NDP @ Marina Mandarin

Got a lucky invite (courtesy of dad’s kaki) to watch NDP from a suite on the 20th floor of Marina Mandarin, at an angle facing the waterfront stage, with a super unimpeded view of fireworks bursting in the nightsky. Ms Canon Ixus was put to test once more.

Suite really has got its suite service leh – there’s complimentary (though it’s all likely covered in that hefty room bill liao) red wine, choc-dipped strawberries, expresso machine + 6 different types of coffee beans, personalized bed-turning service, 2 balconies. Solid. =)

This year’s parade @ waterfront has got some rather nice “firsts” – the water stunts by Chinooks & navy ships were spectacular, and the night parachuting too was a welcomed twist. As usual, the fighter jets & flag fly-past were big crowd pleasers, and the fireworks finale was the perennial icing on the cake.

Snapped away pretty happily but think I haven’t explored the camera enough to fully unleash its prowess. =P


Parachuters in the day


State flag fly-past


Fighter jets doing their stuff


Navy boats' turn


Fireworks I


Fireworks II

The show was great BUT the getting there and going back was HIDEOUS. Absolute torture. The MRT and Citylink underpass were so jam packed with people, one could hardly breathe. The air was so stale and humidity so high… I felt like strangling myself. Really. Something needs to be done if the parade’s going to be held there for the next couple of years. I wonder how many people fainted in that chaotic sardine can tonight. On the way back (more than 1.5hrs past end of parade), hundreds were still swarming their way towards the MRT, so much so that the uniformed “human traffic directors” had to literally scream at people, through loud hailers, to “move to the left/move to the right/move move move move move!” Bad.

Anyways, these first-time glitches aside, I’d say that this waterfront parade had offered some nice highlights. And what can beat a 20th floor view of fireworks? =)