The Road to Racing

Against the Odds

2012-02-07T02:29:00.000+11:00

Along the Road to Racing I would never envisage about takingone of the biggest gamble ever in my life. It’s completely too good to be true;the influx of my younger brother Stephane into the real world of ‘Sport ofKings’ in Sydney almost 19 months ago.

Within one mark of a pen, he went from being the most glumlyteenager to a happy young man. I have to admit he was so thrill to be here withme for a new chapter of our life miles away from home. He was as ecstatic andhappy as a pig in mud the day I picked him up at the airport. It’s been quite awhile since I have not seen such a huge reflect of happiness on his face. Itruly find it so fascinating to team up with him for a career in racing: he alwaysbring something new to me and have interesting things to say and often have adifferent slant on life though his young age.

Indeed it began when I flew back home for the first time in5 years I have been to ‘Down Under’. Iwas finally home with mum, dad and stephane just for a stint whilst waiting formy new working visa to be granted. As impatient as they were…I had to dredge upthe whole story of my life ‘Down Under’the night I got home. And that night the main topic of our family reunion wasentirely about Horse racing…photos, horses, jockeys, winners anything that couldhave involve me with thoroughbred.

One day…stephane and I got caught up into a deep andsignificant conversation of how his life is so depressing and unknown. Therewas no light through the tunnel regarding his future endeavors. No absolutelyprospect of living his dream to become a jockey. In fact, personal issues werecontinuingly flowing in his life…in every direction. So he turned to ‘BigBrother’ for help and advice as the situation was getting quite critical. Being graduated from college…working on andoff in a call center…doing his riding lesson which was very costly (which atsome stage my parents could not afford to pay which pushed him to quit riding)…couldnot meet the requirement of the Mauritius Turf Club to become anapprentice-jockey…barely having a social life due to financial hardship…couldnot afford things what a young teenager could at his age…he became a kind of anerd young man…spending time most of his at home at a lonely pace. As such lifewas quirky and hit him quite bad right away. And all of a sudden he found himself in a darkhole…with depression on his plate.

He made it clear to me that day, he wanted to get his owngetaway and can’t wait start a new chapter of his life overseas. He actually desperatelybegged me to get him out here as soon as possible. Considering my knowledge and experience I have achievedwithin 5 years working in racing, still struggling with the hustle and bustleof making a career out of racing, I took a gamble. That day I vowed that I willdo my best to get him on a plane, sign him up in an equine course and get him ajob in a stable at the Royal Randwick Racecourse, my actual workplace.

But under one condition; he has to forget about theMauritian self-enslaving mindset, the languid poise of class division,ethnicity and prejudice he was living in Mauritius. One thing I know for sureis; that the Mauritian mythology has beencrafted as much as by acolytes as by antagonists all over Australia. I saidto him the true meaning of taking up a new challenge is: ‘you have to be so determined in what you are going to do just like adigger, to fight for every abutment in your new life’. Motivation, determination,sacrifice, focus, success, failure, stress, pressure, passion and common-sensewill be his trademark all the way through his racing journey. At the end of our conversation he was quiterelief about my condition and advice.

Few months later down the track he saw himself in Sydneyready to tackle the toughest part of his ambition and ready to take on the bigwave. Thus I see myself with a huge responsibility on top of my shoulder havinghim here with me. Somehow it was all against the odds in regards to my professionalcommitment, life style and financial responsibilities which I could notunleash. But it did reinforce our union by working our way up within theindustry.

Presently, I’m proud to see him on a horse every singlemorning, riding track work for his master, David Lee who has been from day one andis still a massive support into his ongoing apprenticeship as a youngapprentice- jockey in the making. Being a happy young man in his own right now;travelling with horses for racing around NSW, working hard on hisapprenticeship course at TAFE, having a normal and affordable social life. Letthe scene begin within an act.

