Olá e obrigado Emmo..

Right off Tamburello corner in Imola, you'll find a
bronze statue of Senna. A very surreal place..

Sometimes it's hard to imagine that it has been 20 years since that tragic weekend at Imola. It was an ill-fated Formula One race weekend that saw the world mourn the loss of two extraordinary individuals. I remember that Sunday, sitting in my backyard enjoying a rare and pretty spring day with the TV tuned to what was already a sombre affair after Roland Ratzenberger was killed during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix. Not long after, I was one of the many many millions who saw the great Ayrton Senna’s race-leading Williams smash into the concrete wall at Tamburello. It remains today a strangely eerie corner, somehow. 

Some years later, I was lucky to become acquainted with and work with incredible people who had worked with Senna. They each had stories of their own of the experience working with him, both happy and sad.

Olá Emmo!

Anyhow, more recently, I had the privilege of spending a little bit of time chatting with a fellow Brazilian and former world champion. Not only did he know Ayrton Senna well, he is in fact credited as being the one who had initially paved the way for other notable Brazilian (and no doubt South American) drivers to follow in his footsteps into F1, including Senna.

Named after the American writer and poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson; he became Brazil's first F1 champ in 1972 at the tender age of 25, the then-youngest ever world champion. The modest and unassuming Brazilian went on to add a second title in the 1974 season. After switching to CART racing in America in the 1980s, he twice won the infamous Indy 500. 

Known to many as Emmo, the man I got to hang out with for a mid-morning chat is none other than Emerson Fittipaldi.

Brazil's famous sons: Fittipaldi and Pele

Now I've met and worked with some of the most talented Formula One drivers in my time, including a seven-time world champion, a tattooed Fin and a whizkid from Heppenheim. 

Somehow, that did little to settle my nerves as the time arrived for my rendezvous with Emmo. Perhaps it's something to do with that relationship he had with Senna. Perhaps it was in knowing that his was an era of racing where glory and tragedy walked hand-in-hand. 

Whatever nerves (if you could call it that) quickly dissipated the moment I shook hands with the man famous also for his legendary sideburns. And I got cracking. 

Regulation hullabaloolation

Lame as it was, I began by asking Emmo what he thinks about all the hullabaloo around the raft of changes in 2014. 

Emmo: "I think the new rules are in response to the energy problems we face in the world. I think it is good to have new technical regulations with the goal of having the most efficient engine that burns less fuel and less pollution to the world. I think its very good that motor racing is looking for new solutions that one day can be applied to passenger road-going family cars. We have to admit that there is an energy problem we are facing globally. Not just in motor racing but there are millions of cars that burns a lot of fuel causing pollution."

In essence, the regulation changes that have evolved over recent years are very much in response to a much wider problem. But then what about the essence of what makes F1, F1? With all the 'noise' about how the season so far being rather quiet, I asked if that is a good thing, given how the sport is changing, motivated by this drive towards energy efficiency?

Emmo: "I think it’s a new challenge for the engineers and the teams. Whoever is fastest, in coming up with new technical solutions to meet the new rules is the one showing the performance. I think its good to have a change, I think F1 needs to have a change! It's not just in F1, but even the regulation changes have been imposed on the cars in Le Mans. The new rules for 2014 are very open, but it only gives each car enough energy for each lap. That is very attractive and a challenge for the engineers to develop the most efficient engines. 

"In F1, I think that this is a change that will take some races to bring all the teams to an even level. Some teams clearly have the advantage in performance right now. But, other teams will begin to catch up and then I would say after July, it will be a more even competition. I definitely like this new challenge."

Risky Business

The energy-inspired regulation changes are not unique though, especially when one considers the battery of other changes that the FIA has brought about in F1 over the decades. 

One particular aspect of racing that has changed dramatically by leaps and bounds is safety. This especially when one takes into consideration that during Emmo's era of racing, it was about taking the ultimate risk, sticking your neck out, quite literally. 

With all the evident risks involved as a race car driver in his era, I simply had to know what kept him motivated to keep going and keep doing it? I know it's such a lame fan question! 

Emmo: "I think the passion and the love for the sport. We had to accept the risks that existed at that time. I remember when I was leaving my home on a Thursday to head to a grand prix, at the back of my mind I wondered if I would be back on Sunday evening. 

"But when I arrived at the race track, my focus was on the sport, to give the best that I could give driving, enjoy my sport and to try and improve safety. 

