It was 18 July 2015, and Aunty made her way to the waterfront near the Esplanade to catch the SG50 National Day Parade rehearsal fireworks.
The evening promised a colourful spectacle, but first came the crowds, the waiting and the challenge of finding a good spot!
Camera ready, fingers on standby... let's see what the night sky had in store!
Man Mountain, Man Sea! 人山人海
Even the palm trees seem to be stretching their necks to see what's happening! Hahahaha! And the illuminated skyline looks beautiful against the night sky.
Aunty: “Aiyoh! So many people! Where am I supposed to stand?”
Riverfront: “Anywhere you can squeeze in, Aunty! Everybody's waiting for the big show!”
By the time Aunty reached the waterfront near the Esplanade, it was already packed with people waiting for the 2015 NDP rehearsal fireworks.
With the city skyline glowing across the water and excitement building among the crowd, Aunty could only hope to find a little space to enjoy the show — and, of course, capture some photographs!
20 Minutes Later... BOOM! The Show Begins!
Aunty: “Aiyoh! Finally! I've been waiting for you!”
Fireworks: “Patience, Aunty! We have to make a grand entrance, don't we?”
After about 20 minutes of waiting among the crowd, the first fireworks finally lit up the night sky!
Bright streaks shot upwards like sparkling fountains, followed by colourful bursts overhead. The long wait was quickly forgotten as Aunty watched the dazzling display unfold across the Marina Bay skyline.
A Sky Full of Sparkling Gold!
Aunty: “Wah! So many fireworks! Which one should I photograph first?”
Fireworks: “Aunty, don't blink! We're all showing off together!”
Golden sparks erupted across the waterfront while little bursts of red and blue twinkled high above. The dark night sky was suddenly filled with glittering colours and drifting smoke.
Aunty's camera was certainly kept busy! After waiting patiently for the show to begin, she wasn't going to miss these beautiful moments.
Let the Colours Burst!
Aunty: “Wah! Red, green, gold... everybody wants to be the star tonight!”
Fireworks: “No fighting, Aunty! There's enough sky for all of us!”
Colourful bursts lit up the night sky while brilliant white sparks cascaded towards the waterfront. Smoke drifted across the scene, catching the glow of each new explosion.
Below, the crowd watched as the fireworks continued their dazzling performance. Aunty kept her camera ready, determined to capture as much of the spectacle as possible!
Sparkles Playing Hide-and-Seek
Aunty: “Hello! Don't hide behind the smoke! I haven't finished photographing you!”
Fireworks: “Catch us while you can, Aunty! We won't stay here forever!”
Tiny bursts of red, green and blue sparkled high above the waterfront, while thick clouds of smoke slowly swallowed the brilliant lights below.
Each explosion lasted only a few seconds before disappearing into the darkness. Aunty kept clicking away, hoping to catch those fleeting moments before they vanished.
A Polka-Dot Party in the Sky!
Aunty: “Wah! Who scattered all these colourful dots across the sky?”
Fireworks: “Aunty, we're having a polka-dot party! You're invited!”
A beautiful circle of pink and blue sparkles appeared high above the waterfront, while a rosy glow illuminated the drifting smoke below.
For a brief moment, the night sky looked like an enormous canvas decorated with colourful dots. Another lovely sight for Aunty's collection of fireworks memories!
A Thousand Little Shooting Stars
Twinkle twinkle little stars...
Aunty: “Wah! So many little stars! Where are you all rushing off to?”
Fireworks: “We're only here for a moment, Aunty. Catch us before we're gone!”
Hundreds of tiny golden sparks scattered across the dark sky, leaving delicate trails of light as they faded away.
Each little sparkle lasted only a fleeting moment. There was no time to admire every one of them, so Aunty simply kept snapping, remembering the valuable photography advice Kris had shared with her years ago.
A Giant Flower Blooms in the Night
Aunty: “Wah! What a beautiful flower! But where are your leaves?”
Fireworks: “Aunty, I'm a special flower! I bloom in the sky, not in a garden!”
A brilliant white explosion burst open like a giant chrysanthemum above the Marina Bay skyline, with a smaller firework blooming just beneath it.
For a few dazzling seconds, the night sky became a garden of sparkling light. No watering, no fertiliser — just one spectacular bloom before it disappeared!
