One of the best-est trips I’ve ever been on: Salsa Cruise 2009.
Check out the Event page here http://www.salsacruiseasia.com/
…or check out future cruises here 
http://www.singlescruiseasia.com/
It’s December everyone!
Needless to say, and like everybody else, it’s my favorite month of the year. Christmas, holidays, weather gets cooler, bonus, and of course, annual leave.
Except for me who used up probably my 2009, 2010 and 2011 annual leave for the past few months travelling like a nomad. I’ve been away so long that I kinda forgot how blogger events were like. Whatever Nike Run la, All American Rejects concert la, Fashion parties la, movie screenings la etc. Suma sudah hilang.
When I was back a few weeks ago @reneetay said ‘I spend more time in a plane than I do on my bed’. She’s right, except that it wasn’t just a plane that I spent my time in….it was a cruise ship instead, the Legend of the Seas.
Salsa Cruise Asia was too awesome to be described in just words.
So let’s see some pics ok?
Eh, sorry supposed to be bus picture. Ah, here. The bus! 
A whole solid 6 hours from 1U bus station to Singapore.
I was the first photographer to move with the crew down to the hotel, and being labelled as the ‘Official Photographer’ (one of) for Salsa Cruise Asia, memang kembang sikit lah.
It didn’t take long for few of the international artists to notice me with the big-ass camera, and within 10 seconds, I was given a chance to do what I loved the most:
CAM HO!
Score one with sexy Lidia Mcmahon of Australia!
Lidia and Ulysses were definitely one of the favorites among the cruise goers. Accommodating, great dancers with always a smile on their faces. Awesome people. The coolest thing about Ulysses is that he’s a 6’4” Electrical Engineer, with a body that almost made me drool. Almost.
The Ritz-Carlton is a 6-star hotel with classy rooms and classy service to match.
The only trouble was that I’ve been staying in 2 to 3 stars hotels too often while I’m travelling that I have no idea how to compare 4 or 5 or 6 star hotels. You can tell me this is a 10 star hotel and I WILL believe you. Me village boy haha. I just know that I like the bathroom a lot.
If you have enough alcohol in your blood and have the balls to bathe in this bath tub, there is the option of leaving the blinds wide open to display your ding-dongs for the passers-by below to check out. I’ve checked, and it IS possible to see from outside.
Maybe this special feature is what makes a 6-star hotel, a 6-star hotel. I don’t know.
Crew Makan time at Bao Jin Tian at Marina Square! This restaurant’s got a Bao in its name, but I didn’t see many Baos around. Mostly Hong Kong styled dishes.
The first night was just crew and artists. Guests were to arrive only on the second day for the performance in the grand ballroom. The best part about being the photographer is that you get to do what you like doing best : Shoot. And it don’t even feel like work at all yo! Best!
The crew themselves were a young (young by my definition is below 35 years) and energetic (energetic by my definition means sleeping just 3 hours a day) bunch of people. Really good to work with. I think being Mr Hensem Photographer helped to improve communication across as well xD
DJ Steiner, Angela, Tamie, Audrey, Vanessa, Shu Shan, Pauline and Jason. Awesome people. You can see here who’s the person older than 30. Buahahhaa.
This is Tim, one of Salsa Cruise’s directors, posing with Jordan and Tatiana, who:
…Specializing in West Coast Swing, Jordan Frisbee & Tatiana Mollmann have been a successful partnership for five years. They are the 2000, 2001, & 2004 US Open Champions, 2-Time NASDE Champions, Grand National Champions, and have won every Classic event in 2004 & 2005. At 2004 UCWDC World’s event they were given the Star Award for the Couple with the Most Impact on Swing. – http://www.sunnysidedancecamp.org/en/node/21
Damn good dancers. Inspiring!
Here’s a preview of what happened the next day…
And tomorrow Psychkin and I will be going for my first blogger event in MONTHS:
Oh it’s been a while. Can’t wait to reconnect with everyone else! I’ll be a noob blogger again…LOL!
Also I wana give my very very very x 1000 best congratulations to Andrew and @EveYeo who had their wedding dinner last night at Sunway Hotel Ballroom.
And guess what? Love grew for this couple during salsa classes. Not bad eh?
P.S you both have to start your night engines. Fast. Haha.
Cheers!
EVo
I’ve never, Ever packed so much stuff for a 1 week trip before.
Only after I found out that it was ‘strongly encouraged’ that I comply to the Salsa Cruise Themed Nights, when I scrambled to assemble the most daring, blazing, challenging sets of costumes to follow these themes:
1. 23rd : ALL WHITE NIGHT
2. 24th : GLOW PURPLE NIGHT (OMG)
3. 25th : CELEBRITY NIGHT
4. 26th : FORMAL NIGHT
With the exception of the themes on 23rd and 26th, I came to a near panic when I had to think of what to wear for GLOW PURPLE.
Did I have to find a PURPLE Barney suit and hang some GLOWING Xmas lights around myself?
I personally wouldn’t mind, but I wouldn’t be able to see what the heck I’m snapping at while wearing the big purple head.
And for CELEBRITY NIGHT, the first person that came to my mind was Michael Jackson, but I thought against it. Firstly, he’s a dead dude and I don’t think it’s that all great to impersonate a corpse.
Secondly, I need both my hands to hold the camera, so I can’t afford to be grabbing my crotch all the time. Or pointing to my nipple.
See la. Dressing up is more hard work than shooting itself. Aih.
Anyhow, I shall do my best. Be sure to follow me on Twitter here as I will be twitting whenever there’s reception on board the ship!
Also shooting with me are Dwayne Foong and Bryan Lyt. I’m so excited I can’t sleep. Tomorrow the bus will leave 1U bus station at 10am, and I’ll be going down with 10-15 others to Singapore, where we’ll put up the night at Ritz Carlton.
I sure hope that they allow purple dinosaurs to check in.
Cheers!
EVo
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