The Sentinel Amsterdam vol. 6 #7 by Consultancy Market Media

vol. 6 #7 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 26 February 2013

The Sentinel Amsterdam

Integrity, heart, humour

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trends

TRINIDAD & superhuman TOBAGO: Up high, down low

in this issue

feature - p.04

perspectives - p.12

restaurant review - p. 32

Trinidad & Tobago

Dam in 60 minutes!

Jamie’s Italian

‘Diversity in tropical culture, flora and fauna’

‘‘The first instalment in a new Sentinel series’

‘I never, ever thought I would review one of Jamie Oliver’s restaurants’

amsterdam city life - p. 41

sport - p. 60

sport - p. 72

Bring back

White Out

The Gold Room

‘The pursuit of material to keep The Sentinel vibrant’

‘Right now I’m sitting in HauteNendaz, Switzerland’

BRING BACK

more star beer guide - p. 64

sentinel recommended - p. 66

Stag Lager

spotted - p. 68

Where is this in Amsterdam?

film review - p. 69

trends - p. 70

health & well-being - p. 72

Room 2C

Superhuman

Pain-free life

sport - p. 66

classifieds

On the volley

The Sentinel Amsterdam

E-mail: sentinelpost@gmail.com Website: www.thesentinel.eu Contributors: Sam van Dam, Dirkje Bakker-Pierre, Evelina Kvartunaite, Ananda Welij, and Simon Joseph

Editors: Gary Rudland & Denson Pierre Design, realisation and form: Andrei Barburas & No-Office.nl Webmaster: www.sio-bytes.tumblr.com Webhost: Amsterjammin.com

The Sentinel Amsterdam does not intentionally include unaccredited photos/illustrations that are subject to copyright. If you consider your copyright to have been infringed, please contact us at sentinelpost@gmail.com.

feature

Trinidad & Tobago:

up high, down low

By Denson Pierre

In search of diversity in tropical culture, flora and fauna, as well as pure, unadulterated and bombastic fun? This twin island republic continues to rise above its peculiar and persistent domestic issues to offer visitors the time of their life, especially during the height of its world-famous and steamy carnival season (26 December to Shrove Tuesday and the weekend thereafter). Something in the mentality of modern Trinis means that, due to the influence of generations of relative petro-wealth, visitors can feel ignored or, more accurately, not treated with the usual level of reverence by a populace with a more casual approach towards touting for the tourist dollar. Nevertheless, any visitor with ideas of what they wish to achieve on their visit, bearing in mind that this country, although idyllic in the main, is also bustling and very businesslike on its flipside, will have a whale of a time. Talk to folk here as equals and you will immediately realise that just below that tough and boisterous exterior lies the spirit of some of the most pleasant people you could wish to meet anywhere, and they major in generating excitement that climaxes in some form of fun, consistently. On our recent visit we made sure to get off the traffic-jammed highways and A-roads and head for the mountains to spend a couple days, at least, in blissful nature, high above the heat at sea level, combing beaches, indulging fetes, playing Jouvert and generally having a good time over three weeks. Suffice to say, there are just as many new things to do next time we venture there.

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‘This twin island republic continues to rise’

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A populace with a more casual approach towards touting for the tourist dollarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Just below that tough and boisterous exterior lies the spirit of some of the most pleasant people you could wish to meet anywhereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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perspectives

Dam in 60 minutes! ‘On the fringe of Amsterdam is Amstelveen’

By Sam van Dam

perspectives

Part I: Amstelveen One of the closest and yet, to me, completely unknown places on the fringe of Amsterdam is Amstelveen; a part of this small, lovely country that is mostly known for its proximity to the Amsterdamse Bos. This huge green resort offers solace and relaxation to city slickers who manage to leave the urban turf long enough to feast their eyes on seemingly endless greenery and a natural habitat that has a lot more to offer than just a few trees and bushes. One of my friends is obsessed with this forest and keeps trying to entice us to visit it with her. Being utterly urbanised in our ways, however, we usually refuse, missing out on a great opportunity to find some equilibrium and balance in our stressed, modern lives.

