Hard at work for the countdown
By Sharon See | Posted: 29 December 2010 2034 hrs
SINGAPORE: The party lasts for one night only, but it takes five weeks of hard work to make sure everything goes well.
20,000 wishing spheres, 160 powerful lights and 28 speakers - all in place for the big party on New Year's Eve.
While these spheres look almost haphazardly thrown into the Singapore River, in reality, each sphere is manually anchored to a submerged network of ropes.
A team of workers took a month to do this, translating to about 800 spheres tied to the network each day, one at a time.
Nicholas Ee, Managing Director of MD Daniel Enterprise, said: "New Year's Eve is a kind of challenge for me and with my colleagues to do this kind of work...four people on water, eight to 10 people on land per day...the water section people will pull it to where they want to install."
This year's fireworks boasts the largest number of shells used for New Year's Eve, some 3,000 this year.
They will be set off in the middle of Marina Bay, posing a small challenge to the crew who have to install them on pontoons.
"If you're working on land, anything can be brought to you with a vehicle, any time. But if you're working on water, especially with so many spheres around, there's only specific entry points," said Ronnie Wee, Assistant Operations Manager with Glorious Singapore.
So how will these unsung heroes celebrate New Year's eve, while they're ensuring everything goes well for the party-goers?
"Celebrate by working because it's an important day for us because it's one of the biggest shows in Singapore...satisfaction is after the show, you see that you've done a good job, you have satisfied yourself and your client, so that is what keep us working on a holiday when everyone else is enjoying themselves," said Mr Wee.
Mr Ee agrees. "We have to work until 3am, 4am, then we have to dismantle it to make way for the River Taxis, the stakeholders, to use...Satisfaction when you see the thing done, people are happy with it, can entertain some tourists."
The Countdown Party starts at 5pm on Friday.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Organisers putting final touches on year-end celebrations
Organisers putting final touches on year-end celebrations
By Hetty Musfirah | Posted: 30 December 2010 2019 hrs
SINGAPORE: Final touches are underway to usher in the new year in Singapore with organisers of several new year's eve parties looking to break new ground to give revellers a memorable night.
The annual countdown at Marina Bay is expected to attract some 300,000 revellers. But others in the vicinity, have chosen to join in the celebrations in a more intimate setting.
Restaurant Stellar at 1-Altitude, located on the 62nd floor of OUB Centre, is expecting some 700 patrons for the night. Some have made their reservations as early as September with the restaurant, where a six-course or buffet dinner starts from S$282.
Revellers can also head to the rooftop - where they can get a unique view of the fireworks at midnight. At about 282 metres from ground level, organisers have said that it is the highest point in Singapore and have pumped in about S$100,000 for the party. Thus, it is looking to be one of the popular spots to usher in the new year.
Juwanda Hassim, Group Operations and Marketing Manager with the 1-Rochester Group, said: "Instead of partying down below with everybody else looking at the fireworks, you are actually looking down below at everybody else, the fireworks are really just in your face when you are up here. The DJ for the night is Stu Hurst from Global Underground, who are on their world tour."
At ground level and away from the city centre, the annual Siloso Beach party at Sentosa island is another draw.
Into its fifth year, the bash that will go on till dawn, is expected to attract some 15,000 party-goers. 30 per cent of them are expected to be tourists and more DJs and live bands have been lined up.
For some action, revellers can also try the Mega Zip, ride some waves at the WaveHouse or take a dip at a foam pool at the dance floor.
Jimmy Wong, Events Director with the Sentosa Leisure Group, said: "Siloso to many of today's youths in Singapore, is associated to hip, happening and fun. So when you talk about developing an event of this nature, we do it only once a year...so the DJs and type of music we keep it current."
Organisers have also installed more CCTV cameras and will deploy more security personnel to ensure that everyone have a good time.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
By Hetty Musfirah | Posted: 30 December 2010 2019 hrs
SINGAPORE: Final touches are underway to usher in the new year in Singapore with organisers of several new year's eve parties looking to break new ground to give revellers a memorable night.
The annual countdown at Marina Bay is expected to attract some 300,000 revellers. But others in the vicinity, have chosen to join in the celebrations in a more intimate setting.
