Our Chalet Escape Part 1

My family celebrated my birthday at Costa Sands Downtown East.

Power Party

Vote for me on Bix.com!

This video was made for Siti Aishah. Enjoy!!

Teacher's Day = PSG's Tribute

Herbs & Spices

test

National Education Talk by Admiral

Siti Aishah - My 1st NDP Blog Week 12

Blog Battle Topic for Week 12:
What did you enjoy most about NDP @ Marina Bay 2007?










National Day is special to me because of this story my grandma told me.





My mom won a pair of tickets to see the parade on the 9th Aug 2007. She chose to bring me instead of my other older siblings. They had gone before when they were in P5. I was too delighted to be able to go. Thank you Bonda (that is what I call my mom).

The very first thing I love about the NDP@MarinaBay is the Funpack. Glorious colours beaming...red, yellow, green, blue....WOW! What's inside is much better...the lion hat...the lighted star....the fan with the word 'Happy Birthday Singapore' came alive as I turn it ON.










The floating platform was much bigger than I thought. It looked smaller on TV. I was brimming with anticipation on what it will be like to see the NDP LIVE!!.

We were seated in the blue sector and the atmostphere was electrifying. I could see scrambler bikes jumping up a ram and its rider twirl himself up in the air. Awesome!! They are such experts and the sound of their engines were piercing to my ears. Check out the video my mom put together.




Then I saw chickens coming our way...Hey they are not chickens! They are the NDP Singing Ushers, all dressed up as sea creatures, crabs, jellyfish, fishes etc. They were indeed colourful and full of excitement! Check out these photos & video too.





The preparade segment was GREAT! I have never seen my mom sing before today. She sure can sing! We sang to the rhythm of Singapore Town, Five Stars Arising, Chan Mali Chan, Geylang Si Paku Geylang, Bunga Sayang & Paaduvom Vaarungal..boy!! Tamil is a blast to sing...the Bhangra dance was excellent..we were so happy. Everyone waving their flags in unison. I cannot stop myself from dancing following the beat.










The hosts made us do the Marina Wave.... I remember doing this at the National Stadium with my family. Everyone was so happy.












Then from the sky I saw 5 moving objects with red smoke trailing behind. As it gets nearer to us... It was the Red Lions. I have been waiting for this. They command the sky. Thay looked great and the landings..Superb! See the video & shots taken.


















Soon after, the orchestra started to perform. My mom said it is the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. They sounded good.













The Guards of Honour all smartly dressed looked very good. They marched so well together with their arms swinging away as they marched passed us. My mom told me they had to train and rehearse over and over again.
Phew! That is discipline.












I love the commandos at the Benjamin Sheares Bridge. They make it look easy! I don't think it is. Then there were soldiers coming down at the seating gallery with guns, posing to the crowds. I love them too because there were so close to me.











The waters at Marina Bay came alive with a big helicopter making waves while Navy divers jump into the water then was saved by boats.












When our nation's flag flew over our heads...I sang Majulah Singapura just like I did in my school. I felt very proud. I shouted out the words.."Marilah kita bersatu, dengan semangat yang baru". I felt the spirit within me as I sing. Prosper Singapore!! I love you!



















My mom said that this is our President, the Head of State. He seems to be a very nice man. I waved to him.













I must say the audience was the main motivator for everyone on the floating platform performing their items. Check out these shots taken by the NDP website photographer..need I say more?











I love the underwater sea performance. Small kids like me dressed like sea creatures, with bubbles, squid, fish, crabs etc. I would love to take part in future. They looked like they had fun too! I am so jealous!














This year's fireworks were the best. I felt like I could almost touch it with my bare hands as it was very close to us. These shots were taken by the NDP Website photographer. Check it out!














Best of all, I get to enjoy this day with my mom, just the two of us. I will never forget 9th August 2007. We came, we saw, we enjoyed ourselves TOGETHER. I love you Bonda. Mmmmuah!!!











To Singapore, may I grow up and make you proud of me..just like I am proud of you today.

Hey World!! Here I Come!










Siti Aishah Abdul Razak
Harvard 2 Iman Woodgrove Kindergarten

NDP Video Remake Contest

"Do It Your Way"

I made a video remake of the NDP Song There's No Place I'd Rather Be. I entered my video last week. As the submission date drew to a close, there were 25 entries from creative Singaporeans vying for top spot.

The official results are out, viewers chose my entry is at 5th place. Its official! I won 2 NDP 9th Aug tickets...Wow!

