About a year ago, we watched the National Day Parade from Benjamin Sheares bridge. We had a good view of the fireworks from where we were, but the boys weren't too happy about not having a seat.
Nathan: Can we go nearer, and sit with the people over there?
Me: Only people with tickets can get a seat.
Nathan: Can we buy tickets?
Me: The national day parade tickets are not for sale. We have to ballot...
A conversation about what balloting means, and why it's hard getting tickets ensued. Finally, I said... maybe we can pray and ask God to give us tickets next year. Then we can all watch the parade from the floating platform.
This year, we submitted our names for the ballot, prayed hard and were blessed with 4 tickets to the preview last week. The boys were thrilled!
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| Yay! We got tickets! |
We packed a picnic dinner and made our way to the floating platform. The coloured sector that we were allocated is indicated on our tickets, and there are clear instructions on the entry point allocated to us to facilitate crowd control. We followed the directions given and it was a breeze getting to our seats.
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| Walking towards the floating platform via the helix bridge |
The NDP fun packs were filled with a wide array of items... button badges, visors, banner clappers, mini flag, LED bracelets, Singapore scarf, biscuits, packet drinks... The boys had fun just rummaging thru their goody bags.
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The parade started off with the red lions making their descend. This was followed by the fighter jets and the state flag fly past.
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| Red Lion |
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| Looking at the fighter jets |
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| F15 jets flying in formation |
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| Majulah Singapura! |
I enjoyed the parade segment, where various contingents marched to the beat of familiar national songs. Singing along with fellow Singaporeans, I once again felt thankful for this place that we call home.
The evening ended with a spectacular fireworks display...
This song pretty much sums up my feelings about Singapore... This is home, truly! Happy birthday Singapore!
Home
I look around me and I know
There's a place that will stay within me
Wherever I may choose to go
I will always recall the city
Know every street and shore
Sail down the river which brings us life
Winding through my Singapore
Chorus:
This is home truly, where I know I must be
Where my dreams wait for me, where the river always flows
This is home surely, as my senses tell me
This is where I won't be alone, for this is where I know it's home
When there are troubles to go through
We'll find a way to start anew
There is comfort in the knowledge
That home's about its people too
So we'll build our dreams together
Just like we've done before
Just like the river which brings us life
There'll always be Singapore
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