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The dust had finally settled, and the pathway to my next step in life is now clear. As on last Thursday 15th October, I have broken free from the status of actively-seeking-employment to be, well, employed.
A big relief, definitely, at a time whereby people around you, one by one, found their job, and you are already doing nothing more than clicking on the laptop at home, everyday. Furthermore, the bank account is starting to show signs of craters that is cracking into the reserves; the new lease of “rocks” from the salary comes at the right time, will very well ensure the reserves is reserved.
More importantly, I will be sure now that I will not end up in the line that I do-not-want-to-enter-but-eventually-will-have-to-cos-I-have-no-choice. I had preset it as my last emergency choice in case I’m still not employed by Jan.
So, coming Monday, the 26th Oct, I’m going to get very busy. For this Blog, it is still no bad news. Experience in the past had shown a very interesting trend; during my free times at normal school days, posts are rare here; however when I’m so busy with temp/internship, and even during exams times, post after post filled this blog up. Looking at the past four free months you can see how miserably “active” this blog is… So I reckon more blaggering, confusing thoughts, weird inspirations posts will all come in, right after my brain is re-started and reheated with the start of work.
Stay tuned, I hope.
.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Formula - One and Only - Kind of Experience
To say that, for a car-nut like me, I’m born in the wrong country, is very correct. At this part of the globe, private transport is discouraged, and racing was non-existent locally. The last was in the 1970’s before it was cancelled due to safety reasons, and the more recent 1990’s carpark rallies was out of action for some time too.
That is why, even though that I haven’t been really following F1 (I was more of a fan of car races that resembles road cars), when it finally came to our shores last year, there was still some hurray. Hey, at least it’s some proper world class racing.
And that also explain why, when I was offered to buy the ticket to this year F1 at the eleventh hour, I bought it without second thought. I am going to watch a live race, first in life.
- - -
27th September, arrived at Marina bay, armed with a bottle of water and my trusty good camera, alone. Not a bad thing, considering that the amount of crowd to appear later in night, making it a more flexible affair to move about to the carnival. It was a good time for me to arrive at 4pm, since that crowd is still sparse and I get to watch the support race of Porsche Cup Asia (which is “a race that resembles road cars”).
Which, this was simply brilliant. The roar of the flat 6 engine, and the aggressiveness of those drivers, familiar with the climate and track (several was Singaporeans) conquered the tail-happy cars, sliding through corners and battling the other drivers. Some spin out early in race, some persist on despite parts falling off the cars. It was a treat to the ears and eyes.
With that over and the winner crowned, followed by some photo snap of the F1 stars on parade, I move out of the cozy seat (at the floating platform, by the way) and ventured to elsewhere. It is when part of the magic lies; you know you are in home country but it doesn’t feel like it. The entire marina area had been transformed into some foreign tourist land. Tourist roam around, cutting through all the floating balloons lamps and tents. Performers hop around on stilts to entertain guest while singers spread music around at the esplanade outdoor stage. The best of all, you see beers everywhere, be it in process of being drank or carried around in trays.
This is the complete race event experience, just like what you can get overseas; where other than the cars you get beer and chill about on the track side.
- - -
Hot dog down in stomach and it’s time for the real deal. At this time, the world is really then coming into the venue, thus it got really crowded (especially at the overhead bridge where bottleneck was formed) Arrived back to my seat, to find the entire platform fully seated, and in time for the first F1 car to drive pass for the warm up lap. The temperature at 8pm had now dropped, but the crowd around was far from cool. With the go given by the green light, the atmosphere drove up and immediately you are surrounded in the excitement in the air; one was the intensity of audience’s eagerness to know who gets to takeover/maintain the pole position short flag off (since overtaking is not that common in F1), and the other was due to that sound. F1 are so loud that you can hear them long before they come to you, and so fast that they reach you in minutes.
And when they do arrive minutes later, just like a magic wand the entire audience was being swipe up. In the sense that in a Kallang wave manner, people stood up as the race cars sped pass, either to take a photo of it, simply because they are blocked ‘coz the guy in front stood up.
It lasted for 3 laps, ‘coz after which they are tired (and gave up taking photos). But all eyes are still glued to the screen, and the most nature instinct of a outcry of disappointment with every crash or the uproar of cheering with every overtaking that was performed. A few might not totally appreciate the situation (it do gets dry after the thousand lap) and left the show early, but those who do appreciate stays behind, anxious to know who will win or “slaughter” the opponent. Especially when this is Singapore GP, the new track that is so difficult that it lacks no drama. Drivers make mistakes, some crash onto some other, and the Benz safety car enter the picture (once again for me to drool at the deep wail of the engine music) allowing more guys to do catch up.
