Singapore's National Day is August 9th but a Singaporean told me that the flags and banners are up until the end of the month. That is good news, for fun and photography. So you can enjoy all the flags and banners throughout August, this year, next year, every year. Many people visit Singapore in August, which is peak travel time because in the UK, Europe and worldwide it is summer holiday from schools and colleges and universities. Singapore is a popular stopover between the UK and Australia and New Zealand and the reverse direction.
I left Singapore for England the day before National Day, but the flags had been on sale and I bought some in Daeso, the Japanese shop where everything costs only two dollars, for the meeting of my Toastmasters club, Braddell Heights Advanced speakers' club, where I am the President.
Here are some of my favourite photos:
Flags galore from a housing estate (HDB - Housing Development Board), opposite Redhill MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) station.
Rows of flags on bunting.
The white crescent and five white stars.
The Merlion, head of a lion, a symbol of Singapore. The name Singapore is derived from Singa pura, lion city. Lion or tiger? But there are no longer any lions. The last lion, or tiger, the story goes, was shot under the table in Raffles Hotel.
I saw more flags in a private condo, Cashew Heights, where residents own or rent apartments around a central swimming pool. The main clubhouse building has flags on both sides of the balconies.
Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Around the condo pool, even the little barbecue buildings are decorated. Each one has its own flag.
BBQ with Singapore flag in August after National Day.
What you will see on the internet or next time you visit:
1 The parade past the padang (central grassy area, like the city's bigger version of the old village green). Patriotic residents waving flags and children and adults with their faces painted with the flag.
2 Fly-past of aircraft creating red and white of the Singapore flag in the sky. Watch the Mexican wave - in Singapore known as the Padang wave, created by each line of people standing and sitting down in turn creating a visual wave effect.
3 Speeches by VIPs.
4 Fireworks displays.
Singapore Flag On A Car, for National Day, August 9 and all August. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
All August
You will see the flags flying, fluttering in the breeze, on public and private buildings. If you take a bus you will pass huge signs on the huge community housing estates.
Even the cars are flying flags from the wing mirrors. The flags can be attached to the window or wing mirror.
Buy Singapore flags from Daeso.
Or online from Ebay.
My Singapore hat was bought from the YWCA for only five Singapore dollars.
Useful Websites
singaporeair.com
daeso.com
ebay.com
amazon.com
ywca
Toastmasters International find a club
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/national-day-parade-1966-10-things-about-the-inaugural-parade
https://www.wiki+singapore+national+day
National Day song on Youtube with many singers of different ages and races.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZyiSEyx_Kg
About the Author
Angela Lansbury is English, British, and has family in the UK and Singapore.
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