"Even before my era, when Jim Clark died, there were a lot of good drivers fighting for better safety. When I came to Europe to start grand prix racing, I too was part of this movement to improve safety. And I think we’ve all undertaken a tremendous effort to improve safety. Today, it is much better. 

"There were years where I lost three friends and we were only 20 or 21 drivers and that risk was a very real part of the sport. It was difficult for the athletes, for myself, my friends and for the families, because we knew any second, anything could happen."

Glory and tragedy really did walk with their hands locked in a deadly precariously balanced embrace. 

Anyway, reflecting over the last four decades, I asked Emmo about that evolution of safety in F1, a subject the Brazilian speaks and advocates passionately about. 

Emmo: "I think there has been a tremendous improvement in safety. Safety on the race tracks, safety on the rescue teams, and safety on the drivers equipment. And mainly, the safety elements around the driver in the cockpit. The carbon fibre car is much much stronger today than during my time. 

Emmo with Senna

"The last fatal crash was Ayrton Senna's, 20 years ago and that shows how much motor racing has improved on safety. I think with all these safety solutions - like the technical solutions for gearbox and engine - will also apply to passenger cars in the future." 

He definitely sees the reality of lessons derived from racing being applied to road cars. After all, there have been many other advanced innovations in F1 that have over the years made the natural progression to road-going cars. 

Emmo: "I can see in the future, a family car built by carbon fibre, that is going to be much stronger than metal, aluminium and steel. I can see the future of street cars being similar to race cars today. There are already some specialised sports cars for road use that are made out of carbon fibre.  I would say that carbon fibre is getting cheaper year on year, and I am sure sooner rather than later, in the next few years we will see family cars built completely out of carbon fibre."

He went on to relate this to the statistics on road accidents and why changes to the construction of road cars may help reduce the already staggering numbers.

Emmo: "Just to give you an idea, in Brazil, every year, 50,000 people are killed in traffic accidents. I think with a stronger car, you are going to save a lot more lives."

Senhor Presidente

These days Emerson Fittipaldi expends much of his experience contributing in other ways, particularly as a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy and as the president of the FIA Drivers' Commission. I asked him how much has the drive towards safety levels in the sport continued in those roles. 

Emmo: "I had a meeting with the [FIA] commission in Paris in March where we heard all the different opinions from different racing categories globally and continue our efforts to improve safety. It does not stop there as we still need to improve safety levels, for the next generation and I think that is part of my job as well as the experience, opinion and input of other drivers to help improve safety globally. 

"I have a young boy, my youngest son, who is only 7 and just started racing go-karts in Brazil. I told his mum that it's going to be much safer than it used to be. He would be safer driving and racing go-karts than driving on the streets of São Paulo!"

It's clear from the way he talks about his son and the twinkle of pride in his eye that this is not just a former F1 world champion here, but also a concerned and protective father. The mention of his hometown São Paulo is no mere reference either, given the notoriety of the city's public roads. 


That burning itch

Anyway, even if he's retired from racing, I am convinced like many other sporting personalities, there's always that burning itch lurking somewhere in the unconscious not too far from the surface. Be it to kick a ball on a football pitch.. or reach a 100km/h serve on centre court at Arthur Ashe.. or to slap shot a puck into the back of a net from across the ice.. In Emmo's case, strapping yourself back into an F1 car. 

In 2013 Emmo did just that, testing a 2.4L V8 creature, one that's very different from the one he used to drive some 40 odd years ago. I asked him how it felt to be back in the cockpit of an F1 car.

Emmo: "I love it! I loved the new technology. I love the electronic aides that the car has. The car was fantastic to drive. It was a challenge, but it was very well balanced, much better than the cars I used to drive. I enjoyed every second! 

"Even though some people say that the drivers do not need to have the quality -  I still respect the GP drivers now with these modern F1 cars. This is because the cars are much faster into the corners, they have so much speed into braking. 

"It’s a different challenge but if you get the top 4 or 5 GP drivers today, they are  fantastic! Drivers like Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Räikkönen and Nico Rosberg, for example. There is so much talent and I appreciate that. If they were to drive my car during my era, they would still be fast!"

I still had a page and a half of other questions but with a very annoyed looking gentleman constantly whispering into my tape recorder to wrap it up (urrghh!! that's so annoying!), I eventually got the boot, but not before getting an unexpected hug (yes, my cousin reading this will be going, "what??!!") from Emmo.