The first thing that struck me as unusual and different from the city centre was the fact that Metro trains suddenly spring up from their normal underground burrows and proudly pass through the streets above ground, allowing a view of their undercarriages and creating the impression of a transportation system that looks very familiar, yet alien at the same time. I really had to look three times before realising that they are the same trains that usually rush through the narrow tunnels of the city with their human cargo. Schiphol Airport is located relatively nearby and the sky above Amstelveen is filled with ever-present, low-flying planes on their final approach to landing. This adds an element of being elsewhere to the overall Amsterdam scene, even though some of the landmarks of the city centre are still plainly visible on the horizon. To make up for these obtrusive reminders, the Amstelveen area is richly sprinkled with trees, canals, shrubs and bushes, while at the same time featuring a drastically different style of architecture with almost exclusively tall apartment buildings, surrounded by lush nature; an eye-pleasing conglomeration of urbanism and natural elements that I have not seen in any other part of the greater city. The view from these buildings must be magnificent, as the eye can lazily scan the wide vistas that give an intimate insight into the Amstelveen style of man-made structures embedded into a layer of pure nature. An interesting mix that allows the locals to live within easy reach of their downtown workplaces, via public transport or bicycle, while also enjoying the many advantages of being surrounded by things that are not made of concrete and steel.

Having spent an afternoon in this ‘new world’ that had opened up to me, I started to feel a little homesick, as I just can’t be away from Amsterdam for very long without missing it. So, after a pit stop at a friend’s place for a coffee, some muffins and a good chat, I stretched my legs and got back on my steel friend, happily riding As I pedalled towards the outskirts of town, I realised into the smog-enhanced sunset that guided me back that, before reaching the greener parts, I first had to towards the bigger, lovely place I call home. But, I pass through Zuid-As: the southern part of town that have to say that Amstelveen has remained circling the bears the symbols of and is host to a multitude of highedges of my consciousness, so maybe I’ll go back there rise buildings housing large international corporations. sometime soon and spend some quality time in the This reminded me once again of the urgency to seek out Amsterdamse Bos. And who knows, I may bump into alternatives to the ever-present pressure of functioning you there too! in a highly competitive world of ultra-commercialism and iPhonery.

This is the first instalment in a new Sentinel series that will highlight some of the awesome places around Amsterdam that are less well known, yet deserve to be brought to your attention. After all, life is not just about our nine-to-five existence that requires strength, dedication and focus on our work, while dealing with the modern demands of a cosmopolitan city. As anyone who has ever been to Amsterdam knows, it is not exactly the biggest city in the world and, even though it has achieved worldwide fame and recognition for being one of the must-see places in Europe, sometimes it’s advisable to find out what lies beyond the borders of our lovely hometown. With this in mind, I hopped on my bike and went on a little trip (south) to explore the surrounding territories.

perspectives

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I realised that, before reaching the greener parts, I first had to pass through Zuid-Asâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

perspectives

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Seek out alternatives to the ever-present pressure of functioning in a highly competitive world of ultra-commercialism and iPhoneryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

perspectives

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The sky above Amstelveen is filled with ever-present, low-flying planes on their final approach to landingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

perspectives

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;An eye-pleasing conglomeration of urbanism and natural elements that I have not seen in any other part of the greater cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

perspectives

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restaurant review

Restaurant Review Jamieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Italian Restaurant 52

Gatwick Airport, London

restaurant review

‘The latest addition to the J.O. empire seemed to be the buzz among the British Airways hostesses’

By Antonia Egon

Half an hour later we walked back into the spacious, half-industrial, half-traditional restaurant area and the guy who sold us the space was nowhere to be seen... But, surprise, surprise, one of his colleagues immediately ushered us to a private booth with an amazing view over the airport (airside). A better start I have seldom experienced (in our home town of Amsterdam, they would never give a six-seater booth to just two people, but would rather wait all day to see if a group of six would turn up).

A nice experience of the real-life ‘Jamie effect’ and proof that his mission to bring simple, good, fresh food to places where they have gotten into the habit of using ready-made and frozen products is a great idea. I hope many, many airport restaurateurs all over the planet pick up on his success.

Our friendly, tattooed waiter turned up within seconds and started by giving us some icy water before taking our order (very professional). The food was utterly enjoyable, char-grilled bread and wild mushrooms, super-crispy risotto balls filled with smoked mozzarella and porcini mushrooms, a tasty salsa which seemed to have a kind of grilled aubergine flavour, polenta chips (new to me and unbelievably crispy) and a great, fresh al dente pasta di norma (“We cook all our pasta al dente” is a sentence I have never heard in an airport and don’t hear enough outside of airports). The pasta was first brought to us with some grated cheese topping, but that was easily and smoothly corrected. So fresh, nice, simple and tasty that we forgot for a moment that we were actually at an airport. Every dish As we all know, airport food generally varies between was presented and styled differently, all the details crap and reasonable, and mainly fulfils the function worked out to perfection, but also rustic, homey and of killing time and hunger pangs, rather than being a basic. Ceramic tiles, a granite table, piles of cooking taste experience. Nevertheless, as the latest addition to books, rough wooden planks, space, light and nice the J.O. empire seemed to be the buzz among the British music too. Airways hostesses at Gatwick Airport, and we had some time to kill, we decided to see what it was all about. It Next to all of the niceness the staff members were wasn’t yet lunchtime when we arrived (breakfast was clearly trained amazingly well; pleasant, relaxed and being served but we wanted something more lunchhappy but also efficient and obviously striving to give like), so the friendly host redirected us to the J.O. bar the best service that they can. The only remark I have is next door for half an hour while he saved us a seat by that even though they use very nice parmesan cheese, the window; great salesman’s tactics, we thought, but it doesn’t need to be on every dish (it was explained to why the heck not. The bar was a pleasant un-airport-like us that this is Jamie’s English twist to Italian food but, number; some vintage furniture, nice cosy club-chairs, actually, I think he would be better off just putting and I had a decent enough glass of cider. ‘cheese on top’).

