Xiao Xiao Gan Shang - A Little Sadness -

Everytime I come back to Singapore for a holiday, I always post myself a similar question near the end of the trip, "Will I be able to live in a country I once used to call my home?"

Somehow, I always face a similar dilemma because my visits here are always laced with days of idle, where I can do exactly as I please, and not have to go through the rigours of daily work life, like I have to back in Australia. The realization of this fact is very important in the conclusion I eventually arrive upon because life is indeed a bed of roses here, or anywhere when we are on holidays.

I count myself extremely fortunate, to be able to be loved and remembered by so many friends and family even when I have left this city 7 years ago. Everytime I return, I am always flooded with invites, and I am so touched by the sincerity and the generosity of everyone and their time.

This time, I have made many more friends, which will mean that I might be open to more invitations and gatherings in the future. This new fact makes Singapore worth returning to, but is it enough for me to consider moving back here. The answer right now and in the near future is negative because of the restrictions I can still see in my life, some of which are self imposed, and some of which are governmental, hence, uncontrollable. The fact that I left this place as a "straight" man, and hence, somehow I feel that I have to put up a show sometimes, makes me fully aware of my dishonesty and my discomfort.

I love my family very much and I thank them for all the love and gifts they showered upon me, and I am lucky that I love this family that I did not have the power to choose. As we move through in life, we form our own family, people that allow us the freedom to be ourselves, and I know that currently, only in Australia, do I have a larger and closer network of friends that I endearingly call, my family, that I can truly express myself.

I never take life and happiness for granted, so I always want to make sure that I show my gratitude , just for everyone's love and friendship. As this visit reaches its end, I am felt with a little sadness once again ... but I know that I have the wonderful memories and also the time and distance, will pave the way for another highly anticipated visit in the near future ...

The Emancipation of James

Throughout my 26 years of living in Singapore, I had never identified myself as a gay man. I was suspicious but I didn't have the courage to step out as one. My trip to Sydney 7 years ago gave me the first opportunity to be myself and through these years, I have grown and matured, loved and fallen out of love, and now, am happily married to a wonderful man I call my best friend and my love.

Many things have changed, but two things hadn't ... my dislike of clubbing and stage fright ... However, being in Singapore now, makes me feel like a tourist, maybe because I am introduced and "celebrated" as one, and as a tourist, one tends to explore and experience things that they don't usually want to do back home. It would thus come as a surprise to many of my close friends back in Sydney that I would have my definitive clubbing experience here in Singapore, not a place many people would associate with the cream of the world.

I don't have many gay friends in Singapore. Before last Friday, I had only a handful but now, I have more than two handfuls, and I have to start using my toes already. I met Cecilia, a vibrant lady at my friend's wedding, and after being probed by everyone at the wedding because I was a newbie from Sydney, I was invited (or rather cajoled) to go along for another Karaoke session. During mid-session, Cecilia approached me and "commanded" that I go along with her to a "happening" place in Singapore, called "Happy". I had read about the club Happy from the Asian gay website "Fridae", and as curious as I was about the place, I wasn't enthusiastic enough (and maybe courageous enough) to walk in there and see what the difference is with the clubs in Sydney. So, when the opportunity came, I seized it, though Cecilia didn't know that I was gay (though she had her suspicions).

When we entered "Happy", we were greeted by thick smoke and was later introduced to many of Cecilia's friends, who were mainly passing acquaintances at that point because clubs are not the ideal place to meet new people, because of the high decibel level of music emission. We watched a drag show which was performed by local performer, Hossan Leong, who treated us to a live performance and a comic skit as well. It was very authentic and professionally done. After that, since I had a headache, I chose to leave early.

