I have witnessed the 2008 and 2009 Singapore Grand Prix and I must say, 2010 is the best race ever.  Many say that Singapore Grand Prix is boring because there’s not much of overtaking.  I beg to disagree because this year, Singapore Tourism Board gave me great tickets to the Stamford Grandstand worth 30k bucks and I witnessed a lot of overtaking there!

I posted photos of Michael Schumacher and Nick Heidfeld’s accident right in front of me.  Nick Heidfeld’s car got bumped on the safety barricades at the circuit’s walls and Michael Schumacher spun almost a 360 degrees, pointing him to a wrong direction.  Michael Schumacher was lucky  not to have any major issues on his car but Nick’ Heidfeld’s crash on the walls caused a substantial damage to his car, leading him out of the race.

Hamilton also had an accident near our grandstand and I saw a lot of non-fans cheering… I cheered with them!  I am not really a Lewis Hamilton fan.  I am a fan of his girlfriend though – Nicole Scharzinger, who had always been with him in the races.  He was caught on camera taking photos of Hamilton riding the F1 car before the race with a DSLR.  I forgot what brand she’s using lol.

I also attached photos of other cars overtaking each other.  I got lucky with my Grandstand tickets.  I am so glad that this year, I got the chance to experience being seated at the Padang Grandstand and Stamford Grandstand.  This gave me better knowledge on the best seats for everyone who’s asking me about the Singapore Grand Prix.  Padang Grandstand, worth 20k bucks is good if you want to be close to the hawker food center and the concert grounds.  Stamford Grandstands is a 5-8 minute walk from Padang Grandstand (a bit farther from the food and the concert ground) but Turn 7 and 8 is along this grandstand and this is usually where cars take the opportunity to overtake!

I would like to say thanks to the friends who helped me win the Rev and Rave contest: Mica, Jehz, Ada, Kristel, Angela, Stephen and of course Vince You guys rock!!!

Also thanking Singapore Airlines, Singapore Tourism Board and Stratworks and all the Rev and Rave partners for making this all possible Thanking also Nick who drove us around Singapore  (Through STB) thanks so much that was the most enjoyable Singapore stay ever!

Friendly, Chill and Cool F1 Fan (strangers) who keep offering to take our photos for us

That’s what I love about Singapore GP, locals and tourists are friendly They are all in a good mood.

Got a chance to take photos with Michael Schumacher’s vintage car that will take him around the circuit during the F1 driver’s parade

Vince isn’t really an F1 fan.  But when he heard the first F1 car zoomed in front of him, he was instantly converted!

Of course he knows the legendary Michael Schumacher!

Stamford Grandstands and the Stamford Grandstand suite above.  (I don’t know how much the suites cost)

Me on the upper most left part of the Stamford Grandstand.

This spot is great for photographers!  It’s nearest Turn 7!  There were also two seats that aren’t numbered (meaning, it’s assigned to no one technically)

So, I arrived early, and claimed the seat for myself lol.

aww <3 Cute Sebastian Vettel who placed 2nd on the race

look a the F1 crew, they’re also taking photos of the drivers lol

Lewis Hamilton

Michael Schumacher!

I can’t believe my card suddenly went full!  So I had to quickly erase some photos to make room for Schumi!

The back is all I got

Fernando Alonso! F1 Singapore Grand Prix winner!  He had a perfect race!

Perfect race meaning he had the Pole position at the grid and he was never overtaken and he also had the fastest time in the practice.

This is what I was talking about earlier.  Michael Schumacher spinning.

Nick Heidfeld’s car being towed.

Heikki Kovalainen’s car caught with fire.

I wuz like OMG!!! It’s the first time I’ve seen a fire while watching F1 (live or on TV)!!!

and of course, my all-time favorite driver in his invisible F1 car, zooming at 1000kph… The people barely noticed him because he was as fast as Superman, as you can see in the picture

UP NEXT!!!

Nick, a local from Singapore drove us around our entire stay and took out to party at the Power Station and to Geylang for some buns… not the kind of buns you green minded folks are thinking of, but buns like Siew Pao (siopao), beef kway teow and many more!

Also next to come is my luxurious experience traveling with Singapore Airlines

*Pictures taken by Nikon D40 with 70-300g Nikkor zoom lens and 18-50mm kit lens.  Pictures are copyrighted. Contact me if you want to use some of my photos.

This is the view outside our window at Hotel Re!

Glass elevator of Hotel Re! with a pink shadow of Marilyn Monro

Re! for Retro!

Another nice church I saw while roaming around the city

Ilumo mall – The lanterns lit up at night

Bugis Street where you can find lots of great fashion buys, lots of durian and drinks and pasalubong to take home.  They also have a s3x shop inside too lol

Albert Centre – Hawker Center with plenty choices of local dishes (to blog about this separately)

I can’t help but notice great architectural structures in Singapore.  The buildings are eye-catching.  This is the La Salle building.  I think it’s a new mall, not sure though.

My favorite place to eat Duck Rice and Char Siew Rice (Roasted Pork / Asado Rice).  This is Leang Seah street corner Northbridge Road.

