The  Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) will be happening tomorrow starting at the Esplanade Bridge. This year is my 2nd year to join the run. Last year I joined the 10K run finishing in 1:20:19 hrs(net time). This year I decided to push myself a bit further and signed up for the half-marathon (21.1km). This is going to be the longest that I’m going to run (excluding the Adventure Races that I’ve joined in the past). About a month ago I ran for 15 Km for the New Balance Real Run and I think I did just okay. Nothing impressive but I managed to finish the run despite doing a lot of catch up after being late for the run.

My preparation for this half-marathon has not really been very consistent but I think it’s better than last year. I didn’t  really prepare much last year. This year I was really trying to run more and at a longer distance. It would have been much better if I was really running twice or thrice in a week. There are always distractions in between and sometimes I’m just too tired to run coming from work.

All I hope is I can finish tomorrow’s run at a decent time.

Last 28th February, Abby and I went to Jurong Bird Park to take advantage of the 2009 Reasons SMS Passport promo launched by the Singapore Tourism Board.  We were no longer hoping that we can still obtain free tickets to the bird park as we arrived there past 12noon after having our brunch at Swensen’s in Jurong Point. We didn’t want to wake up early just to queue for free tickets on our precious weekend. We were satisfied in just getting a SGD2 discount off the standard ticket price of SGD18 per person. For several months now we have been planning to visit the bird park but never had the chance to do it until last Saturday.

We started our walk with the Penguin Expedition.  I finally got to see King Penguins for real!  I’ve always adored them and I was thrilled to see them alive although they are not in their natural habitat.

We headed to Flamingo Lake where a swarm of flamingos were wading in the water.

Jurong Falls, which is located within the African Waterfall Aviary, is the world’s tallest man-made waterfall in an aviary at 30 meters high.

Inside the African Waterfall Aviary are thousands of birds flying within the aviary which is covered by a net raised 35 meters high. Starlings and turacos can be seen feasting on fruits near the suspension bridge.

Starlings of different colors can be found inside the aviary and photographers were crowding to capture them.

Another attraction inside the bird park is the Dinosaur Descendants where the ostrich, doubled-wattled cassowary, greater and common rheas and emu can be found.

One of the exciting attractions inside the bird park is the Lory Loft where park visitors get the chance to feed the colorful lories for SGD3 per cup.

I had long wanted visiting Labrador Nature Reserve after seeing Allan’s sunset photos last year.

I was not sure where the park is exactly located but with the help of Google Maps on the BlackBerry handheld, I was able to find it after more than 20 minutes of walking from the bus stop in Alexandra Road last Thursday.

It was a lot of walking but when I reached the park I was so delighted to see the view it offered. I regret I didn’t go there much earlier. There were plenty of interesting subjects to shoot inside the nature reserve.

I was just right in time to catch the sunset but the sun only showed itself for about a minute and it was covered by the clouds again. I wish I have a telephoto lens to catch the marvelous sunset but for now I have to be contented with my ultra-wide angle lens (Don’t get me wrong but I do love my UWA lens).

I will definitely come back to this place again and make sure I’ll come early next time.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has launched the “2009 Reasons to enjoy Singapore“  promo wherein visitors can take advantage of visiting 5 attractions for free or at a discounted rate.  The promotion runs every weekend starting last February 14 until March 1, 2009.

To take advantage of this promo, simply text ’2009′ to 79777 to get the SMS passport that gives you a chance to obtain free admission for the following attractions:

• Singapore Flyer
• Jurong Bird Park
• Sentosa
• National Museum of Singapore
• Singapore River Cruises

For more information please click here to visit the official website.