Bryan Wong

flying off again to another destination most wanted, which is Turkey. This trip should be a really good one , i hope, as i have never been there before..

If you guys are wondering the absence of pictures for my previous entries to greece and spain, its because as it is a working trip and also the programme is yet to be out, i can only express my own opinions and perhaps a brief diary of my encounters as that seemed to be the only “property” that belongs to me.However, somewhere in september or so, there will be a website that specially caters to this programme whereby i will write in detail, with pictures, of the destinations that i have been to for this programme. So, lets wait and see huh…

In the meantime, take care and be well and lets see if i could do my day to day updates while i am in turkey. The weather over there seems to be on the cold side though..that makes it cold turkey?…………

Master ong, whom i have addressed as 王师傅 for so many years, has passed on.

very much appreciated the two person who left me the message here. if not, i wouldn’t have known.

Initially, I was very much taken aback by the news, almost angry that who in their freaking stupid ignorant completely useless life would make a prank news as such .

But a prank it is not. a call to a common friend in bangkok confirmed this . He has passed on.

He passed on he passed on he passed on he passed on he passed on he passed on he passed on he passed on he passed on he passed on he passed on he passed on.

Maybe if i repeatedly type the same lines i might just come to terms with this ugly fact.

But HE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO DIE!!! How could he have not been able to forsee this???

Or has he known this all these while,while he was making other people’s life right..

I first know him so many years ago..when i was just starting out in {City Beat}

It must be fate that brought us together as i am not much a believer in geomancy, i only believe in myself.

He was there for me when i had my downs..praying with me..praying for me…

He was there for me when my father died. he was with me the entire time of my father’s death.He taught me how to say my goodbye to my father..how to accompany my father for his final journey.. prayed for my father,ensuring that he has departed to a better place..he was the one that helped us housed the memories of my father in a tablet ..giving us comfort that my father is still with us..

He was there for me when i was nominated for star accolades first time round..he was almost as elated as i am..he told me which direction to drive..even down to fine details like what colour my underpants should be.

He was there for me when i have to make a big decision in my life. To leave or not to leave.He told me deep in my heart i know the answer. Indeed i knew. And his prediction was right. As usual. And i enjoyed four beautiful years.

He was there for me at the start of the year, where thru my divine fingers and his understanding of the universe , my entire year’s fortune would be first recorded painsakingly in a casette tape which he would, after a day or two, proudly tuck it into my hands and tell me to ” listen well”.

He was there for me when he decided that i need higher guidance and brought me to his own master in a foreign land.We kneeled and prayed side by side.A humble picture of him would forever be imprinted in my mind.

He was here just now, or i hope he was, in a form of an almost grasshopper- like insect , when i was on the phone with his friend in bangkok, who told me the events that led to his demise. After i received confirmation from his friend and knew that i could no longer deny his demise, the insect left.

Just like that.

Just like my father who came back to see me in the form of a moth. 王师傅 told me once before that, indeed was my father, who has came back to check on me..May i believe now that it was indeed you my dearest friend, mentor, who has come back to see me? i know its you.

You have not told me whats the goings on of my life for 2008..Have you forgotten ?or deliberately not have a reading for me so as not to reveal your departure from my life?

The last time i heard your voice was a phone call two months ago..

You said

: 喜欢就买啦。。

不对的我们把他改到对就行了。。

最重要是你要喜欢！
Perhaps now that you are in another world,

sometimes do remember me….

and if you decide to take the form of a butterfly or … please come to me and let me know that you are here, like you just did.

This might be all that i could hold on to.

How do i say goodbye?

you taught me once before..

i remembered.

i shall try

perhaps not able to..as at now

but i will try.

i will

i will.

Finally i am able to start on my first proper entry to my China trip.

