TriGlobe

Le Fruit Triathlon

2009-08-20T22:47:00.002+07:00

Yeah, I know. I disappeared from the face of the planet. Just too busy doing other things. So I’ve got some catching up to do on my blog. I’m working on it.

Here is my belated race report for Le Fruit Triathlon 2009. As the defending champion, I couldn’t resist being on the race list again this year. To be honest, I absolutely love this competition. Nothing beats X-TERRA or long distance duathlons/triathlons. Le Fruit is an X-TERRA race that consists of a 750 m swim, 40 km on-road/off-road bike, and an 8 km run on the beach.

Le Fruit triathlon took place, as it has since its first race, in Mue Ne. The organizers had decided to change the course from the previous years due to logistical reasons. Some of the off-road sections used in the past were no longer usable because of construction or newly paved roads. The changes meant there was more on-road cycling this year, but on a hillier terrain. Using a road bike would have been ideal for the first part, but the off-road sections made it impossible for the second part. No big deal as I feel incredibly comfortable on my mountain bike, maybe even more so than on my race bike.

The swim was only 750 m long and I was looking forward to see how much I had improved on my swim. My swimming times have never been better thanks to a change of approach in training. I no longer do workouts which include many short sets such as 10 x 100 m, but focus on long sets such as 4-5 X 700+ m. It has had an enormous effect on my speed. The swim was very chaotic. The waves made it virtually impossible to see the buoys so I was constantly looking up trying to spot them. The organizers had not connected them with a rope, which would have made life a lot easier on the athletes. Nonetheless, I came out of the water in third position.

Transition went lightening quick, and I immediately took over first place by jumping on my bike. The first two guys were swimmers, but had no triathlon experience. I had decided before the race that my strategy was to hammer the on-road part of the race. For some reason, I get much faster in my rhythm on my mountain bike than I do on my race bike. For a large part, I was averaging more than 40 kph. Not bad with 26 x 1.95 tires. I thoroughly enjoyed the on-road section of the course because of the nasty hills, but the off-road section consisted of too much downhill. I used these moments to rest the legs and focus on not doing anything risky. I really didn’t feel like crashing. As I got into transition, I knew I had a huge lead. Towards the end, we had to bike a u-turn section and that allowed me to see if anybody was chasing me. Nobody in sight!

That meant I could take it easy on the run and just get it over and done with. I didn’t have to push myself and treated it as a practice run. Running on the beach is an absolute delight. So relaxing! I won the race by 17 minutes in the end. Le Fruit isn’t a competitive race, but great fun because of its location.

After the race, I had to do the obligatory TV interview. Before, during and after the race, I had a camera crew following me. Always funny to get interviewed by a bunch of journalists and then see yourself on TV.

Beetroot juice 'boosts stamina'

2009-08-07T11:53:00.002+07:00

Drinking beetroot juice boosts stamina and could help people exercise for up to 16% longer, a UK study suggests.

A University of Exeter team found nitrate contained in the vegetable leads to a reduction in oxygen uptake - making exercise less tiring.

The small Journal of Applied Physiology study suggests the effect is greater than that which can be achieved by regular training.

Beetroot juice has previously been shown to reduce blood pressure.

The researchers believe their findings could help people with cardiovascular, respiratory or metabolic diseases - and endurance athletes.

They focused on eight men aged 19-38, who were given 500ml per day of organic beetroot juice for six consecutive days before completing a series of tests, involving cycling on an exercise bike.

On another occasion, they were given a placebo of blackcurrant cordial for six consecutive days before completing the same cycling tests.

After drinking beetroot juice the group was able to cycle for an average of 11.25 minutes - 92 seconds longer than when they were given the placebo.

This would translate into an approximate 2% reduction in the time taken to cover a set distance.

The group that had consumed the beetroot juice also had lower resting blood pressure.

Mechanism unclear

The researchers are not yet sure of the exact mechanism that causes the nitrate in the beetroot juice to boost stamina.

However, they suspect it could be a result of the nitrate turning into nitric oxide in the body, reducing how much oxygen is burned up by exercise.

Study researcher Professor Andy Jones - an adviser to top UK athlete Paula Radcliffe - said: "We were amazed by the effects of beetroot juice on oxygen uptake because these effects cannot be achieved by any other known means, including training.

"I am sure professional and amateur athletes will be interested in the results of this research.

"I am also keen to explore the relevance of the findings to those people who suffer from poor fitness and may be able to use dietary supplements to help them go about their daily lives."

Professor John Brewer, an expert on sports science at the University of Bedfordshire, said: "These findings are potentially exciting for many people involved in sport and, but will almost certainly require further more extensive studies before the exact benefits and mechanisms are understood.

"We must also remember that exercise and training and a sensible diet will always remain as the essential ingredients for a balanced and healthy lifestyle."

Dr Simon Marshall, of the University of San Diego, has carried out work on exercise and health.

He said much more work was needed involving many more subjects to draw firm conclusions.

"Certainly, a diet high in nitrate-rich fruits and vegetables is good for your heart health and this study provides further evidence of this."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8186947.stm

Lei Clijsters

2009-01-04T23:27:00.002+07:00

An iconic Belgian sports figure has passed away today. Perhaps known better as the father of Kim Clijsters (the famous tennis star and former number one), Lei Clijsters lost the battle with lung cancer early this morning.

Before he managed his daughter’s tennis career, he was a top class football player who captained the last Belgian team to win a European Cup. He represented the national team in two world cups, including our fourth place finish in Mexico 1986.

My deepest sympathies go to the family Clijsters.

The ailing machine

2009-01-04T23:07:00.002+07:00

We’re down and out again. I pulled some ligaments in the big toe of my right foot. Currently, I’m receiving ultrasound and laser treatment for the injury. As that wasn’t enough, an MRI has shown degeneration of the meniscus in my left knee. Result, I’ll be out for 6-8 weeks. Since I will begin my course in about two weeks, perhaps it’s a bit of a blessing. Just focusing on studies and rehab will keep me busy enough.

I don’t expect that it will have too much of an impact on my racing season. I don’t have to peak until August and November anyways, so I should have plenty of time to recover and get ready. The prospect of having Powerman Singapore and Ironman 70.3 Putrajaya added to the racing calendar is incredibly exciting.

Goat penis

2009-01-04T22:32:00.002+07:00

Just to put you at ease: no, this is not a twisted pornographic blog post. Last night, I had dinner with some friends at a goat restaurant. I knew that one of the culinary delights on the menu was goat penis. When it comes to food, I have no limitations. To put it simple, they wouldn’t allow me to compete in fear factor.

It was a pure coincidence that I ran into some of my ex-students. I immediately asked them if they could order the goats family jewels for me. Out of pure excitement, I asked them how big it was. Obviously, the others at the table started laughing. Sometimes I can be endearingly naïve.

I expected the chefs to cook or grill it, but it turned out they had only cut it up in smaller pieces and we had to cook it ourselves in a pot of soup. Practically everybody at the table thought I was off my rockers for having ordered this dish. Still, I couldn’t resist my curiosity. The penis had been sliced into small pieces, as were the balls.
Overall, I have to say it was in interesting experience. It was tasty, but not to say a culinary mind blowing highlight. Another box in my to-eat-list has been checked.

Holiday Greetings

2008-12-28T22:56:00.003+07:00

With a few colleagues/friends, we went to Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate Christmas. I had experienced one Christmas before in this motorbike mad city and remembered it to be insane. The crowds would not disappoint me and in combination with Vietnam’s first leg victory over Thailand in the ASEAN Cup, everybody more or less went berserk.

We had German cuisine for a change and I thoroughly enjoyed the bratwurst with red cabbage. As a starter, I had Hungarian goulash soup and it was really to die for. It brought back some memories of my mother’s home cooked meals.

I’d like to wish everyone a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope all your wishes and dreams will come true.

Vietnam stage late rally to clinch Southeast Asian title

2008-12-28T22:24:00.004+07:00

HANOI, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Vietnam scored a last gasp second-leg equaliser to finish 1-1 with Thailand and clinch the Southeast Asian championship for the first time on Sunday.

With the match tied 2-2 on aggregate and seconds away from extra time, the dangerous Le Cong Vinh leapt high above the Thai defence to head home Nguyen Minh Phuong's free kick and spark wild celebrations at the My Dinh stadium.

Three-times champions Thailand, upset 2-1 in the first leg, had most of the chances and went ahead after 21 minutes when Teerasil Dangda beat the goalkeeper to head Sutee Suksomkit's free kick into the net.

Thailand paid dearly for their misfiring and conceded a disputed free kick deep into stoppage time, which Vinh flicked into the net to earn Vietnam their first international title.

Here are some pictures I took in Vung Tau. Everybody came out onto the streets with their motorbikes and lots of people were waiving the Vietnamese flag. They were certainly enjoying the moment.

Belgian PM's resignation accepted

2008-12-23T17:07:00.002+07:00

The Belgian king has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Yves Leterme's government, but asked it to stay on in a caretaker capacity.
Former PM Wilfried Martens has been asked to mediate in efforts to put together a new government. A palace statement said Mr Martens had accepted.
Analysts tip another former PM, Jean-Luc Dehaene, as favourite to head a new interim coalition.

Mr Leterme offered to resign amid a row over the sale of troubled bank Fortis.
The moves come after a series of consultative meetings over the weekend to consider the impact of the government's resignation during the current financial crisis.
Mr Leterme only took office in March, nine months after a general election had resulted in political deadlock founded in tensions between Flemish and Walloon groups.
He tendered his resignation in June after he failed to push through plans to devolve more power to the regions, but the king rejected it.
Court ruling
Fortis bank has been one of the European banks hardest hit by the credit crunch, leaving it desperately short of cash.