Right off the bat, two or three things that happened in the process of this experience were new to me and also completely unexpected. First of all, I never, ever thought I would review one of Jamie Oliver’s restaurants or even dine in one. Not because I don’t like him or his food, but just because I was never busy with it. The third unexpected thing was that I also never, ever, ever expected to write a review on an airport restaurant.

restaurant review

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A private booth with an amazing view over the airport (airside)â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

restaurant review

‘The food was utterly enjoyable’

restaurant review

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;All the details worked out to perfection, but also rustic, homey and basicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

classifieds

Authentic and full of surprises. That’s Mechelen. Hospitable and honourable. That’s the people of Mechelen. Come and experience the city’s urban charms for yourself.

photography © Layla Aerts

Mechelen Mechelen

amsterdam classifieds city life

amsterdam city life

K C A B G N I R B By Denson Pierre

Netherlands we usually go for cheese, as we have quite a few choice examples here and not so much more that is typically or classically Dutch that could excite those from countries overflowing with cuisine. We found a handy cheese kiosk selling, amongst others, my favourite Gouda-style Old Amsterdam. A kilo of this fine cheese makes for a good and tasty present but the kiosk only had a one kilo block left. The kind and pleasant sales woman acknowledged my need for more and informed us about another shop, just 30 metres away across the thoroughfare, where we could get as much cheese as we desired. Now, this parent shop carried the term ‘Fine’ in its name and for this they apparently felt justified in charging a cool €3 more per kilo for the exact same Old Amsterdam cheese available at their own unbranded kiosk a few strides away.

A decade ago I learned that Schiphol Groep, the holding company for the airfield and more or less all of the airport’s real estate, estimated that each person passing through the airport would spend €20, on average, per transit through its huge shopping and dining areas. With Schiphol being the hub for KLM flights, a high proportion of outlets offer items and easily transported goods on a duty-free basis. This figure has surely increased over the past decade and with the airport handling some 47.5 million passengers per year, it ought to mean a sure thing for those proprietors game enough to face the super-expensive rental rates and attempt to realise a profit from a business plan.

Bring back? You tell me... I went back to the kiosk and had the professional sales woman call her ‘bosses’ to perhaps explain the price difference, which was a shock even to her. Maybe a long stretch of ‘airport time’ had elapsed between pricings and had we not had time to kill and patience for this attempted daylight swindle, it might have succeeded. After a few minutes a colleague sheepishly emerged from the ‘Fine’ shop with a trolley filled with new supplies for the kiosk. From this new batch I grabbed a lower-priced, same product, as well as a couple other cheeses to take with me. I spent €68. Had I not had the minutes to spare and checked I would have spent €74. Obviously, it pays to be on time and alert, especially in airports.

Using the extra time afforded by my punctuality, I decided to get a foodstuff present for those receiving me on the other side of the Atlantic. When in the

Most of my travelling, these days, is for the love of and in the pursuit of material to keep The Sentinel vibrant. For personal long-haul holiday travel I have to face the same extended period after check-in and passport control killing time, waiting to go through a security check and board an assigned aircraft. Before you can get to your flight at Amsterdam’s (and Europe’s fourth busiest) international airport you are stuck in arguably the Netherlands’ largest shopping mall (which is a relatively uncommon concept here in the Netherlands).

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www.yourtuliptour.com

For complete and world class tours of Prague Packages include: • Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children) • Literary Prague • Prague Architecture through the ages • Religion and the city • The old city at night *These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists.

Day segments and rates: PR: 08:00-12:30hrs / AG: 13:30-16:30hrs / UE: 17:30-21:30hrs All sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult. Group size upper limit = 8. Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25%. Family package rates are negotiable.