The Garden of Eden

2012-02-07T02:21:00.001+11:00

Sport was one of our tremendous adventures in life

Which had droved us from laurels to humiliation

To mold an exquisite and mind-boggling teammates

With a bag full of flair, firmness and tenacity

Sport was one of our tremendous adventures in life

Which had droved us from laurels to humiliation

To mold an exquisite and mind-boggling teammates

With a bag full of flair, firmness and tenacity

Something we could not wash our hands of it

For years and years into our pint-sized perimeter of Eden

A place where sport was like a religion

A place of an idyllic backdrop of our sport culture

Trying to scribble down our own sport bible

By completing chapters after chapters

It was like a bucolic world surrounding us

On a pedagogic, communal and contesting echelon

With an highly standardized education of sport

That we have been trained to toe the line and stick to the straight

Through perseverance, hard work and success

By establishing a tight-knit network of friends in life

Teammates with no boundaries

It was like a sanctuary

A place called Eden College

Something we could not wash our hands of it

For years and years into our pint-sized perimeter of Eden

A place where sport was like a religion

A place of an idyllic backdrop of our sport culture

Trying to scribble down our own sport bible

By completing chapters after chapters

It was like a bucolic world surrounding us

On a pedagogic, communal and contesting echelon

With an highly standardized education of sport

That we have been trained to toe the line and stick to the straight

Through perseverance, hard work and success

By establishing a tight-knit network of friends in life

Teammates with no boundaries

It was like a sanctuary

A place called Eden College

EI…Questions without answers

2007-10-27T13:52:00.001+10:00

Opinion

Nearly 3 months now that Equine Influenza has shut down the entire Racing thoroughbreds Industry in NSW. The Randwick Racecourse is still in Quarantine Area. So far the inquiry made by Ian Callinan hasn’t revealed much of how the Equine Flu has plunged Australian’s multi-billion dollar racing and breeding industry into an absolute black-out.

If we take a good look at it by finding the right answers at these questions; where does the State Government stands in this matter? What has the State Government of Mr. Morris Iemma provided since the shutdown has been avowed? Why the Racing Minister has been so muted and ineffective during the outbreak? And why does the Trainers Association and the Racing NSW has to go through legal battle against the State Government?

I presume neither the politicians nor the so-called ‘diplomats’ are eligible to response favorably to these questions. I deduce they don’t even have a clue about the whole mayhem. So why are they still beating around the bush and giving big homily around the table to officials of Racing NSW and Randwick trainers?

Though the Australian Racing Board officials had warned them in the past about poor quarantine standards for overseas racehorses but guess what the message from Mr. Andrew Harding, Chief Executive of ARB, has vanished like an eclipse in the space.

And now almost half of racing population loathes the Federal Government for not taking action at an early stage of the havoc. We, strappers, trainers, farriers, jockeys, dentists, vets, owners all considered as ‘actors’ within the Racing Industry have to juggle with the consequences. In fact the situation is quite dreadful with NSW spring carnival cancelled, NSW horses are out of the Melbourne carnival, first death of the disease, around $10 million in prizemoney lost, $100 million lost in TAB turnover, horse movement banned around NSW, approximately 60,000 Australian workers lost their job, Metropolitan and provincial racecourses have been lockdown, fashion, hospitality, veterinary and retail industries are also hit and racehorse trainers has dropped their stable fees.

It’s quite deceitful to see the way State Government has tackled the issue from the beginning. How could they dare raising the point on papal visit next year which coincide with Word Youth Day celebrations when the Racing industry is still in agony? What will be the consequences of 10 weeks racing and training inactivity at Randwick Racecourse next year? To who goes the blame State or Federal Government? At this stage it seems and sounds like an absolute hogwash.

Yet the Racing Industry is still wounded but is currently recovering from the disease. Neither the $4 million Federal Hardship Fund nor $11 million compensation fund will ease the pain of the entire Racing Industry. It’s time to lay down the vaccination cards on the table and start using it wisely which I truly believe is the only practical way of preventing the spread of EI.

If they keep pulling the cord in one direction this outbreak will remind us the saga of 1945 when Australia was declared in a war known as the ‘austerity Saturday’.