The government was forced to take over and sell nearly all of the company's assets.
Hundreds of thousands of investors were left with virtually nothing and so began a successful legal action effectively preventing the asset sale.
Earlier this month, the Brussels appeal court ruled in favour of the shareholders and froze the sale of most of Fortis to France's BNP Paribas, which was supposed to have been finalised this week.
Last week, Belgium's Supreme Court president said there were "undoubtedly significant indications" that members of the Belgian government had attempted to influence the outcome of the court case.

Belgians sometimes make sarcastic jokes that they live in a banana country, crudely referring to what happens politically in some third world countries. I hope this will be the start of a political rejuvenation, because with all due respect, bananas taste better in South East Asia/Africa/South America than in Europe.

Belgium's government in crisis over Fortis

2008-12-19T21:26:00.003+07:00

RNW News
19-12-2008

Belgium's Prime Minister Yves Leterme has been accused of trying to influence a judge in the Fortis takeover case. On Thursday the opposition called for his resignation. A higher court, the Court of Cassation, is investigating the matter.

Prime Minister Yves Leterme of Belgium After an eight-hour session on Thursday evening the cabinet decided that neither the prime minister nor any ministers would step down. Belgium's VRT public television is reporting that ministers were discussing the possible resignation of Mr Leterme, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders and Justice Minister Jo Vandeurzen over the affair. It has not been confirmed that all three were involved in the alleged pressurising of the judges.

A decision on the ministers' position has been postponed until publication of the Cassation Court report about the judicial procedure that led to the verdict in the Fortis case. The court will report on Friday.

So what happened?

A week ago the Court of Appeal in Brussels declared that the government's sale of the Fortis Bank to BNP Paribas of France should not have taken place without shareholders' consent. The sale of the state-owned bank has been frozen for 65 days. A senior official from Mr Leterme's office contacted court officials in an attempt to prevent the Court from reaching this decision. The Prime Minister has confirmed that there was one such contact.

Earlier on Thursday, parliament wanted to question Mr Leterme about his contact with judges in the case, but he failed to appear. The speaker of parliament had been sent a letter by the Court of Cassation, which contradicted the prime minister's earlier assurance that he had not tried to influence any judge.

Avoiding a new crisis

The parties in the governing coalition are not eager to break up the cabinet, which is made up of five parties: two Liberal, two Christian Democrat, and one Socialist. It took nine months to agree on a coalition programme, during which time Belgium was practically without a government. A new period of political uncertainty, particularly during a difficult time for the national economy, is something that many politicians in Brussels say they want to avoid.

Kristof: I feel ashamed, embarrassed, disgusted...

Life in Vietnam

2008-12-18T21:03:00.003+07:00

It’s been a pretty busy time lately. Not really because of a huge amount of work or anything like that, I’ve just been busy trying to collect my thoughts. Trying to fit some of the pieces of the life jigsaw puzzle together. The most important decision I have made is that I will stay at least one more year in Vietnam. Leaving would have too many negative impacts on both my teaching and sports career.

Ultimately, I would like to continue combining work/studies with my duathlon and triathlon career. I achieved some great results the past year and would like to see where the sky limit is for me. As I’m still young, I feel I can still make progression in certain areas, especially on the bike and swim. Keeping a status quo is at this time the best way to go.

I have started training again for the upcoming season. I’ve had a bit of a setback concerning my left knee. The inflammation has returned and for the past week or so, I’ve only been able to swim. I hope there is no extra cartilage damage. I’m going to assess the situation and hopefully with some rest, the injury might solve itself. Otherwise, it’s another date with the MRI machine and I’m not looking forward to that.

The injury comes at an unfortunate time as for once, fortune might have decided to give me a bit of a sponsorship boast. Through my coach, I might be able to get a new bike for free. It would be a Valdora Cycles frame, Profile Design bars, Hed wheels and Token components. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Lizi and Hintong's Wedding Mama Mia

2008-12-04T22:26:00.002+07:00

As promised, here are some pictures of the wedding of the Mama Mia gang doing their duties for the groom.

I guess I'm a lazy bastard

2008-12-03T23:46:00.004+07:00

Last night, I covered uncountable and countable nouns in my intermediate adult class. I gave certain instructions and the students had to write a noun compatible with 6 different quantifiers. One of the instructions went as followed: Write down some things you can buy with your salary.

The first person to complete the instruction was my female student Van. She gave her answers and concluded the exercise by saying “and only one husband”. I couldn’t resist the temptation and had to ask her how much she was willing to give for a husband. She gave quite an ambiguous answer and I continued by asking her how it would work. Do you go to a room with a big glass window and you just choose the candidate you like most? I like number five, please. And then suddenly she said: “Don’t worry teacher, I wouldn’t want to buy you. You’re too lazy. You’re never home and never cook your own meals. I can’t rely on you, especially if I have children.”

I spontaneously started laughing. How could I argue? I am lazy to cook my own meals. Why would I when I can buy them all prepared and ready to eat for US$ 2? I think I’m going to stick to my laziness.

Writing is therapeutic

2008-12-02T11:04:00.002+07:00

One of the greatest weaknesses I have is that at the core of my heart I want to believe that all people are genuinely good. Obviously, doing so spells naivety and it’s just not a realistic philosophy to adopt in today’s world. The last few days, Asia has been rocked by tragedy in Mumbai and sheer political lunacy in Thailand.

Up to this day, the most amazing trip I have ever made was my four month tour of southern India seven years ago. The whole experience was more than mind blowing. I remember arriving in Mumbai and absolutely hating it without any rational thought. I knew I had to give this metropolis another chance. Just before I went back home, I stayed a few days in this cultural hub and fell totally in love. To watch the Taj Hotel being ravaged and scores of people dying by terrorists who totally defy the core of Islam, has been hard to bear. India has just had its own 9/11.

Perhaps lunacy isn’t the appropriate word to describe the current crisis in Thailand. Maybe economic and political suicide is a better summary. One million people could lose their job due to the struggle for power. The government and the opposition are giving a new definition to hypocrisy. And the normal Thai is sandwiched between all this mess.

Another character flaw I have, besides my naivety, and I know it sounds like a contradiction, is the difficulty I have to trust people. Living in Vietnam certainly doesn’t help. I’m not going to get into the psycho-analytical reasons, but generally speaking foreigners fall into a different class. That means you always have to hold your guard. When you actually meet a local who you might get along with, might appreciate as a friend, and then have more lies and deceit slapped in your face, it hurts twice as hard.

My mission for the next few weeks: find some people who are genuine, folks you can trust. I’m tired of this protective wall around me. It’s starting to suffocate me.

Terry Fox Race

2008-11-30T19:09:00.000+07:00

About 6,000 people joined the Terry Fox race this morning. Together with a few friends/colleagues, we entered the race. Since it was a charity run, I wasn’t expecting a competitive atmosphere, but to honour Terry Fox, total perseverance was my only motto. I guess it was fairly easy and I managed to cross the finish line in first place, about 15 seconds ahead of the second guy. I’ve been taking it easy over the past few weeks, so I can feel I’m getting a bit out of shape. Time to start getting my act together again.

Malaysia outlaws yoga for Muslims

2008-11-22T23:31:00.005+07:00

Malaysia outlaws yoga for Muslims
By Robin Brant BBC News, Kuala Lumpur

Millions of people in Malaysia have been banned from doing yoga because of fears it could corrupt Muslims.

The Islamic authorities have issued a ruling, known as a fatwa, instructing the country's Muslims to avoid yoga because of its Hindu roots.
To most people yoga is simply a sport - a stress-busting start to the day.
Malaysia's National Fatwa Council said it goes further than that and that elements of the Indian religion are inherent in yoga.
Announcing the decision, the council chairman Abdul Shukor Husin said practices like chanting and what he called worshipping were inappropriate and they could "destroy the faith of a Muslim".
The ruling is not legally binding but many of Malaysia's Muslims abide by fatwas.
Yoga classes here are filled with mostly non-Muslim Malaysians of Chinese or Indian descent, but in the major cities it is not uncommon to see several Muslim women at classes.

Prayers and gym
For Muslims across Malaysia the day starts at 5.30 in the morning, as the call to prayer goes out.
A handful of the most devout arrive at a mosque in the western outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.
Over the other side of the road, in the shadow of the Mosque's golden dome, a few others start arriving to start their day - at the gym.
Each is carrying a yoga mat, slung over their shoulder.
Adam Junid is a Muslim Malaysian who does both - prayers and gym, specifically yoga.
An engineer in his 30s, he goes to a weekly class for about 30 people.
"I don't think it interferes with the religion at all," he says.
"In fact it helps you, makes you healthy and more aligned and it helps you become self aware," he adds.
Adam is a rarity because it is mostly women and not many Muslims who do this.
"The yoga masters repeat that it actually can be quite compatible with religion," he said. "It makes you a better person."
Yoga comes in many forms. For some it is a stress-busting sport. For others a serious bit of soul searching.
What Adam does once a week is the serious stuff. The class I sat in on was two hours long.