Though this isn't an earth-shattering, mind-blowing or awe-inspiring post, it is about the morning I got to chill with Brazil's first F1 champ and that I really just wanted to share that.


Obrigado Emmo!

Pearl of the Indian Ocean

That is what Sri Lanka is known as. That, and that it's also the nation of smiling people. I agree with the latter completely and wholeheartedly. 

The nation of smiling kids!

My week-long sojourn in Sri Lanka - or Ceylon as it was known until 1972 - was my very first visit to the island. Located in the northern Indian Ocean, south of the Indian subcontinent, I had truly no idea what to expect seeing as my one and only visit to the subcontinent was a work-related one to Pakistan. 

The two nations couldn't be more different from each other. Whilst I can lay claim some ancestral link to people of the Indus Valley civilisation, I had virtually zero experience in Sri Lanka. I suppose that is what makes travel so interesting. No expectations. And yes, that oh-so cliché travel mantra applies about - keeping an open mind. 

Unfortunately, my stay in Sri Lanka was only limited to the Western and Southern provinces of the tear-shaped nation, thus eliminating any possibility of my becoming an expert of any sort. Sorry. After all, I only had about a week. 

People say - I've always wondered who these people are.. perhaps someone says it and then someone else picks it up and more folks say the same thing then it becomes that, 'people say' - that your travels are made by the company you're with. In my case, this was indeed very true. I had the incredible privilege of staying with a wonderful family, who not only put my humble self up in their abode but also took time out to shuffle me around and about.

The name is Bawa, Geoffrey Bawa

The Barefoot Garden Cafe is gorgeous building, wonderfully infusing 
nature into the layout of the structure. Along with cafe, there is a 
bookstore and place for discerning ladies can shop for locally made
clothes and home furnishing.

When it comes to Sri Lankan residences and buildings, Colombo in particular anyway, there is one name you will become familiar with. 

The long version is Deshamanya Geoffrey Manning Bawa. The short version, Geoffrey Bawa. 

FYI, Deshamanya is the second highest honorific title in Sri Lanka, for highly meritorious service. I kid you not. 

Anyway, Geoffrey Bawa was Sri Lanka's best known architect and remains as one of the most influential in Asia. His tropical modernism work is evident throughout the country. His influence is everywhere, from homes, schools, offices and government buildings. 

I was lucky enough to stay near the Parliament complex in Kotte, so I got to see Mr. Bawa's creation on an island in the lake in the area. 

Just beyond the entrance to the Paradise Road Gallery

In fact, one would be hard pressed to not see Mr. Bawa's influences everywhere in Colombo. And they are worth admiring. 

Paradise Road Gallery is another one of Geoffrey Bawa's works. Beautiful inside and out..

Coming from a Southeast Asian tropical nation, with a similar enough climate to Sri Lanka, I'm probably ignorant but I don't see that many buildings that have successfully infused the tropical climes into their architectural designs in KL. 

Mind you, I am no architect so perhaps I am unqualified to say that. Suffice to say, I enjoyed looking at Mr. Bawa's buildings.

Tuk-Tuk Traffic

Getting around Colombo? Now that is interesting. 

Imagine if you will -- a high-strung hamster getting high on ecstasy with sudden short bursts of high-intensity high-speed energy buzzing about, followed by equally sudden moments of inaction or standing still while waiting for the next injection of ecstasy. 

That's what it feels like sitting in a tuk-tuk zipping in and out of Colombo's traffic. If you're a connoisseur of vehicular interior decor, Colombo's tuk-tuks will be up your alley. Plus, some are truly souped up, as there is an annual Lanka challenge! 

Coming from a country where sitting in a traffic jam is a national past-time, Colombo's traffic is something else. There are moments when you're unfortunate enough to get stuck in a gridlock. But it's one that makes you feel like you're in the twilight zone of traffic jams. 

It's noisy as everyone seems to enjoy leaning on their horns every other second but there is a strange harmony in the seemingly discordant mix of sounds. 

Maybe because I am a foreigner. And remember to bring wet wipes, because once you get off the tuk-tuk, you'd have collected enough engine exhaust residue on your face. Trust me, she says wiping the grease off her face.

