“There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.”
George Sand
Grown Ups is one of my absolute favorite films of time. Some may think Adam Sandler’s humor can be a little out there but he has a way of bringing out joy in anyone who watches his work. There was a scene in the film where his wife, played by Salma Hayek asking him what was his favorite thing to do when he was 12 and sunny. Adam’s character excitedly responded, “Maybe go to the waterpark.” Instantly it lit up the room and everyone started bustin a move to make it over to the waterpark. Now, if you have watched the movie, you’d notice the small scene where Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Jamie Chung, Madison Riley, Ashley Loren, and the kids had nothing but smiles as they rode the rides at the waterpark. Age is never a criteria when all you want to do is have fun. That was what we all experienced when Kiwanis Malaysia, and Gamuda Group invited us to participate in an event where they jointly sponsored 200 kids and their caretakers to have a field day at Splashmania Waterpark at Gamuda Cove. The organizations given this experience of a lifetime were- Promise Home, Ti-Ratana, Yayasan Chow Kit, Padmasambhava Children Association, and CP Love Community Orphanage.
August 5th, 2023- The buses started to roll up to the entrance of Splashmania. Mum and I waited for the kids from Yayasan Chow Kit to arrive. As soon as they arrived and stepped out of the bus, it was nothing but smiles plastered on their faces. They gaped in awe of what was to come for the rest of the day. We gathered the troops together and was greeted by Rosie, a Kiwanis member and a dear friend of mum’s who so happens to be helping us with Yayasan Chow Kit’s current project. A couple minutes of getting everyone sorted and distributing wristbands, we were finally ready to take a group photo with Splashmania’s mascots. Now this was quite the challenge as we had to fit a total of 250 individuals, not including the mascots into one frame. After a few minutes of getting everyone in the right position, multiple photos were taken and then we were off to enter the park.
We could already hear the screams and laughter of the first few visitors that entered before us and many of the kids could not contain their excitement as we reached the end of the line. As soon as we got through, everyone rushed over to the locker rooms to get changed. Mum and I were there as guests with the Kiwanis group and Yayasan Chow Kit, therefore we ensured the kids and caretakers of Yayasan Chow Kit settled in nicely until they were ready to head off onto the rides. The moment they were all changed, it was a free for all as they headed out in different locations. Mum and I went ahead to set our stuff down at the designated lunch area to get out of the sun.
I decided to head on the rides, as well as get photos and videos of the kids. I usually tell mum that in order for us to really capture the happiness of people is to be in the moment and this was one of the occasions where we’re able to. It’s not everyday we get to go to waterparks, let alone for these kids. For them, these experiences will forever be etched in their memories. As for us, it would be a beautiful occasion knowing we did something right and good for them. I took a few rounds in the lazy river to catch a few of the kids circling the park. Let me tell you this, when I was able to get ahold of them to either get a video or photo, there was not a way to explain their happiness. These kids are absolutely brilliant and full of light. Unfortunately, they are traveling on a trialing road many of us may never know how difficult of a juncture it is to be on. Life can sometimes be cruel. I believe that if we have a way to remedy a tad of its woefulness in someone’s journey, then I say take the leap and do it. We can make a gargantuan change in their life just by giving them a smidge of positivity to rejoice their perspective of living.
From showing Cristiano Ronaldo’s “Siuu” celebration, to infinite peace signs, these kids were over the moon with the day they were having. As I mentioned above about the Grown Ups waterpark scene, the kids were not the only ones living their best lives. The adults including myself who came along for the trip, rekindled our inner child and just had a day to forget about our worries as well. After a couple hours of fun, the kids all gathered back at our central location to have their lunch. Now if you really want to know how to appreciate the little things in life, here is were you can get a crash course lesson on it. The lunches were either nasi lemak or nasi goreng. Simple yet just good enough to fill us up, and we watched the kids devour these packed lunches. If any of you are a fan of travel and food blogger Mark Wiens, then you know what I mean when you see the expressions plastered on these kids. They savored ever single bite like it was their last. Now that is how you show genuine gratitude for things we sometimes take for granted.
As soon as they finished and cleaned up, they were off again to play on the rides. Talk about soaking up every ounce of time to fully enjoy the day. For us adults on the other hand, had to take a minute or two before heading back out again. While us adults hung back for a moment to recharge, we chatted about how amazing something as simple as an outing to a waterpark can make one’s day all the better. In reality, we get caught up with the technicalities of society’s calling for sustainment and overlook the basic definition of occasionally… just living. When we start getting into the groove of maintaining the status quo of the lifestyle we built, we lose sight of the simple pleasures in life, and the real meaning of being a contented human being. Sometimes we need these little detours to make our main journey a tad sweeter. This trip to the waterpark was a great reminder to all of us.
As the day went on, a few of the groups started to wind down, change, and get ready to call it a day. The kids from Yayasan Chow Kit on the other hand was still full steam ahead and we were totally fine with it. They deserved every bit of what the day had to offer. We called their main caretaker and mentioned that we were ready to pack up, but they were more than welcome to stay longer. We walked out with Rosie, Mimi, and Phyllis, who are also members of the Kiwanis group, and expressed how thankful we were for their kind offering in bringing the kids from Yayasan Chow Kit for this outing. Not only were they gracious enough to provide this outing for the kids, they have also played an integral part of Yayasan Chow Kit’s current project of renovating a new facility. This was all made possible by the power of human connection.
When mum and I heard about Yayasan Chow Kit’s project, I looked at her and asked, “What can we do to help?” Just like that, we hit the ground running with mum putting back her interior designing hat on and called up her friends, old suppliers, and contractors to help out in making their new home a real good one. When we shared the plan, there was no hesitation, and everyone showed up with what they could contribute. I think the remarkable beauty from this was how it naturally formed bridges of opportunities for both Yayasan Chow Kit and mum’s suppliers to make new connections and friendships as well. Poetically beautiful if you ask me when we are able to see these string of events pan out the way it did.
As we exited the park, we placed our things into the car and were ready to drive home. On our way back, I told mum this was one for the books. Our part was small in connecting people together to help, but the impact of it has been pivotal. This particular event gave us the opportunity in keeping the significance of my late brother’s philosophy of life. Hatred was never part of his vocabulary. He had a vision where if we have the power and means to help, then you better dang well get your hands dirty to make right by the world. My brother knew we can never move heaven and earth to make better change. He did however believe that one step forward and having the thought process of making someone’s day better, is all we need to see that change. So I leave this here for you readers to ponder- “What can I do to help make someone’s day a tad better?” If you are able to make a little room to spread happiness, then you my friend, are doing life right. As Chris Gardner said, “This part of my life, this little part, is called happiness.”