Spiritual experience
It included breathing exercises, with the help of the tick-tock of a metronome.
There was meditation, then half an hour of darkness for intense relaxation.
Before that some of the class managed a very stable headstand. Others could touch the back of their head with their foot.
"It can go with any religion," instructor Mani Sekaran told me.
"Or it can go with those who don't believe in any religion, because it's purely sports," he added.
He is also founder of the Malaysian Yoga Society. A bald and very fit man, he once did martial arts.
"If I want to train for an Olympic gold medal... whether I believe in a religion or not doesn't matter. I just keep on training."
"Based on that we can use yoga to enhance whatever we are doing, whether it is religion or whether it's spirituality... but it [yoga] is stand alone."
During the class I sat in on, yoga's Hindu roots were mentioned, albeit briefly. A spiritual experience was on offer for those who wanted it.
This is the point where some Muslims in Malaysia worry about yoga. They think it is encroaching on their way of life.
One Muslim student told me that she combined yoga techniques with prayers. That concerns some Islamic experts.
"If people want to practice yoga, the physical exercise, I think that is no problem," Professor Osman Bakar, from Malaysia's Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies, told me.
"Many Muslims would say fine. But they would object to the mixing of the two things."
"Islam is a complete way of life. Islam is able to cater to the needs of Muslims; spiritual needs, intellectual needs and other needs, material needs. So there is no need to bring in elements from outside," he added.
Adam's yoga class ended with a quick discussion about self-awareness, concentration and why people do yoga. I was not sure if this was a weekly occurrence or for my benefit.
He told me that yoga has made him a better person. He has no plans to stop.

Diego Maradona

2008-11-21T18:41:00.001+07:00

Diego Armando Maradona was recently appointed as the new manager of the Argentinean national football team. He took his huge ego to Scotland for his first game in charge, and obviously the British press had a field day.

Terry Butcher added to the sports headlines by refusing to give a hand to the Argentinean football legend. He was still angry for the infamous “hand of God” goal at the 1986 World Cup. Maradona’s reply? “Terry Butcher who? I’m getting criticized by a nation which won its only World Cup by a goal that didn’t even cross the goal line. How ridiculous is that?” Touché if you ask me.

He came, he saw and he conquered.

Terry Fox Race Ho Chi Minh City

2008-11-21T00:46:00.001+07:00

For the past two weeks, I have done everything in my power to be as lazy as possible. A year of full on training definitely deserves some downtime. Although I have no races planned for 2009, I’ve already been in touch with my coach and we are going to maintain my fitness level with a support program over the next few months. It will be tricky to see how I’ll combine it with my studies early next year, but it should be manageable.

I have registered for the Terry Fox run on November 30 in Ho Chi Minh City. This is a race that is organized all around the world to raise money for cancer research. Terry Fox was a young Canadian athlete/cancer activist who I admire immensely. He is/was simply a true hero. The race itself does not have a competitive character as the main focus is on raising funds for cancer research. Nonetheless, I will go full out in the 5 km run. I thoroughly enjoy running races and I don’t have to worry about impacts on training schedules at the moment. It’ll be fun.

Lizi and Hintong's Wedding

2008-11-21T00:17:00.003+07:00

One week after Powerman, I returned to Malaysia, this time for my good friends Lizi and Hintong’s wedding. I had the honour of being one of the best men. I had been looking forward to the event for quite some time now and I knew how much effort both the bride and groom had put into the organization of their marriage.

The best men needed to help the groom reach his bride by assisting him in some activities set by the bridesmaids and family members of the bride. As we reached the bride’s home on the back of a 4x4 pickup truck, the gate was closed and we weren’t allowed to enter. We were greeted by one of the bride’s sisters who gave us some garters to wear. One on our head, three on both wrists, and two around each ankle! I was already wondering what I had gotten myself into. The next moment though would scar me for life. We were asked to dance and sing, while holding carrots and cucumbers as microphones, to Dancing Queen sung by Abba. This was rapidly turning into a nightmare, but luckily one of the best men is an aerobics instructor who sort of guided us through this painful ordeal. Finally, we were allowed to enter the gate.

Next step was entering the house. We had to answer some questions about the bride and the groom. This went without too many hiccups, and before we knew it we were in the house. We had to do a few more dance routines and come up with a catchy phrase to “seduce” the bride. Unfortunately, Abba music continued dominating in the background and I felt like voluntarily admitting myself to the nearest mental institute. Eventually, we were allowed to go up the stairs where we faced a locked door. The bribing had begun: some ampows for the cousins, some cans of Tiger beer for the sisters and at last we managed to get the groom to his bride.

To seal the marriage, a traditional Chinese tea ceremony was held at both parties’ homes. It meant sharing tea with both the elders of the family and the younger ones. Once completed, the food was ready to be served.

The wedding party was held at the Equatorial hotel. Before the big bash, both the bridesmaids and best men joined a photo shoot with the newlywed couple. After showing off our lovely pink shirts, doing serious and silly poses, carrying bridesmaids up the stairs, being mistaken for being the actual groom, having Nicole David (World #1 squash player) pass by, we had a short break before the guests would arrive.

In the mean time, I had been told that I could stay in the bridal suite, in the room adjacent to Lizi and Hintong’s. The party was fantastic. The food in combination with the red wine was to die for. Plenty of rounds of both were great excuses for me not to enter the dance floor, all to the great frustration of some of the bridesmaids and the bride herself. Sorry ladies, I’m just not that big on dancing, plus I was still getting over my Abba experience. The scars were too fresh.

At the end of the night, some of us decided to go up to the bridal suite for some more partying and drinking. One by one though, most of us started passing out. It had been a long day and for me personally the fatigue in combination with French Chardonnay was taking its toll. I slept on a couch which was incredibly comfortable. Nobody had bothered to turn off the lights and that made a deep sleep quite difficult. After a while, I started hearing some pretty passionate noises next to my couch. Less than five meters from where I was sleeping, two friends of the couple started getting it on. I don’t need to draw any pictures, do I? I was so exhausted and disinterested that I just turned around and continued counting my sheep in dreamland. I must admit I was very tempted in telling them to get a room, but for some reason I was just knocked out, I didn’t have the energy. Finally, the naughty couple moved to the bathroom where she was certainly enjoying her climax and disturbing my sleep.

The next morning, I met up with everyone again and evidently we had a few things to talk about. The newly-wed couple was so exhausted they weren’t able to enjoy their wedding night in a way you might expect. But that’s where the irony starts kicking in! Guess who the naughty gentleman was? The bride’s ex-boyfriend! At least someone had some action.

Powerman Malaysia 2008

2008-11-12T01:34:00.003+07:00

(Pictures are courtesy of Master Photographer Tey)

Powerman Malaysia 2008 = 11 km run – 64 km bike – 10 km run

For the fourth straight year, Powerman Malaysia was the apotheosis of my season. This grueling long distance Duathlon attracts some of the best athletes in the world and enough age-groupers to make most European race organizers drool. Even though I have a somewhat love/hate relationship with the event, politics and my ego were quickly shoved aside to make place for the sporting challenge.

Thanks to Emma, I was able to get a ride to Lumut. It must be said, if it wasn’t for my excellent navigational and co-piloting skills, we might have ended up in Penang. A couple of Emma’s legendary flapjacks kept my concentration level at full alert and we managed to narrowly escape some wandering encounters with the Kampong cows.

Race tactics were pretty simple. Maximize my run and control the damage on the bike. I tend to take some time to really warm up properly. I guess I should become a spokesman for Diesel engines. The main protagonists quickly took the lead of the race. Jason Spong and Anthony Le Duey took off and their pace was too high for me to follow. I decided to stick to my race plan and follow my instincts. Four kilometers into the race, I could feel the extra pistons going off and my running rhythm simultaneously took off. I entered transition feeling extremely comfortable just behind former winner Chrispine Osmondi and just ahead of Danish top duathlete Aksel Nielsen in fifth position (Time: 36:16).

I didn’t try to fool myself on the bike. My confidence has/had been rock bottom for months. Yes, I have improved my efficiency on the bike, but on the other hand my speed has not shown any significant improvement over the past two years. I managed to stay in a good position until the second part of the first lap. I am not able to push the necessary gears at this level. I’ve stopped beating my head in over this fact. Training conditions aren’t ideal where I live, I have no cyclists to train with, and I could use a technical overhaul of my current bike. Although, I must admit the technical aspect is a lousy excuse, it’s the still the engine that matters.

During the first lap, I lost one of my water bottles at a bumpy stretch. I decided to go back and retrieve it. The race was still long and I wasn’t willing to take any additional risks, especially when it comes to hydration and nutrition. Aksel Nielsen told me after the race he had also lost his bottles, but he left them. He totally bonked on the second run. I kept my rhythm and I was very much looking forward to the end of the bike section and start the second run (Time: 1:47:09).

The psychology of running off the bike is if you really think about pretty simple. No matter how bad you might feel, at the end of the day everybody suffers immensely. That thought has always comforted me and I can’t resist a game of Pac-man whenever I can. I have a naturally high running pace, even if I am ready to drop dead. I never felt I was running fast, but Jason Spong told me he had the exact same feeling, still I managed to catch quite a few of the other elites. The moment you pass another athlete on the run, you can see the mirror breaking into many pieces. Mentally it’s a home run in your advantage and I have met very few athletes who have the strength to keep all the pieces glued together. Overall, I managed the fourth fastest time off the bike (Time: 40:41). If you only take the run into account, my cumulative time was fourth fastest of the field. That in itself is a huge achievement considering unlike all the other elites, I am not a full-time professional athlete.

