowded everywhere - Too smoky (as seen from the lump of red luminescence on TV) - Less variety
Grade: B-
YOG Opening (from Waterfront)
Yay: - More colourful/variety - Perfect view & proximity - Laser beam & fireworks fired from skyscrapers clearly visible - Great impact - Not very crowded
Nay: - Sporadic (discontinuous display spread over the 2-hour show) - Undefined timing (have to standby throughout)
Grade: A
YOG Closing (from Waterfront)
Yay: - Beams from buildings filled the entire nightsky - Very colourful, more variety (I like the super-loud & blinding-bright ones) - Even less crowded - Closer to floating platform, more aware of what is going on at the ceremony
Nay: - Unknown timing (just have to be at the right place at the right time)
*Note - The final burst of fireworks (after the disco party) was not shown on TV*
Grade: A+
Didn't regret spending time staying put at the location and waiting for fireworks. Although the extent of fireworks used cannot be compared to that of other wealthier countries, I think it was still splendidly choreographed. Looking forward to the fireworks next year!
Do you remember what kind of mass exercises were there during primary school? The first thing that comes to your mind is probably this one:
The Great Singapore Workout
Somehow it evolved into ‘ACES’ Workout along the way. I’ve forgotten what it stands for, but I still remember that it was held yearly in conjunction with Teachers’ Day celebrations. Not sure if schools are still doing this workout till today.
Bits and pieces of the music still ring in my mind. I didn’t bother to memorize the steps since there were always a few teachers on the front elevated platform whose actions we could just follow. Sometimes the music was accompanied by instructions but it was too muffled to be heard, and most of us weren’t serious in doing the workout anyway.
Many took the chance to play a fool with our fellow classmates, and tried to irritate the surrounding people with every step and action. There was a part where we were supposed to kick left and right with our arms pointing in the opposite direction. (Unfortunately this workout revealed those who had poor hand-leg motor coordination haha.) Then we would instead kick our friends’ bags, which were placed on the ground. There was also this iconic workout - stretch both arms upwards, clap once, then press 4 times forward with palms facing outwards. The mischievous us would push the person in front during the pressing action haha. Not to forget the chaos when we had to move forward and backward (or left and right) a few steps. Sounds silly but fun =p.
We were also given a ACES cap each. Everyone would sign onto each other’s caps for some reason. At the end of the exercise, we were supposed to throw the caps up in the air. This was when the signatures became useful as a means of identification for our own caps. There was once I threw really high and couldn’t find it back again. Took someone else’s cap instead but didn’t dare to wear it, so it was thrown away right after that. Apparently most didn’t care whether they could get theirs back or not, and threw as far away as possible. What a legitimate way of littering openly. In the end there were many caps strewn on the ground and somebody had to pick them all up haha.
Can’t find any videos that resemble the ACES workout I did many years ago. Either the background music has changed, or the steps have been modified so significantly now that I don’t recognize it anymore. =(
Luckily traces of the old Great Singapore Workout can still be found:
The music is so ever nostalgic!
Eye Exercise
It was done regularly for a period of time, before it stopped and was forgotten completely. Perhaps it wasn’t very effective, at least for me, whose eyesight still rose by 100 degrees per year at that time.
Due to the increasing cases of myopia among children, schools decided to implement this eye relaxation exercise. For my school, it was conducted after silent reading just before singing the national anthem. The relaxation exercise made my eyes really sleepy haha. As you might expect, some students took the opportunity to doze off.
This is the closest video I’ve found:
Physical Fitness Test
This is what it was called before the name NAPFA came about. It was feared by those who didn’t exercise regularly, whereas sporty kids would take the test casually and pass it with a breeze. Sad to say I belonged to the former.
Doing sit-ups wasn’t a problem for most students. I didn’t find it difficult until upper primary when I find myself having diaphragm cramps easily when doing sit-ups. Was barely able to meet the passing mark.
During a shuttle run practice, I accelerated too fast after turning my body, hence losing my balance and falling down. Because of this, till now I still have a slight phobia of running too fast for shuttle run.
Most of us will agree that sit-and-reach is the easiest station. So easy that it was taken out from IPPT haha. Just bear with the pain and stretch as far as possible. Having long legs (with relatively short arms) is a disadvantage for this one.
Standing broad jump didn’t feel as difficult to pass during primary school. It used to be one of the sure-pass stations. I could pass as long as I try to jump as far as possible. I don’t remember putting so much effort into it compared to now.
Inclined flex-arm hang was probably most feared among the girls. Some couldn’t even hold for more than a second. The passing time was only about 3 seconds (for girls) I think. Thankfully my arms were strong enough to overcome this station until…
1.6 km feels so short now, although it felt like eternity to me at that time. Nothing much to comment about this since it’s just a test of speed and endurance.
In this age when technology is so prevalent, most children are opting to fiddle with their gadgets rather than to exercise outdoors. I wonder if the level of physical fitness in kids these days is dropping.
With so many YOG-related reports these few days, I can't help but to talk about it too.
To begin, I would like to congratulate the three young sportsmen (including one sportswoman) for clinching two bronze medals and one silver medal for Singapore. This should create less controversy than China-born athletes winning a medal for Singapore...
