I was tempted to just stay in for New Year like my other friends because I was too lazy to go out, but I thought to myself: NO! You can’t start this year off like an old woman! That is no way to start the year, you will end up acting like a boring oldie the whole year! So I decided to fight the urge to stay in and do what my young adventure-seeking self would have done, which was nothing too adventurous, really. I just braved the crowds in order to catch a glimpse of the fireworks in Marina Bay.
Fireworks are not allowed just anywhere in Singapore, so if you want to see some on New Year, there are only two options – Siloso Beach Party, which I did the previous two years, and Marina Bay.
We sat on the wooden floor boards with a small picnic of dimsum and drinks and chatted up a storm before midnight. I told them we were not supposed to eat chicken on New Year because it would mean we would have an “isang kahig, isang tuka” or “one scratch, one peck” existence the entire year (because that’s how chickens eat), so Nantoy said we had to finish all the food before midnight because it was all made of chicken. It wasn’t, though. Crazy guy.
This was our view of Marina Bay. I couldn’t get a decent spot to take a picture because of all the people, but those lighted things on the water are all floating balls where people have written their wishes. For weeks they were displayed all around the island, mostly in malls, for people to write on with felt tip markers. My three wishes are in there somewhere, and no, I’m not gonna tell you what they are because you’re not supposed to say them out loud or they won’t come true. LOL.
At around 15 minutes before midnight, everyone started to stand up, so we did too. We had this picture at around 2 minutes before the new year.
Seconds before midnight, lights flashed across the sky like a Bat signal. Then the countdown numbers were flashed on one of the buildings and at promptly midnight, the sky exploded in a riot of color. I wasn’t able to take too many decent photos despite having a tripod and using the fireworks setting on my camera because the smoke from previous fireworks made for too much noise on the pictures. So I got only two decent shots, the first one on this post, which I think was a great one if I do say so myself, and the one below.
Right after the fireworks were done, everyone left. But there were so many people that it took about an hour to walk from outside to the MRT, a walk that on any given day would have taken 10 minutes or so. There were security people around to stagger the entrance of people into the MRT station to make sure that the trains were not overcrowded. But we were packed so densely together that Nantoy compared us to sheep being herded by a shepherd and I said, no, more like fish in a net.
At one point, one little boy started crying, probably because of the heat. Nantoy pitied the boy and asked us if we had a fan, but we didn’t have any, but I offered my shawl. Nantoy then spun it around like an electric fan, and it did give off some air, and the little boy giggled, and so did everyone around us who saw what happened.
We eventually got on the train, and rode it to Dred and Nantoy’s flat where a sumptuous dinner cooked by their flat mates was waiting for us. But of course, before all else, we had to take pictures.
Yes it was no coincidence that we all wore red. It is my belief that you should wear new clothes on New Year so new things will happen to you during the year, so I urged everyone to buy something new for the occasion. When Joc and I bought red dresses, everyone decided to make it the theme.
After eating dinner (all pork, because pigs push their food forward when they eat), I said I wanted to go home instead of sleeping over so I could shower and sleep in the comfort of my own bed. I booked a cab using an app and to my surprise, the one that arrived for me was a cab that looked like this:
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It was a London cab! I didn’t know we had these in Singapore! It was so huge inside, it could fit five people! There was also a glass partition between the driver and the passenger side, with only a small hole where I can slide the payment. I expressed my ignorance amazement at the cab which I had only seen on British TV shows before, and the driver said there were only 30 of these all over the country.
I really enjoyed my New Year’s eve and the first few hours, when I already managed to experience some really awesome new experiences even before I saw the light of day. If superstitions are true, I guess I’m in for a bunch of new experiences this year.
But wait, there’s more… I also saw Big Ben, the Eiffel tower, the statue of liberty, and more later on. Blog post about that wonderful experience to follow soon!
I absolutely love how you and your circle of friends turn every occasion into an amazing event! Looks like you had a fantastic evening. May you continue to have new experiences throughout this new year!
Sounds like a fun night but I was an old lazy. I stayed in the house and went to bed. Story of my life.
Great post. I forget how excited people get over London cabs. I guess growing up with them meant i occasionally take them for granted! You have such a lovely circle of friends – i love that everything isn't just a social gathering, it's an event! x
what a beautiful site, and you ladies look great in red!
Wow, the fireworks were great and I love how you all matched!<br /><br />xx<br />Kelly<br /><a href="http://www.sparklesandshoes.com" rel="nofollow">Sparkles and Shoes</a>
I LOVE your matching outfits! I just love you and your friends anyway Dee, I need to come and hang out with you guys! Your outfit combinations are just awesome.
Aww thank you! So happy to read this!
Well that's fine, if that's really your thing! But it's not mine, that's why I struggled to fight the urge to do so, because it wouldn't be me!
Yes, we do tend to do that when we're used to something!<br />Thanks, love the way you put it! x
Thank you, Megan!
Thanks, Kate the great! Maybe someday we will! I'd love to hang out with you and I hope you don't get creeped out if I let you do all the talking so I can listen to your cute accent! 😛
what a beautiful site, and you ladies look great in red!
I LOVE your matching outfits! I just love you and your friends anyway Dee, I need to come and hang out with you guys! Your outfit combinations are just awesome.
I absolutely love how you and your circle of friends turn every occasion into an amazing event! Looks like you had a fantastic evening. May you continue to have new experiences throughout this new year!
Thanks, Kate the great! Maybe someday we will! I'd love to hang out with you and I hope you don't get creeped out if I let you do all the talking so I can listen to your cute accent! 😛
Wow, the fireworks were great and I love how you all matched!<br /><br />xx<br />Kelly<br /><a href="http://www.sparklesandshoes.com" rel="nofollow">Sparkles and Shoes</a>
Sounds like a fun night but I was an old lazy. I stayed in the house and went to bed. Story of my life.
Aww thank you! So happy to read this!
Thank you, Megan!
Yes, we do tend to do that when we're used to something!<br />Thanks, love the way you put it! x
Great post. I forget how excited people get over London cabs. I guess growing up with them meant i occasionally take them for granted! You have such a lovely circle of friends – i love that everything isn't just a social gathering, it's an event! x
Well that's fine, if that's really your thing! But it's not mine, that's why I struggled to fight the urge to do so, because it wouldn't be me!