poof goes the lights, 2010

I thought to myself, what shall I do during this year's Earth Hour?
Should I...
+ turn on the tv to watch the news about the Earth Hour on my island and in other countries?
+ surf the internet for videos on how the Eiffel Tower looks like without her lights?
+ drive out to the city to watch the lights go poof for one hour?

mmm. I can't remember what I did last year but let's do something meaningful this year!

I joined a little cycling tour (their website seemed to be down right about.. now) around the city area and watched the lights go poof!
What's best is, no carbon footprints! (okay, I still needed my front/back lights on my bike)

Chanced upon this from the e-newsletter I read from WWF. Let's go!

The ride started from SMU Green. When I got there after a 12km ride from home, I finally understood what the GREEN part meant. Chey.


There were fellow riders waiting as I got there quite early.



There were all kinds of folks and bikes. The organizers came in their Flying Pigeons. So cool, I don't mind having one too! Except that they don't have gears so climbing up hills do tire out the Pigeon riders a little. Ha!


Faaast riders on roadies came too and all togged up in pink.
And not forgetting the dog too! She came with a sling (for babies) and from in there peeked a little black schnauzer.


Of course not forgetting the mtbs!
After a short briefing, we got ready to leave for our 6.something km ride around the city before we hit our destination, Esplanade Park.


The weather was really fantastic! And the skies were pretty.


ooh, lucky lucky, no erp.


Riding on, past Chinatown




Then nearing the CBD


Bus lane! But wait, it's a Saturday evening~~


Passing by more office buildings



Then suddenly a rider from nowhere appeared! Oh, apparently I found out he was late...


And I realized I forgot my cashcard! Darn~


Finally we reached the Esplanade Park and there were some mini events going on. There was a stage where a band was performing and some folks with picnic baskets and all.




Bikes bikes bikes


Folks folks folks


The pigeons!


Some booths at the park


Lights are on. We reached there about 730pm and tried to while away some time.



And the countdown began!





POOF


Some folks brought candles


So romantic.... haha.


POOFPOOF


An hour later, all the lights came back on.
We should do this once a month instead.

Then it was homewards time! Peddle peddle.

Let's all do our part!



A little present, a rechargeable torchlight! No more batteries!!


And nope, of course I did not write this during the Earth Hour.

THE newspaper

They give out free newspapers at the train station and around it. They do it in the mornings and during lunch hour as well.

The guys who give them out are usually aunties or uncles who will just pass it to you if you walk near them.

- - -

Paperuncle busies himself, refilling the short stack of newspapers with another fresh stack, about 40cm worth of papers.

Just-finished-lunch-auntie decided to help herself with a copy. Nothing wrong with that.
Except that she was tugging the one copy which was misaligned and sticking out.
The one copy which was in the middle of that big pile.

Tugs. Tugs. Keeps tugging.
Thinks to herself why the paper just couldn't be tugged out.

Paperuncle gave her a dirty look and handed her the top copy.

She was a happy woman.

- - -

from a horror film