SINGAPORE - For most Singaporeans, Aug 9 this year started with the 9am public broadcast of the Proclamation of Independence read out by the late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, followed by various National Day observance events across the island. And it ended with the fireworks extravaganza following a nostalgia-filled National Day Parade at the Padang.

But the day when Singapore turned 50 saw more than that. The Straits Times was out from midnight to capture every hour of this important day in Singapore's history.

From the heavy downpour in the wee hours and the breathtaking aerial display by the Black Knights at noon, to the picnics at the Unesco-listed Botanic Gardens and the outings at the historic former Tanjong Pagar railway station. Singaporeans - and foreigners - were out and about to mark SG50 in their own unique ways.