Kids bringing Colombo's traffic to a grinding halt as they prepared for the CHOGM

Anyway, if you ignore the possibility of going partially deaf (tuk-tuk-itis?) and developing some kind of balance disorder courtesy of the constant weaving about on the tuk-tuk, it is the best, convenient and economical way of getting around. And they're metered. Make sure you have small change as a ride can cost Rs35 p/km. 

Perhaps what made it seem a bit Hitchcock-ish at the time was the fact that the city was about to play host to CHOGM - Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. There were a lot of roadworks and the occasional middle-of-the-road rehearsals for the benefit of all the heads of Governments about to descend on Colombo. 


Where the heart beats loudest

For me, soaking in the atmosphere of a city means a visit to the market. People say (again!!) that the soul of a house is the kitchen, then for me the soul of a city must be its market. 

Truly I enjoy stumbling into a market, as I feel that's where you get to witness the pulse of its people. So with my host, I went to the central market in Pettah. 

You're immediately welcomed in by a cacophony of sounds, from the incessant loudspeaker announcements to the usual shouts of people trying to offer you their best prices. 

It's vibrant, colourful and lively, in every sense of the word.

Spice anyone?

The work that goes into producing this is incredible, all to feed our demand for cinnamon.

Your nose is assaulted by the aroma of the spices, your eyes delight in the deliciously fresh produce and your ears tickled by the constant haggling between buyer and seller. 

Chilli anyone? I wonder how hot these are.. 

And there are a lot of interesting characters, some willing to indulge me as I asked for a picture. Others.. well.. I snapped anyway. 

I tried several times to take her photo.. to no avail. The best I could get was her back. She was gracious though. 

Cool thing about Pettah market, it's web-ed up - i.e., it's got a webpage and a facebook page yo! 

Wandering through the back alleys to get to the mosque

Not far from the market, you'll find another of Colombo's most famous buildings - the Jami Ul-Alfar mosque or as its more famously known as - the Red Mosque. I reckon the facebook-savvy generation might call it the candy-crush mosque because of the red and white stripes. Though there was some renovation work in progress at the time, it is still quite a sight. 

The Jami ul-Alfar mosque

There are other mosques to look at too.

after seeing five other candy striped mosques, I finally found the street that leads to the mosque.. 

By way of getting the address completely wrong along with the wonderful company of a very obliging tuk-tuk driver who was equally lost in translation, I got to see quite a few, of various shapes, sizes and colour. 

The Glory of the Indian Ocean


OK, I'll admit it.. I am a bit of a Simon Reeve fan. That he's a bit of an eye-candy, adds to the attraction.. to watch his travel documentaries that is! Sheesh.. Anyway, on his epic trip across the countries that share the same borders with the Indian Ocean, he made a stop to Sri Lanka. 

if you're in the Galle Fort area, look out for this car.

So, when the opportunity presented itself for me to take the same steps as Simon, (sort of), I did. I think 'magnificent' is a superlative that is seriously lacking in every sense. Whilst I am inclined more towards snow-capped mountains, I am still enamoured by the majesty of the ocean. 

If you have a couple of days, make the trip down to the southern province of Sri Lanka. There is the famous Galle Fort built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. 

My friend and wonderful host was extremely fortunate to find an incredible online deal to stay in a gorgeous villa right by the Unawatuna beach called Footprints. The rates are not cheap usually, but we were incredibly lucky. 

For me, there are two things that stir the heart. The first is the quiet surreal sound of falling snow on top of the mountain. The second is waking up in the morning to the sound of waves caressing the beach. The latter you get in abundance as you arise from your slumber at the Footprints Villa. 

this is the Footprints villa on Unawatuna beach.. comes complete with meals and a butler who makes a killer mango-watermelon juice!

To me, the sound of the ocean is like a gentle massage for the soul, relaxing and deep. The currents are strong and can drag even the strongest swimmers down into a deathlike embrace. But, there are fortunately lots of crystal clear and cool natural pools by the beach. 

For a bit of adventure, one can even indulge in a bit of surfing. Seriously. Though the waves are not exactly like the ones in Keanu Reeves' Point-Break, it is sufficiently satisfying for beginners, at least.  

And, you'll get a pretty wicked tan to boot. There is a sufficient demand for surfing, evidenced by the surfing schools dotted all along the coast!  

Majestic Mammals

It is quite breathtaking to watch the sunrise over Mirissa..

