9/8/2015 Singapore Celebrates her 50th Golden Jubilee !
This video was done after our fireworks outing on 1/8/2015 NDP preview and the actual Riverwalk on the NDP 9/8/2015 itself after the parade.
The night skyline of our little red dot is pretty impressive. Been reflecting on the past 50 years that had gone by so quickly and this video is dedicated to the many 1965 babes like me , born in such a time like this on a little island of barely less than 800 sq km. Must admit that I am blessed :- not born during the WW2 / the Japanese Occupation and also not in the countries like ME where wars and news of unprecedented atrocities are also now erupting.
So on 1/8/2015 sat, my hubby & I decided to catch that part of the S$7mio fireworks that were 'burned' in stages over the weeks leading up to the actual celebration. Being a Jubilee year, the fireworks budget was at its all time high - so might as well enjoy it, right?
But alas the road leading to Rhu Cross was badly jammed. Guess, many were of the same mind - trying to catch a glimpse of the money going into ashes in split seconds.
Interestingly, as we detoured, we found an obscure road in Fort Road which was kind of under construction. So obscure that few cars and people were there ! And it was a different view! Away from the maddening crowds!
The patience paid off. We enjoyed the 10min fireworks display. Strangely enough, we found ourselves being so patriotic and the spontaneous singing of our national pledge was recorded live as we watched that awesome display of colours. And the best joke was that we could remember the pledge!
On 9/8/2015, we decided to be home watching this Jubilee 50th NDP. And before the whole program kicked off, I managed to video this awesome display by our Black Knights fly past with the "50" formation! So shiok! So Loud! They came out of 'nowhere' from afar and before I knew it- they were over our apartment! So exciting! It was a WOW! WOW ! WOW! Fantastic IPhone video ! Thanks to late Steve Jobs who Wowed too at his deathbed!
We decided to take a stroll down from the RiverWalk at South Bridge road after the parade. So we started this cool night stroll among the throngs of people (unfortunately, many were FT and tourists?) down the Singapore River towards Fullerton Hotel, headed towards the Merlion Park and Esplanade and back via the new Capitol Theatre- St Andrew's Cathedral.
What fascinated me was the rainbow coloured bridge at South Bridge Road.
So picturesque! And so the one hour stroll ended in a big loop from 9:15 to about 10:15pm.
The video was in the making before the NDP rally on 23/8. The song "Home" was chosen because it was Kit Chan's last performance for this NDP. It was a song popularised way back in 1998? Beautiful chorus and words done by Dick Lee.
Strolling down this newly cleaned up Singapore River brought back fond memories of the days of old. Reminded me of the river in the last book of the Bible in Revelation 22 - that the river of the water of life............flowing down the middle of the city's main street! No more curse in the new city. And we need not drink our NeWater too! How cool Thank God! Ah...looking forward to be Home Truly. We are merely non-permanent citizens here on the 'first' world nation. Merely pilgrims on the earth that is passing away due to global warming, nuclear poisoning, man's weakness in not saving the greens but for the exploitation of economic trade offs.
Reflections of this "River Walk" of life
Lives of our 2.4 million true blue citizens here on this red dot varies.( The remaining 3 mio plus came from all over the globe ?). Some are doing well but some are not. To those who are above the average, life would be a breeze. But if somehow if you are one of those falling behind, everyday would seem to be a storm. Taking the easy way out of this place by committing suicide might seem to be the solution as seen from our known statistics of 400 plus of such deaths each year on this small red dot. (about 1 suicide a day) Such is life. Not sure if the stats include that of foreign nationals.
Strolling down this river on our Jubilee National day brought a mixed bag of emotions in my heart. Faces along the riverside. From all walks of life and nationalities. At the end of the day, how do you view your life?
If it is satisfactory - give thanks.
If it sucks - please do not take the easy exit way out.
Wherever one may originate from , be in here, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China etc , may we always be reminded of who truly is the Founding Father of the land we were born. And who we are. Where we came from. Where we are going to. Different parties running for the political service in the nation will have their own manifestos. Despite the fact that Singaporeans barely constitute 50% of the current total population now, may we pledge our allegiance not to the party but the patriotism of the country in which we were born and bred. National pride that diminishes not. Yet, exhibiting courtesy and grace towards all men regardless of nationality, social background or age. For we are all in the same globe -merely pilgrims on different face of this earth. Waiting for the highest reward of receiving the eternity fulfilled in our hearts as penned by the late King Solomon. The real manifesto that Jesus preached in the Sermon on the Mount : The Beatttitudes. Let that be our attitude as we row along this river of life always! Human party policies may fail due to imperfection and the iniquities of the heart. But the Creator Father who made the heavens and the earth - He fails not. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever.
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Ecclesiastes is one of the 24 books of the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible. Written by King Solomon - son of King David on his investigation and search for the true meaning of life.
American novelist Thomas Wolfe wrote " Of all I have ever seen or learned, that book seems to me the noblest, the wisest, and the most powerful expression of man's life upon this earth - also the highest flower of poetry, eloquence, and truth. I am not given to dogmatic judgements in the matter of literacy creation, but if I had to make one I could say that Eccelesiastes is the greatest single piece of writing I have ever know, and the wisdom expressed in it the most lasting and profound"
Ecclesiastes 3New King James Version (NKJV)
The God-Given Task
9 What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.
14 I know that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
God does it, that men should fear before Him.
15 That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past.
It shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
God does it, that men should fear before Him.
15 That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past.
Injustice Seems to Prevail
16 Moreover I saw under the sun:
In the place of judgment,
Wickedness was there;
And in the place of righteousness,
Iniquity was there.
Wickedness was there;
And in the place of righteousness,
Iniquity was there.
17 I said in my heart,
“God shall judge the righteous and the wicked,
For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”
For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”
18 I said in my heart, “Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.” 19 For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. 21 Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?[a] 22 So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?
Everything Has Its Time
3 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