Safwa heads to new breeding career

2007-05-27T21:10:00.000+10:00

Former promising mare Safwa from Randwick-trainer John O'Shea, had recently retired from racing. 'Safi' as stable-name is heading to her broodmare duties later this year at Darley Australia with champion sire Elusive Quality.

Her career has brought to an end up with an unlucky run earlier this month during the Brisbane Carnival. ‘Safi’ was very bossy at some stage of her career but has always displayed a remarkable skills of being a group horse. This mare showcased a blistering acceleration for a galloper when she is at her peak.

She proved it by winning previously the Epona Stakes (1900m) and Listed JRA Plate (2000m) in Sydney in March and April.

This 5 yr old mare daughter of Danehill and The Lord Ballina mare Showella has a record of 5 wins, 2 placings and had amassed $260,000 as prizemoney in 14 career starts.

Well, it’s quite a luminous career clashing up with unlucky run for instance in the Group 1 The BMW (2400M) which I still believe she shouldn’t have run. Maybe on the other side of the track the ‘boss’ has had his reason for giving her another run within a week just after smashing her opponents in the Epona Stakes. To me there’s only one way to enlighten this blunder: stunning preparation but short-time frame recuperation.

With such scrutiny I do have the priviledge to express my happiness for being her strapper and grooming her at some point. She was a dazzling mare with loads of maturity, calmness, well-behaved and quite a ‘big girl’. I wonder myself who wouldn’t love to have Safwa in their stable? I guess John O’Shea won’t hide himself behind the curtain to spew out the truth. Though he is a man of his truth!

What I have experienced with ‘Safi’ was an absolute myth, something really enchanted, outlandish and imaginary. A horse with who I had urbanized some kind of compassion and profound interest of understanding the philosophy of being an outstanding racehorse. She was my favourite horse in the stable and will still be.

I can’t wait to see what’s going to be the next twist of her breeding career. And I’m definitely keeping an eye on the new breeding season 2007.

Racing Brothers for life

2007-03-19T02:41:00.000+11:00

It was passion that changed our life during a formative trip to Australia. The passion of Horse Racing drove us to the Racing headquarters of the AJC. And March 2006 marked the start of a new era for Jonathan and I in the Australian Racing world. Today seems to be like a huge milestone.

Just to refresh our memories; I came here for my Journalism degree whereas Jonathan settled as an Apprentice-jockey to pursue his dream to be a professional jockey. When we think about it...how does this connect us? Back in harness I was a Sport Journalist and Horse Racing writer for the Mauritius Turf Club and besides that Jonathan was an Apprentice with an effervescent skills and potential. We have experienced and accomplished our duties of being part of the Racing family at home.

But the standout story for me that year came in March. We were re-united as 'Racing Brothers' at David Payne's Stable to pursue our goal. This is to set up a business in Oz. And ironically we could then get our story beamed out around the country. As a matter of fact we haven't reached that stage yet. It's been now a year that we have moved on to the next step in the Australian Racing industry. I presume we were both ready for it. I was the first to make the big move from Payne's stable to John O'Shea Racing Stable in Randwick. I tried to bring him up with me but I was too powerless for that. I reckon that surprise is an absolute paramount to his move couple of months ago to Mick Price Racing Stable in Melbourne to pursue his career as an apprentice. So far he is enjoying himself by riding couples of Group 1 horses like Red Dazzler, Pompeii Ruler, Captious etc...Time will tell then when he will be ready for the big ride in races.

On the contrary of his story mine is slightly different. I have decided to put my journalism degree on hold this year due to financial hardship (meant to be my last year degree) to focus on the racing issue. I have a determined and a willful personality that this could work out for me. And I reckon I didn't take the wrong decision. At the moment I’m working my way up as a stable hand though I’m doing an Owner-Trainer course. Still inwardly, I’m jubilant of being part of the O'Shea team.

Being bounded by Group 1 horses such as Racing to Win, Reigning to Win, Just Mambo, Primus and Safwa...is just a pleasure to fulfill my dream of becoming a good trainer one day.

Soon there’s a great probability that Jonathan and I might team up together to start off as ‘Racing Brothers’ in Oz. I can’t wait to see what going to be the next episode of our stunning jaunt in the Australian Horse Racing Industry.