I met up with two of Cecilia's friends, Stephen and Kris two nights later and went to another club called "Why Not". It was not as fashionable as "Happy" but the ambiance was enhanced greatly by the personal touch provided by the extremely hospitable owners, a pair of twins from HK. About half an hour into our arrival, we were advised to turn around to a small stage, where we were greeted by a plus size Chinese drag queen doing a rendition of Madonna's "Hanky Panky". She was wearing a black corset-like outfit which cut high above the thighs, occasionally revealing her black panties, which made her look like a misfit, but I had to applaud her for her courage in stepping out and doing what she does. Just when I was about to dismiss the whole show, next stepped this voluptuous lady in shimmering sequined gown, resplendent in pink, complete with huge eyes, sexy lips and huge blonde hair, not unlike Mariah Carey. She put on one of the best drag performances I had ever witnessed, mouthing and making fun as she did her rendition of an over the top "Over the Rainbow" with full on comic antics, easily tickling the crowd. She stepped off to rousing applause and the final diva took on the stage and did another wonderful performance of a Tina Turner song, which was just as fun as the second diva, but lacked the "X-Factor".

After the show ended, the first and second diva took on the stage and unknown to us, asked for "volunteers" down the stage. I use the word "Volunteers" with the inverted commas, because it is usually our friends "volunteering" (or sabotaging) us, rather than us being free spirits. Being a "foreigner", I was of course picked to be one of the three. As I mentioned earlier, I suffer from stage fright but somehow, the new experience and the look of fear on my Thai friend Kris' face, inspired me to step out of my shadow and have a little bit of fun.

I was teased about my "bosoms" as the second diva compared to her stuffed breasts, but I took it all in good humor. The funny thing was she even asked if I was straight or gay and I remembered the smallish crowd roared when I imitated the noise she made for "gay", complete with the broken wrist. The third volunteer was an "ang-moh" from Britain, who was unfortunately, the only Caucasian in the club.

The first thing we were asked to do was to select a item amongst the three that they had, the broom (with complete centre parking - as in the brushes in the middle of the broom are damaged and skewed to both sides), a mop or a toilet brush. Being the clean freak I am, and the lucky person to be selected to pick first, I chose the cleanest of the three (some things don't change even when we are on holidays), and they joked about the mop being the same one used for the toilet after Kris picked it. We were then told that we would play a new amateur band, where I would play the guitarist (the broom), Kris would be the singer (the mop), and the Brit, the drummer, with the toilet brush and pails as drums. The music started and I was made a fool because I didn't recognize the bass from the "electric guitar". They started all over again and I threw away all inhibition and did my best performance as a rock guitarist, complete with gyrations from the hip and swinging of my hair. Kris didn't fare that well and he was substituted with the Brit, because the divas complained he was a little too "wooden". They also came over and complimented my impromptu performance, which they said was "sexy" and how they wished they were the broom. It was exhilarating and funny at the same time because I was letting myself go, and the audience was lapping it all up and I could see Stephen and our girlfriend cheering and laughing on.

After the song ended, they asked the audience if we could go and like any other, they said "No", which meant more. We were then asked the most embarrassing question, "Are you top/bottom?". Kris was the first to be asked, and he shot a confused look at the diva, clearly misunderstanding the question, and not offering any answer, so they changed the question to "Choose top/bottom". They both chose top and I was the unfortunate last to pick, so I decided to play along and said "Since they are all playing top, I will have to play bottom then." and was greeted by loud cheers and applause and hurried fanning by the divas, who thought my answer was "too hot to handle".

They eventually decided to delegate, and the Brit was chosen "Bottom", I was given "Top" and Kris was both "Top/Bottom". I was a little worried that they might get us to do something weird, but it turned out that the delegation would mean which piece of garment would have to go. Not only that, but we had to disrobe while dancing to some sexy music. I thought I got away with the top, and so I did my best impersonation of a stripper, and turned my back before stripping off my top. That was when the shyness crept back in, but was probably enhanced with the cheers from the crowd, who apparently said "Take it all off" (which I learnt from Stephen later), which I joked that they probably said "Ugh! Put it back. Put it back." For those of you who are wondering, Kris did not take it all off, he got away with pouring tequilla down our throats, but thankfully, he poured very small amounts into mine because he knew I wouldn't be able to handle it.