Now, if you are in the area, there is one other thing you ought to consider doing. It will take up at least 5 hours of your time, if you got it to spare. Jump on a tuk-tuk well before dawn announces itself over the horizon, head south to Mirissa and book yourself onto one of the many deep-water bound boats. 


Why? To catch a glimpse of the ocean's most majestic mammals, the whales. They're not wallet-breakingly expensive. If you're unsure, book online. Or, get the hotel/villa management to arrange it for you. 

Being geographically positioned along the super-highway of these migratory mammals, for me, it was a must. By the way, the route happens to also be along the super-tanker ocean highway as well! So, don't be surprised to see the megalithic structure of a Maersk ocean freighter hurtling in the direction of your dinky little boat at over 20knots. 

Anyway, depending on the time of the year (usually November to February), the most common sightings are of the sperm whales. However, I was a little lucky as I got to see the very elusive blue whale. Me and my fellow companions onboard were lucky to spot it three times, sadly my very ill-equipped camera didn't. 

there's definitely something under that..

The one and only other time I got to see whales in their natural habitat was off the coast of California, and that was a school of minke whales. So, to see a whale, a blue whale at that from about 400 metres away was breathtaking. 

The ocean as a way of humbling you.. MasyaAllah.

There's even a bit of entertainment along the way as you are likely to encounter with a pod or two of arguably the most intelligent and playful residents of the ocean's depths - dolphins. 

There are a few species in the waters surrounding Sri Lanka. The most common are the bottlenose, spinner, Fraser's and striped dolphins. Again, we were quite lucky to see and hear both bottlenose and spinner dolphins on two separate occasions. 

The one thing I must point out at this juncture is this - whilst I can to a certain extent appreciate the intentions of animals in captivity, what some establishments get up to is inherently very cruel, traumatic and borders on the savage. 

Suffice to say, these magnificent and majestic mammals who inhabit the oceans should be seen in their natural habitat and not in the oh-so-small confines of a man-made pool. If not for the pleasure of witnessing the wonder, then at least for the experience. 

The inglorious footnote

Unfortunately, my island sojourn was exactly that, temporary and short. But I like to think of what little I got to experience as an appetiser of sorts. Despite its unstable recent past, it is a nation filled with wonder. 

Thank you Sri Lanka for your wonderful smile.

Although, I didn't get to follow in Peter Kuruvita's footsteps or experience the other wonders abound in Sri Lanka, it is definitely on my (sadly long) bucket list of countries to return to. 

Thank you Karina and Azwan for being such an amazingly superb host. I cannot begin to think of how to repay your kindness.


#PS: Try the burger at Paradise Road Gallery, messy goodness.

The burger at Paradise Road Gallery cafe is the yummiest 

I've had in a while, even if the portion of fries were 

small.. 

Lit Review: Patrick Rothfuss - The Name of the Wind

Book 1 in Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicle:
 The Name of the Wind

I am by no means nor by any stretch of the imagination, a connoisseur of fantasy novels, but in my current reading mood for fantasy fiction, Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind is definitely up there on my list of top reads.
I discovered this while browsing through Foyles on Charing Cross, whilst on one of my many many bookbinges. It was also one of those rare occasions that I gave in to the desire to do a search for the title on Goodreads. 

With some encouragement from the kind souls at Foyles who review the books that grace their impressive shelves and the four+plus+plus rating on Goodreads, this book was first on the "to get" pile. 

Typically, I am quite a sceptic of the over-embellished reviews that are embossed on the jackets of most books. And, there have been more than one occasion where I've disagreed with the over 4-star ratings on Goodreads. 

It was no different in this case but curiousity got the better of me and I went ahead and got both this and the second book in Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicle - The Wise Man's Fear, despite, and maybe because of my scepticism. Moreover, I simply could not resist the urge after I saw the picture of the author on Goodreads. :)

It would take me a couple of months to warm up to it, and I still had a shelf filled with books from my earlier binges that I hadn't indulged in. In some way, I was disappointed that I didn't pick this one up first. In fact, crazy as it may sound, I actually packed the book along with another during a recent trip to Europe. Alas, I didn't manage to read it as Drizzt Do'urden got my attention. 
Well, I finally did, and boy, was it worth the wait. 

Within the first few chapters, I realised that this was being written in a biographical form told by the main protagonist, Kote or Kvothe the Bloodless. Kvothe the Arcane. Kvothe Kingkiller.

