JYOF - Northwest District

Oh yes! I'm so thrilled as I took shot after shot of the Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame, right here, literally at my doorsteps.

-
I had this planned since Saturday. I tracked the flame progress live online and was so shocked that it started raining heavily around 1 plus. I just couldn't bear to be disappointed.

-

My brother managed to skip his CCA session and came home to catch this moment with me. We made our way downstairs around 3.40pm, once I saw the flame icon was moving again on the screen.

-

It was supposed to arrive around 3pm but perhaps due to the bad weather, they were deterred. I was so nervous, my heart was beating unevenly, when the flame stopped for so long. I even went twitter to ask why.

-

I was so worried that I won't manage to take good shots but I did. The whole thing happened so fast. The entourage came on two open-top buses, the traffic police, the torch-bearer and the accompanying runners and more buses following behind.

-

We saw the exchanging of torch as well. And then, they were off.

-

Ahhh, it feels so satisfying to manage to catch this live, it's indeed a moment of a lifetime. This Saturday, I will part of Singapore's history as well.

-

Musings on Life

It is what we want in life that shapes the person within.

It’s true, we all started out more or less the same, as time passes, people change, for better or worse. And when we are in our twenties and look back at where we started, would we wish to change things then?

It is the priorities one has in life that makes him do the things now. Do you want to be a sportsman? If then, what would you sacrifice to get what you want?

I have priorities, in life and in schoolwork. Because I'm not that kind of person who go about life in a haphazard manner. Just like how you have a million and one things to acquire, but only have the means to get what are the most important first and leave the rest for later, or perhaps never.

I'm sure I'll regret not choosing the other paths, but won't Life even be more pathetic if I keep thinking about the "have-beens" and "may-bes"?

If I have a time-turner, I would love to go back in time and see the other paths. Would I have chosen them then, or would I still choose this, ultimately?

Lately, I've been thinking a lot. The meetings with friends and the suddenness of seeing myself out there, I have been thinking about life.

I don't regret going through my school years oblivious of the trivial things that had been going around. Firstly, I am not one for gossip. Secondly, frankly, I don't see myself gasping in horror or otherwise just because this guy goes out with this girl.

I've always been oblivious to the surroundings since young and maybe I don't plan on changing now. Still, it will be good to keep up with times now and then.

I am too afraid of being pathetic, of being stuck in nowhere. I want to change, you know? But it is harder than I thought. The human mind is resilient and I'll just have to believe.

Like what my lecturer said, "it's about the mindset, you can't be competing with people all the time, because you'll end up falling or getting a brain hemorrhage. Just compete with and push yourself. Just because you are lecturer and a friend is a CEO doesn't mean you fail as an individual. If you keep thinking about how unfair life is, then you will get nowhere."

Another lecturer said, "to be successful doesn't necessary mean in monetary terms or credentials. Perhaps, your parents are successful because their child has come so far. This is a form of success too".

National Day Parade 2010

Happy 45th Birthday, Singapore!
-

National Day Parade 2010 was wonderful and the lighting effects are so good! The theme this year is “Live Our Dreams, Flag Our Flag”.

-

One thing that got me was how they butchered the beloved national songs. I can hardly stand to hear them.

-

This year, the Parade was held at the Padang due to the Floating Platform being reserved for the YOG Opening and Closing Ceremony.

-

Guess what? For a once in a lifetime experience, my family blew S$400 on the tickets for the YOG Opening ceremony. It will be worth it because how fast will the flame come back to Singapore again? Not at least till many years, perhaps.

-

So, it’ll be Singaporean pride there. Even though our seats are the second cheapest, can you imagine us buying the grandstand which cost a whooping S$200 each? It’s too crazy.

-

Anyway, back to the NDP 2010. The fireworks are magnificent, with the new Marina Bay Sands as a beautiful backdrop. Who is to say Singapore skyline isn’t comparable to other countries? It’s just as beautiful, if not better.

-

The military march-in and the mobile column are some of the best highlights. Each year, I can’t help but to be teary-eyed as I think of how great it is that I’m in Singapore.

-

I also noticed that this year, the word “grateful” keep popping out, this is indeed a timely reminder to us that we must not take what we have for granted. Just because we have all these up-to-date weapons and military, does not mean that we just forsake ourselves in our trivial battles.

-

Everytime I watched the parade, the mood never fails to grab me by the throat and squeeze. I get chock-up over the pride.