So Not Lost!

Swiss Band Starch at *SCAPE - Click to View Hi-Res Image

The Youth Olympic Games are not just about athletes and sports. Last night, I discovered the Culture and Education Programme at the *SCAPE Youth Park. There was a concert sponsored by Noise Singapore featuring youth bands from around the world.

At last night’s concert, I caught Starch, a band from Switzerland that plays a fusion of rock, hiphop, funk, and jazz. It was great fun watching them live, and I couldn’t help jumping when they asked the audience to jump with them. They have a great energy and sound, and after the gig, they were nice enough to snap a photo with me. I even chatted with them (and their sound engineer) a bit!

me, with the band Starch

Starch are also playing at Raffles City tonight, and Bugis Junction tomorrow night.

Merly, Lyo, and the Singapore Skyline - Click to View Hi-Res Image

This photo was taken as I was entering The Float @ Marina Bay for the opening ceremony. It’s a great photo op section on the helix bridge, as one can pose with the Youth Olympic Games mascots Merly and Lyo with a gorgeous view of the Singapore skyline.

The Olympic Flame - Click to View Hi-Res Image

For the next week and a half, I will be putting up a new feature on the site: The YOG (Youth Olympic Games) Photo of the Day. With each photo, I hope to capture the spirit of the Youth Olympic Games.

The first photo says it all: The Olympic Flame, finally lit up at The Float @ Marina Bay, signifying the start of the first ever YOG. The flame made its journey from Athens, Greece all the way to Singapore, and from 14 August until 26 August, its flame shall burn bright.

Youth Olympic Games Flag and Singapore National Flag - Click to View Hi-Res Image

This is a big week for Singapore! Yesterday was National Day, which was celebrated with a parade and fireworks. And on Saturday, the inaugural Youth Olympic Games will be having its opening ceremonies (which I will be attending). All over Singapore, the Singapore flag, the Youth Olympic Games flag, and other related paraphernalia have been decorating the city-state. It’s a great time to be in Singapore!

I hope you enjoyed the TravelTuesday Picture of the Week! Enjoy the rest of TravelTuesday on Twitter and follow me @hyperren. Come back next week for another PotW!

Singapore Nationalism - Click to View Hi-Res Image

In anticipation of Singapore’s National Day on 9 August (Monday next week), residents of HDB (Housing Development Board) buildings like this one have taken to hanging Singapore flags outside their flats.

flags outside Singapore HDB flats

It’s an awesome sight, one which (sort of) inspires a kind of patriotism in even the non-citizen. What inspires Singaporeans to hang up their national flag en masse?
Read the rest of this entry »

« Older Entries