Slip-ups and letdowns are still present here and there though. Such as the food poisoning incident, poor media coverage of YOG in other countries, collapse of tent under heavy rain, barring of water bottles that bear Nike or Adidas logos, parents not able to watch their son win a medal as they could not get the tickets while seats were only half-occupied, etc.
There were also saddening pictures, uploaded by someone in Facebook, which showed the extremely poor turnout of the YOG carnival held at Marina Bay. Even on a Sunday afternoon, the whole place was quite deserted, dotted with mostly volunteers. Musicians performed in front of a sea of vacant seats.
Ticket sales for the matches are said to be 'encouraging', but most tickets are actually snapped by MOE, who distributes them to schools, that in turn send their students to watch the games. While some schools did not turn up or were reluctant to attend due to examinations, resulting in many vacant seats at the venues, some schools took a harsher approach to impose a penalty of $5 should anyone fail to turn up.
This reminds me of my secondary school days when we were 'forced' to attend the track and field finals and support our school team. But most of us were reluctant to attend, and attempted to find ways to skip the event haha. Generally we are not interested in watching matches unless our friends are participating.
Sports culture in Singapore is still pretty weak, especially when the society is so economically driven.
Let's look at the more pleasant stuffs. Those who watched the YOG opening ceremony last Saturday would have noticed how spectacular the cauldron-igniting finale was. I wonder how they created the flame vortex, which looked really impressive.
Here are some nice pictures on YOG in the following news website. Most of them are beautifully taken, especially the first one. =)
First, think about how many people around you are genuinely interested and excited about the coming Youth Olympic Games. This will give you a rough gauge of how well-received this 'one of the greatest sporting events of the year' is, among the citizens of the host country.
Is the government putting too much faith in Singaporeans' enthusiasm?
The recent YOG bus lane saga has revealed that some motorists are not very willing to give way to YOG buses, citing impertinent reasons like being in a traffic jam and their cars cannot even move an inch, let alone giving way to the bus. However most motorists expressed that they will give way if necessary, to avoid getting fined.
The additional move to reward souvenirs to those who give way was deemed to be redundant. Errant motorists are already getting fined for disregarding the rule, so why is there another need to reward the rest of the motorists who obey the rule? Such measures are probably needed to overcome Singaporeans' well-known reluctance of giving way to others. Sadly, the thought behind the considerate act has transformed into something due to personal gains.
Volunteers and staff rant about the disappointing standard of the meals they are served. Considering Singaporeans' fussiness about food, this is seen as a mere trivial matter.
It has been reported that SAF units were given hundreds of complimentary tickets to a YOG soccer match, in order to send their NSFs to attend and fill up the unsightly voidage. Judging from Singaporeans' cold response towards soccer matches other than EPL & World Cup, such move is not entirely impossible.
It was also noticed that primary school children are made to line up along the roadside in the rain, to welcome the torchbearers to the otherwise empty streets. The same goes to many other students whose schools the torch relay will pass by. Are they truly supportive of the relay, or just instructed by the school management to create a crowd around the area?
There is even word of some polytechnic students who are forced to volunteer for the event, otherwise they would not get the credits required for graduation.
The budget for YOG is said to have exceeded 4-fold. Is there too much overspending on the lavish facade and incessant publicity to stimulate the locals' interest in the event?
With so many dissatisfaction and complaints even before its opening, how will this milestone event turn out to be? A groundbreaking first, or a lackluster beginning?
Looks like Singapore is not 'sporting' enough the host the YOG in the first place.
Actually wanted to do something special but lots of planning is needed and the entry might become too long. It cannot be broken into separate parts also. Anyway let's leave it to next time when I feel like doing (I've a strong feeling that the time will never come).
My 3-month internship has come to an end and a new semester is starting again. A shift from one battlefield to another haha. Really hoping for ideal results in tutorial balloting so that I can secure a free day. However this semester may prove to be as busy as the last. The nightmarish lab sessions (or rather the reports) are here again, and for the nth time I've managed to beat the odds by not being able to group up with JH, who is just next to me on the name list.
I've completed most of the missions I aimed to accomplish in FF13. Now I'm ready and prepared to face schoolwork. It's probably another 4 years wait or so for the next FF. By then I'll become a working adult cum addicted gamer. No school holidays for me to utilize and chiong finish the game. =(
Before I forget let's wish Singapore a happy birthday. See how loyal I am by not going overseas for SEP. =p
Since my first experience watching fireworks display some years ago, I yearn to watch it every year without fail. The beautiful bright sparks in the night sky, together with the blast that reverberates right into the heart, combine to give an indescribable feeling of thrill and excitement. You don't get such feel just by looking at photographs or watching videos of fireworks, no matter how well-taken they are.
The weather seems fine today. Looking forward to a fantastic display of sights and sounds later. =)
Since this year's National Day theme is about our flag, do you know what the 5 stars on the flag represent? Some of you are probably trying to recite the pledge now. It makes me wonder how we were able to memorize this passage word by word without understanding it's meaning during primary school.
