Singapore F1 Grand Prix - The Race Day

Clip taken on Turn 11...

Well there have been a bit delay before i blog the last day of Singapore Formula 1 Night Race Street Grand Prix. The last 3 days has been very tiring for me.. Sleeping at 2am and got to wake up early for work the next day... Then after work, head for the F1 Grand Prix circuit.. I'm sure those F1 drivers had more rest then me.. But who care.. for the pass three nights i have been enjoying myself very much..

Day 3 this the race day... I meet my friend for dinner before we head to our favourite viewing spot.. Turn 11.. From my pass 2 days i learned that Turn 10 is an accident prone turn.. and Turn 11 could be the over taking corner.. We deploy our self at Turn 11... Hoping to see some action... We reach Turn 11 at 7pm.. and there was already a huge crowd there... The Walk-about Stand was filled with spectator (Guess these people also did their homework too)

While waiting for the race to start at 8pm.. I chat up with an Australian guy, from Melbourne.. He been to Singapore a few time.. and watch many F1 races in Melbourne.. and this is also his 1st night race in Singapore.. He is here to support McLaren.. we chat about previous great drivers of McLaren like Ayton Senna and Alain Prost.. and we also discuss about the types of F1 engine being use.. like the V12 Engine, Turbo Engine, Traction Control.. etc.. And only rich teams could afford better engines... thus FIA change the ruling.. All cars can only use V8 Engines and displacement of 2400 cc.... He told me he will be back for more next year..

The whole atmosphere is awesome during the race day.. can see supporters from different part of the world.. The British supporting Lewis Hamilton in McLaren, Singaporeans, Finnish, Brazilians and Italians cheering for Ferrari drivers, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Messa.. There are also Toyota Supporters and Spanish going for Fernando Alonso of Team ING Renault.... Every supporters are very sporting... sharing the race information within each other.. (We don't get to see hooligans style here)... You can hear the "OOh" when Felipe Messa blunder in the pit stop.. and "Yeah..." when Lewis Hamilton move back to 3rd placing... Kimi Raikkonen smashes his car at turn 10 with only 4 more laps to go.. and the crowd when crazy... I can see Kimi Raikkonen' Ferrari slowly stop in front of us.. Cameras starts clicking... and a disappointed Kimi Raikkonen climb out of his car, walk towards the official car.. everyone claps and cheer for him...

A very disappointing race for Ferrari.. and a triumph for Renualt's Driver and Ex 2 times World Champion Fernando Alonso in his 1st Grand Prix wins of this season... The driver left a good memories for all Singaporeans - Burn tyre marks on the road of Singapore..

I will rate this Singapore Formula 1 Night Street Race a World Class 5 stars rating.. for the awesome experience and presenting Singapore landmarks to the World.. I'll be back for more next year...

Singapore F1 Day 2...Qualifying Rounds (FEEL THE RUSH)

Some of the Vintage cars display

Team Toyota Zoom by

Porsche Support Race

William Zoom by.. See how fast...

Merchandise Shops..

Aston Martin Race... Singapore Street Circuit during day

Ferrari Merchandise Shop..

Well Second Day of the Singapore F1.. The crowd is much larger than Friday night.. This is the qualifying day.. So I'm expecting the driver to push their cars to the limit.. Kimi Raikkonen crash on Turn 10 during practice.... But he sprint back again during the qualifying rounds.. Force India's Giancarlo Fisichella also smash into the barrier and had to be lift off the track.. When the drivers are under heavy pressure and the street circuit is showing no mercy... More accident will happen..

Last ninth i over heard a group of Singaporean Ferrari Supporter.. chatting about how great Raikkonen and Messa were.. and then soem of their ladies friend approach. and one of them ask the girls.. "Who U support?" and the girls reply "McLaren".. Then one of the Ferrari fans shouted "McLaren Boooo, Alonso Boooo!!" me and my friend goes HUH? Alonso in McLaren, that was last year... Hahaha... That guy should have done his homework.. before he speak to any of the fans.. a disgrace to Singaporean.. hahaha.. There are so many die hard foreigner fans...

Still not enough for the roaring F1 engine sound.. I'll be back on Sunday night for the Race... Hungry for more action....

