Chingay 2016

[ Media Invite ]

We pop by Chingay 2016’s first full dress rehearsal earlier. Chingay (妆艺大游行) is Asia’s largest street performance and the colourful floats are always the highlights of the show. (do pop by Chingay Fanpage for the latest rehearsal updates)

Boon Yee and Boon Xin discussing how Chingay will look like in 50 years’ time (SG100!)
If I am still around, I will celebrate SG100 at 91 years old, and kids will be in their 50s and 60s.
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We had an opportunity to soak in the carnival-like atmosphere at the staging area. This is where the performers gather for the final preparation.
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Kids are especially intrigued at the parkour display. There is a real parkour float for the performers to demonstrate their agility!
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It is always the people who bring out the sparks, including the vibrant foreign communities from China, Japan 🙂
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.. and of course we have some creative and colourful floats 🙂 They always look more mesmerising under the moonlight.
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The theme for Chingay 2016 is “Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore“. Some of the sub-themes are honoring our pioneers, celebrating Singapore’s Racial Harmony and Social cohesion, Caring community and resilient Nation (just to name a few).
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As the sun sets, the tambourine performers line up both side of the passageway, final preparation and instructions.
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We are ready to welcome the Chingay contingents too.
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The contingents listed below are not in sequence. We would like to share some of our favorite segments.
Kids love anything on wheels, and the electric unicycles and bikes were impressive.
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Representatives from Indian and Malay community coming together.
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More contingents and floats.
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Real parkour stage! and colourful wheels.
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Dazzling Lights from floats and performers’ costumes.
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My favourite contingent. The Japanese are so energetic and their taiko drums look impressive.
(look out for one huge up in the sky)
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Martial arts display, from the Chinese and Malay community, showcasing Singapore’s diversity.
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Even Monkey God Sun Wu Kong (孙悟空) turn up to wish us luck in the Year of the Monkey.
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More thrilling performances, we got fire and pole-dancing too!
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During the finale, every performer will gather together for one final segment. Even though this was just a rehearsal, we can already feel the performers’ enthusiasm and vibes.

Best of all, our kiddos get to enjoy Chingay 2016 with their Cheekiemonkie kakis 🙂
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Video (link) : Sneak peep of Chingay 2016

We would like to thanks PA for the kind invitation, we got to witness how Chingay 2016 will provide an enchanting night for families.

Two more photos from NE show (credit PA).
Item by Electrical Unicyclist in Pre-Parade Segment (4)
Item by People's Association Youth Movement in Segment 1 'Voyage SG100'

More photos had been uploaded on our Fanpage album.
Do pop by Chingay Website for more details and Fanpage for the latest updates and ticketing details.

Chingay 2016 will perform on two nights :
– 19 & 20 Feb 8pm, at F1 Pt.

Monsters of the Sea exhibition and tickets giveaway

[ Media Invite and Tickets giveaway ]

When we pop by Singapore Science Centre’s Monsters of the Sea exhibition last week, an upsized Giant Squid greeted us. We were not thinking of calamari, but our anticipation of seeing monsters immediately escalated one notch!
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Through the periscope, we will peep into the prehistoric underwater world millions of years ago.
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We know some of the sea monsters and myths today. Loch Ness’s monster Deep Blue (Great White), Lolong (Crocodile).
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Modern day’s monster crocodiles and sharks can reach 20 feet (about 6 metres) and not many people dare to swim next to them. The gentle whale shark (12m) is even larger but allows humans to snorkel next to it (she is on our bucket list)
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Yet, these giants are easily dwarfed by their ancestors, which measure 50 to 60 feet (15m+)!
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Prehistoric whales were carnivorous, equipped with razor sharp teeth, and definitely not as gentle as whale sharks.
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Ocean covers more than 70% of Earth’s surface, and we know so little about the deep.
– Why do whales beach themselves?
– Why do people associate oarfish in shallow water as a sign that earthquake is imminent?
– Extinct species “Coelacanth” were found off the coast of Africa.
– Hollywood always reveals monsters hidden underneath Earth’s crust, released with Tectonic movements
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Monsters could still be lurking out of sight, or perhaps some species can grow to monster sizes again?
Theoretically, sharks and crocodiles keep growing after maturity, and I wonder what would happen if they are allowed to grow up to 100 years old (in the wild).
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Humans will only be snacks for these prehistoric giants. Documentaries indicate super crocodiles hunt dinosaurs! Paleontologists estimate megalodon to be between 15 to 18m, our SBS bus is only 12m long!
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More prehistoric creatures, all huge and menacing. We saw a video clip of how Mosasaurus decimated all other predators in the sea and became the apex predator in less than 5 million years.
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Fortunately Pilosaur and Megalodon do not live in the same era, they are unlikely to be best friends.
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Special bone crushing jaws or huge eyes! Each monster has a special feature.
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More robotic exhibits.
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Kids activities include fossil excavation and creative arts.
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Different type of shark’s teeth.
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Thank you Science Centre for the Fun and educational invite, I had fun sharing and relieving the prehistoric journey with my kids. I shared some Youtube clips with the boys after our exhibition.

My intrigue in dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures started with BBC “Walking with Dinosaurs”, and the interesting commentaries from Nigel Marven‘s prehistoric series. When we thought dinosaurs were cool and mean, those living under the water are in another league all together!

More details about Monsters of the Sea exhibition :
website
– Tickets – $20 and $16 for adult and child respectively
– Exhibition ends 28th Feb 2016

* do pop by and read Life’s Tiny Miracles’ review too

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ x4 Tickets Giveaway ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Thanks to Singapore Science Centre, we are giving away four tickets to one lucky ready.

1. Contest is on our Fanpage
2. Fans must first LIKE Singapore Science Centre and SengkangBabies Fanpage
3. Leave your name and email on our Fanpage (or you can message email address)
monster of the sea contest

4. Indicate one prehistoric creature (underwater), and why it fascinates you or family (perhaps Jurassic World’s Mosasaurus)

5. Share this page (refer step 3) on your Facebook Wall and tag @SengkangBabiesBlog
(so that we know you are participating)

6. Contest ends 06 Feb 10pm, and one winner will be randomly picked

*This contest is only for those with a valid Singapore address.