In the saddle

2006-08-25T02:44:00.000+10:00

With hindsight i presume that my comeback in the Horse Racing circuit would be a marathon. Kind of race riding against the stopwatch. I guess i was ready for the ride. But i still can't believe that i will be ‘back in the saddle’ after 18 months inactivity. Obviously, not as a jockey but as a ground staff.

I was speechless at the time i made my comeback at David Payne Racing Stables in Royal Randwick. Particularly when the Foreman (Assistant-Trainer) Christopher O'Carrigan goes to me: "J-F are you ready for the ride?", i replied "Absolutely ready". Then the next day i started to make my footprint in the yard with an early start at 3.30am.

Candidly, I couldn't believe the fuss of commencing my apprenticeship of learning the sideways of looking after racehorses. At this particular period my philosophy was to foster my experience and to push myself to the limit of internalising the concept of Horsemanship in Australia. To describe the job itself; there is one word to say it: Stablehand.

Being fully recognised by the Racing New South Wales through my Stablehand licence...my enthusiam have embellish my plans for the future. Why not thinking of embracing a career as a Trainer? Or being a Horse Racing Writer? Think about these choices! I guess I’m a firm believer in the idea that you’re always happier when you’re doing what you love as your professional job.

Well, i assume that it would be a tough decision to make as far as i'm concern. But at the moment, i'm fully involve in the Racing enclosure. I have spent six months working at David Payne Racing Stables with my best mate, Jonathan Luxe, employed as an Work rider under his Apprentice licence jockey. We had both climbed up and down the hills during these past couples of months struggling with the hard work of everyday morning and afternoon. As we said in the jargon; "Same shit but different days".

From my point of view, you should harbour a passion for horse racing at first before you really get into the industry. It involve a lot of commitment and hard work. I would be a great liar if i say that i haven't learn anything at Dave's stable. I had enjoyed myself working beside the Foreman Chris for the past six months i have been his apprentice-foreman.

But i have decided to move on to the next level...try another experience in a bigger and more competitive stable like John O'Shea Racing Stables.

End of Insearch

2006-01-16T02:32:00.000+11:00

More than one year at Insearch was such a huge marathon to get in second year at UTS. I'm so glad to finish this long, stressful and extensive semester.

I can't wait to have some rest, put my head down and get down-to-earth before going for new aventure next month at UTS. Of course...i'm a bit worried for my results....because i wasn't in completely in the semester due to heaps of personal problems.

This was my worst semester i have ever been through since i'm at Insearch. Being part of a group members where some kind of dictatorship was ruled....makes things more complicated for me. I don't cope and communicate with these kind of dictators. No wonder who! It may sound harsh to some people but i have the right to tell. Or i would rather say...Public relation is not my thing!

Sporadically it was not bad. I have enjoy myself with some new discovery like blogs, podcast etc...Really interesting stuffs. It was a good idea from Mike to introduce us to some new modern media revolution...i would prefer to say good on you Rusti.

Anyway...we have 5 more laps to go...lets run and finish it. And in a couple of weeks...i'll see how it looks like....And probably begin a new story of my long trip at University studies.

Year of Sport

2005-12-12T05:04:00.000+11:00

2006 will be massive in Sport. Life will stop for a few hours, weeks or months where the whole World will be plugging in to some major sports events around the globe. If you enjoy the gleefulness scope of world sport like i do...you'ld find it voltaic. But if you are not a man of sport...you'ld be like an 'Indian in the City'.

Well, you might not be aware of some most major International sport events in different continent of the World. Lets start with the most exciting sport: Soccer.

Africa will be hosting the African Nations Cup finals in Egypt this month. The road to Cairo will be a long and amazing trip for the African football. It might use as a trianing session for some african team which has been qualified to the World Cup 2006 like Togo, Ivory Coast, Angola, Tunisia and Ghana.

Australian Open inRod laver Arena in Melbourne today. "C'um On"

The Melbourne 2006 XVIII Commonwealth Games will be held in March. A culturde of Australian sport where almost the Sydney 2000 champion will be on track and ready to compete.