Before Powerman, I had set two goals: Finish in the top ten and be the first “real amateur” to complete the race. I achieved both! My final time was 3:05:45. That was exactly ten minutes behind Andy Sutz, the winner of Powerman Zoffingen 2008. I was able to talk to him after the race, and he quickly noted Powerman Malaysia was tougher than Zoffingen. The heat and humidity can be excruciating in Lumut.

Jason Spong reclaimed his title from 2005. In an awesome 2:43:13, he blew away the competition. A deserved winner who is a class act as a person.

Overall, I’m very pleased with my season. I set certain realistic but challenging goals and I reached all of them. That in itself shows I gave it my best and in the end there’s not much more you can do. Now, I’m looking forward to a break from training. Play some football on the beach with friends, go kayaking and anything that doesn’t resemble Duathlon or triathlon. Oddly though, in two weeks’ time, I will probably miss my training schedules already.

And last but not least, congratulations to everyone who competed as age-groupers and finished in the top three. Well done Emma and Simon!

Final Preparations

2008-11-04T23:54:00.003+07:00

High time I wrote something again. Don’t want to see my blog turn into a fossilized artifact.

In less than a week, Powerman Malaysia will take place. For the past week or so, I have been tapering and religiously following my coach’s schedule. My hamstring is fine and I’m obviously pleased about that. Thank goodness I let common sense prevail and handled the situation well. Ego sometimes needs to take a backseat if you want to move forward or achieve your goals. There’s just no point in continuing when one is down, but it doesn’t mean it should have negative effects. Cross training rocks!

Thanks to Emma, I’m able to get a ride to the race site in Lumut. Although I’m very much looking forward to the race itself and the accompanying challenge, I know I’m not particularly welcome at the race site. To simplify matters, let’s keep it at “politics”. Mentally, it’s not ideal. Hopefully by catching up with my Malaysian friends, I’ll be able to distract myself from the negative vibes.

Over the next few weeks, I will have to make some major decisions. As it turns out, there are some issues with my work permit in Vietnam. Even though, I turned in my original Flemish documents and English translations, the Vietnamese government needs to have the paperwork in Vietnamese. The only way for me to do this officially is by once again validating my degree at my university, go to the ministry of foreign affairs, then go to the Vietnamese Embassy in Brussels and finally to the Belgian Embassy in Hanoi. To me, that just sounds like an administrative headache, not to mention the financial implications.

My company has suggested that I could stay on until the end of my contract, change my visa status to a student visa from January to March while I study my course, but it would mean (unless I get the documents), I can’t resign a new contract. The main question though is why should I do all this administrative mumbo-jumbo? I have no ambition to stay in Vietnam. Both in Thailand and Malaysia, the documents I already have were more than adequate.

It’s far from ideal to prepare for my June 2009 exam, but I might have to move earlier than anticipated. Oddly enough, I could stay in Vietnam if I decided to work for a Vietnamese owned school, but I will happily pass on that possibility. Furthermore, I feel it is time to go and perhaps leave South East Asia. I’ve enjoyed the past 6 years, but the newness or the challenge has slowly disappeared.

Next Monday, I am going to meet my former boss from CfBT in Kuala Lumpur. I might as well kill two birds with one stone: race and apply for a new job. CfBT has various projects running in the Middle East, more specifically Oman and the UAE. Some of them involve teacher training and ultimately those are the kind of projects I’m interested in the most.

Financially, the Middle East is an attractive option and the region around Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Muscat is getting good reviews. There’s a whole load going on out there, and I wouldn’t be me before having done some research. Muscat has a running and triathlon club. Sounds like my kind of place. I like the geographic diversity of Oman’s landscape as it is not only Desert. Its political policies are quite progressive for the Middle East and most of all, it’s politically stable. Who knows, I might be in the land of the flying carpets and genie bottles in the not so distant future.

Hamstrings

2008-10-26T18:26:00.001+07:00

With exactly two weeks to go before Powerman, training has been disrupted by my left hamstring. Since last weekends race in the Philippines, I haven’t been able to run. I tried to go for an easy run two days ago, but had to quickly abandon that plan. The good news is that I’ve been able to cycle pain free. Still, not being able to run properly just before the race of the year is a major bummer.

Most likely, I have pulled the hamstring. As there was never any swelling, I’m assuming there is no tear in the muscle. I hope by resting a few extra days and taking some anti-flammatories I should be able to resume some light running on Tuesday. Since running is my strength, I don’t believe it will be too much of a set back, but the situation is far from ideal.

2008 Philippine Duathlon Open

2008-10-20T22:35:00.003+07:00

Reality checks can be bitter sweet at times. After this weekend’s race in the Philippines, I have a double feeling about my performance. On the one hand, I’m extremely pleased with my run performance. On the other hand, I’m a bit disappointed with my sixth place position, but in all honesty I’m being too hard for myself. I was beaten by five national athletes. What do you expect?

I knew that if I wanted to have a shot at winning the race, I would have to run a very good first 10 km. And that’s what I did, but to my surprise, athletes who I had beaten before, were able to follow the tempo. We had to run four two-and-half km laps. The first two laps were led by another competitor and the eventual winner Catiil, but gradually I started catching them and for the last lap-and-a-half I more or less dictated the tempo. At all times, I felt very comfortable, although I did pick up a slight strain in my left hamstring. I decided to continue as I felt it wasn’t serious enough to quit. I finished the first 10 km run in 33:29, a few seconds behind the other three of the leading group. I did not sprint into transition as the others did, as that usually just blows up in your face later on in the race.

I did not have a bad bike, but still I struggled. I don’t have the explosiveness to keep up with any decent cyclist. I don’t have any training partners and I knew before the race this was going to be my biggest weakness. It was also an undulating course, which is the kind of course I am totally not suited for. It’s either flats or monstrous mountains, but anything in between I struggle on. Three more guys passed me on the bike, but my aim was to catch them on the second run. I saw them running when I entered transition after 1:09:34 on the bike.

What can I say about my second run? With a strained right hamstring I pulled a fantastic 17:03 off the bike for the last 5 km run. And still, I only managed to catch one guy, so I finished 6th overall. I just wasn’t able to beat the two hour mark, as I finished in 2:00:06.

The ambiguous feelings I have stem from the fact that if I were to be stronger on the bike, I could actually compete for a podium place in a race like Powerman. Nevertheless, the reality is that I can’t enjoy the luxuries of proper training partners, full-time commitment to the sport, on site professional coaches, etc.

This does not take away the amazing performance of the Filipino national team. They did a wonderful job and some of their athletes have improved tremendously. If the SEA Games were to be held today, the podium would be all Filipino. They don’t just have one Ryan Mendoza, they have four or five of them running around, and all of them are in their early twenties. A 16-year-old, who competed and won in the sprint category, managed a 16:32 for the first 5 km run.

I was hugely impressed by the commitment and professionalism of the Filipino Triathlon association. They have a proper system in place, backed up by an excellent coaching team. In the years to come, this South East Asian country could become one of the leaders in Asia’s multi-sport scene.

I would like to thank the Triathlon Association of the Philippines for inviting me to the race and taking care of my accommodation in Clark and Manila. A special mention goes to Mr. Carrasco and Rick Reyes, who invited me to stay at his home for my last night in Manila. Thank you for your generosity and hospitality.

The wedding planner

2008-10-14T23:23:00.001+07:00

As I was walking down the stairs from class, one of my Vietnamese teaching assistants gave me an invitation card for yet another wedding. “Who’s getting married?” I asked her. “Mai is”, she replied. I had to think for a second and then it hit me. The first thing that came up in my head was “you’ve got to be kidding me.”

Am I working at a school or am I in the middle of a soap opera without knowing it? A bit like Jim Carrey in The Truman Show. Our dear bride-to-be used to have an affair with one of our teachers. Obviously, she kept a Vietnamese boyfriend on the side, but he was kept in the dark about her little romance. Then again, this being Vietnam, I’m sure he has a few girlfriends on the side too.

The ironic thing is, the above mentioned teacher only left our school two weeks ago. They sure don’t take a lot of time to take care of business in Vietnam.

Not a gambling man

2008-10-12T20:43:00.005+07:00

If anyone followed my advice and put money on Craig Alexander at a local betting shop, don’t forget to buy me a drink next time we meet. I’m extremely pleased to see a fantastic athlete like Alexander win the Ironman in Hawaii. Here’s an excerpt from the press conference. I think it says enough about what a great athlete he is.

Some other aspects of today’s presser that told much of the story of the race:

Turns out that Craig Alexander said some encouraging words to Andy Potts as he went by him on the bike.

Of the man who had never run further than 15 miles, had never done a 100 mile bike, but still managed an eighth place finish, the ever-sportsmanlike Craig Alexander had this to say:

“I was really happy for him to get eighth,” Crowie said. “He’s definitely a danger if he ever wants to focus on this race. He’s a pretty quick learner.”

When asked why he would encourage a competitor like that, Alexander said:

“When you reach out to people in the race it takes away a bit of the pain.”

I’m also pleased that Rutger Beke has made a successful come back. Considering he had a four minute time penalty during the bike, it took an enormous amount of mental strength to keep his focus and not do the easy thing, which would be to give up. In that perspective, it reminds me of my race in Desaru where I had a very bad swim, but never gave up. The satisfaction of reaching your goals afterwards is indescribable.

Also, I’d like to congratulate Carmen for her inspiring performance in Kona. You are truly an Iron(wo)man.

