Rollercoaster Ride

As 2009 starts ebbing away, giving way to the start of a new decade, there is no better comparison that can be given to an eventful year other than that of a rollercoaster ride.

Those of you who, like me, love roller coasters fully understand the thrill of such an experience. As we experience the upside-down turns and dizzying heights whilst going through the course of the coaster at high speeds, a varying degree of sensations are experienced. Weightlessness from plummeting in a downward spiral, giddy from reaching heights when looping the loop and the exhilaration as the speed increases making our hearts race, blood pump faster heart dropping as we twist and turn. Similar to life, this one minute adventure can be a stomach churning experience filled with heart dropping sensations. Turning our world upside down for a few seconds but filling us with a sense of optimism as we soar up and look towards the sky.

I am sure that every time we celebrate the start of a new year, we are all filled with a sense of optimism. Wiping the slate, we look forward to what hopefully will be a good year ahead. Nine days into 2009, my optimism took a blow. A horse riding accident was not exactly how I had envisaged 2009 to start. Having been knocked unconscious, suffering concussion after falling off my horse whilst training for a jumping competition I was lucky enough to be left relatively unscathed. However, my confidence levels plummeted to a free fall. It would have been easy for me to close shop. Sell my horse and never set foot in the stables again. But I was not going to give up a lifelong dream so easily. It was a case of literally getting back onto the saddle. I had to start afresh to regain my badly shaken confidence. My determination combined with my instructor’s patience paid off and I started jumping again within a matter of weeks.

If there is one thing that I have learnt in 2009, it must be the fact that one does not have to take years of knowing a person for them to have an impact on one’s life. Cases in point were Cliff Micallef and Jenny Psaila, who passed away tragically this summer, within days of each other. I became friends with Cliff and Jenny whilst practicing the same sporting disciplines – cycling and equestrian sports. Both were enthusiastic about their sports, professional in their approach and always willing to give a helping hand to newcomers like me. Their loss, just before leaving for Lifecycle in the first week of August, was a bitter pill to swallow. I guess one could be forgiven for wanting to give up practicising their disciplines after these tragedies. We can easily cocoon ourselves into a comfort zone, taking little or no risks. But then, would we really love our sports as much as we claim to do if we gave up? No, not really.

Disappointment stemming from being let down by people we trust or have faith in is an emotion that I guess all of us have been through at some point in our lives. When such trust is broken, the relationship, be it a working relationship, a family connection or a friendship, suffers. The trail of hurt caused by these people, intentionally or not causes, most likely than not, irrevocable damage. Thankfully, I am strong enough not to let such actions turn me into a cynical, bitter person. Whilst I will find it hard to be trusting of such people again, I look at those steadfast friends, who are there for me through thick and thin and am grateful for their presence in my life.

Steep hills covering innumerable kilometres, late nights cycling in the dark, lack of food at the end of the day, swollen knees and sores deriving from long hours on the saddles were few of the horror stories recounted by friends who participated in the grueling Lifecycle Challenge. Such visual descriptions were enough for me to deem this a crazy feet which I never really showed interest in. But in recent years, I sort of recanted especially when meeting some seasoned Lifecyclists who keep on returning for more. There must be something that keeps them going and early in 2009 I figured that I should find out for myself.

8^th August 2009 saw me, and seventeen other cyclists, cross the Bosphorous Bridge in Istanbul Turkey starting off an eleven day adventure that would take us through the Asian side of Turkey into the Syrian border towards Damascus. Covering 2000 kilometers we faced never ending straight roads, with nothing in sight for miles, interminable uphills reaching inclines of 18%, swollen knees and inflamed ankle tendons.

But throughout the duration of the Challenge we were taken care of by a great back up team who ensured that we were safe, well fed and taken care of. The cherry on the cake would be at the end of each day when, irrespective of the time we got to our accommodation, we were greeted with cheers, enthusiasm and delicious hot meals.

The horror stories are easily forgotten once the final checkpoint was reached, successfully completing this year’s Challenge.

Not one to stay put at home, I guess my mother has finally resigned herself to the fact that I will never take up knitting or embroidery as a hobby. The adrenaline that was pumping through me upon my return from Lifecycle was definitely not going to let me sit still for more than a day. Although I had finished one of the most grueling challenges I will probably ever participate in, I had itchy feet. I needed another challenge.