The World Cup in Germany..."Forzia Frencia"

Tour De France...Cyclist...see pic

Spring Carnival...in Horse Racing

The Melbourne Cup in November...Flemington Horse Racing Track

Well...try not to miss all these events this year....

Enjoy

Heartbeat

2005-12-09T04:43:00.000+11:00

I fought for all out of a reason all the time I was in G…
I felt miserable…really miserable for what it took me to be happy
Even though people was a barrier in our relationship
I presume it was bound to happen while I settle down here
I was buzzing to be acquainted to you
Nonetheless I had a great time since I met you
I believe when you meet The One, there’s a lot of catching up to do
Even now I couldn’t believe the fuss
And can’t pretend to be fine
But what if fine is not good enough?
What if I want extraordinary?
It’s all about telling stories, feelings and the truth.
I was straight with you since the beginning about it from the off
If I love someone, I want to treat them, surprise them, and remind them how I feel, whether what means a weekend away somewhere, or a bowl of fruit in the morning laid out in the shape of a heart.
If I’m with someone I love, I know, deep down, what’s real and what isn’t.
Here I am
To tell you;
You are the heartbeat my world turns to
You are the one who show me the way to love
There is only one person that makes me feel like I can fly
Is you
I love you

One Good Reason Why Not To Flirt

2005-12-07T16:01:00.000+11:00

A couple was invited to a swanky family masked fancy dress Halloween party. The wife got a terrible headache and told her husband to go to the party alone. He, being a devoted husband, protested, but she argued and said she was going to take some aspirin and go to bed and there was no need for his goodtime to be spoiled by not going. So he took his costume and went. The wife, after sleeping soundly for about an hour, woke without pain and as it was still early, decided to go to the party.

As her husband didn't know what her costume was, she thought she would have some fun by watching her husband to see how he acted when she was not with him. So she joined the party and soon spotted her husband in his costume cavorting around on the dance floor, dancing with every nice "chick"he could and copping a little feel here and a little kiss there. His wife went up to him and being a rather seductive babe herself, he left his new partner high and dry and devoted his time to her. She let him go as far as he wished, naturally, since he was her husband. After more drinks he finally whispered a little proposition in her ear and she agreed, so off they went to one of the cars and had passionate intercourse in the back seat.

Just before unmasking at midnight, she slipped away and went home and put the costume away and got into bed, wondering what kind of explanation he would make up for his outrageous behavior. She was sitting up reading when he came in, so she asked what kind of time he had. "Oh, the same old thing. You know I never have a good time when you're not there." Then she asked, "Did you dance much?" He replied, "I'll tell you, I never even danced one dance. When I got there, I met Pete, Bill Brown and some other guys, so we went into the spare room and played poker all evening."
"You must have looked really silly wearing that costume playing poker all night!" she said with unashamed sarcasm. To which the husband replied, "Actually, I gave my costume to your Dad, apparently he had the time of his life!!

Relax

2005-11-30T05:34:00.000+11:00

Doing nothing or sleeping is the ultimate form of rest for me
People undervalue it
Spending some time daydreaming or going with the flow of the day without having to plan everything is quite liberating
I feel liberate from everything around me
Where the notion of time doesn’t bother me
But it runs so fast like Michael Johnson
I think it’s especially important for creative people
It gives you the time and space to process ideas

Life

2005-11-28T18:02:00.000+11:00

Big town life agrees with me
For the whole year at least
You can just wander through the day
Go for a walk
Stop for coffee
Hang out with friends
Browse through the bookstore
Chat to people you bump into
It helps me to recharge for more hectic times
Does it seems to be a life?

The Rhone

2005-11-27T03:36:00.000+11:00

Fishermen love it
Spending time trawling for fish
With their fishing rod in a dull morning
Where there’s no electricity
No running water
It’s a scenic place
Calming place with no distractions
No phone
No email
My cabin in Rhone
Next to the river

My inspiration for writing

2005-11-25T14:17:00.000+11:00

Fate always brings people to new destination and new revelation according to philosophers. Indeed I do believe in this quote. It happened to me while I was on holiday in Reunion Island with my younger brother Stephane few years ago.

