5 years in a row….yup, attended the every every year since it started in Singapore. For me, its probably getting stale. Everything seem so clockwork, so much the same. The performing acts were different… this year, there is Rihanna. Different but still stale. Okok, i should say that i am there for the race and that is all that matters.

Sadly, no. I sat at the start and finish line every year. No, not at the paddock, but on the grandstand side this year. What a grand moment it was, to see the drivers walked out of their pits and into their cars. Watching all these behind the fences and stewards that blocked all your view. “Sir, no standing on your seat”……But when the cars move off, the noise was earth shattering.

And then it was followed by 61 laps of turning the head left to right, left to right……..left to right again. Times like this when i thought its better to watch the TV with all the stats, the turns and the corners, overtaking replays and breathtaking view of the city skyline.

This year, i decided to do something different. I will walk the entire circuit outline and visit all the different areas. It turn out to be a mini obstacle course. The circuit cuts through different parts of the city. So, many of the roads were blocked. We have to go up, down, down, left, right. It was like being in a super mario game.

But we were much rewarded by the different sights and sounds and the people. I have never seen so many handsome blokes and beautiful ladies at the same time, all sweating profusely from the hot sun and suffering from the 80% humidity in the evenings yet looking unmistakably happy.

Loved the expensive beers @ Eur 10 a glass and the hard like stone hot dogs. But the walk about opened my eyes to the race. The organizers have done so much work to make the event interesting. There is probably no where else in the world with so many different entertainment spots in one place. Rihanna, Fire spitting performers, magicians, brazilians samba dancers…..endless rows of food stalls, beers, wine. Its like a celebration of something besides the race.

Sorry Sorry, i forgot, I have to focus only on whats going on at the track.

Next year I am going to gather some friends and book a hotel with a view overlooking the race. Shall enjoy champagne in the nice air conditioned room with sweets, desserts and wide screen TV……nah….still stale !! 🙂