Living simply, not simply living!

Live to 100 (Secrets of the Blue Zones)
Netflix, Docuseries

 We always complain that life sucks and hope our next life will improve. If rebirth is not an option, then perhaps less time in purgatory or hell. For that, however, we have to leave our mortal bodies. That nobody wants. Instead, we cling to our dear lives as long as we can, 80, 90 or beyond a century.

Society has always revered our senior citizens. We may be giving our salutations to the years of experiences they have learnt and life lessons they have acquired in their time on Earth.

With increasing life expectancy worldwide, we noticed there are certain zones on the globe where people not only lead long lives beyond 100 but happy, independent ones.

Endurance cyclist Dan Buettner, who has cycled the world many times over, has a keen interest in this subject. In this 4-episode documentary on Netflix, he identifies areas (Blue Zone) on the map with the most centurions, makes a trip there, interacts with its people and explores the possible reasons for their excellent health and longevity.

Buettner visits Okinawa, Sardinia, Ikaria in Greece, Costa Rica's Nicoya, Loma Linda in California and Singapore. Each zone has different things to offer for good health. Some of the ideas overlap.

A common thread in all these people is that they are active and walk a lot. Walking uphill, downhill everywhere they go. Some of the terrain explored is hilly. In Singapore, the exorbitant price of owning private cars makes its citizens use public transport and incorporate walking as a compulsory need to move around. Even though Singapore is not a Blue Zone, its vast improvement of citizens' health in such a short duration, i.e. within a generation, the documentary makers thought, was worthy of mention.

Exercise does not mean going to the gym. These centurions do a lot of walking as they perform their own chores. Personal maids or caretakers are aliens in these societies. Joint flexibility is universal. Many indulge in gardening and even plant their own food. Gardening involves squatting and active movement of joints.

Many hardly consume meat. Their diet is predominantly greens, fruits, cereals and nuts. In Singapore, the Government control the amount of sugar in drinks and food. Another common observation is the lack of fast food. Caloric intake is also low. Most of the proteins are acquired from nuts.

Family support is essential. Regular sharing of meals with family members and friends is another commonality. Social interaction with friends cannot be overstated.

Above all, our citizens get up in the morning with a purpose. In Japan, the term used is Ikigai. In Costa Rica, it is 'plan de vida' (life plan). It is the reason they get up in the morning, living life with a purpose.

100-year-old rider

We also hear of a 66-year-old person with terminal cancer proving his oncologist wrong by living to be a centenarian by migrating to one of the blue zones. And we see a 100-year-old riding on a horseback. 

No one common factor connects all the blue zones. There are tropical islands, Mediterranean islands, highlands, and even modern places like California and Singapore. The Blue Zone in California is a 7th Adventist retreat emphasising moderation, community living, exercise, service and fellowship. Wine and merry-making are just fine, but moderation is key.

Improving socioeconomic opportunities and access to medical services indeed increases life expectancy; it merely increases the occurrences of non-communicable diseases and eradicates communicable diseases. It is more prudent to have a more preventative approach toward a healthy and long life.

Wisdom extrapolated from the people of the Blue Zones

• Move naturally - use your hands, do gardening, walk and walk.
• Have a positive outlook on life - learn to unwind, have religious faiths, have a purpose for living.
• Eat wisely -plant-based, take wine moderately, moderation in consumption.
• Connect - family is essential, partnership helps, have friends with the same wavelength.

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The things you do...

Powerman Malaysia 2022

SK does not know whether to laugh or cry. If he laughs, it hurts. It is painful when he moves, and he is even afraid to sneeze. Ever since he cracked up a rib in a freak accident, he senses that his naysayers, who have been telling him to slow down with all those extreme sports at this age, are having a field day. They are secretly happy that he is grounded. Short of saying, 'I told you so', he can see the sheer delight in their eyes. Some are even emblazoned to ask, "why this Kolaveri?**"

Yeah, sometimes SK too asks himself, "WHY?" In the same breath, he also replies to himself, "why not?"

Homosapiens, by design, have been made to be agile and mobile. Through many prototypes which failed and multiple disastrous trials runs, Nature has remodelled and re-fashioned Man to be ambulant with such ingenuity. Only over the past 30 years, through the same thinking caps that make Man leap to greater heights, have we become couch potatoes. These prodigal products of Nature, with the boon of cognition, have rewritten the laws of Nature. The glutes, which played an essential role in moving around, somehow lost their purpose. Man now finds more pleasure in accumulating adipose tissue there. It even develops into a fetish by filling it with prostheses that enhance its gargantuan silhouette.  