The purpose of my trip was to forget about the ghastly year I went through. We flew for 3 weeks during summer holidays at Antide’s place, a long-life friend of my dad in La Riviere St-Louis. It was one of the most sensational holidays I had ever experienced before. I spent Christmas and New Year there…travelling around the island with their niece, Karen and nephew, Laurent…playing soccer, going to the beach, shopping, visiting ‘La Vierge au Parasol’, La Fournaise volcano-still active. It was absolutely marvelous.

Staying at home and relax is definitely my thing. It allows me to read books, newspapers, sport magazines or painting on canvases. It seems that this kind of situation suits perfectly to what a poet or an artist does during a day. My love of reading must have contributed greatly to my ability to imagine myself as someone else. It was at my knee that I first realized how passionate of reading I was. I was keen and tempted to share my love of writing poems and sport articles with the Dorilas's family. My awareness and understanding of their comfortable and pleasant interaction reflects a subtle change in my societal awareness. My time on the road was already beginning to heighten my sensitivity to the divisions between the haves and the have-nots.

I spent time watching French soccer match with Antide live on TV late at night. Then the next morning we have a chat about it. Through my reading of sports newspapers I found the inspiration of writing sports articles particularly soccer. I can’t tell how amazing it was. The whole concept of french and soccer expressions I wrote in my article was the right words at the right sentence. Antide was surprised about it. He pushed my writing skills to some degree of expectation. It sounds for me as a period of confinement only deepened my love of reading, a love I never outgrew.

Well, one morning he said to me why you don’t think about embracing a career in Sport journalist in Reunion Island or in France? At the time I didn’t realized it. But after a while I made up my mind of looking for a job. Then I got the idea to keep all my written poems so as to show it to my friend poet Stefan Hart de Keating when I’ll be back in Mauritius.

It was clear to see that i wanted people to take a good, hard look at the world around them by writing articles or poems about the truth and ask themselves, is this the way it should be? It was passion that changed my life during a formative trip through Reunion Island. I would say I’m a man driven not by selfishness but selflessness.

Socceroos last chance to qualify for Germany 2006

2005-11-14T13:25:00.002+11:00

Another chapter in the history of the Socceroos in World Cup qualifiers is about to be written. The Socceroos is challenging Uruguay for the 2nd leg of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers tomorrow night at Telstra Stadium in Sydney for a ticket to Germany World Cup 2006.

The Socceroos has rendez-vous with the history and it’s time now not to miss the boat to the most prestigious sporting event of the world. It's a remake of four years ago in Montevideo when the Socceroos of Frank Farina failed to qualify for the US World Cup.

After loosing 1-0 in Uruguay last sunday, the Socceroos seems to be in a must-win situation. The Socceroos coach, Guus Hiddink who was appointed to the job few months ago, had gathered the most highly experience squad to overcome the loss of the 1st leg. With Tim Cahill, Marco Bresciano, Lucas Neill, Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Jason Cullina, the socceroos will be tough to tackle on homeground. And Guus Hiddink knows it. He comments on SBS after the loss in Montevideo “I’m not happy with the result. We lost the match due to lack of concentration and intimidation. But next Sunday will be a different scenario at home”.

He believes that this generation of Australian players will lift-up the profile of Australian football on top of the world ladder. But in the meantime, the Dutch technician is particularly more concerned about his squad defense weaknesses. In fact, the socceroos defense has always been comprised on International echelon. And yet few socceroos defenders such as Tony Vidmar, Tony Popovic, Craig Moore and Scott Chipperfield will probably be close to their International retirement.

Still ‘mastermind’ Guus is confident about his defense for tomorrow night clash. However the main danger remains the irresistible striker of the ‘Los Celestes’, Alvaro Recoba. The Uruguayan will be man to watch and has to be taken in consideration. Excellent left-footed player, very good technician with a massive sense of vision on the ball and very dangerous with his free-kick and cross, Alvaro Recoba will be an absolute threat for the socceroos defense. Indeed, he was at the origin of the goal in Montevideo last weekend.