Many laps and even more adrenaline rush later, the checked flag is out, and another champion is born (with the British national anthem being played over our soil again). The commentators come in to discuss about the points and championship stuff, but I was rather ignorant of these. What caught more of my attention was below, on the track, where the flood gates have been opened and fans poured onto the track. I joined in and had another round of immersing with the crowd. Absorbing the rays from the bright road lightings, people happily snapped every single detail of the tracks. Posing with the signboard, staring at the fresh tyre marks, examining at the accident knocks on the walls, and even lying flat on red-white rubbers with their idol team flag as blanket, the seriously haunting race track, in split seconds, turned into a giant 5 km play ground. You won’t see this on telly.
This is the complete race experience. Just like comparing between DVD and going to a concert live, yes it is different.
Big hole in the wallet is, well, worth it.
.
That is why, even though that I haven’t been really following F1 (I was more of a fan of car races that resembles road cars), when it finally came to our shores last year, there was still some hurray. Hey, at least it’s some proper world class racing.
And that also explain why, when I was offered to buy the ticket to this year F1 at the eleventh hour, I bought it without second thought. I am going to watch a live race, first in life.
- - -
27th September, arrived at Marina bay, armed with a bottle of water and my trusty good camera, alone. Not a bad thing, considering that the amount of crowd to appear later in night, making it a more flexible affair to move about to the carnival. It was a good time for me to arrive at 4pm, since that crowd is still sparse and I get to watch the support race of Porsche Cup Asia (which is “a race that resembles road cars”).
Which, this was simply brilliant. The roar of the flat 6 engine, and the aggressiveness of those drivers, familiar with the climate and track (several was Singaporeans) conquered the tail-happy cars, sliding through corners and battling the other drivers. Some spin out early in race, some persist on despite parts falling off the cars. It was a treat to the ears and eyes.
With that over and the winner crowned, followed by some photo snap of the F1 stars on parade, I move out of the cozy seat (at the floating platform, by the way) and ventured to elsewhere. It is when part of the magic lies; you know you are in home country but it doesn’t feel like it. The entire marina area had been transformed into some foreign tourist land. Tourist roam around, cutting through all the floating balloons lamps and tents. Performers hop around on stilts to entertain guest while singers spread music around at the esplanade outdoor stage. The best of all, you see beers everywhere, be it in process of being drank or carried around in trays.
This is the complete race event experience, just like what you can get overseas; where other than the cars you get beer and chill about on the track side.
- - -
Hot dog down in stomach and it’s time for the real deal. At this time, the world is really then coming into the venue, thus it got really crowded (especially at the overhead bridge where bottleneck was formed) Arrived back to my seat, to find the entire platform fully seated, and in time for the first F1 car to drive pass for the warm up lap. The temperature at 8pm had now dropped, but the crowd around was far from cool. With the go given by the green light, the atmosphere drove up and immediately you are surrounded in the excitement in the air; one was the intensity of audience’s eagerness to know who gets to takeover/maintain the pole position short flag off (since overtaking is not that common in F1), and the other was due to that sound. F1 are so loud that you can hear them long before they come to you, and so fast that they reach you in minutes.
And when they do arrive minutes later, just like a magic wand the entire audience was being swipe up. In the sense that in a Kallang wave manner, people stood up as the race cars sped pass, either to take a photo of it, simply because they are blocked ‘coz the guy in front stood up.
It lasted for 3 laps, ‘coz after which they are tired (and gave up taking photos). But all eyes are still glued to the screen, and the most nature instinct of a outcry of disappointment with every crash or the uproar of cheering with every overtaking that was performed. A few might not totally appreciate the situation (it do gets dry after the thousand lap) and left the show early, but those who do appreciate stays behind, anxious to know who will win or “slaughter” the opponent. Especially when this is Singapore GP, the new track that is so difficult that it lacks no drama. Drivers make mistakes, some crash onto some other, and the Benz safety car enter the picture (once again for me to drool at the deep wail of the engine music) allowing more guys to do catch up.
Many laps and even more adrenaline rush later, the checked flag is out, and another champion is born (with the British national anthem being played over our soil again). The commentators come in to discuss about the points and championship stuff, but I was rather ignorant of these. What caught more of my attention was below, on the track, where the flood gates have been opened and fans poured onto the track. I joined in and had another round of immersing with the crowd. Absorbing the rays from the bright road lightings, people happily snapped every single detail of the tracks. Posing with the signboard, staring at the fresh tyre marks, examining at the accident knocks on the walls, and even lying flat on red-white rubbers with their idol team flag as blanket, the seriously haunting race track, in split seconds, turned into a giant 5 km play ground. You won’t see this on telly.
This is the complete race experience. Just like comparing between DVD and going to a concert live, yes it is different.
Big hole in the wallet is, well, worth it.
.
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