Travelling: Vong Sundara at Copenhagen 2009 2nd World Outgames

September 14, 2009 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

Copenhagen 2009 2nd World Outgames

I’m still getting used to travelling. You see, I grew up in Winnipeg, which is eight hours from the next large city, which happens to be Regina, not exactly a tourist destination. People in Winnipeg just don’t travel a lot, especially not to Europe. This is probably why I jumped at the chance to go to the Copenhagen 2009 2nd World Outgames. I went the Montreal 2009 1st World Outgames and had a fabulous time, so I was really looking forward to duplicating the experience in Europe.

To have my trip subsidized, I agreed to be the official photographer for GLISA North America (Gay Lesbian International Sports Association). It was actually quite nice to dust off my old camera and remember pretend like I was back in my old freelancing days. I’ve included the best 30 photos below, hope you like them. Looking back at the photos now brings back all the wonderful memories of being in Denmark.

The only strange part of the trip was not participating in any sports. Luckily, I was able to go to many of the sporting events and cheer my friends on since I had to take photos anyways. I didn’t really get the itch to play until I was actually there. It didn’t help that everyone who knew me in Denmark met me through one sport or another, so I was constantly being asked how my sport was going.

The first big highlight of the event for me was seeing Kemone Brown, keynote speaker on the second day of the human rights conference. In fact, that’s probably my favourite thing about the Outgames, that the organizers include a human rights conference and cultural component so that the event is more than just sports. You must Google Kemone Brown and read all about her. She is one of the freshest voices to come in the world of human rights in a while. It’s amazing that someone of her age has the insight that she has.

I must admit that I have a thing for Danish guys. There’s just something about their facial features combined with the best-in-the-world Danish accent. Danish accents remind me of Arnold Schwarzenegger, if Arnold Schwarzenegger was a giddy Japanese schoolgirl. It’s like a faster, happier version without the roughness. It’s quite sexy.

The best part is that Danish men are so incredibly helpful. I would often have my camera around my neck with a map in my hand and a “I’m lost and need help” look on my face. It wouldn’t be more than a couple of minutes before some cute Danish boy came and helped me along my way.

The cultural portion of the Outgames was incredible. Instead of a centralized stage, there was a trail called Outcities, where several cities from around the world set up their stages and lined up performances. The performances were free and out in the open, running all week long. They had everything from pop to hardcore opera.

I unfortunately missed the opening ceremonies by arriving a day light, but Copenhagen Pride was scheduled to close off the week, and I was fortunate enough to attend. The pictures below give a better idea of how magical the event was than anything I could write myself.

My trip actually ended with a little bit of drama. My flight had been misbooked one day past everyone else’s flight. I should have checked more closely, but everything turned on the way it was supposed to I guess. I ended up having an extra day in Denmark but without a hotel room to stay in. Amazingly, I was able to stay with overnight with a helpful Danish boy.

In fact, this Danish boy ended up being a history scholar who ended up taking me on a tour of Copenhagen on my last day. It was like having my own personal tour guide. He knew absolutely everything there was to know no matter where we were. The canal tour was wonderful, and I highly recommend it to anyone.

I’m still on a high thinking about my fabulous time in Denmark. Hopefully someday I can go back to Europe and build on my world experiences. If you’re planning on travelling, think about going to a gay sporting event. It’s a great excuse to visit new places, and you have more things to do than you normally would.

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Filed under: Gaying, Travelling
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Top nine random reflections of 2008, my first year in Toronto

December 11, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

My first year in Toronto has been a wild, wild ride for sure. There are a number of things that stand out, though most of all would be the sporty gay Asians who’ve welcomed me with open arms. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever found a city so initially welcoming in my entire life. Within my first two months of living in Toronto, I was off to Montreal to play volleyball with a great group of guys.

My dayjob has gone extremely well, having been promoted twice since working here. The only part of my life that hasn’t gone according to plan would be my comedy career, though most of that is my own doing by not focusing enough on it.

1. Toronto is the most welcoming city I’ve ever lived in
2. Changing cities means basically starting over in the comedy business
3. Montreal is a great city, but how long will I love it if I go there five times a year
4. Business people are much more in shape than in Calgary
5. Nintendo’s Wii Fit is the best game ever
6. Politicians are kind of hot lately
7. Toronto’s gay community is a lot like the cast of Gossip Girl (in a good way)
8. The more expensive the haircut, the less chance that they’ll shampoo your hair afterward
9. Baskin Robbins is dangerously close to my new house

Filed under: Living
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Waking up is so hard to do, luckily I have a night job

October 20, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

I am not a morning person in the least. I’m not sure what it is about mornings that so disagrees with me, but I can’t for the life of me kick my own ass out of bed before 9:00 a.m.