Singapore F1 Grand Prix Practise Session

All Picture taken from Channelnewsasia

After dinner @ Central with my brother.. We both walk tho the F1 race venue.. We can her the roaring engine sound as far as Clarke Quay.. Thus i was getting very excited to reach the venue fast... The sound of the roaring F1 engine grew louder as we approach Boat Quay.. There were so many foreigners on the heart of Singapore soil.. Drinking and chatting along the stretch of Boat Quay pubs and restaurants.. I can see that this event is bring so many dollars into Singapore's economy.. The whole city comes alive...

When we reach gate 5.. the police did a security check on us before letting us in. There right in front of us.. we can the F1 cars zoom by...It was so damn shoik to hear the roaring F1 engine zoom by.. we then head to the walk-about stand for a better view of the circuit... i whip out my camera and start clicking.. but non of the shot manage to capture the cars.. (That is why i can't provide any photos now) so i switch on the video mood.. and manage to capture some action zoom by... The cars were travelling so fast..

We decide to change another location... and head towards the Esplanade bridge.. Wrong decision.. Straight course.. and the cars are zooming at the speed of 300km/h.. we watch a while before changing another location (that is something good about Walk-about Pass, you get to change location if you are bored) This time we move near to the NDP Floating Platform area.. The view was great.. we can see the cars slowing down to take on 2 corners.. Then we moved on to another location... and another location...

There are merchandise stalls, hawker center, Beer stalls, Bands performing, Percussion band drumming, Antique cars exhibition, arts performance, DJ spinning dance music..etc.... a carnival atmosphere.. and it was really nice to see F1 cars zooming along Singapore street during the night..

Most of the drivers are still not familiars with this new circuit.. Many make a wrong turn and some brush their car nose into the concrete barriers.. and many hit the glass patch.. I was following on Liewis Hilmiton and Fellipe Messa... Hilmiton was adapting to this new street circuit very fast.. and was good at handling the sharp corners.. While Messa still struggling a bit..but is more confident on second practise session.. I believe most of the drivers should be very familiar and confident of this narrow street circuit by the 3rd session....

Still hungry for more action from Singapore F1 grand Prix for the next 2 more days...

Tomorrow is the first day of F1 in Singapore

Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix - Night Race Circuit...

My 3 days Singapore Grand Prix Pass....

Yeah Yeah Yeah..

Tomorrow Singapore will be on history.... The first Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix and also the World first Formula 1 night race.. I'm sure this will be a very different experience for all the Formula 1 drivers... racing in the night.. a new street circuit.. unknown climate condition... like "2Fast 2furious" dashing at full throttle on Singapore street.. with Singapore Flyer, Esplanade, Central Business District Silhouette, The city Hall, Stanford Westin, The Padang and the Marina Square... It will be a great night scene for the tourist.. and the world to see..

Due to inexperience, most track side hotels are still not to their target.. Still got rooms available... They have over price their room rates... They even reduce price and minimum night stay.. I'm sure next year the hoteliers will price the room rates better..

I'll be going for the 3days Formula 1 race with high expectation...

Hong Kong Police send me email...

Yesterday i got a shock when i arrive for work in the morning.. Right on my table was an email.. from the Hong Kong Police's Detective Station Sergeant asking for information on 4 of our customers that was detain in Hong Kong for "Conspiracy to Defraud"..

I was wondering how the Hong Kong police got my contact and name.. then only realised when i check with my Hong Kong operator... They are the one who gave the detective my contact.. It was for real and not a scam email.. anyway.. these customers where send by their company to Hong Kong for business trip.. and got detain by the police there on 3 Sep 08..

I always watch Hong Kong detective drama and never know one real Hong Kong detective email me...

Office PC down... and Recover...

On Saturday.. Suddenly my Office PC's monitor.. screen black out a few time.. i saw suspecting the monitor was down.. i begin to swoop with the spare PC's monitor.. and it works.. also my monitor works on the sare PC.. (scratch head).. then screen black out again. this time i suspect the monitor cable is spoil. so i swap the spare monitor cable to my PC.. and Tah Da!! it works.. so i throw away my PC monitor cable and brought a new one for the spare PC... i quickly save all my working documents into my back up thumb drive...

On Sunday it work perfectly well.. till i finish my work and right before i back up into the thumb drive.. "Boom" Black out again... and this time no matter how i tried.. the screen never lit up... Die loh... Monday i was off.. and my colleague told me that my PC's still in coma...

