Day 1 – The Land of Smiles

It has been madness two weeks before we depart. Finally, after all the complaining, grumbling and last minute rush for cables and router the day for us to travel up to Korat arrived. With Clarity to hand-carry up, we booked a bus and had Azman depart from office with us. Uncle Patrick fetched me at 8.30, Kiok at 8.45 and we eventually left the office at 9.45, picking up Joanne at the Radiogate.

First to arrive at the airport, soon Alvin appeared then Prem, Vivian and Remesh. Mark was the last to arrive while Biao Shu and Abdullah were already on the SQ flight to Bangkok. The agency had left Biao Shu out and he had to take SQ with Dollah as Gandhi had to stay home to look after his wife.

Just before landing, the announcement was to have all animals quarantined. Erquan said he needed to be quarantined, just as I expected. A bus ride from the plane to the airport terminal, Kittipong was at the Custom waiting for us. He had expected only two person from MediaCorp. Turned out to be two busload, as he directed us to the checkpoint for SEA Games officials and Media. John Burgess was there at the airport since 6am in the morning and had to wait for us till we arrive at about 2.45pm Thailand time.

The three-hour bus ride to Korat saw me into dreamland. I was so tired that I felt as though I was sleeping in my own bed back at home. Reaching Kirimaya Resort, I told Kiok I had to take a photo at the entrance of the resort. Too grand to miss it. After checking-in, we embarked on our 11/2hr journey to the IBC. I was in the same bus as Remesh and he fast losing patience with the long ride. But this long ride just reminded me of the times I had in Toowoomba while traveling to and fro Bisbane. The similar scenery and the same isolated feel in the mountains, they only brought back those wonderful memories I had there.

By the time we reached the IBC, which was setup in one of the universities there, the sun has set. It took us quite some time before we were able to communicate to the locals that we were trying to find our way to the accreditation centre. Upon receiving our passes, we were handed a certificate of appreciation to our contributions for the SEA Games. Then I remembered that we were supposed to receive our Asian Games certificate this year and it has been a year since Doha!

Mark sent an sms requesting for diet Coke. I said I would try but no promise. Upon reaching, I asked Azman to help bring in the Clarity, which we had cleanly forgotten that it was still in the bus. Then Kiok, Vivian and I went to the back of the building where the organizers have setup a marquee to serve food. Kiok and I had marcoroni and I decided that I could have that everyday for the next twelve days.

Later, Kiok and I walked over to the 7-11 to buy drinks. She said “the IBC floor carpet colour nice right? I choose one leh!” Bought Mark’s diet coke and tomato juice. Walking back to our booth in IBC, I commented that the IBC reminded me a lot of Hanoi IBC. And the walk back from the 7-11 reminded me of USQ. While setting up the Clarity, I realized I didn’t bring the donger with me, called Allen right away and he said the donger has already been embedded inside the machine. What a relief! Which was apparent on Alvin’s face too.

We soon made our way back to the resort. I fell asleep on the along the way and later while we were in the room, Viv said she believed Remesh was the only one who didn’t sleep – he was worried about the speed the driver is going.

Before we go into our rooms, Alvin said take lots of photos as we might not be staying here anymore. And this was exactly what I did!

Day 2 - Kirimaya

It was the first time we had such nice lodging for Games. Slept through the night until my alarm went off, and then I realised I haven’t set my handphone time to +7 GMT. So I tuned the time and went back to sleep. Half an hour later, Kiok called to wake us up. We woke up, confused by the phone call and Vivian said we won’t have time for breakfast. Nonetheless, Vivian went to the bathroom first and Kiok called again. She has just realised that her handphone is still at +8 GMT. And we all went back to bed.

Couldn’t sleep, I went for my shower twenty minutes later and did my laundry. Went for a walk outside in an attempt to find the gym, but decided to get the camera from the room for photo taking, in case we really do move out of this place.

Went toe-dipping in the pool with Vivian as we tried to find the place where we were supposed to have our breakfast. She thought she saw Kiok walking around. In the end, we asked a staff at the “eating place” by the pool and she said we would need the buggy to go to the clubhouse for breakfast. We walked outside, hijacked Jusri, Razali and Kiok and went on the buggy to the clubhouse.

Took lots of photo in the morning, including some at the clubhouse, and Victor was already there enjoying his breakfast. After a hurried breakfast, Alvin told Kiok we have to leave. Kiok replied, saying that she needed to go back to her room for her bag and stuff. Alvin told her to bring everything next time. Then I told Kiok I need to go back to the room as well as I was wearing my slippers. She told me, using Alvin’s tone “Next time change everything.”

Vivian brought my laundry out to the balcony, after hearing it from Victor. Reaching block three, I wrongly slot the card into Ah Gong’s room and the door didn’t open. Vivian said run! Hahahaha!

The whole world was waiting for JB at the reception. Alvin decided to leave me to the next trip as the bus is full. So much for rushing! So Biao Shu and I took a walk around the place and found the gym at the clubhouse. It’s only open from 7am to 7pm. How to go gym like that? So I thought, this place so big, no need to go gym. Just run around the whole place. And I think this is what I will do tomorrow morning.

I slept for another hour before we proceed to the IBC, and Vivian said that I was like army boy, sleep everywhere and anywhere. Even Ah Gong thought that it was a surprise for him to sleep so soundly throughout the night as he has sleep apnea.

An uneventful day in the IBC and Alvin gave tomorrow’s filming of the Lions’ football training to me. Finally transferred the opening titles and the channel 5 end-tag to the optical disk and into EVS, and Tina managed to tag it into the system.