As i have mentioned in my brief updates before, this trip was simply an eye opener and surprisingly, China turned up to be different after a spell of five years or so, since my last visit there. However, to be fair, my previous trip there was only for work, never for plainly sight seeing..perhaps, being on a holiday makes you feel different,however, this trip was part work for me, as i was accompanying some five groups of folks to explore two province of China, namely the Jiang Xi area and the Zhejiang area

Started off with flight to Xiamen before connecting a flight to Nanchang. In flight service was good but but was a wee bit worried about the size of the plane, which was a B737. However, after the first twenty minutes, size doesn’t matter anymore but its performance! It flew really well and the flight crew were great and all in all, it was really a pleasant flight .

Never been to Xiamen before but was rather impressed by the size of its airport.However, though huge in size and looks fantastic, the ground staff really have to buck up.Its a long journey for them before they can match the facade of the infrastructure.But the biggest surprise was the wc.It seems that most thought that toilet hygiene in China leaves much to be desired but imagine my surprise when i saw the following Poopoo facility! A picture is worth a thousand words! wonders of all Wonders!

There is actually an automatic wrap-a-seat function wor!!!!!! So Clean wor!!!!!!

Ha! have to continue the story ya?Flight from Xiamen was on a even smaller craft,a B757.. a little rocky but still okay la..

Any smaller i would have freaked out but anyway , sevice was good la…

Finally, we arrived in Nan Chang and on the flight there, i got to know the first group of the many groups that signed up with five stars tour and they were really lovely and funny bunch of guys and gals. Got into the bus and we arrived in NanChang and checked into Our first hotel of the trip!

It boast a rating of Five stars and on the whole, it was a rather impressive hotel..

After a brief clean up, we headed for dinner where i met the rest of the four groups and photographs moments were endless! After which, we went for a light/water display which took some of our breath away..

It was almost dreamland immediately after the show, for we were all rather tired from all the flying done that day….Tommorrow, we are moving on and the first stop, Jing De Zhen!

I have always wanted to visit this town. not because i love the porcelain vases and stuffs from there, but because when my father was still around, he simply adored all the vases and figurine from there and since young, i was constantly told, by him, that this town produces the best wares and finally, i am here…..

After a divine day in the town of porcelain, we went on to Wu Yuan, where we stayed for the night and i made my first entry there in the room, when i found a computer in my room..

And i found these too…hmmm…

male love lotion… you can…hmmm…only ten yuan wor…..

ANYWAY,

Dinner was a happy affair as all tucked into their food, which the chefs were instucted to make it less oily and less salty..

The Next Day liao……….

Bright and cheery, we all embarked on a brand new day of sight seeing and we headed to discover the lovely sight available at wu yuan..

Not much is needed to be said , i think the pictures says it all…

Much more to be done and told.. till time permits, this is all for now..

TO BE CONTINUED…..some highlights are as follows..

Oh well, might as well carry on..This is San Qing Shan, direct translation three clear mountain(ha!) and it is simply divine.The climb up was taking up our breath but the view was simply breath taking.. You feel as though you , as tacky as it sound, you are in heaven..almost expecting other immortals to fly around and suddenly xiao qian and lao lao would fly past you…..however, not everyone is able to climb that many steps and fortunately for those who can’t climb, there are these unfortunate strong willed guys who will bring you up in this interesting contraption…

There are a few rest stops up there where you can stop and have a drink, eat some stuff and buy some souvenirs..They cost just a tiny weeeny bit more as the stuffs are..hmmm…mountain lifted up..

After the climb, i thought that perhaps i kind of a like the idea of mountain treking and perhaps one day, i might just go climb mountains..

In retrospect, as i now look at these pictures i have taken, i am glad that i have chosen to climb up the mountain and if i hadn’t do so, i wouldn’t know wats up there..Kind off a like life isn’t ? without actually going the extra mile, we wouLd never know what that path will lead to…..

TO BE CONTINUED..

