Sunday, January 31, 2010

SINGAPORE KITE DAY


(Crocodile and Teddy Bear flying together)

Today was the 3rd Singapore International Kite Day, actually last 2 days of kite flying fun. I'd not seen them in the previous 2 years but they were in the field right next door to me and I just couldn't miss them this time.

There are 11 International teams participating in this festival plus Singapore. The crowd participation was good but not overwhelming. All in all, 2 days of glorious flying kites. I don't mean just the usual ones, there were kites that looked like huge crocodiles, Sting Ray, Teddy Bear and even a White Tiger. I guess the accompanying still pictures and videos are self explanatory.

The event Chief Guest was the defense Minister who is also Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean. As usual, the event was well managed, there were tents for people to take shade under, these tents had fans running to cool off. There was ambulance on standby, portable potties for those that had to go and there were kiosks where one could buy kites, buy insurance and even clothes! All kinds of vending going on...


(LED Kite just as evening set in)


(White Tiger and others)

The Kite festival included night flying and this was a first for me. I had not seen Kites all lit up with LED lights take to the skies and do those wonderful dances they did. There was a dazzling display of kites with Lites at night, looking like a UFO invasion. Of course, as in all such events, there was loud foot tapping music, Lion Dance performances and hip hop routines on a stage. All in all, a good event to get lots of people together, of all racial mix and get them to fly kites. Well done! More pictures below:






23 comments:

YOSEE said...

It must have been wonderful! The croc. is a beaut ! LED on kites are a novelty. Perhaps they'll appear on Indian skies too next year.Thanks for sharing.

Capt. Anup Murthy said...

Thanks Yosee, glad you liked it. The croc was my favorite until white tiger showed up but he was more like a large cat...quite cute and imaginative..LED is coming along quite well, in Singapore we had these LED flying machines (radio controlled) flying in the Clark Quay area for last couple of years. Now they put them on kites too! Was a lot of fun..

Kamini said...

What a charming festival! I really enjoyed this one.

Swaram said...

Wow! Thatz awesome! I luved the tiger and the LED kites ... superb event to hv in one's place :)
Thanks for sharing :)

Capt. Anup Murthy said...

Kamini: Thanks, I don't know where the first two events took place since this was the 3rd one. Also, this was the first ever time that LED Kites were used!

Capt. Anup Murthy said...

Swaram: Yes, it was right next door, we have these vast open green fields in front of our apartments. They came in, set up on Friday and today they took it all down. Very well organized.

Vishwas Krishna said...

the LED kites are too good. they look like some kind of huge birds with lights attached to them. too good. aadre, neev heldange, janane kanistilwalla. that would've been much better.

Capt. Anup Murthy said...

Vishwas: Actually one set of pics were early on Saturday, people trickled in later but not too many stayed for the evening kite flying. On Sunday the crowd was better, you can see that on the white tiger video, but not as many as such an event would attract in India. So, it made for a very uncrowded but pleasant experience for us! Glad you enjoyed the LED video.

Unknown said...

Kites have been around for thousand of years and they are part of many different cultures around the world. A source of entertainment for both young and old alike. Kite is now popular and developed as a sport. The KiteInnovations.com offer to you what you are looking for an online discount kite superstore since 2000. Hope you can visit the sites and search your kite now.

Capt. Anup Murthy said...

Thanks Ashley.

Unknown said...

just loved this one!!!!Thanks for sharing ..

Capt. Anup Murthy said...

Thanks riit, glad u liked it...

Anonymous said...

Hi Capt..long time..thot would stop by and say Hello :)..hope all's well!

Capt. Anup Murthy said...

Thanks Dew, also for your email, i sent a reply. No sooner than I had posted this blog, I got news that Dad is serious and needs to go to ICU. I left immediately and was there till he passed away. I will blog next about my Dad. I have been off blogs for a while now. Thanks again for writing in.

Swaram said...

Sorry to know that Capt. Hope he did nt suffer much. Thot as much when I did nt c a post for sometime.
God bless u all!

Capt. Anup Murthy said...

Thanks Swaram! He was in and out of hospitals quite a bit last year and I was there 5 visits to get things done. He was insisting that I perform the house warming of the Goa house last year (November)as he was sure he would not be around in 2010. He was OK till Jan and then things just went down hill. He did not have pain and other discomfort despite operations and radiation treatment and I don't think he suffered too much in general, even the last two weeks that he was in ICU. I was glad that I could rush there from the time he went into ICU this time also. He hung on till Mahashivarathri and passed on that day. I'll post some pictures and small blog about him soon. Thanks again for writing in.

Swaram said...

Oh thatz some kind of relief atleast. May his soul RIP. Looking fwd to ur posts!

Kamini said...

I am so sorry to read about your Dad. I know he had been unwell for some time, and hope he did not suffer too much at the end. My condolences to you.

Capt. Anup Murthy said...

Kamini: Thanks very much for your kindness. Dad did not suffer much in the end but he had a tough year in an out of hospitals. He did pass away quietly in the end. I'll be back blogging once I get back to Singapore. I am in India again now, this time on work, will have little time to blog in between multi city stops. Thanks again.

Swaram said...

Came here to check .. ur reply to the last comment answered it all. Missing ur posts. Pls be bk soon!

Ten Year said...

LED Kites ... That's a first :)
It was a good read.
Cheers,
Madhu
http://10yearitch.com

Capt. Anup Murthy said...

Thanks Madhu, yes LED kites was a first for me as well..been off blogging since then due travels, just got back from beautiful Sundarbans Mangrove forests West Bengal..be blogging about it, hopefully soon! Thanks for visiting..

Baron's Life said...

a magnificient collection of kites..I must admit I like this novel idea of having and international kyte flying day...