Yu Kee Duck Rice (the red resto on the left side of the picture) is where you should go

Marina Bay Sands is finally up!  They also have that cracked egg thingy on the side which bursts with inviting disco lights that reach the sky at night.

A close up view of the egg thingy.  It still looks unfinished.

Sexy gal, eager to watch the cars zoom in front of her!

This picture is a little bit blurry but people here can do crazy fun stuff

LOL

Like I said, you don’t have to be an F1 fan to watch it.  It is just one of the sexiest experience in my life ever!

Bumblebee Lamborghini!

Fullerton Hotel always has nice cars parked outside it.

Rolls Royce anyone?

They said that real travel photographers don’t only take landscape photos and stuff, but they also take photos of the locals and other people.

So, I’m trying to be a real one lol.  Hence, I also have a series of photos of spectators like I did before here.

I saw this posh pretty little girl and I can’t help but take my camera and capture her

A young F1 fan

3 Bros… young F1 fans

Amazed by the Marina Bay Sands

This was taken on Saturday’s Qualifying.  When it’s Sunday race day, this grandstand is Jammed!

I just realized, you can watch F1 from a boat or a yacht!  Do they sell tickets from this angle? lol

Lucky one, his job is to shoot F1 cars live all over the world!

I WANT!

Daughtry!

Good thing I brought my 70-300 zoom lens!  I was so far from him.  The major change they had for this year was to issue a limited number of wristbands that will give you access to the Fan Zone area.

It’s like a VIP section.  It’s free but you have to line up for the access. T_T

Another angle of Daughtry

Renault F1 car Singapore Grand Prix 2010

Force India Singapore GP 2010

Michael Schumacher!!!

Another Renault car.  It’s not hard to take photos of the Renault car, it’s so photogenic.  It reflects more light than any other cars and my pictures with it are always clear.

Fernando Alonso of Ferrari zooming in front of me at the Signapore Grand Prix!

Fence-less photo of the Red Bull car.  They are pretty strong this year!  So far, they are leading the constructor’s championship title.

Felipe Massa who didn’t make it well with the Qualifying.

More Photos!

[flickr album=72157624918107227 num=62 size=Square]

I would like to say thanks to the friends who helped me win the Rev and Rave contest: Mica, Jehz, Ada, Kristel, Angela, Stephen and of course Vince You guys rock!!!

Also thanking Singapore Airlines, Singapore Tourism Board and Stratworks and all the Rev and Rave partners for making this all possible Thanking also Nick who drove us around Singapore  (Through STB) thanks so much that was the most enjoyable Singapore stay ever!

Also thanking Singapore Airlines, Singapore Tourism Board and Stratworks and all the Rev and Rave partners for making this all possible. I go to Singapore over and over again to cover the F1 race here and so far, I can say, this is the best year for me ever! I was surprised because I thought they will only give me walkabout tickets. But, when I dropped by Swissotel to pick up my tickets, I almost fainted seeing that my F1 passes are for the Stamford Grandstand! It costs around SGD 898 (Php 30,000). I love the fact that I would be able to take more photos of the F1 cars at a different angle. I help the F1 fans and my readers choose the best seats for them and right now, I can comment about the Stamford Grandstand as well!

Here are the photos of Day one with quick descriptions if you click on the picture.

*photographed using Nikon D40 and 70-300mm G Nikkor lens (yes, I photograph using a manual lens) 😀

My tickets! This time I’m seated on the Stamford Grandstand worth SGD 898 (PHP 30,000)

c/o Globe Philippines worth SGD 598 (PHP 20,000)

Accidentally found a nice church somewhere.

Missy Elliot

And these are my Stamford Grandstand tickets ^_^

Thank you Singapore Tourism Board

Had a hard time untying and tying these back on Airport inspection lol

Thank You Singapore Airlines for the best flying experience ever!

Here’s the rest of my F1 photos for this day. Feel free to scroll left and right 🙂

Complimentary visits to Singapore Museums

Ho Ho Ho! Check it out!  I know some people might not dig museums but hey, it’s free mate!  Singapore is very diverse in culture and once you enter Museums, you will discover not only the culture of Singapore but also the culture of people who came to stay Now I really don’t know what I’m talking about because I haven’t been to any of these museums myself even if I’ve been to Singapore like 3 times.  So, feel free to prove me wrong yah?  Or better yet, I get lucky and be sent to Singapore myself so that I can enjoy this freebie with you If you are already a Formula one ticket holder, you will enjoy complimentary entry to all the local museums from September 24 – 26, 2010.

• National Museum of Singapore

• Peranakan Museum

• Singapore Art Museum and 8Q sam

• Singapore Philatelic Museum

• Asian Civilisations Museum

Free Entry and 1-for-1 drinks at Zouk

ZOMGosh! I haven’t gone TGST TGST TGST outside the Philippines so hell yeah! I’m going to this one fow shyo!  That’s if I’m going lol.  But for all of you going to Singapore to watch the Grand Prix and you are a Singapore GP Formula 1 ticket holder then you are in LUCK!