Heat & Sanity

2008-10-11T21:46:00.006+07:00

Roughly 90 km from where I live, there’s a city named Bien Hoa. There’s nothing mind-blowing about the place, apart from the fact that it has a quite famous mental hospital. The moment I even mention Bien Hoa and their infamous hospital, my students always chuckle. I’m seriously contemplating having my mental sanity assessed by the local psychiatrists. Then again, I hope they have moved on to modern day techniques and have dropped old ones such as lobotomies. Just kidding! :-D

One of the main reasons I love living in South East Asia is the weather, and I can now officially declare the rainy season to be over in southern Vietnam. OK, that’s not entirely true; currently it is the stormy season. Vietnam does frequently get hit by hurricanes which create enormous amounts of damage and deaths, especially in the north of the country. Just a week ago, a storm ravaged some northern provinces.

The end of the rainy season has brought scorching hot weather with temperatures over 35°C. For some reason, this shift from Mother Nature has had a positive effect on my training. For some reason, I thoroughly enjoy running in this heat at midday. For some reason, I just think that’s not normal. The Vietnamese certainly don’t. They must be amused seeing me on another masochistic and torturing run every day. Crazy foreigner!

I’m really getting excited about next week. The Open Duathlon Championships in the Philippines will only be my second Duathlon of the year, but unlike the first one in Singapore, I’m much fitter and will not hold back on particularly the run. It’s going to be full on business and I will try to give it my best. I’m going with certain ambitions, but realism keeps me in check. I have various tactical scenarios in my head for what might happen and most importantly who might be there. The goal is to utilize my strengths to the maximum.

Powerman Malaysia Request

2008-10-10T13:57:00.002+07:00

Are there any people interested in sharing a hotel room in Lumut for Powerman Malaysia? It's a great way to cut the costs. If so, leave a comment and I will contact you ASAP. Thanks.

My Vietnamese students

2008-10-05T23:37:00.003+07:00

Some pictures of my adult and teenager class. Instead of boring everyone with superlatives about them, here’s a little anecdote.

While I was teaching in Kuala Lumpur, I once gave my higher level adult students some pictures spread out on a piece of paper. I wanted them to create some sentences using the grammar point we had discussed that lesson. After completion of the task, I asked them if they had recognized the person in the bottom picture. The picture showed me running out of the ocean in the Bintan Triathlon. One of the students immediately replied and said: “But of course, that’s Tom Cruise.” As you can imagine, I gave her some extra marks on her next exam.

How I adore my sloth days

2008-10-05T22:37:00.003+07:00

Last Friday, I had my beloved sloth day from training. For the past month or so, I’ve been able to focus well on the schedule my coach had prepared for me. My endurance level is excellent, but I’m a little bit worried about my explosiveness. The constant solitary nature of training is starting to get to me a bit, thus having an effect on my motivation level. I guess it’s the end of the season blues, but the prospect of Powerman keeps me going. It’s the only Duathlon race in which I can test myself against some of the best duathletes in the world.

In two weeks, I will have my penultimate race of the season and my last warm up for the big one on November 9. The Open Duathlon Championships in the Philippines are going to be intense and I hope Aussie Rafael Baugh will be there. He finished 12th at the recent World Championships in Rimini, and even though I know he’s a more talented athlete than me, I relish the challenge.

As Powerman is a longer distance, it will be in my advantage. I prefer longer distances, and if it was up to me, they could add some kilometers to both the run and the bike. My goal will be to finish in the top ten, and if possible as close as possible to the number five spot. If I can run both run segments in roughly 37 minutes, my placing should be good. I have proven in various races this year that I am capable of reaching those targets. I can’t wait!!!

P.S.: Powerman Malaysia = 11 km run - 64 km bike - 10 km

Duathlon’s bad propaganda

2008-09-30T22:56:00.003+07:00

Duathlon, triathlon and XTerra are in my opinion some of the greatest sports ever invented. What happened last Saturday at the world championships though was an uppercut straight in the face of Duathlon. Trying to get out of its bigger brother’s shadow (triathlon), the race created a huge publicity nightmare which it could have gone without like a toothache.

I’ve been trying to understand what went through the protagonists heads, or if you want to reverse the roles, the antagonists. Having read some of the blogs of mainly the Flemish athletes present at the race, the whole ordeal is starting to make sense to me. It’s another classic example of the ruthlessness of the professional world of sports.

Rob Woestenborghs was under an enormous amount of pressure from the Flemish sports council (BLOSO). He needed to make the podium or he would lose his status as a professional athlete. BLOSO evaluates its athletes on a yearly basis and if an athlete has not met the required goals, they get the proverbial pink slip. More or less, you could say Rob’s professional career might be over, unless he finds private sponsors. That’s a tough pill to swallow, and might explain his possible recklessness on the bike during the race. Pressure can make you do silly things.

Jurgen Dereere is a duathlon legend at the Olympic distance who is a multiple European champion. The only major championship that has eluded him is the world championships, ending up as vice-world champion on quite a few occasions. For him, this was the race of the year and thus pressure sensitive. According to information on the Internet, Rob made a reckless maneuver on the bike that caused Jurgen to crash. Fair enough, I’d be pretty upset too after the race.

The protest lodged by Dereere was apparently backed up by 12 athletes. That is no small amount. I feel though he could have handled the situation differently. As Rob is Belgian, he should’ve let other foreign duathletes take the lead or discussed the matter with the Belgian delegates. The result is that he has received quite a few threatening or ill-worded messages on his website’s message board. Apparently, the Portuguese also handed in a complaint about Rob’s cycling, but only after Jurgen. The press has not made any references of this fact.

Whatever took place, the whole ordeal was not only a blow to the Belgian national team, but one Duathlon didn’t deserve. Hypothetically though, and I want to emphasize this, both athletes could have handled the situation during and after the race in a more mature manner. Because isn’t that what makes the great champions, being able to cope with pressure.

Embarrassment doesn’t even sum it up

2008-09-28T18:13:00.007+07:00

DQ in Rimini gives Amey Du title (September 28, 2008)

Paul Amey won his third ITU Duathlon World Championship on a day marred by controversy in Rimini, Italy today. Belgian Rob Woestenborghs was first across the line but after his own teammate lodged a protest, Woestenborghs was later disqualified by race officials thereby giving the world championship title to Amey.

The controversial men's race opened with a pair of Portuguese men, Sergio Silva and Lino Barruncho, taking the early lead. But the main players, Amey, Woestenborghs and Belgians Bart Aernouts and Jurgen Dereere trailed by just seven seconds. The drama began early in the 40-kilometer bike segment as all six men were in the lead pack. According to Dereere, his Belgian teammate Woestenborghs was cycling dangerously. Eventually Amey, Aernouts and Woestenborghs broke away and went on to post the three fastest bike splits of the day by almost two full minutes. That lead was enough for all three to secure the podium with Woestenborghs crossing the line first, Amey second and Aernouts in third.

However, after the race, Dereere filed a protest with race officials against Woestenborghs for his aggressive riding. Officials said it was a tough call but ultimately disqualified both men for what was deemed "unsportsmanlike and dangerous behaviour on the first lap of the bike segment which risked the safety of the competitors around them".

With the disqualification, Amey was crowned world champion for the third time in his career, successfully defending last year's title. But the bitter sweetness of the occasion was not lost on him.

"It's pretty disappointing to win the world championships in this way. (Rob) definitely deserved to win today," said Amey.

Aernouts was awarded the silver while Silva was bumped up to the bronze medal position. After being dropped from the lead pack in the bike, Dereere fell further behind and finished well back and outside the top-20. The disqualification is final and Woestenborghs cannot appeal the decision. He was not available for comment after the disqualification.

Over the next few days, I hope to get more details about what really happened at the Duathlon world championships in Rimini, but at the moment I just feel embarrassed. If the Portuguese or British had lodged a complaint, I could have somewhat lived with that fact, but a fellow countryman? A teammate? Jurgen Dereere might have had a point when he filed his protest, but why couldn’t he have solved the issue within the Belgian team or through the Belgian federation? No other athlete filed a complaint except him. The official Belgian motto “Unity creates strength” was literally flushed down the toilet here. I’m baffled.

Ford Ironman World Championship (11/10/08)

2008-09-28T00:37:00.004+07:00

IRONMAN = 3.8 km swim – 180 km bike – 42 km run

The big boys are slowly starting to arrive in idyllic Kona for the Ford Ironman World Championship: a legendary race on boiling lava-covered roads with an unforgiving wind. This is by far the most important race on any ironman’s calendar, elite or age-grouper alike. The lucky few who have won the right to book their Kona plane tickets, all went to a grueling training routine that allowed them to qualify for the epitome of long-distance triathlon.

I have never competed in an Ironman, and I must admit, I find it a completely different discipline from what I have done so far. I’m not sure if I ever will as I’m still having a debate with myself if I would actually like it. I thoroughly enjoyed the half ironman I did recently, but an Ironman is still another story. If I ever do it, I want to reach certain targets, and that would mean a sub-three hour marathon for a starter. That’s not a big deal in a normal marathon, but it is in an Ironman. Anyways, if I do an Ironman, it won’t be before 2010.

Thanks to Luc Van Lierde, Kona has reached mythical proportions for Belgian triathletes. In this year’s race, we have no less than five athletes who have the capabilities of finishing in the top fifteen. Marino Vanhoenacker could even win the race. Nevertheless, I believe the Aussies are going to dominate again as they did last year. I’m going to put my money on Craig Alexander. I met him a few years ago at the Laguna Phuket Triathlon in Thailand, and although he is an absolute superstar, he was very much down-to-earth. Winning in Kona would be a deserved accolade for his fantastic career. Here’s my top 5:

1. Craig Alexander (Aus)
2. Chris McCormack (Aus)
3. Marino Vanhoenacker (Bel)
4. Eneko Llanos (Esp)
5. Luc Van Lierde (Bel)

Craig Alexander

For the women’s race, it’ll be toss up between Chrissie Wellington (Gbr) and Samantha McGlone (Can). I think Chrissie will win thanks to her fantastic run.

