因为有你，川渝更美好 | Because of you, Sichuan & Chongqing will be better… :]

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It’s my first time at the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Open House. I had been to the Army Open House and Air Force Open House before but not the Navy Open House. This led to my increased curiosity towards the Navy.

It was coincidental, indeed unfortunate that this year’s Navy Open House ‘clashed’ into the week of mourning for the late Dr Goh Keng Swee, that all flags on the warships in Changi Naval Base were flown at half mast, evoking the solemn mood.

I also didn’t win the ballots for both the guided tour of frigate and the ship cruise. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed myself. I managed to go for a fast craft utilities ride, of which no balloting is required. Though the duration is much shorter than the 2-hour ship cruise around Singapore, I believe the fast craft utilities ride is definitely more thrilling. I was standing in the fast craft throughout the journey with my Canon EOS 500D taking pictures and HD videos, and the fast craft was shaky most of the time due to powerful sea wind and waves.

Some of my friends who did not manage to go to the Navy Open House 2010 have asked me about my experience there. I see the NOH as a rich cousin of the Air Force Open House but a poor cousin of the Army Open House. Whilst the NOH is ‘richer’ than the AFOH in terms of the number of hands-on opportunities, it is ‘poorer’ than the AOH in terms of the variety of weaponry displayed. In fact, the NOH appeared to be more like a family carnival than a real military event! Introducing fun games pleased children, the military elements in this open house were also eroded. Nevertheless, I still acknowledge that the organising committee has put in effort to make this year’s NOH possible.

2010新加坡海军开放日

这是我首次前往新加坡共和国海军部队开放日参观。之前去过陆军和空军的开放日，但就是没有去过海军的开放日。结果，我对海军越来越感兴趣了。

今年的海军开放日的举办时间很不巧地与开国元勋吴庆瑞博士去世后为期一周的全国哀悼期撞上了，所以在樟宜海军基地看到的所有国旗、军旗都降了半旗，让人感到一丝伤感。

我也没被抽中参加军舰环岛一日游和护卫舰的指导游览。不过，我玩得还是很开心的。由于无需抽奖，我很容易地就坐上了工程快艇在樟宜海军基地兜风了一圈。虽然游览时间比长达两小时的环绕新加坡岛的军舰观光要短许多，但我相信工程快艇一定更为刺激。从头到尾我都站在船板上，手握着我的Canon EOS 500D拍摄照片和高清视频。由于风浪比较大，所以快艇一直在摇晃。

有几位没有去成今年海军开放日的朋友问我，今年的海军开放日搞得怎么样。我觉得今年的海军开放日比空军开放日要好，但比陆军开放日差一些。海军开放日比空军开放日有了更多让观众亲身体验各种武器的机会，但在武器种类和数量上还是比不过陆军开放日。此外，今年的海军开放日搞得更像是一场家庭嘉年华，而不是一场真正的军事盛事。开放日配备了一些供儿童玩耍的趣味游戏虽然给小朋友们带来了快乐，但开放日的军事元素也就同时侵蚀了。不管怎样，我还是能看得出，组委会是下了功夫力争把此次海军开放日办得精彩的。

If you are in China and cannot see the above Flickr slideshow, you can also check out the photos on RenRen.com.

如果你身在中国大陆，而且无法看到上面的Flickr幻灯放映，也可在人人网上查看照片。

以下是本人在海军开放日现场拍摄的高清视频：

Performance by Singapore Armed Forces Band | 新加坡武装部队军乐队现场演奏

PLAY VIDEO: YouTube | 中国网络电视台

Fast Craft Utilities Ride | 亲身体验乘坐工程快艇之快感

PLAY VIDEO: YouTube | 中国网络电视台

Naval Sea Display | 海军模拟反恐海战表演

PLAY VIDEO: YouTube | 中国网络电视台

The countdown party was held at *scape Youth Park yesterday. It commenced at 6pm and ended at about 9pm. Some of the activities include:

• Presentation of Singapore 2010 uniforms for the first YOG
• Carnival featuring Olympic Sports and more
• Celebration Concert featuring gravity-defying Parkour act and heart-thumping drum beats
• Music by Singapore Idols – Taufik Batisah and Hady Mirza, and pop rock and indie band, Electrico
• Appearance of Singapore 2010 Mascots, Lyo and Merly
• Sale of limited edition Singapore 2010 Merchandise and Souvenirs

I brought my Canon EOS 500D along, busy taking photographs and videos. Many reporters were there, and I was very surprised, indeed glad to find two reporters from China Central Television (CCTV) as well. This shows the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games is gradually attracting attention from Mainland Chinese media, so much so that the national TV network has decided to send reporters to Singapore to cover this inaugural historic event.

Previously, I had taken advantage of my connections with Mainland Chinese media friends from all over the country, informing them about the media accreditation procedures of Singapore 2010 and inviting them to come to Singapore in August. However, the responses I received were utterly disappointing, if not shocking. A female journalist from Chengdu Commercial Daily, for instance, asked me if meals, accommodation and air ticket expenses would be provided for journalists, free-of-charge. Yet another news anchor from a certain provincial satellite channel turned down my invitation politely and told me that “As you know, Chongqing isn’t a city that emphasises sports. Hence, I don’t think our TV station leaders will be willing enough to sponsor us to come to Singapore.”

It was my first time meeting celebrities Taufik, Hady and Electrico face to face. Their spectacular performance was so well-received by fans. ‘Screams’ could always be heard as they performed.

Distinguished guests like Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and SYOGOC officials were also present at the event.

I was outside ION Orchard at 8:10pm on today to witness this historic, indeed meaningful moment (click the above thumbnail to enlarge the image).

倒数计时：距2010新加坡青年奥运会开幕还有100天0时0分0秒

今晚8:10分，我在ION Orchard门口见证并捕捉下了这个十分富有意义的历史性时刻（点击小图查看大图）。