Yeah, why do people do the things they do? Why do people want to climb a mountain? Why swim across a shark-infested channel to the other side? Why were the Wright brothers fixated on lifting a contraption up in the skies? Why do people write songs or even compose a blog? It is a challenge to push the human body to its limits. This endeavour gives a sense of achievement and immerses the victor in an avalanche of happy hormones. The trade-offs that come from this, the compliments, the honour and the desire to reach even greater heights, are pretty addictive.

There is also a desire to explore the roads rarely walked upon. As humankind learns about himself and the environment around him, he soon realises that so much more that remains unknown. In our short time of sojourn on Earth, a small fraction of eccentric individuals embark upon a journey of self-discovery. Not all will appreciate this.

**the slang lyrics of a popular Tamil song meaning 'why this murderous rage?'' from the movie '3'. It is meant to depict the anguish of a person whose love has been rejected by the girl he is trying to woo. It went on to include an onerous desire to achieve something.

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What's next?

With the single click of the cleat, I knew we had taken our relationship to the next level. After a year of trying to tame the shrew, I had taken a plunge deep in the unknown, rightly or foolishly, smitten by the latest craze around town. Drawn into the quicksand of recreational road cycling by a group of mad friends, who, as if by fate, happened to live just a few doors from each other, it has been quite a journey thus far. 

Getting up as early as 4.30am on almost every Sunday to cycle in the misty countryside of Hulu Langat and Genting Peras is not 'ride in the park'. It also took the group traversing the 633km track in the heart of the Korean peninsula. And not to forget the handful of cycling competitions in Penang, Cameron Highlands, Putrajaya and Lekas Highway.

I guess I must have listened to my mother when she used to say, "Choose your friends wisely!" But then, she also said that not everyone who is clad in saree is a lady. I wonder what she really meant by that. Did she mean that sarees are worn by all strata of society, from a world leader right down to a sex worker, hence not to judge a book by its cover? Or perhaps, she was referring to cross-dressers!

After more than a year of settling in (or rather saddling on) my Gusto road bike, I thought I could only call myself a cyclist (versus one who cycles) if I invested in a set of clipless pedals. After a few bumbling acts and faux pas, looks like I kind of got the hang of things (I think).

What better way to put the knowledge to the test than embarking on a journey along what has been described as the ultimate challenge to the cyclists around here - Broga Jantan Loop. Even though the name seems to exude the toxicity of the masculine type, it is just a description of machoism. Many a female cyclist regularly scale through this route seamlessly. So, on July 26, 2020, my cyclist group took the 115km challenge and succeeded.

• 
• Now that we have done this and that, I wonder what is next in the pipeline. For the next year or so, organising an overseas cycling expedition seems unlikely, looking the wave of the pandemic that has engulfed the globe. This must surely be the best time to arrange a 'Cuti-Cuti Malaysia'.

Pusan, South Korea, 2019

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Bare necessities that we need!

S2B: Seoul to Busan
It is not a race. Ep #1
Meet the P-stars. Ep #2
Fighting the demons! Ep #3

Episode 4: Bare necessities that we need!

It has become a weekend routine to go grinding and spinning around the treacherous hills of Peres, off Hulu Langat, on our vehicles to build up stamina and to prepare ourselves to what may lay ahead in unexplored Land of the Kimchi. The sight of us, five or sometimes six, saddled with our panniers sticking out erect from our rears (of the bicycles) must have stirred the curiosities of many fellow cyclists. 

During one of these outings, a few curious bicyclists inquired about our set-up, accessories and all. 

When we told them of our intentions of touring South Korea on bikes and what they saw were what we were carrying all along our week-long trip, they were understandably astonished. With the usual travellers who try to bargain through the airline staff with their excess baggage, here we were squeezing one week’s requirements into a pannier. 

Only then did it strike me of the number of unnecessary things that we go on accumulating in our lives. We build false attachments and create excessive dependence on unnecessary items that are not essential for our existence. 

A few years ago, a husband-wife friend of mine got into an existential crisis. Going headlong into their newfound passion, they decided to paddle all the way from Kuala Lumpur through Thailand, Cambodia, China, Korea and finally ended their journey at the tip of Hokkaido Island. Relating their experiences later, their one take-home message was ‘we carry redundant baggage that we refuse to unload’. I think they were speaking not literally but at a metaphysical level. This they realised after unloading much of their belongings halfway through their journey when they met a friend who was returning home. 

