Notice of Road Closures @ Esplanade
Originally uploaded by jazzkool.
Today went to Padang for rehearsals.. Apparently, according to the news updates on the media (ie, TV, newspapers, radio, etc), they reported that there wld be a closure of roads! See the pic above this blogpost, and u koe wat I mean!
Anyway, it was a proud moment for me, to represent the RSAF in this yr's NDP!! Just seeing the crowd (becos' as u koe lah, Singaporeans are quite kaypoh!.. even though the roads are closed, but they wld line up on the streets, juz to see the parade.. but in fact, they cant see anything.. all they see was the sky items, eg: the parachuters and the flypast, etc.. and probably some mobile heavy SAF vehicles such as tanks, on the roads.. the rest of the parade like we all marching and the mass items on the Padang itself, they can't see.. the most is they only can hear wat the MC is saying and stuff!) is enuf to make me have a sense of pride to be in the RSAF contingent!
So we were there in Beach Road Camp (ie, the building opposite Raffles Hotel) since like 9+am (becos' we left our bunks at 8am and the bus came abt 8.45am..) and waited.. and waited.. and waited.. and waited.. (ermz.. ok.. I got too carried away!).. and waited.. till 10.30am.. before we almost want to go to Padang for some warm-up drills but then, it rained with lightning.. so again.. we waited.. and waited.. and waited.. and waited.. and waited.. till all of us almost in the holding room were lying flat on the floor (despite its dustiness) and take a short nap.. it was comfortable though becos got air-con (ahem! FYI: we are the only contingent who has an air-con holding area.. so we are privileged!).. and then, we waited while sleeping and finally, lunch came! We had a 10 min lunch b4 we are whizzed downstairs, thinking tat we can go.. but then, we line up according to our drill positions and get ready to go to Padang for some familiarisation of the ground.. but then.. guess wat.. we waited.. and waited.. and waited.. for about 15 mins before we are again whizzed quickly to the Padang.. Traffic at tat time was not closed yet.. therefore a bit chaotic, becos we have to run and stuff, so as to minimise the blockage of traffic and stuff.. and as we cross the roads, ppl on the pathways and in their cars/vehicles were like staring and looking at us.. Man.. tat feeling is so shiok!
Once we reach there, again we have to wait.. finally its our turn! Sp we went in.. did 2 rounds of sequence run (which is truncated ones of course) and then, we went to the back of the spectator's stand and wait for 45 mins.. before, we are called to do a final sequence run before eating our dinner..
30 mins past, and we are done.. Now, we are marching back to our holding area, which is Beach Road Camp, which is 800 metres away frm Padang.. Along the way, ppl were taking photos with their digital cameras and camera phones.. It was a good feeling though.. but too bad I wasn't in the outer side of the road, or else, ppl wld hv captured my handsome face (ok.. I hope.. I shall stop praising myself, b4 you start puking!)
Once we are in the holding room, dinner came in 5 mins later.. and again, we've got only 10 mins to eat our dinner and 10 minutes to change into our No. 1 uniforms (this time, for a FULL run.. as in really FULL.. this is exactly the sequence of events which will be happening during 9 Aug itself! In case u dun koe wat is full, the events which were rehearsing are the pre-parade segments, the parade & ceremony segment and the post-parade segment.. so yupz..)
Again, after we are done, we are whizzed quickly downstairs frm the holding area and into Padang.. but NOT without minutes of waiting.. The amt of time we spending waiting to get into Padang in our No.1 uniform was abt 30 minutes or even more!! So again, ppl are lining up the streets to 'watch' and some were taking their video cameras even to take the whole process of we marching and stuff.. not to mention tat some ppl were taking their digital cameras too! Ha.. oh.. some tourists @ Swissotel even came out of their rooms to see the whole parade.. Man.. these tourists really had an advantage and at the right timing too! Oh.. I even remember one very fat guy came out to see wat was happening with only his boxers on! but then, he went in shortly after, maybe becos he is embarassed!
Some parents even came to support their son who is in the parade.. during our waiting time, 1 mother, whose son was in Navy GOH, actually took photos with his son.. At first, I thought it was a total stranger.. but after much observation and thinking, I cld only figure out tat she was his mother! Chey!
Speaking of which, I muz find time to take photo of myself with my No. 1 uniform!
So finally, its time for our show! We went in and performed our drills and stuff, of course with the commands of the Parade Commander.. Then, its the time where we use our rifles and salute the President.. and after which, the National Anthem wld be played and all are required to sing it.. and I tell u.. the moment where I sang the National Anthem and the flag flypast the Padang in the Chinooks, was the moment where I felt tat doing National Service was all worth it.. felt so patriotic for a moment.. and at tat moment, I almost cried tears of joy! Yes!! It was tat dramatic for me!!
And after all the stuff in the Parade square, it was time for us to go, but b4 tat, we did a march past.. then after which, we marched back 1.5km (gulp!) back to Beach Road Camp.. we marched past the Parliament House, then Funan Centre, then Capitol Centre, then Raffles City Shopping Centre, then, Raffles Hotel, before we go back to Beach Road Camp... but along the way, ppl were lining up the streets.. some were looking and some were taking photos and videos.. Again, I was not in the outer row, so not much exposure though.. but never mind! =) *ya rite.. as if* =P
Immediately after the march, we went to one area where they need to case the flags, and this mean tat we have to salute the flags with our rifles again.. and this salute takes abt 7 minutes.. hands not so tired, becos' I'm trained in SAF Day mah.. SAF Day salute even longer.. but for others, I dun koe how lah!
Then its back to the holding area and wait for our transport back to camp! so we waited.. and waited.. and waited.. till we again, almost all in the room fell asleep.. abt 9+pm, the bus came and then we were whizzed quickly downstairs for the bus.. by the time we reach camp, its close to 10pm.. after sending arms, its abt 10.30pm liaoz.. and then, we were gathered for some sgt (this time, its 2 sgts.. n they so happen to be the 2 tat is in our shift and they are both promoted to 2SG! haiz.. looks like they gonna pull rank soon?) talk who were practically kao-pei-ing lah.. think its not enuf sleep for them.. so they kao-pei.. and by the time we reach bunk and get ready to bk out, its abt 10.45pm..
Decided to call cab and therefore gave my friends a lift to the main gate.. then I went home and reach home abt 11+pm.. then ask my mum to sew sumthing and then, at abt 1+am, I slept for the day.. so tired sia..
To be continued...
Still blogging,
<<< abriel >>>
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