Splashing Good Times at DBS Marina Regatta

 
Ethan having a spinning good time at the DBS Marina Regatta 2013

Do you know that I was once a varsity dragon boater?

While those days were long gone, I still enjoy canoeing and paddling. I’m also drawn to carnivals that promote sports and active lifestyles. Thus, it was a no-brainer for my family and I to check out the Bay Festival last weekend at the DBS Marina Regatta 2013.

 
Drawing close to 15,000 people over two weekends, the DBS Marina Regatta featured a mix of free watersport activities like kayaking, dragon boating, and sailing, carnival stalls by various social enterprises and performances by artistes over the years – from Electrico, Jack and Rai, Jessica Soo to The Ferdinands. For avid sea sports fans, the highlight was probably the Dragon Boat Races which occurred on 18 and 19 May featuring close to 140 teams and 2,400 athletes.

Practically every Singaporean has a DBS or POSBank savings account. One of Singapore’s largest bank, DBS was synonymous with the Singapore success story, playing a key role in our early economic growth. It is thus heartening to learn how the bank has invested S$10 million over the next three years to transform Marina Bay into a “People’s Bay” with fun activities like the Regatta, DBS Sailing Programme, POSB Passion Run for Kids, and DBS Social Enterprise Year-end Special.

Join my family and I as we check out the fun down by the Bay!

Marina Bay transforms into a sea sports park on this rare occasion.

The Social Enterprise Carnival seeks to create public awareness of social enterprises and their importance to the community. Some of the stalls here sold cakes, pastries and candies made by people with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Our first activity of the evening – kayaking!

Ethan listening intently to kayak instructor Renzhi (incidentally a long time friend whom I met on The Digital Movement).

Father and son smiling for mummy’s camera. Cheese!

I love this shot of Ethan rowing his kayak with the financial hub in the background.

We love to pose for pictures, don’t we?

Ethan’s next sport? Archery!

Learning how to handle a bow and arrow with an instructor on hand to guide him.

And here’s how you release the arrow…. zoom!

Now Ethan is ready to do his “Hunger Games” ala Katniss Everdeen shot.

Well, at least the arrow hit the board!

Next up is Circus in Motion’s plate spinning. Here, Ethan learns the trick from an instructor.

Speaking to the group’s manager Ernie, I discovered that they handle everything from juggling, spinning plates, diablo, giant pyramid, giant cube, to stilt walking, unicycling and slack rope walking. Circus in Motion has 3 full timers and 6 part timers, and participated in Taiwan for a diablo competition before. 

OK, now Ethan is trying it out on his own. Slowly…

…Slowly…

… and yes! I can do it too! For more information on Circus in Motion (they conduct workshops and performances in schools and companies), check out their website here.

Meanwhile, I decided to spin a different set of wheels when I checked out Bamboobee. Isn’t the bicycle above a beauty?

Specialising in bicycles and related products made of environmentally friendly bamboo, Bamboobee offers bicycle customisation services, maintenance and repairs. This social enterprise employs ex-offenders, youths-at-risk, single mothers and persons with disabilities in bicycle assembly, maintenance and repair as well as retail management.

Here’s another bamboo bike, modeled after a road bicycle in style.

I couldn’t resist taking this beauty for a spin. The ride felt good and while the bicycle wasn’t as light as a carbon fibre one, it was actually comparable to my aluminium hybrid bicycle back at home.

My verdict? Two thumbs up (or maybe two toes up) for Bamboobee’s bicycles! For more information on these novel bicycles (you can order online too), check out their website here.

As the day drew to a close, I did a quick check on the photo wall here. It’s a great idea to involve the community in this family event.

I was drawn to the lovely voice of a lady vocalist emanating from the performance stage. Can you guess who she was from here?

Well, she is none other than Miss Jessica Soo! Wow, she certainly looked different from when I saw her umpteenth years ago. However, her vocal prowess has not diminished one bit.

I’m certainly looking forward to more fun at DBS Marina Regatta next year. Aren’t you?