The Patriots

We had a surprise stay in Pan Pacific Hotel on National Day - for the Bees. They were both hopping around in pure excitement after we told them that we will be going to stay overnight in a "hotel room".

Hubby and I thought it would be nice to celebrate Singapore's 44th birthday close to the action, listening to the sonorous roar of the fighter jets, immersing in the resounding cheer from thousands of spectators, and most of all, to be bewitched by the resonant explosions of the dazzling fireworks. 

True enough, the atmosphere was dense with zealous, nationalistic energy. The Bees got into the entire mood of celebrating the country's birthday, parading around with helium balloons in the guise of our flags all around Marina Square before the parade show. We had a pleasant teatime in Marina Square, indulging in hearty food and relaxing as a family. The crowds were buzzing with energized enthusiasm in the mall, with ubiquitous manifestations of red everywhere.

 

The Bees enjoyed National Day immensely. The backdrop behind is a photo of the descending parachute troops. 

Back in the room, the Bees watched the parade on TV with fascination - rushing in and out of the balcony whenever there were pyrotechnics or planes/helicopters flying past. The highlight was gazing at the mesmerising descent of the parachute troops like fairies drifting down from the sky. Little Bee insisted they were balloons, whereas Big Bee set her eyes on real-life parachutes for the first time in her life. 

We had a sumptuous dinner in the room before turning in for the night, followed by a cosy breakfast in the hotel the following morning. The Bees thought it was a mini holiday, so they were extremely well behaved and cheerful. Big Bee, who was down for a week with various viruses, seemed to have recovered overnight! 

This is a memorable way of bonding as a family. Sometimes, as we veered away from the norm of home routines, with no interferences of weekend classes, it lets us truly enjoy spending the entire weekend in unhurried serenity. It is inexplicably wondrous. 

The resplendent scene from our hotel 

We intend to preserve this tradition of spending the nation's birthday as a family, in front of the TV or near the parade, a tradition that my parents had maintained till now. 

As Hubby and I travel to varied countries for work, not as tourists, seeing the uglier side of many cities, we begin to fall in love with Singapore more. True, sometimes it can get boring in little Singapore. It can get frustrating with the rapid race for success. It can get disheartening when you read about unpleasant things in the papers. 

Yet, where else can we feel loved and surrounded by our dearest family and friends? Where else can we speak the Singlish lingo with ease, knowing that we are being understood, and not feel like outsiders? Where else can we enjoy mild weather with minimal interferences from the forces of nature? 

For us, it is simply home, and I wouldn't imagine living anywhere else.