Been a real while since i made any updates..simply because first and foremost, did not manage to secure a line and secondly, weather here hasn’t been too kind and was raining everyday.Thus, making things rather difficult for filming and have to live in wet clothes,soggy shoes and wet jeans and walk walk walk all the time and at the same time, braving the extremely cold wind pounding our wet and frail body.Ha!actually, don’t envision a horrible trip because even though it was wet and cold, the warmth from the spanish ppl is more then enough to keep you nice and warm.Without pretences and forthright in nature, the spanish folks warmly embraces you and makes you feel completely at home!

Our local guide angela is a dream to have around.Funny,obliging and ever so ready to laugh makes the cold goes away! Days spent in Sevillia was wonderful and the festival we attended really opened up our eyes!Have been to Barcelona and Madrid but never Sevillia and believe me, it was a sight to be behold. Spanish ladies dressed in flamenco dresses decorated the streets with vibrant colours and excitement lingers in the air..Thousands flock to the festival/carnival ground of the Feria and one thousand tents filled up vast empty land and horse carriages throng the streets…. So much excitement yet so little time, for us at least, for now i have departed Sevillia and am now presently at the reknowned Salamanca, where we are putting up in a brownstone building, a part of the historical old city that has seen many different rulers.Weather here is much colder than Sevillia as it is up the mountains and the temperature range is between 4 degrees to 14 degrees.Still raining at the moment, which is 20 past midnight..Silence filled the air, only the occasional wing and pitter patter of raindrops filling up the void in the night air..Will be flying home soon, on the 13th, which means i shall land on the 14th..I miss home though, even though all has been wonderful. But i shall cherish these 3 days up in Salamanca, where the university that the pope declared as one of the top three uni in europe and also, to discover the magic and charm of the old town, where when the rays of the sun falls on the brownstones that were used to build the city, the city turns to gold….

This is bryan, signing off from NH hotel, Salamanca, Spain.

Date: 01042008 Time 2130hrs weather: 28 degrees i wanted so very much to be able to complete my blog of my trip to China but unfortunately, time is not on my side as i am now already at the airport, departing at 2310, embarking on a 15hr journey to Athens….

As you might know by now, i am starting the very first leg of a new programme that i am doing entittled “Destinations Most Wanted”. I am hosting solo and will have to visit 39 different destinations, which would span over a period of say six months …Actually, very much happy about doing this programme as i have always wanted to see the world..not being able to be an air steward seemed rather bleak when i passed the cut- off age but now..hmmm… i get to fly ! may be, wats lacking would be the chance to do the demonstration drill of putting on the life jacket and asking coffee tea or….hmm.

Will be away for two weeks,back for five days and then flying off to turkey..and off to japan two days after getting back from turkey and many many more to come.. For once, i envy myself! kicked and slapped myself for quite a while just to believe that i am actually doing this!

Thus, it might be quite a while before i get to finish my China entry, much less to say about Athens … Bear with me and wait for me… i will try so very hard to make it happen!

Sometimes..

think of me.

_____________________________________________________________

Date: 02-04-2008 Time 0715hrs weather: 12degrees

Hi Hi again! After a 12 hour long flight i am now in Istanbul airport, in transit, awaiting the 0805 flight to athens. This is the very first time me fly with Turkish air and it was good! Aircraft was a Airbus 340 and was really comfy and food was good!!!Upon arrival, it was still dark so i can’t really see anything but its okay because two weeks later me will be back here for filming. It is really good to reunite with my favourite Cameraman Ah Thong and Soundman Ah Yap( aka Yau yau) for this trip! You guys must still remember ah Thong, the very first celebrity cameraman whom was constantly harassed by me on screen during the days of Channel U, when it was still…..hmmm. Anyway, the time difference should be about 6 hrs so today i would probably have a very very long day!! can’t wait to be in Athens, because i am so into Greek Mythology and can’t wait to see ancient ruins and blue skies white buildings blue doors wa wa wa!!!!!!!!! Am feeling rather delirious and a wee bit oozy!!!Am finally feeling that i am now catching on to the present world as here i am, sitting at the cafe in the airport and typing away on my mac..it just seemed so…hmm.. businesslike..so executive..ha! always wanted also to be a businessman jetsetting around the world, sending emails opn planes, airports,reading financial times…but, i guess, that’s hardly the route that i am taking but however, one could always pretend, isn’t! ha! me so happy now…Life is like a box of chocolates..just open it and eat it!! Till the next update, this is bryan, signing off, Turkey.Istanbul Airport.

