Together with other bloggers, we are invited to the Chingay Parade 2010 by Singapore Tourism Board. The theme for this year parade is ImaginEast (东方奇想). This is also the very first time Chingay is paraded in the F1 Pit Building, beside Singapore Flyer. I thought the Pit Building is a good venue choice because it is near the sea, it gets breezes blowing to the land in the night. The Pit Building is divided into 3 sections, with parade starting from blue to red and lastly yellow. Spectators should also come dress according to the color section they are seated in.

A little background on Chingay Parade. This year is the 37th consecutive year Chingay has been run. Chingay used to be a celebration in Penang during Lunar New Year season, with men carrying Chinese decorated floats on their shoulders, dancers, jugglers and magicians entertain the crowd. It celebrates a beginning to a new year. But Chingay is introduced to Singapore in the 1972 as an substitute activity for the banned firecrackers during the festive season.

Most of the crowd walk by foot from Suntec and Marina Square to the F1 Pit Building. There isn’t much way-finding signs sadly, only ushers nearer to the event venue. Spectators are to be seated by 7pm and the recording will start from 8.15pm. Did I not say that Chingay Parade will be filmed and telecast on the following evening. Hmm…

Anyway, this is our first time watching Chingay live. I can’t tell you how great the experience is. You are immersed into a whole experiential performance with themes, exploding colors, extravagance costumes, beautifully composed music and spectacular performers. Watching TV is a sure no kick.

Chingay Parade 2010 is choreographed into 6 segments: Opening, Legendary Tales, Cultures of the East, Singapore Samba, Yellow River and Finale. Each presenting Asia in the most wondrous imagination.

There are a few highlights for the night. (1) Real firecrackers are lit with furious Chinese dragons and lions dances. You never know how ear deafening and smoky the firecrackers are unless you are there. But it makes a memorable opening for the parade. (2) We have Go Fly Kite participating in the Butterfly Lovers’ float. Their LEDs decorated butterflies fly up the air as the story progresses. (3) Egyptians from Joseph & his Multi-Coloured Coat throw bags of rice to the spectators. (4) MPs from Tampines GRC and HDB waved their hands from the HDB float. (5) Tallest and largest dream catcher follow suit. (6) Extremely long Yellow River scene is collaborated with Singapore renowned pianist, Mr Ong Lip Tat. (7) All kids favorite, float from Universal Studios Singapore. Parade ended with fireworks.

So which color section do you sit matter? I think it does. There are some positions where the floats make a complete stop, section like the red one where VIPs are sitting. These are excellent spots for photo taking. Else, most of the floats usually pass by very quickly.

We are looking forward to the Universal Studios float when the host announces at the start of the parade. But to our disappointment, the fireworks come just before the Universal Studios float, drawing all our attention to the fireworks. The Universal Studios float only stop by the red section and accelerates when it reaches our. I only manage to capture a few shots of it.

After the Chingay Parade, all spectators have to clear the spectator stands. A music party is prepared which lasted through 4am the next morning.

As a tradition, these Chingay floats will parade to our heartland HDB areas too. Check out the Chingay Heartlands schedule to get a closer proximity with them.

Read More (56 More Words, 23 More Images)

Thanks to 24seven and STB, we, bloggers had an exclusive tour of the F1 Rocks Stage! The F1 Rocks will be happening on Thursday, 24th September 2009, Friday, 25th September 2009 and Saturday, 26th September 2009 at Fort Canning Park. Tickets are limited and Saturday performance has already been completely sold out.

Thursday (24th September 2009) Performance

• 1700 – Doors Open
• 1900 – Da Mouth
• 2000 – Sodagreen
• 2100 – A Mei
• 2200 – Jacky Cheung performance

Friday (25th September 2009) Performance

• 1700 – Doors Open
• 1830 – NERD
• 1945 – Simple Minds
• 2115 – ZZ Top
• 2300 – No Doubt

Saturday (26th September 2009) Performance

• 1800 – Doors Open
• 1900 – Havana Brown
• 2100 – Black Eyed Peas
• 2200 – DJ Seb Fontaine (set change)
• 0000 – Beyonce

Fort Canning Park

Entrance On The Left

LG Welcomes You To F1 Rocks

Red Bull Stage. The Party Continues After The Performance

Please Don’t Bring These Items

Stage Is In Front Of Fort Canning Center

F1 Rocks Stage. Specially Shipped From Australia

VIP Area Made To Look Like F1 Track

Artists Dressing Room

Beyonce Dressing Room, She Requested All White

For more photos, check out my Facebook Gallery: F1 Rocks Stage Tour.

