Like Mecca to Muslims, Vatican to Catholics, Jerusalem to Jews and it is the local gymnasium for gay men. As I was leaving the gym the other night at 10pm, the street scene near the gym reminds me of those of Muslim leaving the community mosque after their prayer in small village in Malaysia; all men, some in groups, some alone.

One of the relocation, house-hunting criteria is to find a nice gym, preferably in gay neighborhood, is an item on top of moving list of most gay men. Go through wallet of any gay man, I guarantee 9 out of 10 of them have a membership card to a local gym.

Browsing through personal ads, many gay man claim working out as their favorite pass time. And there is a new word has recently emerged among many other gay lingoes: "Gymfit" Has going to the gym became a required activity of all gay men? Is the "body beautiful" gay culture has sent gay men slaving themselves in weight room? Or it is simply a peer pressure? Or maybe it is the pre-requisite to modern eating habits?

Generally, gay men are not religious. I am an agnostic, however, if I skip the gym routine more than twice a week, I am sure to wake up in the middle of the night from nightmare. The idea of not working out instantly pulls me right out of the local dating pool. Shall we blame the cheesecake from dinner last night? Or the gene that was pass on from my parents? Maybe those fabulous looking TV personnel with perfect body? Or perhaps we should blame those porn movies hidden in our bedroom drawers?