From Bruges the 14 of us boarded one of the frequent half an hourly trains to Brussels.
Once back at Brussels train station and parting ways with Maria, Kenneth, Juliet, and Edgar who would eschew Tomorrowland for 5 days in Antwerp and Ghent, the rest of us took the metro and tram to our lodgings at B&B HOTEL Brussels Centre Louise to begin our Tomorrowland Global Journey experience.
After freshening up for an hour, Mel, myself, Erika, Yuhan, Rashidah, and Samantha later on took a cab to the Gare Maritime for Tomorrowland’s preparty Invited Brussels, which was exactly the same as our experience had been last year:
Returning later at midnight, we got ready for a very eventful 3 days ahead of us:
Day 1: Free For All
Day 2: Dora the Explorer
Day 3: The colors of the rainbow
But at the Library stage on Day 2, while watching Lost Frequencies, I had far one of my favorite run-ins (of which there can be many at Tomorrowland) —
14 years ago in Mumbai:
Today at Tomorrowland:
And thank you to Mel, my wife, for carrying me through this entire trip so soon after my surgery. I meant every word during Adriatique at Main Stage.
Outside of main stage, us 90s kids had a blast seeing Shaq again:
And my post-college days music of listening to Sam Feldt:
For our second time around, we spent more time at stages we didn’t get to see as much last year, including watching Rezzmau5 close the second night at Freedom:
As well as CORE stage which has been modified to feature a split head this year and is much prettier at night:
The speaker company JBL sponsored a new stage this year called House of Fortune, built to be an elevated, more intimate dance floor right behind the main stage facing the opposite direction and overlooking east:
This year I also had the chance to link up with Anna’s group where they had an extra spot for us at Brasa’s Deluxe Dining experience featuring a better cut of steaks and appetizers:
The only veggies Brasa had this year in their otherwise meat-heavy theme was a side of radish and corn:
One of these platters of meat sweats is meant for a group of 4:
And instead of cake pops for dessert on your way out, Brasa went with an elevated enlarged macaroon:
One of my biggest regrets last year at Tomorrowland was not eating more at Mesa Garden, regarded to have the best concentration of good food at the festival:
And sadly for me, Roger Van Damme’s sweet dreams waffle dessert lost its novelty when I had it a second time around:
On the Monday recovering after Tomorrowland, we stuck around for an extra day to take advantage of the complimentary Garden of Elements experience at the park by the Atomium.
Little has been written about Garden of Elements online, but let me be the first to expose to the world how it’s a free for all (no tickets or proof of entry is needed when you come in) unlimited lunch dining and wellness activities.
Sadly this year we missed out on the massages; so in addition to all the smoothies and food, they instead offered trampolines, sand art, bubble art, relaxation areas, nature walks, an acupressure like glass-walk, and a sound bath.
When Erika, Mel and I realized just how much free food and smoothies were being handed out, I called in the calvary to help us eat everything right before closing at 7pm:
From there Mel and I parted ways with the group to attend the 9pm showing of the Symphony of Unity set. Tickets can be bought as an add on for €25 in the weeks leading up to Tomorrowland but they usually sell out, so get them fast.
And that said, get there more than a half hour early before doors open so you can get a seat in the balcony; otherwise it’s standing room only on the floor for a whole hour before they begin performing (that’s 2 full hours on your feet without any place to move or taking a break to sit!).
Tomorrowland should close a night with them. There was not a single dry eye in the room.
After the Symphony of Unity set ended at 11pm, we walked a few minutes over to rejoin the rest of the group waiting for us with drinks at Delirium Bar.
You’re probably the only group of friends that can convince me to go to a McDonald’s at 2am in the morning afterwards.
I was inspired to write how the theme of this year’s Tomorrowland was “Life;” therefore, irony and timing were not lost on me. Just over 3 weeks ago, I faced a life-changing surgery to remove my kidney due to what we now know would be cancer. Yet, the same intuition that had earlier saved my life pushed me to make this trip — with full blessings from my surgeon 7 days post-op. I’ve never bailed on a commitment, and I wasn’t about to start.
Across 5 countries the past 2 weeks, various loved ones offered their impressions on the rapidity of events: 20 days from discovering a mass, to immediate major surgery, to finding out later it was a tumor with malignant potential taken out at its earliest stage, to recovering quickly enough to lead this trip for 30+ people. It reinforced a truth I’ve always believed in: decisive action based on intuition, united with an unwavering commitment to my commitments and communities, can overcome even the toughest curveballs life throws at you.
This trip also reminded me of the balance of life: yin and yang, sweet and sour, hope and despair. The gratitude in this experience was made sweeter against the backdrop of recent hardships. I’ve learned more about my limits and the power of support from loved ones. Travel, as always since medical school, has been my healing path — what works for one might not work for another, but it’s crucial to know and honor our own ways.
Returning from this life-altering 20 days of facing major surgery, cancer, and a long-awaited journey reuniting with so many loved ones, I’m reminded that life is to be lived fully and with purpose. It’s time to embrace all its opportunities and give back even more. Let’s live. Let’s give.
- At time of posting in Tomorrowland, it was 14 °C - Humidity: 91% | Wind Speed: 8km/hr | Cloud Cover: muggy, partly cloudy