‘TIS THE SILLY SEASON OF THE YEAR!
FOR SELENA OH, CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR IS A TIME OF FESTIVITIES AND A TIME TO REFLECT ON THE JOURNEY.
It’s that time of the year when we slow down, catch up with friends we hardly get to see throughout the year and just indulge in silly revelry. The latest Christmas decorations inspired by Disney on Orchard Road in Singapore bring back a yearning for childhood nostalgia when life was simpler and devoid of the insane tech malaise plaguing us all. Nevertheless, the festive season is magical, whimsical. We let our hair down and pander to the madness of the season. And why not? Happy Holidays, all!
RIVER BLISS
While I am not one for lengthy sea cruises, I find river cruises one of the most therapeutic means of viewing the landscape of a country. Traversing the mighty Mekong in Luang Prabang on a long wooden boat was one way of paying tribute to the magnificent tranquil landscapes of this ancient land. Gazing at mountain goats on the banks and verdant mountain tops, stopping at historic caves, cascading waterfalls and rustic villages along the way is a series of mini heartwarming discoveries. There is something calming about such cruises. Of course, it gets more surreal with a glass of bubbly and canapés as served by a river butler on my cruise with Mekong Kingdoms.
Likewise, I was enchanted by the majestic Danube in Hungary on a scintillating night cruise. The handsome palaces, churches, parliament and heritage buildings are beautifully lit up in the evening for a photographer’s dream come true.
ANIMAL KINGDOM
There’s something to be said about wildlife tourism when cultivated nobly. I was totally blown away by my stay at Jamala Wildlife Lodge in the Australian capital of Canberra, literally sleeping next to God’s creatures. You get to choose which creature hub you want to stay in: Giraffe Treehouses, Jungle Bungalows with the lions, tigers and bears or the ushaka Lodge with lemurs, hyenas, ocean fish and sharks. I hung out with the giraffes and dined under the watch of lions and hyenas safely ensconced in their own glass paneled caves. One may get unnerved by the occasional roar of the lions piercing the night air, but it’s all good.
Marine conservation at Gayana Marine Resort in Sabah is tops when it comes to saving the corals and giant clams. The Marine Ecology Research Centre (MERC) has gone beyond a learning and educational marine eco system centre to focus on the growing threats to marine life. Thanks to the Reef Regeneration Programme, I am now the proud ‘parent’ of an adopted coral and I get to monitor its growth through measurements taken at intervals.
TO NEW BEGINNINGS
To analogise, life is a journey made of various stops. Some of us get off early and some stay the course. At each stop, we soak in the sights, delight in its charms and commiserate in its sad past. We may pause to reflect and indulge in a spot of soul searching. Yet, whatever challenges it brings, our journey goes on. We become (we hope) wiser and stronger knowing that the earlier issues are meant to fortify us for the way ahead.
Bring it on, 2019!
Happy New Year!
Dedicated to CPH, who overcame his obstacles against all odds to pursue his journey and his dreams