Tempting? Get your tickets now from SISTIC now.

24seven will be giving away 3 pairs of F1 Bay Grandstand tickets to watch the F1 races!

This what you have to do:

• Tweet the following “Win F1 Rocks & F1 Bay Grandstand tickets at http://pea.to/f1R. Contest ends 21st September 2009. #f1 #f1rocks”
• Fill in the form at http://pea.to/f1R and two lucky winners will win a pair of Bay Grandstand tickets for the race on 25th (Friday) or 26th (Saturday) September 2009.

If you participated in the F1 Rocks Tickets Contest, one of you will win a pair of F1 Bay Grandstand tickets for the final race day on Sunday, 27th September 2009.

Want to win yourself a pair of F1 Rocks tickets for Friday, 25th September 2009 worth SGD$390? 24seven is giving out 2 pairs of F1 Rocks tickets for Friday, 25th September 2009 to 2 bloggers. The concert on Friday features stars like ZZ Top, No Doubt, Simple Minds and N*E*R*D.

Here is what you have to do to win those juicy tickets!

• Post an entry on your blog to tell us why you deserve to win the F1 Rocks tickets. The post with the most originality and desire will be chosen!
• In your post, insert a link to http://www.visitsingapore.com/sgpseason so that your readers can find out more about the F1 season.
• Have a return link to Singapore Blog Press post on the contest at http://pea.to/f1R
• Submit your blog post and your details to the post at Blog Press so that we may contact you via mobile phone if you win.
• Each blogger will only be eligible to win 1 pair of the tickets.
• Each blog post will earn one chance in the lucky draw, and if you tweet this phrase in your twitter, you’ll get an additional chance of winning in the lucky draw – “Win F1 Rocks tickets at http://pea.to/f1R. Contest ends 20th Sep 09. #f1 #f1rocks”
• Both winners must attend a blogger F1 Rocks stage tour on 22nd September 2009 at 6pm.
• Contest runs from 16th September 2009 to 2359(11:59pm) on 21st September 2009.
• Contest is open to all Singapore Citizens, PRs and Residents.
• Join Uniquely Singapore fan page on Facebook for more news!

Links

• Singapore Blog Press: F1 ROCKS Tickets Giveaway
• F1 Rocks Official Site
• Singapore GP Season 2009

Proudly brought to you by Singapore Tourism Board and 24seven.

I was invited to the Singtel Blogger Race on the SingTel F1 Simulators which current location is at SingTel Pickering Operations Complex. It will be over at Suntec City next week if I am not wrong. I also got to put on the F1 race suit and after wearing it, it was literally an inbuilt sauna due to the fire resistant material! After taking pictures with it, I immediately took it off. No wonder those F1 drivers can lose a lot of weight!

Got to play with the SingTel F1 simulators, it was developed by a London company. I must say it is pretty realistic especially the crashing part. I did pretty bad for the score, took 3 minutes and 22 seconds to complete a lap. The winner was 2 minutes and 36 seconds and it was by a girl! Even the runner up also was a girl! Guys took the 3rd and 4th place!

They also got the computer version using Logitech racing gears, but it was not as realistic and the steering wheel felt to light. Not used to it.

The 2009 Formula 1 Night Race will happen on the 25th September 2009 to 27th September 2009 in Singapore.

We Are At The Right Place

In F1 Suit

The Singtel F1 Simulator

• Official Singtel Site: SingTel Singapore Grand Prix
• Official F1 Site: Singapore Grand Prix
• Facebook Gallery: Blogger Race on the SingTel F1 Simulators