Singapore Dragonboat Races

This and more about Singapore from The Jurong Bird

There was a drummer on every dragonboat... setting the cadence for the rowers. There was a man standing behind them, yelling, pushing them onward.  There were skyscrapers towering over them and the murky green river, so still and unyielding. And all they had were their two arms and all they heard was the drumbeat and all they saw was the finish line.

It was pretty awesome! And because it wasn't a commercial event (surprising, considering even light fixtures make up "free exhibits" here), the atmosphere was not as gaudy as it usually is. People sat on the steps leading to the river or in the sheltered area; some tourists and journalists set up their tripods at the finish line. The rowers waiting to compete were sprawled out in the large open area under the raffles building, or sitting motionless with their eyes tightly shut under the aegis of their coach, listening to a stirring speech about the competition ahead. They all stuck together, their sports gear and upbeat spirit so incongruous against the sedate backdrop of the Central Business District. But when a race began, all conversations were left midway and all eyes were on the river.