Date: 02042008 time:1750hrs(hydra time) weather: 12′

Latest update.have arrived in Hydra after an hour and a half journey from port of Athens. This is paradise. Amazing view of mountains and crystal clear waters! Am now using my communicator tapping into wylan from a restaurant overlooking the bay.. Stacks of serene white buildings with blue doors dotted the hillside..almost all the shops are closed at this moment as this is still spring and slightly drislly now..can’t believe that just a while ago i was walking amongst ancient stones and now i am on an island that is totally out of this world… I am indeed lucky and how i wish i could bring all of these back with me!!! Gotta go now, my food is here! This is bryan, signing off from Hydra, Greece.

Date:05042008 Time:0900hrs(Hydra) Weather: 11 degrees

Been a couple of days since my last entry.reasons being well, not quite able to access to any hot spots, only to discover thyat we are able to use the computer at the little reception at the exquisite little hotel |Miranda… Was blessed with beautiful weather fot the past two days of filming. PPl here are wonderful, warm and extremely friendly, in fact, it is like a big family out here, where nobody is a stranger..In fact, yesterday evening, when we have wrapped filming at Hydra, we had a brief r&r and we walked towards the bay, hunting for a cozy place to eat, we bumped into many familiar faces who gtreeted us as though we have known each other for ages.It is indeed a world without strangers over here. This is paradise over here..for i have always wanted to be at one of the islands scattered within the agean sea.. my dear friends, i almost wept when i took in the sights of houses with whitewashed walls, blue windows, blue doors, walls littered witrh grey stones…i felt like i have fulfilled this void in me that has always been unfulfilled..life is good and life is beautiful..In a few hours time, we are leaving this island, making our way to |Athens, where we will spend the night and tomorrow, we shall conquer Madrid/sevilla, where the bulls and the metadors are waiting..

this is bryan, signing off from the unbelievable island of Hydra.Greece.

Date:05042008  Weather: wet 9 degrees

 It rained cats and dogs since we left the island and now, we are finally back in athens in hotel stanley.Went for din din and enjoyed using the metro and now trying to upload the china pics before i could do an entry on it. Gotta wake up early tomorrow but first, have to fully utilise the 200 ins of internet time that i purchased with 10 euros.So, signing off once again from hotel stanley,athens.Btw,this is bryan wong.

Date: 06042008 Time:1335hrs Weather 20degrees

Am now at the lounge of Madrid airport,awaiting the 1530 flight to Sevellia.The flight from athens to madrid was uneventful however, from check in at the athens to the opnflight services offered by Olympic airways left much to be desired.Ground staff at the airport seemed rather grumpy and not very helpful!Air crew on board the B737 were okay but for a three hour forty five min international flight you would expect them to walk down the aisle with water service at least more than once and not spending most of their time in the little kitchen area reading newspaper or having their friends/colleagues off work  also having a mini party at the same area exchanging current news.. Perhaps a wet towel would be good, at least before meals..amazingly, minutes after take off they rush into feeding you with little navy blue trays that has seen better trays. Amazed to see the breakfast tray reminiscent of those used by airlines some twenty years ago… Well, at least the leg room is rather generous..and well..that´s about the only credit they are getting.. Hope that the flight to Sevellia is gonna be good..keep fingers and toes crossed. this is bryan, signing off Madrid airport,Spain