I’d like to wish Carmen from Malaysia good luck. She qualified for her age group through the Langkawi Ironman in February. Enjoy the race, soak up the atmosphere, and most of all have fun. Being there is an amazing achievement in itself.

Carmen

The world goes round and round

2008-09-25T22:57:00.003+07:00

It’s been a good week both at the office and in training. On Monday, I was interviewed for the DELTA course. The trainer immediately put me at ease by revealing I had been accepted already. My past experience and credentials were sufficient. Of course, this is the easy part. The first 6 months of 2009 won’t be a picnic, but hey, sometimes you have to "suffer" to get somewhere in life.

Training has been going well and my Achilles tendon/calf isn’t bothering me anymore. I’ve been able to resume my training schedule as planned. Yesterday, I did a 60 km bike ride and a 15 km run off the bike. I ran the distance in 1:04 on a hilly course without ever pushing myself, or as I would put it, an easy run. I feel very confident about my run for Powerman. The Open Philippines Duathlon Championships on October 19 will be a great test for that race. I wish though I had more time to stay in the Philippines as I’ve never been there before. Filipinos are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met and I’ve heard it’s gorgeous out there. It's a country on my to-do-list.

Alberto Contador

2008-09-21T22:54:00.003+07:00

Read my words, the cycling world has a new Tour phenomenon: Alberto Contador. He has joined the immortal Merckx, Gimondi, Anquetil and Hinault as the only cyclists to have ever won the Giro, the Vuelta and the Tour. This deserves nothing more than the utmost respect.

And for those nostalgic naïve cycling fans, the Boss is going to get creamed by this young Spaniard in next year’s Tour de France. Barring any political turmoil within the Astana team, the once great Armstrong shall be watching Contador’s Lycra shorts gradually cycling away from him on L’Alpe d’Huez in an ever humiliating fashion. Remember “the look”, it points to the future. If you believe in the past and Fantasy land, I recommend going on a holiday to Disney World. Contador shall be merciless! Olé!

The road to recovery

2008-09-20T22:15:00.002+07:00

Today was a promising day in training. I had to take it easy for a few days as I was having some issues with my right Achilles tendon and calf. I was able to do the bike workout exactly as my coach had written it in my training plan. I did not do the 2 hour run off the bike; instead I did an easy 5 km run. Since I did it in 20 minutes flat, I think I shouldn’t complain too much. There is no negative reaction, so I hope by next weekend I can increase the volume again. We’re back on track.

D-Day

2008-09-20T21:25:00.003+07:00

On Monday, I will be interviewed by the DELTA trainers of my school/company. More or less, this is/was the main reason why I moved to Vietnam. I believe going down the DELTA route will eventually allow me to have more and better professional opportunities, and thus more financial rewards. I feel quietly optimistic and confident that I will be accepted by the program officers. I’ve given it my best over the past 6 years, there’s nothing more I can do. Here’s some information:

What is DELTA?
If you have substantial experience of teaching English to speakers of other languages, and are ready to progress your career, you need the Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (DELTA). This internationally recognized qualification helps you to:
- deepen your understanding of the principles and practice of teaching the English language to adults
- examine your current practices and beliefs
- apply the results of your learning and reflection to your current teaching position and more senior roles.

Who is DELTA for?
You may be a graduate, or already hold an initial teaching qualification, and are considering DELTA as a route to further career progression. The qualification is ideal if you wish to extend your professional experience and accept new responsibilities as it not only demonstrates a commitment to the profession, but is also proof of your ability.

You may be looking for an opportunity to increase your understanding of the principles and practice of English Language teaching to help improve your overall performance in the classroom. As part of this process, DELTA courses encourage you to analyze your existing practices and beliefs. They also help you to apply the results of your learning and reflection both to your current professional life and to contexts beyond your present and previous teaching experience.

To summarize, the DELTA makes you a better practical teacher, while for example a master’s degree focuses more on theoretical aspects. Eventually, I will do a master’s degree, but not in a specific topic such as English language teaching. Flexibility is the key in today’s job market, so an MA in international education or MBA in project work would make more sense. Future music! First land safely on the beaches of Normandy on Monday!

Training can be mythical

2008-09-17T23:28:00.004+07:00

The volume in training has been quite high lately and most of the time it’s a fine balancing act between what is sustainable and what isn’t. Currently, my body is telling me I’ve crossed the line. Therefore, the next few days, I won’t be running. I have strained my right Achilles tendon a bit. I’m not too worried. Rest for a few days should do the trick. Nevertheless, I couldn’t resist the temptation of doing some Google research and came across the story of the Greek mythical hero: Achilles.

According to ancient Greek mythology, Achilles was the Greek hero and greatest warrior of the Trojan War. His exploits were chronicled by Homer in the Iliad, one of Western civilization’s first great epic poems; Alexander the Great used the title Descendent of Achilles; and Achilles was a lead character in three movies: Helen of Troy (1956), Helen of Troy (TV 2003), and Troy (2004).Achilles' mother Thetis was one of the fifty Nereids. Nereids were friendly women who: lived in the Mediterranean Sea, associated with Poseidon (God of the Sea), helped sailors during storms, rode dolphins and sea turtles, and could predict the future. Achilles’ father Peleus was King of the Myrmidons and one of the Argonauts who accompanied Jason on the quest for the Golden Fleece. All the gods and goddesses except Eris (goddess of conflicts) were invited to Thetis's and Peleus's wedding. Eris did not like being excluded, so she threw a golden apple into the wedding banquet. The apple was inscribed “to the most beautiful”; which led to an argument between the beautiful goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite; which later contributed to the beginning of the Trojan war.

There are two versions of how Thetis tried to immortalize Achilles. In the earlier version she anointed him with ambrosia (a drink of the gods that reinforced their immortality) and then put him in a fire so that all his mortal parts would burn away, leaving only his anointed (and therefore immortal) parts. However, Peleus interrupted her and pulled Achilles out of the fire before his heel was burned. In the later version she dipped Achilles in the sacred river Styx, making every part of him that touched the water invulnerable. However, Thetis held Achilles by his heel while dipping him, so his heel was not touched by the water. In both versions, Achilles’ heel remained mortal, while the rest of his body became immortal. Achilles’ heel was Achilles' only vulnerability.

During the Trojan War Achilles was a seemingly invincible warrior. He captured over 20 Trojan towns, and killed many Trojan warriors and their allies. These included: Hector, Prince of Troy and the 2nd greatest warrior in the Trojan War; Memnon, King of Ethiopia and Greek historian; Cycnus, son of Poseidon and King of Colonae; and Penthesilia, Queen of the Amazon warriors. Later, Paris (who started the Trojan War by kidnapping Helen from Greece), aided by Apollo (God of Music and Archery), shot an arrow into Achilles’ heel and Achilles died of the wound.

As a result of the Achilles legend, the expression Achilles heel came to mean a small but fatal vulnerability, and the tendon connecting the heel to the calf became known as the Achilles tendon.

A local delicacy – Snake meat

2008-09-17T23:11:00.004+07:00

(R-rated WARNING: the video and pictures at the bottom of the text are of very explicit nature)

When it comes to food, I definitely have the reputation of being a human waste bin. Being a triathlete certainly doesn’t help either, calories are my dearest friends. Nonetheless, I’ve always been a huge fan of the finer cuisine and I just couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to eat a Vietnamese delicacy, the cobra.

Snakes are mindboggling creatures, not only for their ecological value, but also for the symbolic fear they have represented over the ages. Make no mistake though, snakes are more afraid of us than any other predator. Still, I wouldn’t sign up for a wrestling match with a boa or a game of chicken with a cobra.

A few months ago, my colleagues and I went to a small snake restaurant in a dodgy alley near our work. As we entered the kitchen, we could see all the cotton bags and metal cages where the snakes were being held. Being the curious self, I couldn’t resist the temptation of picking up one or two bags and looking into the cages. The chef quickly pulled me back, wagging his finger, not this cage: spitting cobras. Oeps!!!

“Time to rock and roll”, thought the chef. He grabbed a snake and with the assistance of a female relative, he used some scissors to cut off the cobra’s head. The reptile’s body was incredibly tense. Then again, how would you feel with a snipping guillotine next to your head? Immediately, the chef took a knife, cut open the snake’s “belly” and let the blood run into a plastic cup. The heart and other major organs were also removed. The blood and organs were later mixed with a bottle of vodka. The belief is that it has an aphrodisiac effect on especially men. I had one shot, didn’t feel the difference to be honest.

The main meal turned out to be a bit disappointing. The adrenaline rush the snakes had before seeing the big shiny gate opening, their reunion with Adam & Eve and the infamous red apple, had a bad effect on the meat, resulting in a chewy culinary experience. If the animals were killed in a more humane manner, I assume the flesh would have been much tastier and more succulent.

Is going to a Vietnamese snake restaurant shocking? Most definitely! Does an animal rights organization have the right to call me a barbarian? On this occasion, yes they can. It was an interesting cultural experience to say the least, but that was about the only positive note. I’m a passionate omnivore with an animal-loving heart (I know, it’s a contradiction). The snakes deserved to meet their end in a more civilized manner.