At stake the confrontation of tomorrow night is tactically and technically feasible for the socceroos. This is the time where the entire Australian population is waiting for as a wake-up call of their national team, after the gauntlet four years ago in Montevideo, and 32 years after they were allowed to play with the monsters in a World Cup tournament.

It’s now or never.

To Someone

2005-11-09T15:41:00.000+11:00

Our deep is fear is not that we are inadequate
Our deep is fear that we are powerful beyond measure
It’s our light not our darkness that won’t frightened us
You are playing small that not serve the world
And there is nothing in light about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure about you.
We were all meant to shine as children do
It’s not in just some of us
It’s in everyone
And as we all let it shine
We are unconsciously giving permission to people to do the same as we are liberating to our fear
Our presence automatically liberate others
Sir, I wanna say thank you
You save my life

The Revelation

2005-10-28T20:19:00.000+10:00

The revelation

Some poets always say that life is a virtue. Probably true! But I don’t view it this way. I think life is full of surprise which brings to new revelation. And that revelation was my arrival in Sydney for University studies.

This revelation was shaped as a “suicide bomb” to a minority of people around me. I would rather say that it was one of the best surprise that life can bring. Because the more I thrived, the more my self-belief grew. I don’t really care about what some of my folks thinks about it. Honestly for me it was as if I had fetched them a blow behind their back.

And that hurts them. Seeing younger nephew succeeding in his academic life was quite unbelievable for them. Even now they can’t admit it. And now they have closed their big-mouth. The simple fact is that someone else among the cousins had shown that they were wrong all the time. And they are always bluffing about their son and daughter’s academic success.

That’s a sort of reality of life how people live and behave. What’s wrong with the world? Are we in a competing world or may be a family's competition? Oh yeah, I think that would the right definition: Family's competition. Frankly, that’s ridiculous. Would you imagine a title like that “Family Competition” as headline in the newspapers? I would laugh until I piss in my pant.

Before, I was standing on the verge of all these stupid comments. But now I’m behind the scene. Poetically speaking I believe in what Paulo Coelho divulged in his book called ‘Alchemist’; “When days and nights are quite similar to each other people have stopped to catch a glimpse of good things which are presented in their life as much as the sun spell the sky,”

Well, there is no discussing. Life brings you to up-to-the-minute and implausible experience.

Zoom

2005-10-25T12:49:00.000+10:00

Need a bit of a change. Because doing the same shit every week make things seems pretty boring and annoying.
I would rather spend time with my entire passion: Horse Racing. And feels the smell of horses in my local, the Champs-De-Mars...Horse Racing track in Mauritius.
Well....that's a big miss for me since i've been here. But i still keep in touch with my best mate, Rai Joorawon, inset photo- the top professionnal leading jockey in CDM.
This photo reminds me his best ride of the last season during the Mauritius International Jockey day 2004.
As some sports writers says in the soccer jargon; 'when a team plays homeground they are unbeatable'. Does it apply to horse-racing context? Problably! But it doesn't work like that. Simply good horse made good jockey.
Hence.....dealing with horses is a great experiences and sharing a whole sense of close-friendship with Rai was one gift from life.

A thirst for adventure

2005-10-23T15:25:00.000+10:00

Becoming a globe-trotter is one big step of a sailor's life but navigating through the ocean is far more a lifelong adventure. Where the sailor feel thirsty of discovering countries and islands during his trip like Vasco Da Gama who discovered a small island on the western coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean.

It was a small dot. The small dot was named Mauritius. Famous for his quietness and beaches, writers and poets grew up in a philosophical and poetic manners like my friend Stefan Hart de Keating. And so many writers such as Malcolm de Chazal, Alain Gordon-Gentil and Robert Edward Hart.

Being part of this world of poets and writers was a sensational feeling. Their inspiration have driven me to my old job as a sport writer where the sense of travelling through events and conference was enormously adventurous.

But every day, every island, every experience seems to bring another revelation in the world of adventure.