Restaurant Stellar at 1-Altitude, located on the 62nd floor of OUB Centre, is expecting some 700 patrons for the night. Some have made their reservations as early as September with the restaurant, where a six-course or buffet dinner starts from S$282.
Revellers can also head to the rooftop - where they can get a unique view of the fireworks at midnight. At about 282 metres from ground level, organisers have said that it is the highest point in Singapore and have pumped in about S$100,000 for the party. Thus, it is looking to be one of the popular spots to usher in the new year.
Juwanda Hassim, Group Operations and Marketing Manager with the 1-Rochester Group, said: "Instead of partying down below with everybody else looking at the fireworks, you are actually looking down below at everybody else, the fireworks are really just in your face when you are up here. The DJ for the night is Stu Hurst from Global Underground, who are on their world tour."
At ground level and away from the city centre, the annual Siloso Beach party at Sentosa island is another draw.
Into its fifth year, the bash that will go on till dawn, is expected to attract some 15,000 party-goers. 30 per cent of them are expected to be tourists and more DJs and live bands have been lined up.
For some action, revellers can also try the Mega Zip, ride some waves at the WaveHouse or take a dip at a foam pool at the dance floor.
Jimmy Wong, Events Director with the Sentosa Leisure Group, said: "Siloso to many of today's youths in Singapore, is associated to hip, happening and fun. So when you talk about developing an event of this nature, we do it only once a year...so the DJs and type of music we keep it current."
Organisers have also installed more CCTV cameras and will deploy more security personnel to ensure that everyone have a good time.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
Thousands thronged various countdown parties to welcome 2011
Thousands thronged various countdown parties to welcome 2011
By Hetty Musfirah, Hoe Yeen Nie | Posted: 01 January 2011 0739 hrs
SINGAPORE: From the heartlands to the central business district, thousands in Singapore partied the night away at various countdown parties to welcome the start of a new decade.
The fireworks at Marina did not disappoint close to 300,000 people who gathered for the nation's biggest countdown party.
At the stroke of midnight, fireworks showered over the Bay with synchronised music by local composer Iskandar Ismail.
The impressive display capped a night of high-energy performances at the floating platform by local celebrities like Singapore Idol Sezairi Sezali and Taiwanese star David Tao.
There were also grand celebrations in the heartlands.
At Serangoon Gardens, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong joined residents at a street party called "Serangoon Swing".
The last time such a party was held was in 1999 to welcome the new millenium.
And as residents ushered a brand new year, they shared their hopes for for 2011.
"2010 has been great for me, and my wish for 2011 is for my friends and family is to stay healthy and happy always," said a resident.
Over at Tiong Bahru, the countdown party, which is the only one to be held from 6pm till 1am in a neighbourhood park, was a gathering of Singaporeans, permanent residents and new immigrants.
It aims to provide multiple platforms and opportunities to foster social integration.
At Sentosa Island, more than 15,000 party-goers made a splash at the beach party located at Siloso beach.
Revellers partied to non-stop music till dawn.
And a stone's throw away, Resorts World Sentosa held its first ever New Year Countdown Party at Universal Studios Singapore.
The private event was organized specially to thank fans and loyal customers for their support, since the resort opened in January 2010.
5,000 lucky guests selected from amongst the resort's Facebook fans and customer database.
- CNA/fa
- wong chee tat :)
By Hetty Musfirah, Hoe Yeen Nie | Posted: 01 January 2011 0739 hrs
SINGAPORE: From the heartlands to the central business district, thousands in Singapore partied the night away at various countdown parties to welcome the start of a new decade.
The fireworks at Marina did not disappoint close to 300,000 people who gathered for the nation's biggest countdown party.
At the stroke of midnight, fireworks showered over the Bay with synchronised music by local composer Iskandar Ismail.
The impressive display capped a night of high-energy performances at the floating platform by local celebrities like Singapore Idol Sezairi Sezali and Taiwanese star David Tao.
There were also grand celebrations in the heartlands.
At Serangoon Gardens, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong joined residents at a street party called "Serangoon Swing".
The last time such a party was held was in 1999 to welcome the new millenium.
And as residents ushered a brand new year, they shared their hopes for for 2011.
