1 Nov 2006 – Remember the 4D3N family trip that I mentioned previously? Well we returned from that just last night and I’m glad to report: we survived! And no, we didn’t run into any bushfires. In fact, other than the occasional to-be-expected family tiff and one too many roadkills, it was just lots of great weather, breathtaking scenery, unadulterated fun, fabulous accommodation (even if I do say so myself being the one that picked them) and glorious food and wine! In fact, the one real tragedy was my laoba suffering the runs one night, thus missing out on our 5 course degustation dinner at The Cellar. Sean might argue though it was him having to sleep on the sofa at The Vintage where there were only two very plush comfy king-sized beds. Overall, there were more ups than downs, thrills than spills, and I’m sure everyone would agree it was a thorough success.

Today for the first time, my parents and Sean have gone out on their own, leaving ah-Bi some time to work and me to just chill. So there I was surfing one of my favourite sites www.oprah.com and lo and behold, guess who made it to her show?

None other than that guy who used to try getting people to hug him along Pitt Street Mall right here in Sydney! Whoa! He made it to Oprah??? To her annual “My Favourite Things” episode as well?!! Wow! And to think there we were, Bi and I two years back thinking he came across a bit suspect. My, he sure has come a long way!

I soon found out his name’s Juan Mann (pronounced “one man”) and basically what started as one man’s (no pun intended) attempt to spread some love and cheer by giving out free hugs along one of Sydney’s busiest streets has now turned into a world-wide phenomenon all thanks to the video “Free Hugs Campaign” on, you’ve guessed it, youtube.com.

Since its release on 24 Oct 2006, the clip has already received almost 5 million hits!

The video hit was launched by Sick Puppies (on right), a little known teenage band from Sydney, and featured their song “All the Same”. And at first I thought: Bah! Just another wannabe band trying to ride on someone else’s wave. But as it turns out, there’s a touching tale behind the making of the clip itself.

Shimon Moore, the lead singer for SP who was working odd jobs by day and playing gigs by night had met Juan at Pitt Street when he was doing one of his rounds with a sandwich board advertising a shoe sale. The two became friends, and one day Shimon happened to borrow his dad’s video camera to shoot the hug man at work. Just recently, when Juan was feeling a bit down after his grandmother passed away, Shimon decided to cheer him up by piecing together some of the video footage with music from the band to present to him, and well, the rest as they say is history. While both parties didn’t expect to get anything out of their actions, Sick Puppies is now being wooed by 4 separate US music producers, and Juan, well, THE GUY APPEARED ON OPRAH, didn’t he?!?

So during his interview with Oprah, she asked him, “So do people think you’re crazy?” “All the time,” Juan says. “People tend to be a bit wary of strange men in velvet coats walking around with giant signs.” Geez, to think we were one of them. Shame on us! So a few morals to the story:

1. Be open to receiving love — Yes, don’t be so skeptical. Haven’t you heard? The best things in life are free!
2. Love creates miracles! — What?! Getting on Oprah isn’t a miracle?!?
3. Give and you shall receive — C’mon you can do it! Click on my Google ads oredi!

Oh, and before I forget. Happy Birthday Alvin! Bon voyage and have a wonderful birthday celebration! *wink wink*

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