So next week, on our maiden international trip, we would be leading an Epicurean life. Living simply close to the elements of nature - sun, wind, trees, birds and bees. “Give me water, give me water; I will be a happy man,” says the Epicurean. We will have to make do with the contents of our backpack. 

T -junction to Peres

Like Bablu, the bear in Jungle Book, we are expected to live with the bare necessities, be content with simple pleasures in life, forget the worries and strife and wander around with the company of friends. Was it not also Epicurus who observed friendship at where human nature was sweetest? He considered fellowship essential for a happy life. Unlike love and romance, it ‘goes dancing around the world, announcing to all of us to wake to happiness’. 

'Hakuna Matata' say Timon and Pumba. But then, familiarity also builds contempt. 

And cannot be seen around like vagabond without papers, cash and credit card. Do not leave home without it!

(T-7) 

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Fighting the demons!

S2B: Seoul to Busan
It is not a race. Ep #1
Meet the P-stars. Ep #2

Episode #3: Fighting the demons!

It seems that humans start off life being fascinated with Nature - toddlers like to get their hands dirty with grime, dirt and soil, and as they grow older, they find union with Nature too. Is this a reminder that we are one with Nature or a hint of the adage 'ashes to ashes, dirt to dirt'!

What started as a weekend outing to Penang to partake a cycling race evolved to something that brought out the memories of the bygone care-free days of our youth. And we were itching for more. The agony of the heat, the sweat, the discomfort, the aches of sore muscles, the tan and the potential fall of the perch were no match for the post-race euphoria of accomplishment and the immersion in the high of endorphins.

Our resident techie, during one of his moment of bore, googled of a secluded highway in South Korea dedicated just for cyclists. It boasts of a 633 km picturesque trail along four main rivers on the Korean peninsula from Seoul to Busan. What started as a river beautification and flood mitigation effort soon became a tourist spot drawing cycling enthusiasts the world over to Korea.

couchonwheels.blogspot.com

Without a second thought, everyone in unison agreed to the idea of making a trip, and before long everyone was looking at the expiry dates on their passports, their work schedules and going online to book their tickets.

Then came the tricky part, the training. Leave it to Coach to prepare the pit to skewer the meat. We, the weekend warriors, in spite of the busy schedules, took the slightest excuse to grind and spin along the periphery highways of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. Places like Chanang, Titi, Puom, Pares and Bukit Antu which sounded alien to us before became our backyard.

Leave it to cyberspace to supply us loads of information about the going-on and the going-about of the trip. Unfortunately, many of the information with regards to the Four River Trail was in the Korean language. Further exploration revealed a Facebook page explaining cyclists' experiences on their trips in the trail. 

Nietzche reminded us not to be complacent when the going is good or conversely if the going is beyond hopeless. Either way, things would only turn around. Our training was marred with one of our rider having a temporary lapse in concentration that sent him skidding off a corner and his bicycle landing in a six feet deep ditch. Luckily, he flew off his vehicle just to sit nicely on the shoulder of the drain, shaken and stirred. His heroics stunts earned a broken clavicle which was quickly fixed and is on the road to recovery. Other small instances, like a snapped chain and faulty bicycle valve, gave the gang invaluable lessons in crisis management.

Necessity, mother of all inventions!

We have resolved not to let these temporary setbacks dampen the spirit. As they say, it is not the destination that matters, it is the journey that gives the most joy.

Courtesy of FB page - SBB Seoul, Busan and Beyond

(T - 15)

(Next: The Drama, The Uncertainties)

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Meet the P-stars

S2B: Seoul to Busan
It is not a race. Ep #1
Episode #2: Meet the P-stars.

It is time to see our pedalling stars. Officially there will be seven cyclists. The seventh participant will be joining us from Australia. A young punk teeming with adrenaline and power, he is Coach's son and is doing his secret training to 'keep up' with the oldies.

Coach

@Coach
Spending half of his adult life on the hockey fields, he continued to keep himself fit even after hanging his boots. After his retirement from work, rather than lazing around counting his end of days, he found pleasure in the outdoors.
He remains the driving force in pushing us to explore our true grit. Like Jesus Christ, he goes around recruiting same-minded people who are willing to fight a good fight against surrendering to effects of ageing. 