This morning I was supposed to try and start earlier at work but I barely made it on time. Luckily, my job doesn’t begin officially until 10:00 a.m.

It has gotten so bad that my friends are making fun of my morning grogginess. The photo below was taken as I lingered in bed at a friend’s house in Montreal.

I suppose my being a night owl is helpful as a comedian as shows often run late into the night.

Filed under: Living, Performing
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I like you, but . . . Just hate me all the way already

October 13, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

I visited one of my dearest friends while in Montreal this weekend. We were very close when we both lived in Calgary and were on many committees together.

It’s always great to hear your life reflected through the eyes of someone who knows you so well. Our conversation reminded me of just how far I have come in my short time in Toronto. In fact, I feel more accepted in a few months in Toronto than I ever did in Calgary in five years.

The bitterness and anger in my heart and in my comedy has been replaced with joy. It goes to show that sometimes you just have to follow your heart and take a chance.

VS

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Big Jump . . . tall, dark and bottom, hot players approached

October 12, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

What a wild and crazy volleyball tournament. My team improved so much, it was crazy. I’m super lucky to have a team that stuck with me through some crazy decisions. There is no way a novice team should be playing this good.

The most drastic decision I made was to try out a new formation mid-tournament. Not only is it crazy that we’re already playing a 6-2 formation, but I went and decided to enforce a new, modified version built specifically for this team’s strengths. The fact that they adjusted is astounding.

In fact, they not only adjusted but fluorished in the new system. We had three separate matches where we thought we played the matches of our lives, each topping the one before dramatically. Strangely, this wasn’t even the best part of the tournament.

My team, SuperPowerBottoms, became notorious across the entire tournament in all the right ways. We were known as the most spirited, fun-loving team. In fact, we received a standing ovation after we lost our last match, narrowly missing out on a medal.

It was crazy that we even had a chance to medal. In our weekly league, TSVL, we were ranked 31 out of 32 teams only just recently. This weekend, we played teams ranked in the top 20 and lost out on a medal by only four points. I can’t believe I am writing this. We are playing top 20 volleyball after only six weeks as a team.

Did I mention that no one on the team has ever played competitive volleyball before? It’s crazy.

I’m going to take a nap. Bye for now.

VS

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Big Jump . . . recovery day after a grueling day one

October 12, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

What a day. After breakfast, we went straight to the tournament. We arrived late and missed practice. This was especially troublesome as I wanted to implement minor changes to our formation.

All turned out well as we saved the new formation for our second game. We are ranked fourth out of five teams tomorrow and have a great chance for a medal.

I am astounded with how quickly my team, made up entirely of novices, adjusts to strategy changes. I have thrown very complicated formations at them and they take maybe one game to adjust.

For dinner we went to the tournament banquet. We were so hungry that we danced on stage to move ahead in the lineup for food. It was totally worth it.

VS

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Big Jump . . . wandering at night around Montreal is fun

October 11, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

Taking a suggestion from a Facebook friend, I decided to end my restlessness by taking a walk in downtown Montreal. This may not have been the best idea as I’ve run into a number of shady characters. I guess I’m not too worried. I did grow up in the ghetto after all.

It’s now 6:00 a.m. I used my new iPhone GPS to map my way to the closest Chez Cora. I LOVE the food here.

My food is coming. Bye for now.

VS

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Big Jump . . . awake and alone in my hotel washroom

October 11, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

The drive to Montreal was fabulous and fierce. The conversations ranged from volleyball to sex to cheese.

Team registration was at a strip club that was chock full of hotties for those into the beefy type. As always, my friends are urging me to “seal the deal.” Lately I’ve been known as the Hopeless Ho.

This nickname stems from my unbroken streak of celibacy since moving to Toronto. I go as far as bringing people home, but then it usually ends in cuddling. I don’t know what it is, but there is a mental hump I can’t seem to get over.

I always thought I was a relationship guy, but right now my career takes priority. This wouldn’t be so terrible except that I am hopeless with single sex and am now celibate. If only I could find some middle ground.

I have probably said too much but it is 5:00 a.m. In Montreal and I can’t get to sleep. I am writing this from my hotel washroom so I won’t wake my teammates.

I hope I will be alert for today’s tournament. I’m nervous to be captaining a team at a major tournament for the first time.

I’ll update as the tourney progresses.

VS

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Big Jump . . . and we’re off to Montreal with SuperPowerBottoms

October 10, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

I am on my way to the Big Jump tournament in Montreal with my gay volleyball team, SuperPowerBottoms.

I’m riding in the car with Luke, nicknamed SizeQueenDiva. My team nickname is HopOnTop. Also in the car is Khamla, BlackHole, and Ryan, “Versatile.” We’re meeting the rest of the team at the hotel tonight.

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