Kiok wanted to have cup noodles for dinner tonight, but in the end, after a walk to the canteen, we bought two packets of fried rice back. Ended up having our dinner at the resort, sitting in a shelter, which is the most ridiculous irony, we are staying in a resort, but eating packet food in a resort.

Felt like Mark ge ge’s AMU. Inform him what time to depart for IBC and have to check his stuff. Last night, he was topless when I brought him his diet coke. Hahaha! Vivian and me wrongly went to open Remesh’s room this morning. He insisted that we were the ones who knocked on his door though we absolutely denied it.

Brought my washing in from the balcony, they were dry already. I make fun of us saying that we bring our washing out in the morning, and bring them in at night. We are Marias after work.

Spoke to Jun online in the afternoon. Funny how two people can grow so close in such a short span of time. It could be due to the fact that she is going through what I went through before and I can understand her situation better.

Day 3 - First transmission

Woke up to the alarm clock, and didn’t want to make it out of bed. It’s so comfortable! Alas! Reality sucks and I still have to make it to the bathroom and early breakfast at 7am as the first bus leaves at 8am.

Met Azman at the breakfast and he told us about his LONG journey to Pattaya with Prem. There was no life jacket for them and the sea was rough. The two boys had a hard time out there and wanted a good meal at the end of it. They spoke to the driver about having a wonderful meal and the driver sent them to a temple! Next thing we know, Kiok has given away his t-shirt to someone else and he couldn’t get to the end of it! To get him out of that mood, I told him I will be going to the football shoot with him in the afternoon. Then he can bring me shopping, and the best part was, he thought the shoot was in Bangkok!!

As we are bringing in Raddy for a studio interview, Alvin assigned me to film the Young Lions’ training session with Azman during our breakfast. He became my dietician too as he commented on the amount of calories I consumed. Didn’t know its so stressful eating with him.

We passed by this huge lake along the way to the IBC. Remesh commented that how come Sailing was not held here and had to be in Pattaya? No one was able to give him the answer.

NPP requested for the first ad-hoc this morning while we were on the way to the IBC. They wanted to show Table Tennis Men’s Team Event Final where Team Singapore has won the Gold Medal against Thailand. This was the first ad hoc, and Juzz commented that they wanted ah hoc even before the Opening Ceremony. No choice! This NPP team is new and our hands are tied. So with this ad hoc coming on, Azman had to go film the training shots for overlay himself. Good thing was, Abdullah has got no job that day as Biao Shu is busy cutting his story with Victor, and so the two boys went together.

Somehow or other, Alvin decided to use three mobiles phones again and laid all the three on the table. Told me, you can take your picture again. So I placed both my mobiles on the table and took a photo of all the five phones on panel.

During transmission, Kiok made arrangement for the first batch of people to go back to the hotel first. Since they left early, they dropped somewhere along the way for dinner and Kiok bought a roast chicken for us, the four girls. Her sms read “I bought a roast chicken for four of us. Come to my room when you reached.” We don’t call her “Mother” for nothing.

After transmission, we made our way back. The driver stopped at a petrol station and Biao Shu went to get dinner. We walked around the place and saw Café Amazon, but decided to pass. Then we walked into this canteen and the smell of the trotters was too good to resist. So we all packed our dinner back this time as I told Alvin and Biao Shu, Kiok was waiting for us to have dinner together.

We shared all the packets of food at Kiok’s balcony, for probably the most sumptuous dinner throughout this trip.

Day 4 - Raddy in the House

Day 4 of the Korat SEA Games saw Vivian termed me as the Army Boy. I was searching through my stuff without needing to switch on the lights. Woke Vivian up amidst the search and she asked if I needed the lights, but I said no need. Then she told me, I’m like the Army Boy, can sleep anywhere and anytime, and no need lights. I ended up without wearing my glasses out. Hahah! What a joke!

I took the 7.30am transport today, as usual, slept through the one and a half hour journey to the IBC. Waking up to a sore throat, the roasted chicken from last night is really taking effect. I edited the overlay for tonight’s interview with Raddy. After which, Kiok and Vivian arrived with the 9.30am transport.

They made their rounds at the MPC and Kiok came back with an ice-cream for me. Ate the ice-cream on the presenter’s set and Kiok took a photo of me, as the presenter. The ice-cream cured my sore throat, but it made me developed a cough. And I have yet to recover from my LTD cough. Oh no!

Kiok too, had a photo taken. Ice-cream in one hand, Mark’s tie on the other. We have been taking turns tying his tie. He said he wanted to get through life without having learn how to tie a tie. Vince tied for him during the Athens Olympics, and Alvin did it during the Manila Sea Games. Now, we take turns.

Later in the day, we took a walk around the IBC. The Laotians have already set up their booth at one corner of the MPC for the next SEA Games in Vientiane in two years time. The mascot is an elephant, and I commented to Vivian that I believed the Laos Games will better than Korat. She doubted, but I told her the Vietnamese did a great job despite holding it for the first time six years ago. God! Was that so long ago?

The Milo girls visited our booths daily, serving everyone Nescafe and Milo. They drinks were sweet, a little too sweet for my liking. But Remesh, John Burgess and Jusri took to them right away. Hahaha!

Remesh then called for a bet. Everybody is to place 100 baht and guess the total number of gold medals that Team Singapore will bring home. Those who stated the number first had the advantage. Soon, the list grew longer and Kiok became the bookie, going around collecting money from us.

Raddy finally arrived, escorted by Remesh and Kiok. He spoke to Mark for a while, and Remesh and the rest of the production team entertained Eugene, Young Lions’ manager. The show went on without no major hiccups, and at last, we got our first autograph on the poster brought back to our booth by Peter.