We did it!! Thank You

I said We because without your support my friends, I would not have won the best blog for the week. Thank You

I was contacted on collecting my prize, to go to the Esplanade & meet the NDP representative. We were taken to the seating gallery/ floating platform for this years's NDP 2007.

They took our pictures, Liyun (lucky voter) and myself with Aishah.










There were some rehearsals going on, dance & music filled the air, in the midst of workers finishing up the final touches.

Even though I did not managed to get tickets through the ballot, I was certainly happy to see the area soon to be in the centre of our National Day celebrations.

To all that had supported me, my heartfelt appreciation..goes to all of you.

You know who you are.

NDP 2007 - 3rd Blog Battle Entry Week 5

Blog Battle Topic for Week 5:
What is most unique to you about Singapore?






www.flagsofworld.com/worldflags/singapore.shtml

Singapore is ... So Singapore.

Typical? No.
Ordinary? Far from it.
Exceptional? I like to think so.

Only true Singaporeans will smile and laugh while reading this entry of mine this time round. Read on fellow Singaporeans.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanda_Miss_Joaquim





National Day is coming closer by the day. Soon the whole nation will celebrate its independence. What's so unique about it you may ask. Scroll down further to find the answers.

Singapore officially gained sovereignty on 9 August 1965. Mr Yusof Ishak was sworn in as the first President of Singapore and Mr Lee Kuan Yew, our Prime Minister.

This fledgling nation had to be self-sufficient, and faced problems like mass unemployment, housing shortages, and a dearth of land and natural resources. During Mr Lee Kuan Yew's term as prime minister from 1959 to 1990, his administration curbed widespread unemployment, raised the standard of living, and implemented a large-scale public housing programme. The country's economic infrastructure was developed, the threat of racial tension was curbed, and an independent national defence system, centering around compulsory male military service, was created.

All the above is not what I want to lament about.

Its the manner that we celebrate 9th August each & every year.

On a grand scale each year, the Singapore Combat Engineers organise the NDP, and may I say its execution is not an easy task. They put on display our achievements and accomplishments to fellow Singaporeans and the world. This year will be no mean feat as this year's celebrations will be on a floating platform. A first in this region.







www.ndp.org.sg/index.php?id=1

However, sadly, to some Singaporeans, this annual display have become too routine, monotonous. They described it as a ritual of some sort.

In a National Education project done by Raffles Institution students last year, revealed astonishing results. Armed with recording devices, these students went around Singapore asking citizens on how they felt with the approaching NDP, would they come & watch the parade and after a few days, how they celebrated National Day.

For some who got tickets to the stadium, only came to get the goodie bags, or even worst, sell it on eBay for a few hundred dollars. Shame on them, I say.

Some don't even bother with NDP, why should I bother? Its the same old routine, singing of the anthem, pledge & march past. Even the jets flying by, does the same routine. So boring!! They would rather do something else!

Some just treat 9th August as another chance to go across the causeway and have a short holiday.

All the above are evidence in our uniquely So Singapore behaviour.

But not all of us behave this way, hopefully. For the most of us, it is a time to reflect on our forefathers and their struggles to make Singapore what it is today.
It is a time to come together, to renew our vows for the country, to accept the challenges for the future and to hope for a better world.

I am very proud to be a Singaporean, to raise my family here, to see them grow and prosper. Singaporeans, hold your head up high this 9th August, sing Majulah Singapura to your heart's content, be it at Marina Bay or at home beside your plasma TV, shed a tear if it touches your heart. Be proud fellow Singaporeans, I say. Nothing in this world is as unique as Singapore and its people.




www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/.../
01jul01_photos.html


Celebrate it as it deem fit, with much respect, honour and humility. Celebrate it in your heart. Say gratitude to God, for all the blessings He has bestowed, upon this little island that we call home.

Its people and the way we celebrate our independence, thats what so unique to me.

A place I'd rather be. So uniquely Singapore!

Rosita

Fully recovered

I am glad to say I have fully recovered from my tonsil surgery that I underwent on the 1st June 2007. No more pain so extreme that tears just flow. Able to eat normally now compared to just porridge and mash up digestive biscuits with warm milk. Swallowing was too hard as my tongue was swollen.

I am truly grateful to my mother-in-law who chose to look after me even though both my husband and myself told her not to. I still did all the cooking for the family everyday while in pain. I could just look and smell those glorious food I prepared but could not consume them. This is much more harder than fasting. I love her, my mom in law, she helped with all the chores even though she herself have pains here and there. Being 71, old age gets to her I guess.