If I am honest, I admit I was a bit worried about that but the deeper and deeper I got in to the book, the more and more I got drawn into Kvothe's life. At times, I felt the story (and please do forgive the appalling and awful comparison) was like a darker, juicier, more intricate, mature and way better version of a certain Potter, Weasley, Granger journey through Hogwarts. Well, at least during this phase of Kvothe's life that's documented in this first book.

Perhaps it's the reference to Kvothe's time at The University, and the trouble that somehow found a way to gravitate toward him. Whatever the reason may be, I loved it. It's artfully and beautifully written in my humble opinion. A joy to read and get lost in. Rothfuss manages to draw you in slowly and skilfully keeping you glued to every page. 

Truly enjoyable and deserving on the four+plus+plus reviews!! I can't wait to indulge in the second book.. 

But here's my conundrum. When is the third book - Doors of Stone -  coming out Mr. Rothfuss? Then there's book 2.5 - The Slow Regard of Silent Things.. I ask because my problem is that I have this strange thing where I simply have to have ALL the related books in a series in my possession. Otherwise the wait would be excruciatingly painful and not to mention, rather annoying. 

To add to salt to the wound, upon publication of the books in the northern hemisphere, I would then have to add XX months before it finally lands on the shores of my humble tropical nation.

Oh well. 

Lit Review: Felix J Palma - The Map of Time and The Map of the Sky

If you've wandered round a few of KL's bookstores in the past few years or found yourself at the Big Bad Wolf Books, you've probably chanced across these two books by Spanish author - Felix J Palma: The Map of Time; and The Map of the Sky. Me, I've seen the latter book grace the bestseller / top new releases.

Granted, neither books are new releases. Señor Palma's The Map of Time was published in 2008 and The Map of the Sky in 2012. The third installation in this series is expected... hmm.. I don't know. Will have to ask Simon and Schuster, Señor Palma's publishers.

So, when I recently stumbled on these two books marked at a ridiculous price of US$2.50 each (that's the price for a cup of café allongé a.k.a. coffee - in Paris), so I got them both. 

Like all books, I will offer up a word of advice - ignore the over-embellished roaring reviews that are embossed on the jacket or cover of the books. Aside from being the marketing tools publishers use to get readers' buy-in, they're pretty worthless in terms of guiding you through the book itself. 


The Map of Time


Right then, The Map of Time, takes place in a Victorian setting and revolves around the principal protagonist, a certain Mr. H.G. Wells. 

Yes, that's Herbert George "H.G." Wells, the author of The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds and not the one that appears in SyFy Channel's TV Series Warehouse 13. 

The main premise of the book starts in London at the turn of the century being gripped by a rather unusual bout of Time Travel, brought on by the popularity of H.G. Wells' The Time Machine. This unwittingly brings Wells into the picture as the most unlikely saviour (for lack of a better word) of the day.

The story is told in three interweaving parts by a "narrator" who is kind of annoying, so if you can ignore the annoying fashion with which he delivers the story, you should be OK. 

I wont give the story away but suffice to say that there's a crime solving murder element, solutions that involve a rather elaborate sleight of hand and the future, with romance and a good dose of mystery thrown into the mix for good measure. 

It was a delightful read, for Señor Palma wonderfully infused the essence of the Victorian charm into the narrative, allowing my imagination to travel back in time to a bygone time in a city I was once exiled to, London. Pun, intended. 

But, the plot was a bit difficult to follow, especially in the third part, as I had to pause from the reading and go back a couple of pages to retrace my steps. Maybe it's me.. possibly. By the time I approached the end of the book, I remember thinking, "what the hell..?" 

Though it isn't one of those books that leaves you breathless and gasping for more, it is one that may make you utter the inquisitive "hmm" or the unexpected "huh.." On that note, essentially it is an enjoyable and entertaining leisure read. 


The Map of the Sky

Now, I had a rather more enjoyable experience with the sequel - The Map of the Sky. Again set against a Victorian backdrop, this time the story evolves around the romantic exploits of an American millionaire's attempt to court an English socialite. H.G. Wells is again unwittingly thrown into the mix after his War of the Worlds becomes the central pivot of this abnormal romance. 

Undoubtedly, there were moments - especially early on - where I found myself gazing rather confusingly into the cosmos of my ceiling wall, attempting to comprehend the appearance of two plots, one of which would dominate the story. I ignored that mildly irritating fork in the road of this tale and continued reading it, despite the protests that were being hurled at me by my deeper conscience. 