Wayang

@Wayang
He is the second most seasoned rider in the group. He is nicknamed 'Wayang' (Theatrics) not because he is showy but precisely the opposite reason. He would often start his day lamenting how exhausted he is and how he did no manage a single wink the night before. At the end of the ride, he will be speeding past everybody else.
Always a 'Pekeliling flat' at heart, he enjoys the simple pleasures of life. Not forgetting his roots, he still carries the hidden mojo that sees him through any challenge.  

Tabib

@Tabib
Another dark horse in the group is Tabib. Named so because of his profession, (Arabic for healer), he has been secretly training on his own after an unforgettable, sweat-drenching, heart-pouncing outing with the group months earlier. He came out strong like Rocky after months of hibernation. Like a majestic swan, the little ugly duckling had transformed slim and durable. No hills remained unconquerable for this former state hockey player. Cycling clears his mind to think of the next topic to discuss in his next radio show.

@Rabbit
Known for his speed, he is aptly named rabbit. A perfectionist, a stickler to time and a master planner, he worries about everything that may happen and may not. Being higher achiever, after successfully completing a full marathon, the only natural thing to do is to cycle and swim. Come April 2020, he will be a triathlete. Going through an existential crisis, he is still wondering why he is cycling and from what he is running from!

@Bionic Man
The hockey stick would have been another appendage on his body in his teenage and early adulthood. His constant roasting and sweating it out in the hockey field earned his appearance at the national level. That also made his whole body re-aligned and his knees traumatised so severely that it had to replaced at a relatively young age. He did not reach the pinnacle of his achievements lying down. Hence, with the same determination, he laboured through the pains of bilateral knee replacement and the subsequent gruelling physiotherapy. His never-say-die attitude has now brought him up hiking mountains and cycling along interstate highways.

@Chennai Express
This Johnny-come-lately is the latest addition to the gang. Not being of the athletic type, he contended himself jogging around the housing estate. The fear of contracting diabetes, which ran deep in his family history made him run farther. Like Forrest Grump, he kept on running and now cycling, giving much palpitations to the family instead. Nicknamed Chennai Express for his occasional burst of energy that eventually fizzles out much like an express train that starts out with much pomp and splendour but reaches its destination late as usual!

Rabbit

Bionic Man

Chennai Express

(T - 32)
[Next: The Storyline]

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Do the thing you do!

Uncle Hooi at his best © The Star

I remember the barrages of concerned pep talks from my family members when they discovered that I, at the tender age of 43, slowly started indulging in competitive distance running. In not so many words, they were obviously trying to tell me that I would just drop dead by the roadside to be found by passersby as if I were just roadkill.

Another old friend, obviously overweight and looking much like Peter Griffin of the 'Family Guy' fame was even generous enough to offer free anaesthetic services as and when I need a knee replacement. 

As a last resort, my family went ahead and gave me a 'stress test - CT angio' combo as a birthday present on my 50th birthday. When the cardiologists gave a clean bill of health after silently cursing under his breath for wasting his precious time from his more deserving patients, they essentially gave up and let Nature take its course. 

This must have been what Fauja Singh must have gone through when he took up serious running at the age of 89. I can imagine how people would have mocked him. How people can be cruel with their words... 

"Living on borrowed times, and he is asking for trouble!"

"What is he doing? Should be playing with his grandchildren."

"He should be making peace with his Maker, not running around like a young bloke"

Uncle Hooi (pic above) is a regular feature at the place my friends and I frequently run on Sunday mornings. Starting his solo run as early as 5 in the morning, without fail, at a steady pace, he would cover a distance of 20km effortlessly at his springy age of 82. He must have been ridiculed behind his back for missing all those late Saturday banters and parties that last till the wee hours of Saturday night- Sunday morning. He must have been labelled as a party pooper for precisely the same reasons.

Fauja Singh, 107, Turbaned Tornado
Photo courtesy santabanta.com.

Others mean well and say things that they think would make change for the better. They feel that it is their God-sent duty to do so. At the end of the day, everybody has to use their God-given faculties to decide what is best for them. When we falter or make a wrong decision (immaterial whether it is in accordance to their advice), they have nothing to offer but sympathy, maybe crocodile tear and perhaps, words of comfort that God works in mysterious ways.

Some enjoy the attention of being sick and like to immerse in the sympathetic display by the loved ones. Others use their disability, perceived disability or faked ailments to garner a soft spot. And a few convince others that they are indeed sick to give their two cents' worth advice, to sell their products, to gaslight them down or just to have a conversation going. For them life is so mundane, they need to irritate someone.


https://asok22.wixsite.com/real-lesson 

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