1st day of F1

4.30pm
Just reached, went from Gate 5 near Raffles Place MRT. Didn't seem like many people were inside the Circuit Park. I caught a glimpse of a wheelchair platform and stood while the other races were carrying on with their practice. F1 only starts at 7pm. Getting bored, I decided to tour around looking for other vintage points for viewing. Before I left, a Caucasian was telling an usher that he would not like to see able-bodied spectators to be on the wheelchair platform because they were blocking their view and they paid good money for wheelchair access. Geez there's a dozen slots for wheelchairs and you're the only one there, not like people are denying u access at all.

5pm
Explored the Padang area and Esplanade area. I can hardly recognise the place now with all the barricades and stuff. Seems like Esplanade Grandstand people got a pretty good deal with free flow drinks for them (I think) just below the stands. Lesson learnt #1: Always carry the map and consult it to avoid walking into a dead end.

6pm
Reached the Singapore Flyer and Paddocks area. Not many people around here either but with plenty of area for walkabout people. Discovered a stand for Walkabout *gasp*, well-protected from the elements and right after bend 21. How nice of them. Checked out Singapore Flyer as well, nothing much to rave about the 'mall' itself but the Ferris Wheel is really quite big.

7pm
Armed with my dinner from Popeye's Chicken its back to the stands as the F1 cars races out of their pits. Its really pretty darn loud, much much louder than those Formula BMW race cars and such. The stands gives a pretty nice view from there and I stayed towards the end of Session 1.

8pm
Time to head out and source for other places to view the race. Turn 5 gives a nice opportunity for photographs. Pondered my way to Gate 2 so went back the way to Marina Bay Platform, the area around Turn 19 was flooded with people as the cars made their final practice before the break. Then people started jostling to move to other parts of the circuit, some to find fuel for themselves while others like me just wanna explore other viewing points.

9pm
I'm still at the Marina Bay area due to unhumanely congested roads. Apparently the officials are slacking somewhere else and spectators started climbing over fences and fall all over the shop. Some managed to sneak into Ritz Carlton trying to find another way out while some 'hero' managed to open a gate into Marina Square. So CX managed to bypass the congestion to turn up at Gate 7. The young officials decided to overlook that I did not have the UV stamp and let me through. Lesson Learnt #2: Always take a detour from outside the Circuit Park.Now the Padang area seems more crowded especially the merchandise stalls. The girls manning those stalls are quite pretty, all of them, I wonder if they're former participants of the Singtel Grid Girls or something.

9.30pm
Back at Fullerton to catch Session 2. Saw a bunch of stupid "Ah Nehs"(no racism intended) but they were acting real stupid, whenever a McLaren passes by they raised their arms in a rather odd manner (I can't put them in words). Its just free practice for goodness sake. One Fullerton was the best place to catch free action when dozens of people started climbing up the other side of Anderson Bridge or stood by the fence to watch. They really got a good view compared to the free viewers outside the Asian Civilisation Museum or Marina Square.

10.30pm
CX realises he had enough of seeing cars for today and decided to hop onto the train from Raffles Place before hordes of people tried to exit the Circuit Park.

*There's no pictures because the memory card died just now, along with all the shots I took today. Great!