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World’s weirdest record-breakers

SINGAPORE — When it comes to breaking records, Singapore has had its fair share of quirky ones: From the world’s largest cupcake mosaic (made by Ayer Rajah Community Centre Youth Club, Shatec Institute and other volunteers using 20,000 cupcakes and measuring 110.60 sqm) to the world’s longest beer bottle bar slide (14m, by bartender Jeffrey Ng). But if you thought our little red dot’s attempts to get into the Guinness Book Of Records (which turned 60 years old earlier this week) was too left of centre, then you’ll want to check out these other world records from around the world. Here are some of them.

People dressed as Smurfs taking part in a Global Guinness World Record attempt for the most people dressed as Smurfs. Photo: Reuters

People dressed as Smurfs taking part in a Global Guinness World Record attempt for the most people dressed as Smurfs. Photo: Reuters

SINGAPORE — When it comes to breaking records, Singapore has had its fair share of quirky ones: From the world’s largest cupcake mosaic (made by Ayer Rajah Community Centre Youth Club, Shatec Institute and other volunteers using 20,000 cupcakes and measuring 110.60 sqm) to the world’s longest beer bottle bar slide (14m, by bartender Jeffrey Ng). But if you thought our little red dot’s attempts to get into the Guinness Book Of Records (which turned 60 years old earlier this week) was too left of centre, then you’ll want to check out these other world records from around the world. Here are some of them.

Most expensive library fine: You know how it is: You’re supposed to return a library book, but you’re so busy, you put it off. Before you know it, it’s 47 years overdue. The children’s poetry book Days And Deeds was taken out of Kewanee Public Library in Illinois in 1955 by Emily Canellos-Simms and given back in 2002 after she found it in her mother’s house. The fine amounted to US$345.14 (S$483.58), which seems surprisingly small, really.

Most people dressed as Smurfs within 24 hours (multiple venues): You’d be happy if this lot turned up at your fancy-dress party. In 2011, 4,891 people in 11 countries made the effort to dress up as Smurfs to celebrate the release of Sony’s film version. Extra points if you turned up as Smoogle, who isn’t technically a smurf.

Most abandoned book: A book about the music mogul — Simon Cowell: The Unauthorised Biography — was discovered in 2010 to be the most discarded publication by a survey of books left in Travelodge rooms.

Largest collection of picture frames: While the Middle East has become a huge presence on the art market, Lara Khoury from the United Arab Emirates has amassed 2,214 empty picture frames since 1992.

Longest red carpet for a film premiere: Rolling out the red carpet for this one would probably take a while. For the premiere of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (the book set the record as the fastest selling book in history) Warner Brothers supplied a 455m red carpet that stretched from Trafalgar Square to Leicester Square.

Biggest animal orchestra: The 12-piece Thai Elephant Orchestra, set up in the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang, improvises on percussion instruments. The orchestra has a second CD, Elephonic Rhapsodies. When not playing music, the members of the band, aged seven to 18, relax by painting.

Largest collection of Nightmare Before Christmas memorabilia: William Wong from Hong Kong owns 2,020 pieces of merchandise associated with the Tim Burton film, including dolls, Christmas ornaments, jewellery, kitchen appliances and a toilet roll holder.

Fastest marathon run in the costume of film characters: Britain’s Alisa Vanlint ran 42.1km in three hours, 53 minutes and 40 seconds, dressed as Princess Leia in the golden bikini outfit from Star Wars VI: Return Of The Jedi. In terms of practicality, this was a far more sensible choice than dressing up as Chewbacca or Jabba the Hutt. Fellow Brit David Stone dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow of Pirates Of The Caribbean, completing the distance in two hours, 42 minutes and 52 seconds.

Most valuable guitar: When we think of priceless instruments, the guitar that Jimi Hendrix burnt on stage might come to mind, or the Hofner bass on which Paul McCartney wrote, recorded and played many of The Beatles’ classics. But in terms of hard carbon rather than sentimental or historic value, the Gibson Coronet, which was designed in partnership with Hong Kong company Aaron Shum Jewelry, breaks the records and the bank alike. Made from 11,441 diamonds, it is worth more than US$2 million. Who needs a good story for an instrument when it’s got bling?

Largest saxophone ensemble: It could only happen in China. This year, 1,875 saxophonists gathered outside the Henan Art Centre. They played only two songs. (Just imagine how difficult it would be to get the entire group together for a rehearsal.) ADDITIONAL TEXT FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

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