This account might make me sound egoistical, but I am not. What I discovered is that if we allow ourselves to drop our guard once in a while, we might end up having one of the best times of our lives, and this is undoubtedly one of my best, because I was able to let go of my inhibition for once, and just enjoy. It was like facing my fear of stage fright and conquering it for a night. I don't want this to be a catalyst for more of such adventures, but I was delighted that I have at least, this sweet memory to remember it of.

Yesterday Once More - 80's JPop Revival

"Karaoke-ing" is one of the favourite "sports" in Singapore. I believe that it should be classified as a "sport" because for some people, it is just plain endurance (especially if the session stretches beyond 3 hours), while for others, like how most sportsmen feel, it is pure enjoyment, and of course, we must understand the techniques to preserve the voice for best vocal performances throughout, which is what qualifies this definition.

On Good Friday, before I had to attend one of my good friend's wedding, I met up with Tien, Eugin, and a new friend (also a major Akina fan), Danny, for lunch at a swanky Japanese restaurant before we proceeded for 4 hours of JPop Musica Fiesta. In Japan, Akina Fans would hold mass Karaoke sessions, which would be attended by close to 300 Akina fans, who would crowd around to sing on Akina songs. This was our mission, but to spice things up, we decided to include plenty of other influential Jpop oldies but goodies from the 80s as well. We sang plenty of hits from the Kohaku performances of the mid 80s, and in the process of singing, we would try to imitate the dance steps of the singers. Now, not all singers are as capable as Akina when it comes to coordination of complicated dance steps with difficult songs (which we realized when we tried to emulate Akina during some of her performances), so it was a walk down memory lane, where we (as in Danny and I) would point out all the crazy things they used to do, and we would dance like mad, often inducing side splitting laughter from all of us.

It was easily one of the most enjoyable Karaoke sessions because Danny was such a good sport, and with our good memory from repeated viewings, we kept digging those long forgotten oldies like Kyoko Koizumi's "Nantetate Idol", Yu Hayami's "Passion", Chiemi Hori's "Tokyo Sugar Town", Naoko Kawai's "Kuchibiru no Privacy", Sachiko Kobayashi's "Moshikashite", and many other hits from Seiko Matsuda, Hidemi Ishikawa, Hiromi Iwasaki, and Momoe Yamaguchi etc. It was totemo natsukashii (extremely nostalgic) and so funny, and definitely not everyone's cup of tea. It paved the way for a "extreme pleasure, no holds barred" 4 hour performance from all of us.

It felt like deja vu meeting Danny, because he reminds me of my friendship with Zing, the top makeup artiste in Hong Kong (who is Faye Wong's prescribed makeup artist), and his zeal for life and his imitations, which are all terribly uncanny. Danny is gay and is full of fun and quips and he definitely brought out the "devil" in me, which I hope I will be able to bring back to Sydney for our next Karaoke session. Hopefully, I will inspire my more docile and reserved Japanese friends to enjoy the true art of Karaoke. Ganbare!

My Best Thanks

This has been my most fruitful trip in Singapore ever, because so many things have happened. Not only have I experienced plenty of love, laughs and happiness on the home front, but also a totally exhilarating experience of catching up with old friends and meeting new people along the way.

I was most delighted to catch up with Leslie Kee, one of my oldest and best friends, once again this year. We seem to have the best timing because he is a professional photographer, who currently resides in New York and flies all around the world, photographing the most beautiful men and women, and celebrities as well, and we always seem to meet up in Singapore whenever I come back for a holiday. His current issue of his self published magazine SuperMag features Tom Cruise and Beyonce on a double cover.

As part of this festival, Leslie was also sponsored to exhibit his works at Wisma Atria, a local shopping mall, and he selected the collages which are presented here. You might be able to recognize some of the celebrities, like Quentin Taratino (which he had only 10 minutes to photograph), Maggie Cheung and other HK Celebrities, Miho Nakayama, Ayumi Hamasaki (who Leslie photographs most of her single and album covers for the past 2 years), etc. We attended the opening of his exhibition and were greeted by more celebrities, including singers Andy Hui and William Soo, who personally attended and congratulated Leslie. Not only was I able to be introduced to them, but I was also considered a VIP since it was an invite only event. The other highlight was catching up with his Mom and pregnant sister, and we were able to catch up on our new happenings.