The removal of the snake's internal organs

Snake soup with ginger

The cutting open of the snake stomach

A Vietnamese Wedding

2008-09-14T22:13:00.003+07:00

I had the privilege of receiving a wedding invitation by one of my Vietnamese colleagues. As I am a big fan of free food parties, how could I resist? To my great joy and probably hers too, her groom-to-be decided not to bail on the wedding and everything went according to plan. The venue for the wedding reception was Maxims, which immediately gave me a déjà-vu. Wasn’t someone I know supposed to have a party here two weeks ago? I guess not all of us can make the big step (and this time I’m not referring to myself).

The last wedding I went to, I felt that I was seriously overdressed so I decided to come in fairly formal shorts and a nice black t-shirt. As I approached the restaurant, it came to my attention there were two weddings going on, one upstairs and one downstairs. If you have never been to a South East Asian wedding, well let me tell you this, the brides tend to put on a whole department store worth of cosmetics on their delicate faces. I went to the photographs standing in front of each wedding reception and obviously, I couldn’t recognize my colleague. I started wondering if I was at the right place, but then luckily, I saw a sign with her name. And coming back to my clothes, I was seriously underdressed this time. Damn!!! But I did recognize my colleague once I put my face right at her picture.

To summarize, a Vietnamese wedding is about food, Vietnamese men getting hammered, and your eardrums getting pounded while enjoying the lovely food. The food bit is a part I just can’t resist. We were given five different local dishes, and I ate to justify my reputation as a calories-are-my-best-friends’ gourmet. About every five minutes, the men sitting at the table next to ours would throw down a shot of vodka or a glass of beer. Every ten minutes, they would come to the table I was sharing with my foreign and Vietnamese colleagues. A quick one, two, three and cheers!!! Always fun, having a drunk dude hanging all over your shoulder, although you’re drinking plain water. The band, or actually to be more exact the loudspeakers, did an excellent job of making conversations near impossible. At some point, I thought my ears were going to sue me for negligence.

Besides the Vietnamese band and local dance acts, my American colleague Rick gave a virtuoso performance. The crowd absolutely loved him, and he just stood there on stage cracking jokes and singing songs in Vietnamese like it was the most normal thing on earth. At the end, he was a real superstar, being invited for more “vodka shot” rounds. His face glowed even more once he rejoined our table.

The wedding party didn’t last very long, perhaps two hours. The guests gradually started going home, while I was still enjoying the food. It was so delicious that I sort of lost track of time, and started getting subtle hints from the waiters it was time to go home. A few more fish balls and veggies, and I was ready to go.

The bride seemed very happy when we left. Still being curious, I haven’t been able to stop wondering for the last few days. Two months ago, I asked my colleague if she had a boyfriend and she said no. You can imagine my surprise when I found out about the wedding. An arranged wedding? Most probably.

The boss' come back

2008-09-14T22:07:00.003+07:00

The mythical proportions of the big boss’ decision to rejoin the peloton has probably been on most cyclists’ lips for the past days. It seems that it might have a domino effect too, Floyd Landis and Michael Boogerd are thinking of joining Lance. I guess life away from the spotlight is hard to bear. Although, the boss shouldn’t have to complain too much with Sheryl Crow and Kate Hudson on his résumé.

Some claim Armstrong is the greatest cyclist of all time; I would be committing treason and blasphemy stating that opinion. For Belgians there is only one: Eddy Merckx. Over the years, the sport has undergone a dramatic transformation and has become much more specialized. In the old days, les coureurs would embark on both the Classics as the major Tours. Yes folks, cycling is not only le Tour de France. Every year, more than one million people stalwartly cheer on their heroes in de Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders). To give you a statistic, that’s 10% of the Belgian population or nearly 17% of the Flemish inhabitants. Cycling is a religion in the more sensible region of the Low Countries (sorry couldn’t resist making a joke about the Dutch).

In a certain way, I can understand Armstrong’s motives. The fight against cancer deserves no less than overexposure in the media. There is no doubt about his love for the sport and the camaraderie of being part of a pro cycling team. And ultimately, there’s the main reason, the addiction for sports. The fight to be number one and prove one is the best.

Do I think Armstrong is making the right decision? Honestly, I have ambiguous feelings about his comeback. Yes, he would give cycling a much needed boost, especially in the North American media. On the other hand, I respect Lance for what he has achieved in the past and I would rather hang on to those images. I seriously doubt he will be able to achieve his previous level. My hat off to him if he pulls off an eight Le Tour victory.

You could say that I am quite a conservative cycling fan. Even though I have an immense amount of respect for Miguel Indurain and Lance Armstrong, they embody modern cycling. They both had the month of July marked with a big fat red pen in their calendar, but other major races would be left untouched. The international media has a tendency of only focusing on the Tour de France circus, often ignoring the likes of Paolo Bettini, Tom Boonen or Fabian Cancellara to just name a few, and their fantastic feats.

Outside Europe, only a select few know more than a few household cycling names, and I’ve never been a fan of front runners. Cycling is more than just Lance Armstrong and Le Tour de France; I hope people won’t forget that.

The Frog Princess

2008-09-13T21:41:00.002+07:00

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess who lived in a gorgeous castle surrounded by breathtaking mountains and lovely little streams. One day, while the princess was enjoying a beautiful day out near a pond in her far far away land, a frog approached her. To her great surprise, he started talking to her.

“My dear lady, a wicked witch once transformed me into a frog,” he croaked, “but if a princess kisses me, the spell will be broken. If you kiss me, I can move into your amazing castle with my mother, you can cook for me, wash my clothes, and take care of our children. So, what do you say?”

That evening, while the princess was enjoying frog legs in a mouthwatering béarnaise sauce, she thought to herself and said, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

I used this story for a writing and listening activity with my Elementary level adult students. I couldn’t resist the temptation and ask my female students how they felt about the princess’ actions. To my surprise, their answer would not turn out to be generational, but would depend on their social and educational background. I had both younger and older students agreeing and disagreeing with the princess.

Rest day

2008-09-11T13:41:00.000+07:00

Sigh!!!! (a relaxed sigh)

I love my lazy days. In my dictionary, it means a day without exercise. My goal, on days like these, has always been quite simple: “be like a sloth”. I try to honour my imitation in true spirit, although I wish I had less other commitments like work and grocery shopping. Nonetheless, today I’m a sloth.

Over the next 28 days or so, I’ll have exactly 3 lazy days (including today). My training schedule has been set up in 10 day training blocks. Each day consists of a bike workout and a run off the bike. Obviously, the intensity varies from day to day, but I’ll have my work cut out for the next month.

The toughest part of training is the constant loneliness. I miss having training partners, people who can push you to the next limit when training requires you to push that little extra. Vietnam isn’t a very sport minded country; let alone finding someone who does duathlon/triathlon. The biggest challenge until Powerman isn’t the physical aspect, it’s the constant mental strain training puts on you. I’m glad I’m an ultra-competitive someone, it helps. I reached my goals in Desaru, and I will achieve them in Powerman too.

The road to Powerman Malaysia

2008-09-08T23:10:00.000+07:00

The final preparation for Powerman Malaysia (November 9) has begun. The next 2 months will be both physically and mentally grueling, but you can’t expect anything else if you want results. As a final tune-up, I will be competing in the Open National Duathlon Championships in Clark, the Philippines on October 19.

Accident deaths highlight Vietnam's traffic crisis

2008-09-06T22:51:00.000+07:00

This is an article the Taipei Times published 2 years ago. Although for example motorcycle helmets have become mandatory since December 2007, a lot of the traffic issues mentioned in the article are very much still a problem today.

AP, HANOI Sunday, Dec 17, 2006
It was a terrible coincidence that has focused attention on one of Vietnam's worst problems: In the past week, motorbikes hit and killed two beloved professors on the streets of Hanoi.

One, the president of Hanoi National University, died a day after he was struck during an afternoon stroll near his home.

The other, a professor emeritus from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US, is in a coma after being run down on a busy street in front of his Hanoi hotel.

A chartered plane yesterday flew technology and education expert Seymour Papert, 78, back to Boston, along with family members, a nurse and a neurologist.

Papert, in Hanoi for an international mathematics conference, had been talking to a friend about ways to solve Hanoi's traffic problems when a speeding motorbike hit him on Dec. 7.

On Thursday, thousands attended the funeral of university president and mechanical engineering professor Nguyen Van Dao, 70.

"We must find a way to solve the traffic problems here," said Nguyen Thi Viet Thanh, a colleague of Dao's. "This is such a big loss."

Government statistics show traffic accidents, the leading cause of death in Vietnam, claim about 12,000 lives every year in the country of 84 million.

Some international organizations estimate the actual number is twice as high.

Ninety percent of accidents involve motorbikes, the primary means of transport in the developing country, where few can afford cars.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City roads teem with speeding motorbikes. Traffic law enforcement is lax. Drivers routinely run red lights and go the wrong way on one-way streets.

Honking horns and chatting on mobile phones, they weave across lane markers.
Crossing the street is hazardous for pedestrians, especially tourists unfamiliar with local driving habits.

"The number of deaths is shocking, but the number of injuries is three times as high," said Nguyen Phuong Nam of the WHO's Vietnam office. "There are many serious head injuries."
Very few motorcyclists use helmets and many drivers lack experience, said Greig Craft, president of the Asia Injury Prevention Fund, a nonprofit group that makes low-cost helmets and promotes safe driving.