A Golden Bouquet for Singapore!
Aunty: “Wah! Such a beautiful bouquet! Who's the lucky recipient?”
Fireworks: “Singapore, of course! It's her 50th birthday celebration!”
Golden streaks spread across the night sky like an enormous bouquet, while another brilliant burst rose from below.
Against the dark skyline, the sparkling display was a lovely sight. Aunty's finger continued its workout — snap, snap, snap — before the golden flowers faded away!
The Sky Is on Fire!
Aunty: “AIYOH! Who set the whole sky on fire?!”
Fireworks: “Don't panic, Aunty! We're just turning up the heat!”
Golden fireworks burst overhead while hundreds of tiny red sparks scattered across the night sky. Even the drifting smoke glowed a fiery red!
What a dramatic change from the earlier white and golden displays. Aunty's camera continued clicking away, trying to catch every colourful explosion before it disappeared.
Sparkling Through the Smoky Curtain
Aunty: “Aiyoh! So smoky! Can you all still see where you're going?”
Fireworks: “Don't worry, Aunty! We'll shine our way through!”
Brilliant white and golden fireworks continued bursting above Marina Bay, while smaller sparkles twinkled beneath them.
By now, smoke had spread across much of the sky, but the fireworks weren't ready to call it a night. Neither was Aunty's hardworking camera!
Up, Up... Before the Big Burst!
Aunty: “Quick, quick! Don't burst yet! Let me catch you first!”
Fireworks: “Better hurry, Aunty! We can't stop halfway just to pose!”
Two brilliant trails shot vertically into the night sky, moments before blossoming into sparkling bursts of light.
Aunty especially loved capturing this brief moment of anticipation. Just another second, and the scene would have changed completely. Snap first, admire later!
Cannot Wait... I Burst Liao!
Aunty: “OI! I told you to wait for me!”
Fireworks: “Cannot tahan anymore, Aunty! I BURST LIAO!”
And there it went! The brilliant golden firework burst into a shower of sparkling trails, spreading beautifully across the night sky.
Luckily, Aunty's camera was ready to catch the action. One second earlier, it was still climbing towards the sky. Now, look at this magnificent golden display!
Golden Flowers Above, Diamonds Below!
Aunty: “Wah! Flowers upstairs, diamonds downstairs! Which one should I photograph?”
Fireworks: “Take everything, Aunty! Tonight we're giving you the whole collection!”
Golden bursts blossomed high above the waterfront while countless white sparkles lit up the sky below.
By now, thick smoke had drifted across Marina Bay, partly hiding the buildings behind it. But the fireworks continued shining brightly, giving Aunty another lovely moment to capture.
All Good Things Must Come to an End
Aunty: “Aiyoh, leaving already? Can't you stay a little longer?”
Fireworks: “Every show must end, Aunty. But you've captured our memories to keep!”
The final golden sparks slowly drifted down through the smoky night sky, bringing the dazzling fireworks display to an end.
After all the brilliant colours, thunderous explosions and frantic camera clicking, the sky gradually grew quiet again.
The fireworks may have lasted only a short while, but the photographs would allow Aunty to revisit those beautiful moments for years to come.
A Big Thank You Behind the Bright Lights
The fireworks display may have lasted only a short while, but let's not forget the tremendous effort that went into making it possible.
Behind every beautiful burst were people working hard to bring this spectacular show to life.
And we were fortunate enough to enjoy it all for free!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved, from those planning and preparing the display to those working behind the scenes.
Your hard work brought joy to so many people that evening, including Aunty.
Thank you for the beautiful memories!
A Lesson from a Dear Friend
Aunty still remembers the advice given by her dear football kaki, Kris, who was also a photographer.
She once told Aunty to just keep snapping whenever the footballers were on the field. Nobody knew when that perfect action shot or winning goal would happen. You couldn't ask the players to stop and pose, and once that precious second was gone, there was no turning back.
Those words stayed with Aunty through the years. Don't wait until everything is too late, then lament the missed opportunities.
Sadly, Kuris passed away a few years later.
Thank you, my dear sis, for that valuable lesson. Aunty has never forgotten your words.
Rest in peace, Kuris.