Leslie is not only a great photographer but also a great friend. I am lucky to have been one of his experimental models and I can only wish him more success, which I know he will have, regardless of my well wishes, because of the hard work he puts in. He is also an inspiration, not only to me, but also many people out there, to never stop trying. My best Thanks to a great friend who always makes our friendship so special and also quoting both John and myself under "Spiritual Support" in his acknowledgements page of his magazine. Thank you for remembering us. Love to you!!

A Simple Life

Happiness comes from the simplest things in life. For me, it comes from the happiness I see on the faces of my family and friends when I meet them again.

My daily routine now consists of babysitting my soon to be 1 year old nephew (Joshua) and 2 and 3/4 year old niece (Joy). They are the joys of my life at the moment and though it can be a daily or hourly challenge to receive their love and acceptance, it is a task that I will not give up for anything else in this world.

I am watching plenty of cartoons (like Snow White - which is fantastic - and Beauty and the Beast), and through them, I am rediscovering my childhood and playing the role of a parent at the same time. Parenting is a tough task and keeping up is mainly what we do, which can be very tiring, but the rewards of a smile of giggle, or even a kiss is priceless. I can now appreciate the hard work my parents had to do when they had to handle 3 kids and it makes their love all the more greater. Thank you for bringing me onto this world and showering me with love, so that I understand the only way other humans want to be treated ...

Akina Nakamori

"Let's take a life time to say, I knew you well, for only time will tell us so, for love may grow, for all we know ..." - The Oscar winning 1971 hit theme song to the movie "Lovers and Other Strangers" sung by the Carpenters, one of my favourite singers of all time.

I believe that love happens not only between lovers but also between family (that we know of) and also friends. From strangers to friends, sometimes, we are there only for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Only time will be able to tell.

I met Tien and Eugin a few months back on the Internet, after plucking the courage to say Hi on the Internet. It's strange how our idols became the launching point of our friendship and though it was a little weird at first, which is not uncommon with meeting people for the first time, we hit it off really quickly, chatting away and offering tidbits of news that we have collected over the many years of idolship.

It is different when you speak to a fellow fan because we hang on to every bit of news information that we never had and somehow in my mind database, I am able to store all these information that I would not have made available for mind perceived less interesting things. We had a jolly good time chatting away and it was so incredibly generous of Eugin to pass me many DVDs of past Akina performances from 1982 till today. Even though I haven't had the chance to watch them yet, because the DVD player has broken down, I am eternally grateful to him for sharing this very special gift.

I also rated a comment on their blogs, and they both mentioned that I am knowledgeable about JPop history and especially with statistics. My friends (both Japanese and Singaporeans) find me "weird" because I know statistic information like the chronological sequence of singles by most Japanese artists (mostly 80s) and also the single chart sales, but somehow it is being appreciated by people who are interested in such information. "Hero vs Idiot". Ha! Ha!

We are also planning to have a Karaoke session where we will only sing Akina songs, as a tribute to the joys that she has given us all these years. For this special gift of friendship (and more to come), I thank you, Akina Nakamori.

The Heat

The first thing that strikes about coming back to Singapore is the heat and more importantly, or should I say disgustingly, is the humidity. Bushfires are a common feature in the Australian Summer, but it seemed as if Singapore is also suffering from a spate of misfortunes, with hazy skies and smoky air.

There are intermittent glimpses of the sun, but strangely, in such humidity, is an unwelcome intrusion to me. I love sunbathing in Australia but somehow, this passion is killed by the biting rays and the displeasure it brings, thus drawing us to seek refuge in the air-conditioned shopping centres.