"2010 has been great for me, and my wish for 2011 is for my friends and family is to stay healthy and happy always," said a resident.
Over at Tiong Bahru, the countdown party, which is the only one to be held from 6pm till 1am in a neighbourhood park, was a gathering of Singaporeans, permanent residents and new immigrants.
It aims to provide multiple platforms and opportunities to foster social integration.
At Sentosa Island, more than 15,000 party-goers made a splash at the beach party located at Siloso beach.
Revellers partied to non-stop music till dawn.
And a stone's throw away, Resorts World Sentosa held its first ever New Year Countdown Party at Universal Studios Singapore.
The private event was organized specially to thank fans and loyal customers for their support, since the resort opened in January 2010.
5,000 lucky guests selected from amongst the resort's Facebook fans and customer database.
- CNA/fa
- wong chee tat :)
iPhone 4 users, did your alarm go off today?
iPhone 4 users, did your alarm go off today?
By Hoe Yeen Nie | Posted: 01 January 2011 1451 hrs
SINGAPORE : Some iPhone 4 users got off to a bad start in the New Year when the alarm function of their phones failed to go off, apparently due to a bug in the smart phone's operating system.
The problem was first reported in Australia and New Zealand, which were the first countries to ring in the New Year.
And complaints have come fast and furious on sites such as Twitter.
iPhone user Ameer Assik Shahrir was one of those tripped up by the bug.
He had set his alarm for 7.30am, but woke up only at 8.30am.
He said: "This morning, I was late for breakfast by one hour, I was supposed to meet a few friends. If this was a school day, I would have been late by one hour and it wouldn't be good."
And it wasn't good at all for those who had to work on New Year's Day.
One of them called the Channel NewsAsia hotline.
Alex Lam said: "I set my alarm last night for 6.30 this morning. I only received a call from my colleague at 8am, and that was when I realised I was already late for work.
"I immediately went to work and noticed my colleagues were also late because their iPhone alarms also did not go off."
According to tech websites, users can avoid the problem by setting the alarm to the "repeat" mode.
The alarm function can apparently revert to normal on January 3.
Sites such as 9to5 Mac also report that only iPhones using specific versions of the iOS 4 operating system - in particular, the 4.2.1, 4.1 and 4.0.2 versions - may be affected. However, the extent of the problem is still unclear.
IPhone maker Apple has not made an official comment yet. But it had promised an upgrade of the operating system soon, following similar glitches in November when the phone's clock failed to register the switch from daylight savings time.
- CNA/wk/ms
- wong chee tat :)
By Hoe Yeen Nie | Posted: 01 January 2011 1451 hrs
SINGAPORE : Some iPhone 4 users got off to a bad start in the New Year when the alarm function of their phones failed to go off, apparently due to a bug in the smart phone's operating system.
The problem was first reported in Australia and New Zealand, which were the first countries to ring in the New Year.
And complaints have come fast and furious on sites such as Twitter.
iPhone user Ameer Assik Shahrir was one of those tripped up by the bug.
He had set his alarm for 7.30am, but woke up only at 8.30am.
He said: "This morning, I was late for breakfast by one hour, I was supposed to meet a few friends. If this was a school day, I would have been late by one hour and it wouldn't be good."
And it wasn't good at all for those who had to work on New Year's Day.
One of them called the Channel NewsAsia hotline.
Alex Lam said: "I set my alarm last night for 6.30 this morning. I only received a call from my colleague at 8am, and that was when I realised I was already late for work.
"I immediately went to work and noticed my colleagues were also late because their iPhone alarms also did not go off."
According to tech websites, users can avoid the problem by setting the alarm to the "repeat" mode.
The alarm function can apparently revert to normal on January 3.
Sites such as 9to5 Mac also report that only iPhones using specific versions of the iOS 4 operating system - in particular, the 4.2.1, 4.1 and 4.0.2 versions - may be affected. However, the extent of the problem is still unclear.
IPhone maker Apple has not made an official comment yet. But it had promised an upgrade of the operating system soon, following similar glitches in November when the phone's clock failed to register the switch from daylight savings time.
- CNA/wk/ms
- wong chee tat :)
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