Fireworks@Marina Bay

It was a really spontaneous decision to go to join the kiasu crowd to see the fireworks on Saturday.

Nothing is really free in Singapore, even with fireworks. There is a fee for it if you want a strategic location to enjoy the fireworks. So instead of paying our way to the stadium (it's quite late to get a ticket anyway), we followed the crowd towards the Esplanade and joined thousands of spectators in the "grand stand".

Not that I "hiam" or being harsh. It's really not that spectacular. The fireworks was really... ahem... boring.



Anyway, it's still an eye opener not on the fireworks but the people.

i. The fireworks is supposed to start at 9pm. I think it followed Singaporean or maybe Asian time. The even did not start until 9:15pm, with some kites with flashy lights flying around the sky for a good 5 mins.

ii. Okay... maybe we can't blame the organizer for starting it late. When it's 9pm there were still thousands of so called ticket holder rushing towards the stadium gate to gain entry. They paid, so we should not complain but wait for the late comers.

iii. Smokers. I hate smokers. Especially smoking in the public where kids are around. There were a handful of smokers smoking like a chimney around me and I was strategically surrounded by a bunch of kids. Those ah bengs (yes they dressed and acted like one) are worse than drunk people at Zuok. No matter how drunk they are, they know smoking is banned. These ah bengs are sober and aware of their surroundings. Luckily the one standing right in front of me stopped the ciggy right after the fireworks started. I was about to wear my bitchy mask to tell him off (Yes i'm back in Asia and standing for your right is not right, it's called kay-poh and bitchy).

Smoking is not an IT thing. Be considerate, ah bengs.

iv. Crowded. Very crowded. Super crowded.
There were thousands and thousands of people, walking along the streets heading to the same direction for the fireworks and leaving at the same time right after the fireworks. The traffic controllers weren't very good. It's out of control.

I think it's wiser to close the affected streets and just let people walk on the road, like how Melbourne closed Flinders St during Moomba and other celebrations. That's easier to control the crowd and being efficient Singaporeans, the crowd will disappear within split seconds. It's better this way than having people pushing around at the same time running away from motorcyclists.

Wait until F1 in Singapore. The crowd will be even worse.