Many things have changed ... Looking up the block of flats (or apartments they call in Australia), I observe an onslaught of air conditioning units. Where in the past, it was a luxury item, it has transformed into some form of commodity. The other thing observed is the number of mobile phone ads in the paper. How many times does one need to change their mobiles to reflect their social status?

Singapore is very different from Australia, and I notice that though Australia is also moving more to the religious right, a comment made by a relgious leader about the haze in Singapore being the "Fruits of our sins" would probably have been laughed at. The rising number of AIDS victims in recent years in Singapore has also prompted the Senior Health Minister to prompt the hypothesis that AIDS = Gay Dance Party. It is not totally irrelevant, but the most serious issue brought up is that if Singapore still treats homosexuality as an unnatural act and an offence (please note that oral sex was only recently legalised between heterosexuals), how can we educate the population about safe sex via condoms when we can't even raise the issue (because it is illegal and considered non existent).

It took many brave people and years of change and courage to bring Australia to where it is today, but if the government decides that the people are not ready for this education, can Singapore move ahead and embrace human rights? It is an irony because there are many things happening right now which revokes human rights in many developed countries, even in Australia with the refugee camps and detainees, so is it too much to ask of Singaporeans. We shall see ...

Mardi Gras 2005 Photos

Yes Folks, I have finally donwloaded the Mardi Gras 2005 photos from the digitial camera onto my temporary website and you can have a look at them here. Enjoy! ;-)

Mardi Gras 2005 Extravaganza

Fellowship of The Blogs

Just wanted to introduce the blogs of my friends and "strangers" to some of you.

On the right, under the links are a couple of websites on my favourite singer, Akina Nakamori, and some blogs dedicated to her (like Happy Hamster and 乱火＠lyre19.com)

Sydney Gaze is the blog of a very close friend, whose secret identity shall maintain status quo but introduces interesting places in Sydney to dine, events and also movie reviews. However, it is in Japanese and if you do not understand Japanese, you can at least enjoy the beautiful photographs.

Lastly, Towleroad and OhLaLaParis are two websites dedicated the bringing the forefront on gay issues and usually includes very beautiful men on their blogs.

Please feel free to have a look at them and enjoy ...

A Robot's Life

I read this interesting article yesterday on the Sydney Morning Herald "We, robot: the future is here" about how Japan has introduced the use of robots in our domestic and work life. In the face of an aging population, the longest life expectancy, and one of the lowest birth rates in the world, Japan has started incorporating robots into their everyday life, unlike the US, whose primary use for robots is in the military force.

The most interesting thing to me is that Saya, who is a robotic receptionist at a university is prone to mistakes when the power is low, but when confronted with accusations that "she is stupid" by the professor when she makes one, she roars back in wrath that she isn't. It is sign of the moving times not only for the new generation in Japan when extreme courtesy is less observed, but also a step ahead for "women", fighting "injustice". I wonder how many of us would actually have the courage to shout back at our bosses when we are angry with them (and their mistakes) like Saya did. If robots can be designed to show emotion that we are sometimes fearful of expressing, are they the new models that we should be emulating instead?

On the other hand, this is rather "disturbing":

Tests have shown the cute newcomers reduce stress and depression among the elderly. Just ask Sumi Kasuya, 89, who cradled a seal robot while singing it a lullaby on a recent afternoon.
"I have no grandchildren and my family does not come to see me very often," said Kasuya, clutching fast to the baby seal robot wiggling in her arms. "So I have her," she said, pointing to the seal. "She is so cute, and is always happy to see me."

This is rather sad because our daily lives have been inundated with so much technology meant to help us finish our tasks faster, but it has also the adverse effect of increasing our task, thus robbing us of the time we spend to nuture the relationships in our lives. Is this is the future for us?

Missing You

I had a dream last night ... A dream about my beloved grandma who took me under her wings, and taught me how to love, not only myself but also the rest of the world. Without her, I would not be who I am today, and I am richer, all because of her love for me.

