Top: Harrison, Giggs, Butt, Beckham, G. Neville, P. Neville, Scholes & Cooke Bottom: Ferguson, Giggs, Butt, Beckham, G. Neville, P. Neville & Scholes

My brother used to give me a commentary of the football match after every Manchester United game. It will be my bedtime story which I hated. It never seemed to make any sense to a 10 year old female. Slowly, I began watching matches with my brother on TV and soon, I began supporting this club. I used what savings I have to buy every magazine, every biography of the footballers in the team, every merchandise. That was the year before United won the treble.

I was Manchester United crazy that for every show and tell, I’ll bring my merchandises to share of my passion for the club. The boys were great and I enjoyed watching every match with my brother no longer listening to his commentary. The team spirit the boys shared were formidable and it made me happy as a supporter as they continuously topped the table! Dad is a Leeds supporter that was in EPL for a while before being relegated after that coach left (can’t remember his name, David O’leary or something). When David Beckham left, I thought my heart would have left the club with him but it didn’t. Looking at the picture where the team reunited for Gary Neville’s testimonial match made me miss those times where the team lifted trophies after trophies despite being majorly a team of English men. How times have changed…

In UK, my happiest moment was when I went to the Theatre of Dreams. It was a place that I have scribbled many times on my scrapbook for Manchester United and it was indeed a dream come true! If only I have a chance to watch a game at the Theatre of Dreams. Now that my brother will be going over, it seems like the chances is there…

I watched the match against Barcelona for the Champions League 2 seasons ago at a pub in UK. The atmosphere was crazy and it would have indeed been a true experience if United had won! Tonight, I hope the same won’t be repeated! I wanna be screaming Ole! Ole! Ole! Even though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is no longer with the club!

UNITED!!!!!

Amy approached me because her dinner and dance’s theme was hats. Admittedly, I do have a larger collection than most here. Whilst browsing through my collection, I “discovered” hats I momentarily lost recollection of ever purchasing or owning. It used to be a permanent accessory but it has taken a backseat given our weather. I was happy to find them again and couldn’t resist giving them all a “ride” on my head. It has been ages since they got out of the cupboard space they were given.

When the fun ended, my mind strayed to my many funny episodes with the floppy hats.

The first one started when I laid my eyes on some colourful beach floppy hat in a quaint shop in Barcelona. I picked it up to try it and was in all intention to get it when Diana saw it, squealed in delight that she too found a treasure and decided she wanted it. I decided to let her have it cause at the back of my mind, I knew I was going to find another floppy hat. It wasn’t going to be the same, multi-coloured in circular stripes but maybe it will be cheaper and it would have been in a colour that can match my clothes easily. She got it without hesitation. After all it was the only available piece.

She wore it on one dinner out and was really happy with the buy. Turns out, on our way back, the top of the hat collapsed leaving a permanent hole at the crowd of her hair. I was silently happy. No offence. I nearly got a hat that wouldn’t have last me 12 hours! It was unrepairable.

The next was when I was in Copenhagen. I had finally gotten my big floppy hat in white. (would have gotten the black if I had another hair colour besides a close to black brown) I decided to wear it on my trip out one day after its stay in Serena’s luggage. Turned out the wind was strong and it was blown away. I ran after it and caught it. Before that, Chermaine had a good laugh. The guy who was on the phone and walking in the opposite direction had a better view and couldn’t stop laughing too! I had made a “fool” of myself to look good; not that I was at any moment embarrassed I wonder why…

Blow Wind Blow... Look At How Strong The Wind Is?

Sigh. Hats!

Maybe one day, I’ll finish giving an account of all of them right here!

The Old Supreme Court In The Background

Finally to the last part of the tour after at least 4km of walking.

We saw the Victoria Concert Hall that is currently undergoing renovation and apparently a 4th monument neither of us could relate to.

Doing A Rain Dance Hoping To Find Sir Stamford Raffles Landing Site Before It Starts To Pour

S's Version Of A Beautiful Skyline

It took us a while because of the mislabeling of the point where Sir Stamford Raffles landed in Singapore on the map. Whilst in lost mode, we found what I’ve been hoping to have a picture with.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF ITS A BLACK CAT OR A WHITE CAT, AS LONG AS IT CHASES THE RAT, ITS A GOOD CAT! - I Always Remember This Quote By Deng Xiaoping. Now I Have The Honour Of A Picture With His Commemorative Marker By The Singapore River.

