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Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Fireworks in Singapore, or Bournemouth, England, or Edinburgh, Scotland


Singapore's Marina Bay with view of Marina Bay Sands complex which has rooftop restaurants and bars and hotel residents enjoy an infinity pool spanning the top of three skyscrapers. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Public gardens where I am standing are free.

Problem
It's pouring with rain in London. Dark and dismal. I don't feel like going anywhere. Despite two trips promised to different parts of England. What could I or you see and do?

Bournemouth, England
Every week, once a week in August, on Friday, Bournemouth is having a fireworks display. Go to the pier. Bournemouth, once only a place for sedate family outings, is now a lively student seaside in term time.

Singapore
Once a year, on National Day, Singapore has fireworks. Singapore is a well-regulated and heavily populated skyscraper city, so you are not allowed to throw fireworks around in the streets and set off fireworks here, there and everywhere. All the effort goes into a big fireworks display, which is in the Marina Bay area. Others are in Community Centre areas.

Grab, Taxis, Cab Service, Car Sharing, Road Closures In Singapore
I am on the email list for updates and offers from Grab Singapore. They sent me a handy map of road closures for the fireworks at Marina Bay waterfront and information on the nearest stations for the MRT (underground and overground railway - Esplanade and Promenade MRT) and where to go for pickup points for cabs which can't enter the road closure areas.

Unfortunately, by the time somebody in Singapore sends an email to London, the day in Singapore is almost over. Remember, Australia is the first country to have fireworks on New Year's Even then England and Europe, finally the USA.
Next big event is the Grand Prix in Singapore starting September 8th 2017.

Time
I remember which way the clock goes because I was a teenager in London when Kennedy was assassinated. We watched TV in London in the evening, hearing what was happening in America in the afternoon.

New Year's Eve in Scotland
New Year's Eve rather than Xmas is the big celebration in Scotland. The same goes for the former communist countries. Most years you can watch New Year's Eve fireworks around the world on TV and YouTube.
Fireworks in Prague. Photo courtesy of Trevor Sharot Photography.

Tips
Singapore
https://www.grab.com/sg/taxi/
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/where-to-catch-national-day-parade-fireworks
http://www.visitsingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/annual-highlights/grand-prix-season-singapore

Bournemouth
http://www.letsgoout-bournemouthandpoole.co.uk/main-events/bournemouth/friday-summer-fireworks/
http://www.visitbournemouth.com

UK
https://www.visitscotland.com
https://www.visitbritain.org

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

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