Yesterday.. It's still the same.. so i got no choice but to swoop my PC for the spare PC.. The spare PC is running on Windows Vista Operating System.. got a hard time figuring out the new feature.. after much orientation.. i realised that Windows Vista is better than Windows XP.. Much better feature.. and easy to use also...

So last night when my boss, take a look at my PC.. he was suspecting that the graphic card is spoil.. we took it out and and use the motherboard built in VGA... and "Tah Da!!!!" it works...

Singapore F1 fever...

The Singapore Formula 1 fever has hit me already... I have been having sleepless night these few night thinking about the first Singapore F1 Grand Prix... Some more it is a night race.. i was so excited as i don't know what to expect for a night race.. The first in Formula 1 history...

Today i went to World of Sports to check out on the Ferrari's T-Shirts.. the cheapest will be around S$70++ and more.... It was so expensive.. i rather not buy... But for those Ferrari owner.. It is cheap.. IF one can afford a Ferrari, what is S$70++ to them...

I was think of bring my camera on the 3 days of races.. but on second thought.. it might be ban.. cos using the camera at night it need flash and the flashing lights will affect the driver's vision..

Bonding with my child

After spending the last few Mondays with my daughter.. I finds that our bonding is closer.. she will cuddle on me more often.. and listen to me.. I got my own way of handling her.. so different from my wife.. My wife usually give in to her.. but i don't.. Of course I'm a more naggy person than my wife.. My wife tends to pampered her a lot.. but i don't.. i use the "carrot and stick" method to lure her and if she really don't listen, I'm not hesitate to use the cane..

Now we take turns to play on my PSP and i also watch cartoons with her.. She also discuss some of the cartoons characters with me.. and we were like friends... Every morning, after i dress up for work, i wake her up, wipe her face, dress her up, drag her out of the bedroom, prepared her water bottle and snack box.. Getting ready her for school has become a routine for me.. If i work in a afternoon shift, i will cycle her to school.

As a Virgo, I'm more of a organised and very routine person... So i adapt to this new routine fast.. No problem for me.. But it is nice to have a good bonding with my child.. Sometimes having a child is also a joy too..

Worried of my wife's health

On Monday night my wife start coughing blood.. She told me in the middle of the night.. And i advise her to see the doctor... So on Tuesday, she when to see the family doctor and was told that coughing blood is a serious matter.. and doctor refer her to polyclinic for x-ray.. Her x-ray shows a lump near her heart.. but the doctor still could not confirm what it is or whether it cause her to cough blood. She had to get another x-ray on Saturday.

I was so worried about her health.. What could this lump near her heart be? Hopefully not a cancerous cell.. She was diagnose with asthma a few years ago and frequently having difficulty in breathing especially in a not well ventilated area... Maybe she do not have asthma and this lump might be that makes her breathless?

My wife just got back to the work force after a few years of being a housewife.. and we starting to move on to the next chapter of life.. and i hope her health does not move us back to the previous chapter.

China Visa Waiver for Singaporean

China Visa Waiver for all Singaporean Ordinary Passport Holder with effect from 19 September 08.

http://www.chinaembassy.org.sg/eng/lsqw/t513127.htm

Beijing Paralympics 2008, Valued lesson

Finally a Singapore Flag Flying above the rest

First i would like to congrats Swimmer Yip Pin Xiu for winning the 1st Paralympics Gold Medal for Singapore.. You have made Singapore proud.!!!

I was watching the Opening Ceremony of 2008 Beijing Paralympics.. and was very impress by those Paralympics athletics all over the world, holding their heads higher than those able Olympics athletics. Can see their very proud moments, representing their country during the countries contingent march pass...

I was really touch by them. Their physically and mentally challenge did not stop them from achieving what able person can do.. And they even achieve far better than able person... Like to swim with only one arm, pulling the arrow and bow with their teeth, playing basketball with wheelchair, sprint with only one limb etc..

This Paralympics not only show case sportsmanship.. but it teaches everyone around the world a very valued lesson... <>.. If these physically and mentally challenge could do it, why can't able person make it..?

Public Transport Increase in Fare on 1 Oct 08

This is the don't know how many times.. the public transport has increase their fare... Even thought the increase is said to be little... but to have 3 million people traveling to work and school every weekdays... It will snowball to a lot..
Imagine 4cent increase a trip... means 8 cents per day and $2.40 per month (30days) that means $24,000 for 10,000 commuters a months... WOW...