Truth be told, I got annoyed at the "narrator" again and it was a wee bit lengthy in parts. I really had to restrain the urge to skim through some parts. Persevere.... 

The appearance of the seemingly 'abandoned' plot toward the end did somewhat unsettle me, especially as it felt relatively rushed compared to the more elaborate way in which the predominant plot was unravelled. Perhaps it is the curse of the sequel.. I've no idea. 

Having said that though, it was to me a rather compelling read. The lyrical storytelling is flavoured with a healthy dose of the curious, weird and sometimes wonderful, as well as an elegant tinge of humour. I liked it, even with its weird twists and turns. I simply couldn't put it down, nor could I leave it at home whenever I dashed out on errands or to meet friends. 

The thing is, growing up I avoided literary classics in my misspent youth, preferring the outdoors to the dreary prospect of reading boring old novels. Even if I was forced to read them, I forgot the plot fairly quickly, so none of the classics were ever retained in my long-term memory. 

However, having read these two books, I felt compelled to correct the mistakes of my youth and get copies of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds and The Time Machine; Bram Stoker's Dracula and Jules Verne's A Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Don't ask me why. 

And, unashamedly, I can safely say that I am kind of looking forward to Señor Palma's third and final installation of this Victorian trilogy. 

Why Jamie is the best.. in my books

And no..  I am not referring to Mr. Jamie Oliver.. or Mr. Jamie Foxx.. or Ms. Jamie Lee Curtis.. or even Mortal Instrument's Mr. Jamie Campbell Bower (who plays Jace Wayland in the movie in case you're wondering).. 

For one, that this post is filed under sports eliminates the famous naked chef and all the actors. The Jamie I'm talking about is a man who takes his sport to the extreme. Perhaps Jamie Carter, the British Paralympian? That's earmarked for a future post, when I get the chance to meet the inspiring young 20-year old.

No, the Jamie I am writing about is a 43-year old extreme sports Englishman. This Jamie is an amazing story of endurance, perseverance and tenacity that recently earned this Jamie from Nottingham the most prestigious international sporting accolade of all - the 2014 Laureus Actions Sportsperson of the Year. And about time too! 

Swapping his usual Monster-clad t-shirts and cap for a crisp and handsome black tux for the award ceremony - which is for sake of a comparison is like the Oscars or Grammy Awards of Sports - this Brit shared the evening with the sporting world's most elite. This included retired US sprinter and 400m World and Olympic record holder, Michael Johnson; four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel; youngest ever MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez; former Dutch football internationals Johan Cruyff and Ruud Gullit; and the most well-known skateboarder in the world, Tony 'The Birdman' Hawk. 


The other JB.. not Jenson Button..

Jamie Bestwick is 2014 Laureus Action Sportsperson of the 
year and rightly so! 

The Jamie I'm writing about is none other than Jamie Bestwick. I can already imagine a few puzzled quizzical looks amongst my kith and kin unfortunate enough to read this. Who??.. Well, that's why I decided to dedicate this post to JB. No, not Jenson Button.. this JB is Jamie Bestwick. 

For those of you familiar with the X-Games, Jamie Bestwick is a household name amongst the extreme sports community. His unparalleled exploits with his beloved BMX bike and the multi-time champion in the X-Games and Dew Tours ensures Bestwick ranks way up there with the legends like extreme sports forefather Shaun Palmer, the godfather of skateboards Tony Hawk, snow/skateboarder Shaun White and Brazilian skateboarder Bob Burnquist. 

Nominated four times at the Laureus, 2014 was finally Jamie's year. . and rightly so. Jamie's story is one that hits a chord in me and not for the obvious reasons. Obviously, I am not a BMX aficionado nor do I compete in the X-Games or Dew Tours. Most definitely not likely either. It's more obscure than that. 

But I'd always had this crush on extreme sports. From inline skating and inline hockey and now snowboarding. The latter was something I came to know off during the later stages of my period in exile in the UK. I had to try it. Though there was virtually no snow for a few hundred miles in any direction from London, a few enterprising souls built a dry-slope centre. I tried it and after inelegantly falling several hundred times, I gave up and sold the board I inherited from a mate. 



How old is your heart?

Though snowboarding is now back in my life, I have also grown very much aware of how very good the snowboarders I encounter on the Alps or on Mount Yōtei are. And to rub salt to the wound, how very young they are. *sigh*.. 