As part of the Grand Prix Season Singapore 2010, highly renowned DJs Martin Solveig (France) and Tiga (Canada) will make appearances at Zouk and spin tracks to which you can party the night away with.  Greatly anticipated and returning to Singapore again after a successful ZoukOut 2009, these are nights at Zouk that you won’t want to miss.  Also attend the Special Closing Party at Velvet Underground on Sunday 26 September, with a special guest DJ spinning. And upon presentation of valid Formula One tickets, you’ll enjoy:

• Free entry to Velvet Underground for the first 500 ticket holders on Thursday 23 September and Sunday 26 September

• 1-for-1 for all loose drinks at Wine Bar throughout the entire Grand Prix Season Singapore 2010.

SWEET!

Free Entry for First 50 Ticketholders at the Butter Factory

Like I said, party time!

Party the night away post-race at The Butter Factory this Grand Prix Season Singapore 2010. The first 50 ticketholders for the nights of 24 and 25 September will enjoy free entry.

Boogie throughout the evening with hip hop and RnB, and watch a B boy dance battle on the night of 25 September in the Bump Room. Or flash your Fash and dance to electro-house and rock-tronica remixes. Make your way down to the Butter Factory this coming September to party like there’s no tomorrow.

Indulge in a Spa Esprit Experience

and hey!  Singapore is a place of walking and shopping… Believe me, if you tour around, you’ll carry stuff from shopping and walk a lot!  You need some pampering in the island.

Visit the spa and experience a day of pampering by choosing one of the complimentary sessions with a purchase of any 90-minute massage:

(1) A complimentary session of our revolutionary Plump Up Filler Facial (U.P. S$200)
(2) A complimentary scrub session using our handmade Strawberry Sugar Scrub or invigorating Tea Tree Scrub

Location:
Tanglin Village, 8D Dempsey Road (S)249672
Tel: (65) 6479 0070

Terms and conditions here.

Now, all these information I just grabbed from YourSignapore.com so do visit the site if you want more information!

Read this important guide if you are considering buying tickets for the Bay Grandstand area of the Formula 1 (F1) Singapore Night Race…

This post is very important!

This post contains pictures of the Bay Grandstand.

This post also contains pictures from the Bay Grandstand.

It’s all pictures guys.

If you are wondering which is the best seat for you in the Bay Grandstand…

This will just give you an idea on which tickets to buy.

This will also help you decide if you’re buying that Bay Grandstand ticket.

I watched F1 on 2008 (first night race ever) in Singapore and I bought the walk-about tickets for only SGD 108 (ish).  It was okay, but I really did not get a good vantage point to take photos.

Comes 2009, I decided to watch F1 night race in Singapore again and this time, I want to take my new DSLR Nikon D40 with the new 70-300mm G Nikkor lens.

I thought I needed a vantage point and I did my research.

I found out that some photographers who also posted their photos online got good shots from the Bay Grandstand.  These dudes didn’t have a media pass!  But they still managed to take uber-nice photos!

I decided to purchase the Bay Grandstand tickets.  I got my tickets through the SPECIAL early bird promo (one of the privileged ones to buy the ticket).  I got a good front row seat at Row 6, Seat 26 on the yellow seat.

When I was finally there to witness… that seat wasn’t the best!  Instead, I found out that the dark green seats nearest that curve (rows 1 – 11) were the best seats.

I have attached photos of the entire bay Grandstand so that you can have a view on what it looks like when you’re on the bottom row or on the top-most row.

Also, I have attached photos I have captured from the dark green area (row 1).  Those pictures I took there were ‘grid-less’!

The photos with the grid/fence were taken from the light green seat where the cars decelerate for the sharp turn.

The yellow part in the middle is not a smart choice if you are a photographer.  The cars still are in accelerated mode and is still wooshing.  Therefore, hard to take photos even on panning mode.  And since it’s a night race, you’ll have light source issues.

More tips:

I will focus more on tips for photographers.  General tips like bring bottled water, bring earplugs, wear comfy clothes etc are common sense.  Besides, these guides will be written down with your ticket.

1. The best time to take pictures is on Friday (practice day).  There are not much people yet.  Not much crowded.  You have plenty space to take photos.
2. Make sure to take photos of the drivers on their parade.  This will be your only chance to see their faces.  This is on the race day before the race happens.
3. Bring a DSLR.  In 2008 I bought only a super nice compact cam.  Still it won’t suffice.  You’ll need an SLR.
4. Zoom Lens is a must!  (only up to 300mm are allowed – this may change so check ticket)
5. Practice your panning. Before the F1 practice, qualifying and final race, there will be support races like the Aston Martin Cup, Porsche cup and F3 race.  This is the perfect time to practice.
6. Take videos as well.

That’s all I can remember now 😛

If you have any questions, you may contact me here.

You can check out all my blog posts and pictures about the Formula 1 and links to everything about F1 here.

Now, here are the pictures.  Enjoy!

*click on the thumbnails to enlarge

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Can’t view the photos? Click here.