"I would call the traffic situation here an absolute crisis," Craft said. "In the West, if you run a red light, it is culturally unacceptable. But here, the young Vietnamese think it's cool."

Craft's group has been working for years to persuade Vietnam to make helmets mandatory, which he says would immediately cut traffic deaths by more than 30 percent.

Most Vietnamese believe strongly in fate, and that death will come when it is meant to. This contributes to a fatalistic attitude about traffic safety.

But the two professors' recent deaths have prompted many Vietnamese to call for a safety campaign. Newspapers have been filled with stories about the accidents. People flooded Internet chatrooms to vent frustrations.

Vietnam International Triathlon

2008-09-06T19:44:00.000+07:00

Where: Hoi An, Vietnam
When: 23/08/08
What: Triathlon
Distance: Swim 1.5 km – Bike 40 km – Run 10 km

Originally, I had not planned to do this race. Although it’s organized by probably the best organizers (Tribob) in the business in South East Asia, the race does not offer any prize money. At the end of the day, I’m still an amateur (no sponsors) and racing costs money. I decided to contact my company and ask them if they had any interest in sponsoring me. A few months ago, I won an X-terra triathlon in Mui Ne and received quite a lot of press attention (newspapers, TV, magazines). To my surprise, they decided to pay for my flight, accommodation and registration fees, as long as I would show the company’s logo during the race and mention them in any interviews.

One of my colleagues had also entered the race, and to be fairly honest, it’s always more fun when you go to a race and you have some friends tagging along. Since the company was paying for it, I chose a pretty fancy resort to stay in. Japanese style decorated rooms in combination with a TV showing the Olympics almost made me not want to leave the room.

I knew before the race that the ½ Ironman in Desaru might play a factor in my performance in Hoi An. Would I have had enough time to recover? The moment I hit the water, I knew I hadn’t. I felt like a sack of potatoes. The swim turned into a struggle which I just wanted to get over and done with.

Once on the bike, I got into a pretty good rhythm. My heart rate was much higher than I wanted to and I tried to control it as much as possible. Going into an anaerobic state at such an early part of the race is just looking for trouble. I quickly started catching up with the faster swimmers and only one cyclist managed to pass me. I kept a pace I felt comfortable with and started mentally preparing for the run. The bike course itself was OK, a bit windy at times, but the biggest fear factor was definitely the Vietnamese motorists and pedestrians. When it comes to traffic rules, they live on another planet. What am I saying; they don’t have any rules whatsoever in Vietnam.

Going into transition, I heard over the speakers that the athlete in first place was too far ahead. The number two position was realistic and set that as my main goal. We had to run three laps of 3.33 km each. Before the end of lap one, I had caught everyone and somewhere in the back of my mind, I kept hoping the person in first place would bonk. Obviously that didn’t happen, and I finished the race in second place overall and first place in my age category. Although I felt I could’ve done better, Frederik Croneborg from Sweden deservedly won the race.

Desaru 1/2 Ironman

2008-09-05T13:00:00.000+07:00

Where: Desaru, Malaysia
When: 16/08/08
What: Triathlon
Distance: Swim 2 km - Bike 90 km - Run 21 km

The swim was probably one of the toughest I had ever done in open water. The buoys were lost between the waves and personally I felt the swim course could've been marked better. Most of the buoys were as big as my mobile phone. Still the navigation went fairly well, but my goggles decided to live a life of their own. They were too tight and I started to get a headache, and thus resulting in a loss of concentration. The last few hundred meters I swam using breaststroke and my goggles taken off. Once on land, I felt relieved.

I decided to listen to the advice of my coach and some friends for the bike leg. Control your bike and stay within your heart rate zones. I surprised myself and was able to maintain the same time difference with other top age groupers, and even went faster than Wong An Thiam (I had never beaten him before on the bike). The last 20 km though, I couldn't ride in the aero position anymore as my glutes were tightening up and I didn't want to take risks for the run. Other than that, thanks to my punctual nutrition intake, I felt both physically and mentally fresh.

The run always turns into an imaginary game of Pacman for me. A little figure eating away at all the food that lies in its path, in triathlon terms: other runners. My confidence was incredibly high, borderline cocky, and I approached it with one single determination: "I WILL catch all the non-pros." My pace for the first 5km was incredibly high and when I looked at my watch (18:13), I was like, wow dude that's Chris McCormack territory. I tried to keep my pace as high as possible without blowing myself up and at the half way mark, my timing was still excellent (40:15). However, I started to get a bit restless because I hadn't caught anyone of significance. I made sure I kept my focus and kept the pace up, and then it happened, I started seeing people just ahead of me at the U-turn and water station section. The number two guy in my age group was struggling, and Dino was just ahead of him. That lifted my spirits and soon I passed both of them, although the heat was also starting to hit me pretty hard too. And then Mother Nature heard my prayers, the clouds magically appeared as they were a gift from heaven. With 3 km to go, I suddenly saw Razani's orange tri-suit. The competitive me just couldn't give up that opportunity and I upped the tempo again. And guess who was ahead of him, the athlete who was first in my age category. He looked at my number, panicked, tried to run faster, and with an over-my-dead-body attitude, I placed an ultimate sprint out of my legs. I wanted first place no matter what. Thanks to a time of 1:24:10 on the run, first place was mine. What a sweet way to start my half ironman career.

I finished fifth overall in a time of 4hrs49mins. The first four athletes were pro-athletes, so I was very pleased to be the first amateur to complete the race. My run was the second fastest of the whole field (600 athletes), even three minutes faster than Pete Jacobs. A nice boast for the ego, but I also know he was taking it easy. Months of hard work paid off.

Runaway groom

2008-09-05T00:23:00.000+07:00

Relationships can be tricky. I should know, I am the personification of commitmentphobia. Nonetheless, I greatly respect and look with a certain envy at my friends’ relationships or marriages. Not too long ago though, a surreal event happened to a colleague of mine.

The most likely dating situation a male foreigner might find himself in Vietnam is with a local girl. The cultural differences can be quite stressful, but at the same time incredibly rewarding. Unless you are going to be with a “bar girl”, Vietnamese women tend to be conservative and are under a huge pressure to find a suitable husband. Premarital sex is usually frowned upon. If a woman accidentally becomes pregnant, the inconvenient situation usually gets covered up by an instantly arranged wedding.

My colleague had been in a relationship with a Vietnamese girl for about one year. Her family approved, but the pressure on his girlfriend to materialize a more serious unit must have been immense. One Wednesday evening while watching television, he was given a pink wedding invitation card. To his great surprise, his name was the groom-to-be. What should have been a laidback evening watching the latest movies on DVD, immediately turned into a nightmare. Three more days of celibacy, the wedding was planned for Saturday. Invitations had been sent to all the Vietnamese relatives, even to the swamps in the Mekong Delta. It would become a huge occasion.

In total shock, he ran. It was the only defense mechanism he could think of, leaving behind a young bride-to-be. No matter how you look at it, she will always receive the short end of the stick. Heartbroken, spoiled property in many Vietnamese eyes, her life will never be the same again. His reaction can be explained for the unusual situation he had found himself in. However, I am amazed at his naivety.

And I’m just counting my “celibate” blessings.

My precious

2008-09-04T23:17:00.001+07:00

Anyone who is passionate about bicycles will attest to the fact that they become an emotional part of your life. Incredible memories, such as tackling a mountain peak or simply getting drenched in another rain storm, make the experiences as diverse as ever. So when I woke up one morning to find out my race bike had been stolen from my garage, I was shell shocked.

If there has been one thing I have learned over the last 6 years living in South East Asia, there is always a solution to a problem. How could I get my bike back in a small little Vietnamese town? You contact the local bike shop, that’s how. Being the best customer of a small little shop in a dodgy alleyway, I was hoping the owner would be of some assistance. While his daughter translated the matter, I asked him to contact anyone who might know more about my bike. He told me he’d look into it.

My next stop was the police station, knowing very well it was a total waste of time. The police in South East Asia don’t have a particularly good reputation when it comes to competence. Then again, could you blame them for their lack of motivation? Looking at their salary, most people would be shocked or wouldn’t bother getting out of bed. My Vietnamese colleagues were of great help, but the police officer didn’t impress me very much. He was literate, but that was about it.

The emotional blow started to hit me. Months of training and a major race in a fortnight, the thought of needing a bike and the possible financial implications made me feel depressed. A new race bike is a major investment which I just didn’t want to face.

The next morning, I received a phone call from the bike shop owner’s daughter. Good news! Her brother had been able to make contacts with the thieves. Negotiations were in the process of being done. The first offer to retrieve the bike was US$ 1,000. Luckily the brother came up with an ingenious lie, namely I was his brother-in-law. Couldn’t they give a better price? They dropped their demands and ultimately, I was able to buy my own bike back for US$ 400.

At first, I felt violated. I felt I had been attacked to the core of who I am. Afterwards though, except for the US$ 400 I lost, I must admit this was a great story. Why didn’t the son turn in the burglars? Organized crime is run by the local mafia and any form of provocation could lead to serious repercussions. The bike shop was told not to involve the police. Politics in Vietnam can be complex, and sometimes simplicity is the best answer. I have my bike back, and that’s what counts.

The start of a new chapter

2008-09-03T23:39:00.000+07:00

Feeling I wasn’t catching up with rest of the world, and the rest of the world wasn’t catching up with me, I thought it was time to start posting my exploits. Currently battling the daily madness of Vietnamese motorcyclists, the masochistic torture of triathlon training and living in a foreign country, I’m trying to stay afloat in this adventurous globe.