Report from Yahoo Singapore News
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20080913/tap-388-bus-train-fares-1-october-231650b.html

Stung by bee or hornet

My daughter was stung by bee 2 days ago.. While waking her up on Tuesday morning.. she was scratching both her legs.. I thought it was mosquitoes bite.. so i don't bother.. and my wife also thinking it was a mosquitoes bite did not suspect anything. and put some cream on the bitten...

Last night my daughter had a fever and the bit mark was swollen red.. quickly my wife rush her to the nearby family clinic. The doctor told her it was a insect bite.. most likely a bee or hornet bite.. (Then my wife recall seeing something like a bee or hornet flying around our house a few days ago).. The venom has infected into my daughter's flesh and doctor gave her some antibiotic and fever medicine..

This morning her bit mark has decrease... and not swelling anymore.. but she looks so tired... so we decide to give her a day rest from school.. But she still got slight fever this morning... Hope she recover well today...

Sinagpore Airline & Silk Air Lower their Fuel Tax

Singapore Airline and Silk Air has announce their reduction in Fuel Tax due to a slight fall in fuel price.. How long will this last..? My prediction is that fuel price will drop slightly and because fuel is still a great demand in certain developing countries and the price will eventually goes up again... It will never goes back to the previous price of below US$100 anymore..

Now the most recent news is that Changi Airport is raising Airport tax from $21 to $28.. at 1 Jan 09 and the Budget Airport is raising it's Airport Tax from $13 to $15.. at 1 Jan 09 too...

Thailand Political Unrest..

The PAD is staging many protest to get Prime Minister Samak to resign.. For the past weeks the PAD block a few International Airport, stomp into the Government House, bomb attack on police post, getting union to go on strike and now getting the student to join them...

Prime Minister Samak won the election which ends the Military Coups.. Thais vote a fair election for PPP to take over as the government. And now the PAD which once create many protest to bring down the former PM Thaksin.. wanted PM Samak to resign..

In my option, if I'm a Thai, i won't support PAD of their action.. If they can create a protest that lead to the government declaring a state of emergency.. Do you think they could form a better government than the PPP? Could they run the country without any other political party doing the same to them? What if Samak resign, and form another new party and got elected as the new government by the people, will PAD raise up and stage a repeat protest?

This government is voted by the majority Thais in a fair election.. and PAD should respect the decision of the Thais people.. and judge how Samak's government do their job.. If they are not up to the people's expectation, they will not win the next election... Is that simple.. Staging bloody protest that leads to state emergency is not a proper way to bring down a government.. It only cripple the economic and tourism of the country...

F1 Singapore Grand Prix - Few Singaporean know

A Survey shows that many people in Singapore still not aware about the inaugural F1 Singapore Grand Prix Night Race 08... Many are not into the Formula 1 Racing in Singapore.. Singaporean only crazy about soccer.. especially the English Premier League..


I started watching F1 Grand Prix on Malaysia Channel RTM... during my teenage period, about Sec 1... That time i was amaze by the skill of the drivers, the different design of the F1 cars, and the tactic being apply for a race... There were drivers like Alain Prost (my favourite) "Driving Angel", Ayton Senna (pass away during a crash) "Dare Devil", Nigel Mansell etc.... Non of my classmate watch F1... and when i brought up the subject about F1, everyone stare at me in blank... Even my friend from United State talk more of Daytona and IndyRace...

Even till now most Singaporean is not much aware of this motor sports, except of a handful of motor sports craze.. It takes time to understand this motor sports other than just race to see who come in first.. the strategies and tactic of the whole team is very important.. like the pit crew.. they must change the tire and refuel at the fastest timing with good co-ordination.. and the type of tires to be use (wet or dry), the tuning of the car (depend on the circuit and weather) and the management tactic like how many pic stop, when to do a pit stop etc....

SingTel or the SingaporeGP should put up more banner on the street, Bus Interchange, MRT, Shopping Centre, Food Court... etc everywhere to make awareness to this event.. In Europe, Formula 1 race is a glam event, where many celebrities and well known.. will flock to the event.. More media coverage like Ads on TV, show current F1 race on TV so that many people will know who to support when they watch the race and also to advertise famous drivers like Lewis Hamiton, Filip Messa.. show some handsome F1 driver face to attract female crowds.. like what England and ManU did with Beckham....