I may have felt down because I was picked on when I was younger, by friends and then myself, but in her eyes, I was perfect and I was able to accept myself because of her love. I have spoken of her in many of my emails and even in a presentation at university, about how a book taught and gave me the courage to say "I Love You" in a "Love Letter" to her, before Fate took her away from us.

It's been long since I dreamt of her in such a vivid way. I could smell her, and feel the touch of her, and also the fabric of her sarong that she donned, as we hugged. It was a gathering that we usually have every Chinese New Year, and it was in the same house that she said Goodbye to us in. Though I don't remember her saying much or anything at all, she was happy ... and I was happy.

She was carrying some of the new additions ... my sister's and cousins' babies, and hushing them to sleep in her arms. I remember weeping with joy when I saw and held her. Those brief but real moments, I can still savour them right now as I write.

Then my cousin and my aunt decided that it was late and they would leave. I went back to the room that she and some of my other relatives were in, and I remember protesting their departure, sobbing because I knew that I would lose her once again if everyone left ...

Like the widowed daughter-in-law in one of my favourite movies, "Tokyo Story" who feels a little guilty sometimes that she does not think of her husband very often because life goes on, I feel the same way but having you in my dreams allows me to feel your presence once again.

I know you are here with me because I see shades of you in me, my actions, and the stories that I share, with whoever is willing to listen, and you will be in my heart forever. I am so lucky to have had you in my life, and you will live on and on, because of the stories I will pass on to your great-grandchildren. Dreams are a strange thing because they can feel so real sometimes, and I am happy you were there last night. Thank you. I miss you ...

Mardi Gras 2005

It was my 4th Mardi Gras Parade experience ... no longer a "virgin". I remember vividly the rigors and the routines that I put myself through the first time [and also the others ;-)], and also the exhilaration that was never matched by the next 2 consecutive rounds that I paraded. I wrote about the excitement and the love I felt, my 15 minutes of Fame, that propelled me to do it again in the next 2 years. The next 2 years seemed like a routine but I did remember that I psyched myself into make believing that it is the "first time" when I did the 3rd time and I found the same excitement, though at a different level of exhilaration. A realization that we could actually trick our minds, if we believe ...

That same year with a renewed perspective to life, waking up after a heartbreak, I met my partner, John, and decided to sit the next 2 years out. Since John was the organizer for the float for work this year, we decided to make another appearance together, as a couple. It was a totally different experience, not unlike one when we become part of a couple. Gone are the days of desperate hope that someone on the streets, in the pub, or anywhere could be "The One". Though nothing will stop the wandering eyes and the occasional linger, but there is a sense of serenity there, a knowing contentment. Please do not mistake that there is something wrong with being single though, because we all need our freedom to be ourselves, and sometimes, people function better by themselves, and can find inner satisfaction within. Well, I am lucky to be able to be myself and continue to explore untapped parts of me within this loving and supportive relationship.

Now, the angel wings were a much debated point because they didn't belong to me, and it is notorious that it rains on every Mardi Gras Parade because Reverend Fred Nile always prays for rain. It was a risky decision but I am forever grateful we took the bullet. Miraculously, it only drizzled in the afternoon and cooled the day down for a wonderful evening. As I stepped into the gathering grounds when all the participants of our float chatted while having little bites, I was suddenly rather self conscious of my appearance and how I would appear. It took a little while before I could ready myself. I guess it was the "Gollum" in me that sparked the doubt, but the gasps and the welcoming cheer as I stepped down the stairway, albeit a narrow one, gave me the confidence to stand up proud, while smiling sheepishly at the same time with the sudden attention that I had somehow anticipated.

I did walk out onto the streets eventually to run some errands, and quickly realized that if this was any other day, I would have jumped from tree to tree in embarassment, but somehow, on Mardi Gras Parade Day, it was normal. There were looks but I managed to keep my poise and pretended it was just another one of those days. After we were finally given identification strips and down at the actual starting point of the parade at 4.30 pm, the first hints of excitement sipped as pedestrians starting stopping and taking photos. It was like the paparazzi, though the "victims" happily posed for photos, some of whom flaunted themselves while the rest of us worked to get the float ready.

