I remembered vividly , just a couple of days after Boxing Day year 2004, i was part of a medical volunteer team to lend a helping hand to those in need after the tsunami hit Sri Lanka..
Years later, i am back there, doing a travel segment of New Citybeat…Interestingly, the camerman who went on this trip was the same one that went along with me yrs ago..speaking of coincidences:) i guess..we were in a way, rewarded for our work years ago..and given the chance to see the beauty of Sri lanka in its natural form…
As this was a really short trip, we covered only GAlle and Columbo and here are some pics before u watch it on the tele:)
Arriving at the heart of the city of colombo, kym and i were treated to a spectacle of interesting buildings that were left behind by the Dutch and the English..It is a city bustling with life with a tinge of nostalgia..
We took the coastal drive and arrived in Galle, where we stayed in this beautiful hotel Jetwing Lighthouse which has simply breathtaking views..Interestingly, on my last mission here, they held a thank you tea reception at this very hotel for us and i remembered telling myself that one day, i will come back and stay here and amazingly..here i am:)
The waters , the Indian Ocean,at this part is not for swimming..but, we couldn’t resist the idea of a shot..can we?
Nestled at a corner of the hotel is their spa..and we definitely have to showcase massage unique to this region..
Most of the time, when i have a massage, it would be hands that are kneading the knots at my shoulders or some other aching parts of my body but, this time round..hmm…the masseur stepped all over…
One of the highlights of Galle would be the Dutch fort, a UNESCO heritage site that showcases the early settlements…
Our team went on to another fishing village Negombo, where due to the rain that went on for that week, there are no fresh catch for us to see but,
we get to see how the salted fishes are made..
Its a really short trip and we were commuting long hrs each day..i really had a superb time as the team were really nice
and it is a real pleasure to go on a trip with kym..
its been many yrs since we last filmed together in Hong kong..which would be during the original City beat era..
how time flies…but somehow, amist all the changes that is on going ,
There was once this sweet little boy, so innocent, so sweet and pure. His eyes were always open, always sure, and everyone could just look right in. People followed closely to his gaze, as he looked up towards the sky. But he watched their faces drift away when other things caught their eyes.
He dreamt of sharing his heart. He dreamt of baring his soul. But now, his heart just beats empty and cold. And with all the tears that he had shed, his soul is now just a colour of his sins.
It was a battle, of his sins and death. A war waged by himself to play himself out. But now he stands with a hangdog heart, condemned.
On a sinking boat that’s pointed home.
That’s where he is.
All I can say, was I knew him back then. When he was beautiful, before.
The more I live, the more I realize the impact of perfection in my life. Perfection is not a destination, it’s a journey with no end. I’m not perfect, but it scares me because I’m nowhere near it.
People tell me that nobody is perfect. Then they tell me practice make perfect. Sometimes I wish they’d actually make up their mind.
It’s passion. An indomitable will, with a made up mind. It’s not winning. It’s going through hardships and deciding not to surrender. It’ll only be born then, in the deep silence of long suffering hearts. It’s holding together with efforts and struggles even when all fails.
And I’m not strong. Even the strongest man isn’t, when he’s standing alone..
Although I’m not alone, I’m still dreaming. And I know, it’s only a dream. And only when we dream together, it becomes a reality.
Come now and take my hand, and I’ll show you how to grow out of our weaknesses.
The second season of new City Beat has got some changes..First and foremost, change of casts..Adrian is off to pangdemonium(all the best!) and Gurmit off to his 1 month hiatus in Italy(WOW!) and Yifong coming in as the new host..Secondly, instead of an hour long programme, it is now a half hr slot:) Thirdly, expanding areas of coverage with the new item of travel destinations:)(Yipeeee) and that brought me to Club Med Bali:)
This trip boasts quite a lot of {first time} for me:) This is the first time that i visit Club med..A decade long revisit to Bali…The first time hosting with Dasmond Koh( guest appearance in this segment)..first time going to sleep three nights in a row in a semi drunken state..and the list goes on for quite a fair bit..
And now to Club Med..hmm…my knowledge of this establishment mainly stems from reading off magazines and papers..knowing of their endless streams of activities and their GO’s enthusiasm..Being whom i am, naturally i will shy away from all these ooh la lassss and much prefer a resort that is quiet where everyone mind their own business.. However, this trip proved me wrong because i actually had a ball of a time! First of all, u pay a flat rate ,somewhere between $900-$1200, and that includes the airfare,the accomodation,all the meals you need and all the drinks you can possibly consume..and the activities here are quite well thought out..lead by the GM Stephan Noublanche,a charismatic french man who knew all about entertainment,his team left a wonderful impression on all of us:)
Needless to say, the facilities here are really comprehensive..You will probably find almost all the sporting activities that you desire..the sun over here is scorching hot, giving me a real super tan that i so desired,even throwing in two days of sun burnt discomfort..but, hey, me not complaining though, to have that sun kissed look, you just have to stomach in just a wee bit of discomfort:)
Most of the time, i play the role of the entertainer..this time round, i entertain you guys on the tele with the club entertaining me:) kudos to the wonderful team for making such a beautiful effort to make everyone feel welcomed and most often than not,bring a smile onto all our faces:) To sum it all up, the club, the sand,the sea,the sky and the people..it makes you go CLUBing like MED!