We finally found it with the help of Lonely Planet Singapore just outside Timbre.

Sir Stamford Raffles At His Landing Site

S In Awe.

Boat Quay

It was nearly six after we found ourselves done with taking pictures with Raffles and admired the Boat Quay site. We then made our way to Clarke Quay where we rested to see the reverse bungee. Along the way we saw…

The Parliament House

Finally...

Clarke Quay

Just as we reached the train station ending our Singapore tour of the afternoon, it began to rain. This tour was indeed watched over by the weather Gods. We didn’t have an especially hot day. The breeze was ongoing.

Having lived here for a long time, I have yet to experience the artifically manicured beauty of Singapore. It can’t impress me as much as the scenic places I’ve seen in Europe but it can’t be compared because those are created by the powers of nature. Despite this, I’m glad I was born here and not somewhere else. Singapore is unique for her vulnerability and its with her vulnerability that we have our skyscrapers today.

Uniquely Singapore, Truly.

The Double Helix bridge brought us to Marina Bay Sands (MBS).

MBS Has A Skating Ring?!

This Looks Like Some Artist Impression Of A Place Doesn't It?

I wasn’t impressed with MBS. I had expected more expensive looking flooring like marble instead stone looking floorings or chandeliers, something like a mall which houses big names in Shanghai. From there, we walked towards the Central Business District (CBD). Along the way, we had a beautiful view of the Singapore’s CBD which Serena described it as manicured. I agree. To me, it felt like the architects were given a particular material to choose from for the use of their building, the colour and its height.

View Of The CBD From MBS

Artistic Features Against The Skyscrapers

We walked through the Fullerton Bay Hotel and the revamped Clifford Pier which compared to MBS was so much grander and more opulent.

The Bund

We saw Fullerton, the oldest hotel in Singapore as we made our way to the Merlion at One Fullerton.

Fullerton Hotel

I Like This Picture Best!

Serena insisted we take a picture because it is going to be closed for two weeks for cleaning. The picture of the Merlion against the city skyline made me very proud to be a Singaporean.

S & I With Merlion On 09012011

MBS From Across The Bay

We continued our walk towards Esplanade then to the park next to it where many were seen sitting on the grass catching up and enjoying the Sunday afternoon. We paid tribute to three monuments before going in search of Sir Stamford Raffles landing site. First site is the Cenotaph.

THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE - Cenotaph In Memory Of The 124 British Soldiers Born In Or Resident Of Singapore Who Died In WW1 & Those Who Died In WW2

Second Site - Tan Kim Seng Fountain Was Built In Commemoration Of Tan Kim Seng Whose Donations Went Towards The Provision Of Fresh Water Supply

On The Way To Our Third Historical Monument, We Saw The Old Supreme Court (Left) And The City Hall. The Disc Like Structure In The Middle Is Now The Supreme Court Of Singapore.

Third Site - Lim Bo Seng (You'd Better Not Ask Who?) Memorial Against The Backdrop Of A Modern Singapore - Despite Our Focus On The Arts (Represented By The Esplanade In The Background), We'll Never Forget The Ancestors Who Played A Part In Shaping This Place I Call Home.

FINAL INSTALLMENT! To be continued…

Serena and I planned to “tour” Singapore during one night nearing the end of our graduation trip together. It has been a year and a half since the day the plan was hatched and it finally took place on my 24th.

Our tour begins with us taking the train from Dhoby Ghaut to Promenade. From there we walked to the Singapore Flyer with the hopes of getting a free tourist map of Singapore.

The Sign Says It All

Reaching for the sky! We did it S!

The View From Below.

The Quiet Side Of Singapore Is Actually Quite Beautiful.

Marina Bay Sands

The Benjamin Sheares Bridge! The Longest In Singapore At 1.8km.

The Beginning

The View Whilst Heading To The Helix

From the Flyer, we made our way to the Double Helix where one end began at the Youth Olympic Park.

On The Helix.

The view along The Helix is awesome though. Along the way, S and I marvelled in the beauty of a very developed Singapore that won many praises from S’s foreign friends…

Reach For The Stars!

Ling'er & Ning'er The Asian Version Of Serena & Blair. LOL.

To be continued…