The theme for the float was "Party" since it was the 20th Anniversary of Ankali (which is a non-profit organization which trains volunteers to provide social and emotional support for people living with HIV and AIDS). It is a great program and I am so proud to be the other half of someone who inspires me with the work he does everyday and to be able to call some of the volunteers my friends. The float was a big 3 tier birthday cake decked with candles, silver and golden balloons, and tinsel. We would all dance around our float as we paraded down Oxford Street eventually.

Since there was ample time before the actual parade procession at 8.00 pm, I took the opportunity to walk around the other floats, examining the hard work the other participants have put in, over the past few months. We found some friends of ours who were dressed up as flight attendants performing flagging, a Fran Drescher "The Nanny" Float with plenty of Nanny impersonators - men and women in drag, the horse racing scene from the movie "My Fair Lady" with ladies and gentlemen having tea, decked in glory and parasols, skimpy lycra clad "IncredeGays" (spoof of the animated movie "The Incredibles"), the beautiful and elaborate costumes of the "Thai" contingent, which always reminds me of the Miss Brazil's national costume at every beauty contest, politically incorrect marriage of John Howard and George Bush, the perennial favourites "PFLAGs" (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and more skimpily dressed outfits, where the theme of "less is more" is always evident. A surprise "intruder" was the Irish comedian Jimeoin, who ran around in a small glitzy bottom and a sailor hat, with his camera crew, which we learnt later was the incorporated into his new yet to be titled movie.

Since there weren't many people then, I managed to attract some attention with the huge beautiful wings I had on. A funny direct comment loudly overheard was "You're not really an angel are you?" I turned back, shrugged, gave a devilish smile, and replied "No, not really ...". There were more posing later with strangers who were so excited to be there, as we waited for the Parade to begin. The skies have opened up and there was a great buzz going on. People were doing their last minutes practices and before we knew it, it began ...

The "march" was longer than I remembered, maybe because this time I had to walk and dance instead of trying to balance on a boat the last 3 times, but it was still a blur because of the euphoria. The crowds were wild and about 5 rows deep. Faces to faces, bodies to bodies, we danced to the music and stopped occasionally for a hug or a kiss. It didn't matter if we knew them or not, there was love all around. It was a great feeling because there was acceptance and maybe we are detached in that "showbiz" kind of a way that we were celebrated, but I hope that the fun and love we generated would help them to understand that we represent these wonderful attributes, and learn to accept us for who we are, regardless of the costumes we don.

The most exciting part for me was dancing for a friendly face that we could recognise in the crowd. When we could extend our arms to hold their hands or kiss them, we would, but most of our friends were looking down from their apartment, so we stopped, waved, and I did a special twirl for them, grinning from ear to ear. The most memorable part of me was dancing and walking down the Parade, hand in hand with John. He is always the first to let go of my hand when we walk on the streets, but somehow he kept coming back tonight. It was a wonderful feeling though feelings of insecurity could have crept because I was hugging and sometimes, being kissed by strangers. A moment's affair with a stranger ...

It came as it went ... the exhilaration was overwhelming, and once the adrenaline died, so did our bodies, screaming for our attention once again. It is an event that one has to "sacrifice" (the fear of being recognised) to experience and I would encourage anyone who has never done it to do it at least once. Like the reporter who asked me, "Why are you doing this again?", "Because it is one of the most fun one can ever have.", and I will likely be there again next year.

For my photos of the Event, please click here

My Virgin Post

Hello Everyone,

I am so excited to be able to begin charting my thoughts and expressions about my daily life and what excites me. I love writing and I believe this would be a great platform for me to get creative and explore my passion(s). I would certainly hope that this would be a great avenue for me to meet and greet more people around the world and share whatever goes on in our minds. Friendship is universal and I certainly hope that this wonderful invention will help develop more beautiful friendships, no matter where you are. Welcome to my world ...