Yeoh Siew Hoon watches Singapore get ready for her coming out party.
Downtown Singapore all lit up for the race
It's been interesting watching Singapore get ready for its coming out party.
It's a bit like watching a bride get ready for her wedding, I think.
There's a lot of nerves – have I chosen the right man or not to stake my entire life on? There’s a lot of preparation – who’s going to do my make-up so I look my best during the day – or night, for that matter?
Then there’s a lot of worrying as the day, or night, draws near.
Who will actually show up? Will everyone know how to get there? What if it rains? What if it’s an utter shambles? No, it cannot be because failure is not an option – my father will kill me, he’s paying the bill?
Yes, just two days to go before the first Formula 1 in Singapore is flagged off and you can feel the excitement building up.
I know this not because I have felt it firsthand but because I have been reading the newspapers. They keep telling me what’s been going on because I, like many of the four million people living in this city within a garden, have been avoiding the area where the race is.
Frankly, the authorities have done such a good job of promoting the event overseas that everyone, including locals, think it's just for tourists.
One newspaper columnist, ruminating over why there seemed to be a lack of local interest in the event, wrote, “I am not sure why. Perhaps it is the way all this has been touted. Week after week, all we keep hearing about are tourists, tourism receipts, fancy watch shows, fancier boats ... Frankly, it can seem to some as if Singapore is throwing a giant party.
“Only thing is, someone forgot to invite the Singaporeans.”
Singapore Flyer – a ring of fire
Roads have been closed and the entire area cordoned off to allow the teams to get ready. Mega tons of equipment have been shipped in from all round the world and transported into the circuit area, while mega loads of celebrities, the super rich and their hangers on, the skinny and beautiful, have also arrived to give comfort to the fastest men on four wheels.
Fast men, fast cars, fast women – what a weekend it’s going to be.
Across the river from where I live, I can see men working furiously to finish work on some of the stands. Even at midnight, the construction site is lit up like daylight to enable the men to complete their work in Formula 1 time.
I imagine this is how the circuit will look like when it’s all lit up. I saw the lighting demonstration many months ago and it is actually brighter than most days in Singapore.
Actually the whole of Singapore is lit up. Chinatown’s aglow because of the mid-autumn festival. Little India’s light and bright because of Deepavali. And Kampong Glam and Geylang are twinkling like fairyland because of Hari Raya.
Ancient festivals being celebrated along with the most modern and glamorous of sporting events ...
My Padang Grandstand ticket arrived yesterday. It comes with a set of instructions that I think I will read during the hen night party to ensure I do not get lost, get blocked or get run over before the big day.
Why, last night, I heard a very loud screech on the road. I actually thought it was a jet but when I looked out of my window, I saw a blur of a blob whizzing by on four wheels.
Yes, the bride’s nearly ready for her big day. Question is, who will claim the trophy?
