It’s about foreign feelings.
Traveling outside country has some swag in it. To top it up, it came to me with triple bonanza. It was all paid for, it was (my first) international trip, and it was to experience Formula 1 Grand Prix! Adrenaline on Sale!
There were many other bonanzas like going to a country that was one of the cleanest, safest, and corruption free countries in the world. Singapore Grand Prix happened to be world’s only formula 1 night race and Asia’s only formula 1 street race! So, that was another bonanza!
Packing all those feelings together was an opportunity knocking doors with a simple envelope, with tickets & visa in it for me! RSVP a TV channel with whom we would engage in work often. All it took was a permission from my boss to give a green signal. The travel date was within 3-4 days of confirmation as if everything was waiting for our ‘OK’! Besides me there were three more colleagues from the organization I worked for; the idea of spending time with colleagues outside meeting rooms sounded nice! Persons like Gerald, Monaz, and Amit as company brushed a sense of cool time upcoming in Singapore!
My aerial photography with clouds, outside views, visible city landscapes etc. didn’t stop until the flight landed! We landed at Changi international airport, one of the best and busiest airports in the world. We were received by a pre-arranged travel agency for us to be dropped at hotel; we were the delegates after all.
Singapore is an island and a sovereign state (not part of any other country) with planned infrastructure as well as greenery all around. It was raining when we reached. Roads were wider and cleaner, fancy cars were driven, traffic signals were followed even on empty roads, pedestrians were given time for zebra crossing. The city, it’s people, and their culture seemed to follow orderliness.
It was all very different from the chaos and traffic in India. Printed maps and information booklets were ready guides for navigating streets and local attractions. Train stations weren’t like Mumbai! It felt as if the city was a brand-new production!
Even if I had researched about formula1 earlier, I couldn’t retain much of the knowledge. I wasn’t someone who had grownup hearing stories of formula1! I had heard of a few topnotch drivers (Michael Schumacher, Jason Button, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webbber) and a few teams (Red Bull, Vodafone, Force India, McLaren). I didn’t have any affinity for the sport, for I didn’t know much about it then!
We were handed over our Formula 1 tickets and entry passes as it was THE reason of our visit.
It was that time of year when traffic in downtown Singapore came to a standstill; only to be shattered by roar of the most advanced cars in the world! Pushed to the limit were drivers whose lives depended on cutting-edge technology; no room for error.
The experience was beyond imagination!
The area around the Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit had been totally transformed. The Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort had just opened earlier that year giving the bay a distinctive structure with signature skyline. Slightly further away, Resorts World Sentosa, with Universal Studios Theme Park, also had opened that year! Marina Bay had become a popular venue for local and international events. Just a month before, Singapore had hosted inaugural Youth Olympic Games!
The Float @ Marina Bay (also known as the Bay Grandstand in the Marina Bay Street Circuit) was the venue for both the opening and closing ceremonies. The promoters had bought over 300 artists & performers in the circuit park. Singapore Tourism Board had assembled an array of entertainment and lifestyle activities.
In a press note earlier, the prime minister of Singapore, LEE HSIEN LOONG, had warmly welcomed overseas visitors, friends, and Singaporeans for supporting the Singapore night race. He had extended best wishes to all drivers and teams for the world championship! Singapore was hosting world’s only Formula 1 night race for its third year.
Length of the Singapore circuit was 5.063 km. There was also an F1 Village where one could purchase official merchandise, jackets, t-shirts, caps, and accessories. It was a focal point featuring formula1 manufacturers’ displays showcasing their latest road cars and racing cars, alongside stands and exhibitions from sponsors. It also had food and beverages outlets. In all, it had happening atmosphere with music, bashes, and F1 mood all around.
When I entered the Marina Bay Circuit, the atmosphere was electrifying! The evening was just wearing on. Spectators were moving into respective gates to take their seats.
The event had 3-day timetable. First day was a race practice day and second day was team pit-stop practice as well as qualifying day. Third day was the race (61 laps ~ 309 Kms) day! ‘Formula BMW Pacific’ and ‘Porche Carrera Cup’, separate 10 laps and 12 laps races respectively, too were arranged with one race each on last two days.
Race day began with driver’s track parade and starting-grid presentation. It was followed by track inspection and procedures of pit lane ‘open’, ‘closed’, & ‘grid formation’.
Once the circuit was ready, sound of national anthem resonated the bay area. Clock was now all set for Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix!
10…..9…..8…..7…..6…..5…..4…..3…..2…..Go!
Laps over laps cars would zoom past the stands! Such an excitement witnessing moments of live world championship race!
Videos Capturing Live Moments of Grand Prix Weekend: Gate 3 Stands
… “and the winner is Fernando Alonso!” Ferrari! Time taken 1:57:53.579.
What a power that last micro-second must have carried in winners’ minds! My thoughts were still parked on total distance of the race (300+ kms) covered in less than 2 hrs!
About: Formula 1
Official Website: Formula1.com
Bike Stunt Show – Zone 3: World renowned Julien Dupont and Jack Field performed a high-octane freestyle stunts and trials on mammoth 3 storey stage!
Such were special programmes & performances scheduled all across zones and circuit areas; Missy Elliott, Mariah Carey, Bandit Beatles, London Fog, Escala, Daughtry, Brazilian Martial Arts, Chippendales, Melissa Bergland, Adam Lambert, Div4S, Zouk Presents DJ Tiga, Studio Festi, Sean Kingston, Ojos De Brujo, Vanessa Fernandez…the list had a big punch!
It was all new to me attending world championship, breaking new grounds ushering new cultures, and bringing world-class experiences. Food for a vegetarian like me, had to be figured out. Important necessities like sim card and local currency had to be arranged. Most experiences had to pass through mental anomalies pleasingly. It was all cool and qualified as ‘works’ to be done!
We would hang out in and around F1 village and circuit areas as well as in the historical waterside Clarke Quay in evenings. I also visited Sentosa island and a few shopping areas like ION Orchard Road, Sim Lim Plaza, Mustafa Center during daytime. Besides F1, Singapore has world class experiences for shopping, sightseeing, and parties.
Singapore Sightseeing Gallery with Picture Story
I closed my Singapore diary with the quote,