4 Singapore Tourist Attractions get Michellin Rating

The below mention attractions in Singapore have received a 3-star rating from Michelin, the renowned French lifestyle surveyors.

Singapore Raffles Hotel
Night Safari
Singapore Zoological Garden
Botanic Garden

HOORAY !! Our attraction is on par with international landmarks like Paris Eiffel Tower etc... Hope more attraction like Sentosa, Singapore Flyers, The Esplanade and Jurong Bird Park could get a rating too....

P/S: I think i should get myself a copy of Michelin Travel guide book...

So many enquires about Biogus Travel Agent

Because the Bogus Travel Agency is in People's Parks Centre.. So many of our regular customers has been asking ... Is it thats our agency?.. We explain to them that it is NOT our agency... Some customers also insist that we issue for them paper ticket instead of paperless ticket.. (they have to pay addition of $30 per paper ticket.) There are so many travel agency in People's Park Centre, i'm sure other Travel agencies also get the same enquiry.. The media came and stir up the news, doing interview and taking photos... The building management have to chase them out for the sake of the other travel agency business.. The more report on that bogus travel agent.. the more it create insecurity and no confident to the customers to the rest of the travel agencies..

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/373355/1/.html

One black sheep does not means the whole boat is full of it....

Star Wars - The Clone Wars (Animation)

I'm a great fan of Star Wars since my childhood... I grow up playing Star Wars toys. I had a full set of figuring stored neatly in a Darth Vader casing, Master Yoda's Dagobah home, ATAT and a Millennium Falcon... What happen to these toys? I gave it away to one of my sec 2 classmate who was a Star Wars fan too.. After 10 over years... we had a gathering at his place during Hari Raya... and i was surprise to see all my Star Wars figuring and everything in good condition.. He really take care of them well for me... (I did gave to the right person)..


Being a Star Wars fan, i went to watch The Clone Wars last Saturday, 30 Aug 08.. I was expecting the traditional 21st Century opening, but was greet by the Warner Bro opening.. thereafter came the very short Star Wars opening theme... Well i was a bit disappointed with that.. The 3D animation was like PC games trailer... (too bad it was not done by Pixar).. Pixar would have done a better 3D animation job..

The story is simple...
Jabba the Hutt's son was being kidnapped and the Jedi are suppose to help rescue Jabba the Hutt's son.. Later the Jedi realise that the whole kidnapped plot was planned by Darth Dooku... and create a big huge misunderstanding between the Jedi and Jabba the Hutt... The story end with Anikin Skywalker returning Jabba the Hutt's son to him and Queen Amidala explaining the misunderstanding to Jabba the Hutt.. Simple story.. but there are full of actions...

"May The Force Be With You"

Another Bogus Travel Agency Closed

Just saw the news... another Bogus Travel Agency Closed down.. That Travel Agency is Fly International... They accept payment from customers and issue Bogus E-air ticket.. Anyway now E-ticket seems like easy to fake it.. because it is paperless... This will back fire E-Ticketing.. There were a few customers waiting outside their agency, media and police were present.... Such travel agency are the black sheep of this industry.. It cause customers to loss confident..

From my knowledge this Travel Agency was open by a Singaporean man and his CHina Wife.. Husband is like "Phua Chu Kang" type and his wife very fierce... always see her quarrel and scold customers... Their service are terrible.. and always got police visiting their premise...

According to the husband... His wife took the money, issue bogus ticket and ran away to China... Since they start business 1 year ago.. they have been selling air ticket at very cheap rates.. some even at our nett fare.. Many of those budget hunters will flock to their agency to buy cheap air ticket.. Never would they know that this travel agency issued fake E-ticket.. Logic thinking will tell you "Who will do business that will not make profit?" Only greedy consumers are taken in for a ride... But of course we can't blame the greedy consumers as they only concern about the cheap fare...

My best advice is to check with 3 to 4 travel agencies and compare their fares before you book and if one of the travel agent fare is way below the rest.. then "BEWARE" this is a potential Bogus travel agent... Always book with those at average price (market price).. NEVER GET ATTRACTED BY UNBELIEVABLE OFFER....