What challenge?

Climb a mountain - Kilimanjaro, Rainier, Mont Blanc? Been there, done that

Trek the Andes on horseback, riding into the sunset? Been there done that

Cycle for thousands of kilometres in a foreign land? Had just been there done that.

A good friend and Lifecycle participant suggested, over dinner one evening, triathlon. Echoing the words of another friend of mine, he said triathlon is a great to remain in shape and working on three disciplines for one race, swimming, cycling and running, would prevent me from getting bored and keeping focused. For someone who gets easily bored it sounded very enticing. But there were two problems. Running was a sport that always eluded me. Admittedly I got a slight twinge of interest when taking photos of my friends during the February’s half marathon but the twinge was slight and never felt again. Swimming for me equates to a day at the beach in summer and jumping into the water to cool down. My Lifecycle friend suggested that I have a chat with Dermot Galea, Malta’s Triathlon Champion. It only took a five minute chat with Dermot to get me convinced to start training. The first goal would be the Half Marathon in February. Although months away, I had a long way to go seeing that I never ran or jogged in my life. Taking slow steps, building my pace gradually, I took part in the Mdina to Spinola race – 17 kilometres, mostly downhill which I completed in 1hour 50 minutes. Not bad for someone who started running a few weeks before.

The writer Paul Tournier describes the real meaning of travel as being the discovery of one self through contact with other people. Ever since I tasted my first trip abroad, my wanderlust has deepened, fuelled by the geography lessons I sat for in school. My TripAdvisor application on Facebook shows that I have visited 181 cities in 36 countries covering almost all continents - Europe, America, South America, Africa and Asia. My passion has taken me to far flung corners of the world. Roughing it up Cuba and splashing out in New York were my trips for this year. Ironically, one is the antithesis of capitalism and the other the hub of it all.

Controversial and conflicted, Cuba is a nation like no other - rhythmic, colorful, sophisticated and whimsical all in one sumptuous breath. Encapsulated in a time warp, the streets of Cuba are filled with messages revering the 1959 Revolution, with Che Guevara being the most popular revolutionary hero depicted in murals, paintings and sculptures.

Yet Cuba is vibrant in its own way, with youths dancing to the beat of salsa music at almost every corner, whilst old men while away their time slapping down dominoes and smoking chunky Montecristos. Baracoa’s virgin beaches provide the perfect location for periods of tranquil isolation, characterised by golden powdery sands and the turquoise waves of the Caribbean.

On the other hand New York is the quintessential metropolis. Chaotic and glamorous, New York can be anything you want it to be. When faced with adversity it has been capable of bouncing back – the Great Depression, the Wall Street Crash and more recently 9/11. Exerting its powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment there is never a dull moment spent in New York. New York can boggle the mind. It is easy to feel overwhelmed as the visitor is spoilt for choice. Watching famous actors like Daniel Craig, Hugh Jackman, Catherine Zeta Jones, or Jude Law thread the boards on Broadway. Hitting the shops for some retail therapy at Tiffany’s, FAO Swartz, Macy’s or NikeTown and if the therapy proves to be too expensive, one can always savour the fresh air with a walk in Central Park.

In the city that never sleeps, there is plenty of time for dining and unlimited options to choose from. Considered to be a culinary capital, the foodie can find everything from sushi and dim sum to hot dogs and donuts. My favourite eateries being the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park where it is easy to forget you are in a bustling city. Frankie and Johnnie’s steakhouse began as a speakeasy in the 1920’s at the height of the Prohibition. Carnivores like me can sink their teeth into amazingly huge steaks cooked to perfection. Yes, New York might not be Fidel Castro’s favourite city but it is certainly mine. My visit to this city, in December certainly rekindled the glow of Christmas and with it the hope that a New Year brings with it.

Some people have described 2009 as an annus horribilis. Yes. 2009 was not an easy year. Just like a rollercoaster, it has caused us to twist and turn, plummeting into a free fall and rising up towards the sky giving us a degree of optimism that all will be all right. But in a couple of hours, I wil be raising my Champagne glass, toasting the end of a difficult year, that has made me stronger and welcoming 2010 full of renewed optimism.

2010 will be the start of a new Chapter.

Photo copyright Maria Vella-Galea, excluding Lifecycle related shots copyright of Ray Pace