Mom in law, Rasiah or affectionately known as Wan by grandchildren. This photo was taken last year during the wedding of one of her grandchildren in KL. Thats the groom on her right.

NDP 2007-My 2nd Blog Battle Entry Week 4

Blog Battle Topic for Week 4:
Name a location where you think shows both Singapore's past and future and why?






tomorrow.sg/archives/2005/04/28

The idea for this particular destination was initially mooted in 1988. It was to be a museum to highlight the history of the SAF. This idea later then evolved to be a platform for Singaporeans to think about their past, and to help them prepare for the challenges of the future.

It was officially opened by the then, President Ong Teng Cheong on 23 November 1996.

With a unique triangular roof structure and supporting rectangular buildings and located on the grounds of SAFTI Military Institute, this place exudes the kind of charisma & mystery.

My family had the honour of being among the first few to visit this place in 1996.

Read on fellow Singaporeans, if you have never been to this place, maybe what I write will entice you to go.

A museum? An art gallery? A science centre? What is this place?

Not quite. Welcome to the Singapore Discovery Centre.







www.sdc.com.sg/


http://www.spoon.com.sg/clients/sdc/test/location.html








Its main objective has been to promote the Singapore Story through entertainment and interactive activities. With the redevelopment, the Centre embarks on a new journey as a world-class edutainment attraction for Singaporeans and overseas visitors alike.


http://www.spoon.com.sg/clients/sdc/test/index.html#

I had been to the Centre twice, first time was in 1996. My daughter, Nuraina was 4 and my son, Sulaiman was just 3. We had an enjoyable time there. There was a lot of details about Singapore's past that I came to know and appreciate. As my children were too young to fully understand the exhibits, both my husband and myself decided to come again when they were much older.


http://www.spoon.com.sg/clients/sdc/test/index.html#

We came for a second visit after its $25 million makeover. My goodness...the place has indeed changed. I could see more high-tech interactive exhibits designed to acknowledge the challenges and celebrate the dreams of Singapore and every Singaporean. With the new look and feel, the new S'pore Discovery Centre (SDC) provide the macro view of the Singapore Story and identity, with a focus on the challenging issues that continue to shape us as a nation.


http://www.spoon.com.sg/clients/sdc/test/index.html#

With 5 main galleries around 8 different themes, and a floor area of 4,500 square metres, my children did not get tired. They were too busy going through each exhibits and experience.

One of its many highlights is the world's first and largest team-based interactive "design studio". Regarded as the jewel piece of S'pore Discovery Centre, the Visionarium is a gigantic globe and has a 360-degree wrap around screen inside. In each session, up to 120 people can make creative choices to turn Singapore into one of the best cities in the world to live, work and play in. The final design is presented on the wrap around screen.

In Gateway: This exhibit uses 3 elements - Fire, Earth and Wind to present Singapore's history in a provocative, edgy and raw fashion.It introduces key milestone events that shaped Singapore on the road to nationhood.

In So Singapore Theatre: What makes Singapore 'So Singapore'? How often do you get to see the Merlion rapping and singing away about Singapore and the many little things we often take for granted as So Singapore.

In On Location Reporter: We experienced the thrill of broadcast journalism. On location reporter took us on a journey through Singapore's historic moments like the National Service call-up, the beginnings of the Housing Development Board (HDB), the launch of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and so on.

In Security Pavilion: My family understood why Singapore cannot take security for granted. A key highlight is the Crisis Simulation theatre. A bomb explodes at a MRT Station. Could this happen here? Will you let this happen? And what can we do to prevent it?

In Unity Pavilion: My children truly enjoyed the quiz trivia show, insightful nuggets and hands-on games. This exhibit allowed us to appreciate and celebrate the diverse cultures and the common way of life that shape Singapore's distinctive identity as a country.

My family was able to immerse ourselves in Singapore's past, present and future, travelling though time to key moments in our nationhood and experiencing them "as they happen". Best of all my children enjoyed talking to George, the robot.









rmbr.nus.edu.sg/roundtable/sdc.html

On why I chose this location? A lot can be learned from this place, its interactiveness, its experiences, its lessons...to name a few, just left me in awe. I guarantee you that your whole family will not get bored.

I truly believe to get to the future, we must acknowledge the past, be it the mistakes or the success. Only then, we can make a better Singapore for us to live in, in the future, for our children's children.

The Singapore Discovery Centre, a truly deserving destination to hear our past, see the present and touch the future. I rest my case.

Rosita Lea