For instance, I recently befriended a group of incredibly awesome young Brits up in Niseko, Hokkaidō. Although the age difference is as big as Albus Dumbledore is to Harry Potter, the only age that really truly matters is the age of your heart. 

Meeting Jamie Bestwick reinforced that fact to me. Back to why Jamie Bestwick is 'da bomb and totally deserved the Laureus. Well for starters, like Tony Hawk, Jamie is already in his fourties. At 43 years old, Jamie is still the best BMX rider in the world. 

Unlike Shaun White, Tucker Hibbert (Sno Cross) and Tony Hawk who are all six time X-Games champs - a feat known in the games as a six-peat; Jamie Bestwick is the only athlete to have done it eight times - or eight-peat. This feat he achieved after winning his 8th consecutive BMX Vert gold at the 2013 X-Games. 

Since taking home bronze in his first ever X-Games in 1996, Jamie has added 11 other gold medals and a silver to his impressive collection. He could create an huge mosaic to decorate an entire library in his Texas home with the medals from the X-Games and the Dew Tours. 

Armed with a jaw-dropping and impressive artillery of tricks that includes his trademark airs, 540 variations, seat grabs, front flips, downside tail whips etcetera, what struck me the most is his mind. Like Tony Hawk he gets asked a lot about his age and that he's still being competitive. Jamie's response, "sometimes old dogs can learn new tricks." 

Damned straight!!!

Following that unknown

Aside from his mad crazy tricks and that he is still pulling out all the stops in competition, what really awes me most is the trigger that changed Jamie's world. Essentially, one day Jamie woke up and decided that he had had enough of his 9 to 5 regular job with an airline company. His love for BMX was enough and he gave up a grounded and mature way of life to pursue his passion. 

Granted, that I'm not even within a 0.01% percentile that equates to an iota of any considerable talent and the fact I woke up two decades too late, I can still somehow relate to that decision in a weird, bizarre and twisted kind of way. 

People like Jamie or the young lads I was acquainted with in Japan recently, inspire me. This is particularly true especially in taking dramatic decisions in one's life. 

The Laureus awardis the Oscars of the sporting world.

There is an element of fear, for sure, especially when one is either forced or willingly faced with the decision to continue embarking on a road well travelled or to take a totally different route. 

Chatting to the press, Jamie willingly embraces fear. Extreme sports is all about conquering fear, as he puts it, "it's living with fear, it's knowing fear is your friend, because fear is a great teacher.." and in Jamie's case, "it's knowing when you've taken it too far." 

In my case, the fear of the unknown was always lurking around the corners of my consciousness. When I broke the top of my humerus bone falling very inelegantly off my inline skates, rendering my right arm out of service for 6 weeks, I remember recognising a moment of fear in that split second before and realising I had taken it too far. 

It was also present the first time I strapped myself in onto a snowboard after such a long hiatus. And when I tumbled down the run and busted my right knee and bruised a rib, I learned of my own physical limits. 

Humility

Fear was also part and parcel of a life-changing decision I made in 2013. Talking to Jamie, I realised that if you don't acknowledge fear, you can't overcome it. So true and I am glad I did. The other thing fear teaches you is humility. I can't help but wonder, if you never step away from that comfort zone to face fear head on, you'll never also fail, and you'd never learn humility. 

Undoubtedly, there are plenty of stories worth noting, about courage, perseverance in the face of obvious adversity and a plethora of other noteworthy beating the odds clichés. For instance, the story of the 55-year old Mexican man who defied conventional wisdom to compete in the alpine ski event at the recently concluded Sochi Winter Olympics, his 6th Olympic games!

Of all these, for some strange reason Jamie's story has a profound effect on me. The humblest multiple X-Game champion I've met. The 43-year old had a mischievous gleam in his eye as he winked at me when I fielded my final question before he left us mere mortals to rejoin the crème de la crème of the world's sporting elite. 

Me, starstruck. 

I asked, "Any new tricks we can expect from you this season?" He flashed me this absolutely wickedly adolescent grin and said, "It's true you know, old dogs can learn new tricks." 

He had that look in his eye that left me with the feeling that, you don't have to be a champion or the best to be a winner, no matter how old you are. He winked again and walked away.  

So down-to-earth, yet powerfully determined and enigmatic, Jamie Bestwick is definitely the best in my books.