Cultural Exchange: Singapore

[RotavatoR]

The Lion Dance looks awesome O.o
Who made that thing? I like how they make even the ears move, even though it doesn't look too much like a lion.
Also, can you give us some examples of well known music from Singapore?

[agoraoptera]

I have NO idea who makes them, Rota It doesn't really look like a lion because, well, in one of my earlier posts I mentioned 'Nian', right? This lion's supposed to be Nian. Whatever it looks like .-.

Hmm... well-known music... We basically import all kinds of music but errr.... the most well-known musics would be the National Day songs. Every year there's another song made for National Day, composed around a theme for the year's National Day Parade.

One of the favourites is One People, One Nation, One Singapore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTJajpGbJDo

If you're asking for local music, I'll have to ask some friends >_> *doesn't listen to local music, what meagre amount there is*

[agoraoptera]

Okay, so every year, our friendly neighbours in Sumatra burn forests. This causes haze to float all the way to Singapore and pollute our air *hacking cough* we have something called the PSI to measure how bad the haze is. It starts becoming uncomfortable near 100 and positively life-threatening by 200. It started at like 60+ this morning and now its 152. *is dying from haze*

[Endless Sea]

Eh, burning forests is actually quite helpful for their growth, depending on the variety. Still... >_< Geez, that's gotta be hard to deal with.

[Krika]

Controlled burns are actually a pretty standard part of forest maintenance. It gets rid of the build-up of dead organic matter (leaves and such) that can choke the forest floor, as well as thinning out areas that get choked form too many trees in close proximity to each other. Not to mention that there are some trees (pines, specifically) that need fire to spread their seeds.

That being said, that's really sucky to deal with on a regular basis.

[agoraoptera]

It's National Day! Happy Singapore National Day! We're only 48 years old, so that's fun. Wheee

[narrativedilettante]

It's National Day! Happy Singapore National Day! We're only 48 years old, so that's fun. Wheee

I guess in two years you'll be having all sorts of giant celebrations for the semicentennial?

[Qara-Xuan Zenith]

Happy Singapore Day!

How is this usually celebrated?

I'm assuming it commemorates Singapore becoming a state, but are there any historical points of interest tied to the day that you can tell us about?

Edit: sorry, my phone does not understand the English language.

[Victin]

Wooooo! Happy Singapore Day!

[Krika]

I'm assuming it commemorates Dingapore becoming a state, but are therr sny historical points of interest tied to the day that you can tell us about?

Go home Qara, you're drunk on Green Stuff.

Also, Happy Singapore Day, I guess?

[agoraoptera]

Happy Singapore Day!

How is this usually celebrated?

I'm assuming it commemorates Singapore becoming a state, but are there any historical points of interest tied to the day that you can tell us about?

Edit: sorry, my phone does not understand the English language.

Celebrations.. Ah, we have a National Day Parade, which, quite frankly, is quite reminiscent of communist parades where military strength is shown off, people march here and there, big colourful performances and such. And fireworks, of course.

Historical points, yes. See, what we now know as mainland Malaysia, was called Malaya. When Singapore declared independence from the British Empire, we joined up with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia. This was in 1963. This merger lasted for 2 years. In 1965, Singapore broke away from Malaysia (and our Prime Minister cried) and nobody thought we were gonna survive. More fool them But anyway, our National Day, 9th of August, is the day of that separation. We got kicked out, really. The Malaysian parliament voted 126 to 0 to expel Singapore from Malaysia.