My first real trip for Engine Block was to the 2006 Macau Grand Prix. Three years later, I decided that it was about time that we revisited the event and went back to one of the most historic races to be held in Asia.
Since there were no direct flights from Singapore, my cameraman Kheng How and I went via a night in Hong Kong while Paula’s busier schedule meant that she’d budget it direct to the island. Turned out that an ex colleague was also in Hong Kong that weekend and we all met up for dinner and drinks.
Wait.. do what here?
Hmmm... fish balls on a stick... nice
Dinner at the infamous Goldfinch restaurant where they shot the movie in the poster
The next morning and a ferry ride later, we were ready to start shooting around Macau before heading to the circuit. I think Macau is actually a very pretty place. It’s got well preserved Portuguese heritage and that also means excellent food!
At the World Heritage Site
It's all NOT in English...hungry
Well this turned out well... food was excellent the entire trip
When we finally made it into the paddock, I instantly remembered why Macau is so special… and really, it’s all about the grid girls. Maybe it’s because even the strippers in Macau need a day job, so these grid girls have no qualms about wearing the skimpiest, skankiest and non existent pieces of cloth to get the job done… and by no means is this a complaint, merely an observation.
Tattoo marks the spot
"And shorty got low, low low low..."
Remember, it's still work!
When we eventually did get down to work, we went about interviewing the stories for the weekend, including Alex Yoong who was racing a Malaysian built Buffori around the street circuit. I also managed to grab Daniel Ricciardo who was racing in the F3 category ahead of his test with the Red Bull Racing F1 outfit.
With Alex in his dungeon pit garage
Might see Daniel in the F1 paddock in a few season
The highlight of the trip for me had to be completing my first ever bungy jump for the show…. It was all in the spirit of a race fan’s desire for an adrenaline rush. But jumping of the 233m Macau Tower was mind blowing! It’s surprising the thought process that you go through before taking a leap of faith. It took me a couple of attempts to muster up the willpower to override my natural sense of preservation and jump off, but once I was falling, all I can say is that it is the most blissful experience ever! I can’t wait to do it again.
AAll dressed up with somewhere to go
The "What was i thinking" moment before the jump!
No Macau trip would be complete without a visit to the casino and we headed to the Venetian. I managed to skim a couple of hundred from the blackjack tables and splurged it on dim sum. The best food is always free food.
Dim sum with Kheng How and Calvin
A couple of friends of mine from Hong Kong came over and we had a good night, enjoying a few drinks and chatting the night away. It’s strange that even though we all live in different countries and have different lives, common relationship chaos seems to be a common thread amongst most people…or maybe it’s just a case of birds of a feather.
Jessie and Charlotte's first visit to the paddock
The tables are turned on Paula
Whatever it is, a few drinks amongst good company after a hard days work is always welcome.
No comments:
Post a Comment