Contact:

Jaroslav Cernosek +420 602 228 797 Mail: jcernosek@centrum.cz

JC Tours

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star beer guide

The Sentinel Star beer guide By Denson Pierre

STAG LAGER BEER

(5.5 % A.B.V.)

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Nice when used as an ice-cold thirst quencherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 65

Not exactly a fine lager but it does drink well and is arguably the best-standard quality lager available in the Caribbean; from regional brewers. Not great but it does boast a surprisingly high alcohol content and can be very nice when used as an ice-cold thirst quencher. Its inclusion in this section is largely due to the fact that I had to drink so much of it, for lack of decent alternatives with class, over a three-week, three-island study. Stag Lager Beer is brewed by Carib Brewery, Champ Fleurs, Trinidad & Tobago

recommended

Zest - 19/02/13

ended Recomm

We find the best, most fun, most typical, exciting, or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you; an easy way to feel like a local.

g 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort

recommended

35 75To- Be Fax 033 - 454 35 79Connoisseurs Delight Seen and Tasted filmproef@eurogifts.nl te: www.eurogifts.nl

Fun, Drinking & Music

ORDERNUMMER: 6 ARTIKELNUMMER: 6

Opera Prima Patisserie Bistro Traiteur The best place in town for lunch, exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering, both private and corporate!

Mulligans Irish Music Bar Amsterdam’s best address for live Irish music: Five (5) nights a week! Check our agenda for upcoming sessions.

St. Antoniebreestraat 142 Amsterdam www.tisfris.nl

Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdam www.operaprima.nl

Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdam www.mulligans.nl

To Be Seen and Tasted

Connoisseurs Delight

To Be Seen and Tasted

Cafe restaurant Edel Cafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch, dinner or to simply enjoy a drink. Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam.

Café Kostverloren Café Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon, an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room. During summer there is a large, sunny terrace and during winter, an open ﬁreplace!

Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdam www.edelamsterdam.nl

Incanto Incanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen. Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance. The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines. Amstel 2 Amsterdam www.restaurant-incanto.nl

Fun, Drinking & Music

Connoisseurs Delight

Neighbourhood cosy

Café Oporto Café Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam ‘brown cafe’. Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike, they offer televised sports, wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits.

Planet Rose Planet Rose is the ﬁrst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands, which specializes in Jamaican cuisine. The menu features a daily changing selection of Jamaican/ Caribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole experience while dining with them!

Zest Zest is ﬁne food, warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday). Amsterdam’s newest and freshest!

Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdam www.cafeoporto.net/home

Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdam www.planetrose.info

Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdam www.facebook.com/clubzest.nl

2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdam www.cafekostverloren.nl

Cafe Tisfris Cafe Tisfris is recognisable for its landmarks, funky pillars and terrace. Tisfris offers a friendly service and is a great pit stop for “yummy” refreshments.

spotted

Where is this in Amsterdam?

Answer to: sentinelpost@gmail.com

room2c

Room 2c film Tropic Thunder (2008)

By David King

A great idea for a film. Place a bunch of prima uomo actors in the jungle to shoot a Vietnam War film and then break contact with them, so that while they continue to think it is all make believe a local gang of drug smugglers can attack them. Brilliantly hilarious and clever, this allstar comedic bash works on many levels and pulls a couple of unforeseen rabbits out of its helmet. 69

Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001) A gripping mix of 18th-century settings, martial arts and detective work are all rolled out in this film, which is based on the true story of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Beast of Gevaudanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, in Margeride, France. Because it is Frenchmade, its art-house elegance adds even more beauty to a movie that is truly scary in parts.

By dpmotions

trends

Superhuman ‘We would all like to think that Superman really exists’

What is it with this new virus (I don’t like calling it a trend) that seems to be turning our much loved, globally miraculous, top sporting athletes into raging murderers and lying junkies? Is it that their disability or the fact that they have survived a deadly disease like cancer gives them a superhuman aura, which makes people believe they are better than everyone else? And, because of this, do they have much, much further to fall when they start to act like the rest of us mere mortals? Is it their position of being admired by almost everyone in the world, as if they were gods sitting on Mount Olympus, that makes them literally feel superhuman? Does this cause them to forget that they have to abide by the same rules as people like you and me, and live by rules of their own? I mean, if you had almost died of cancer you might very well think that a little bit of doping doesn’t make a huge difference, considering all the medication that had already been swimming around in your body...

By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre

On the other hand, maybe our shock is a little out of order. Lance Armstrong isn’t the first and will not be the last Tour de France winner to make use of enhancing chemicals and pretend they did it all by themselves, through sheer willpower and intense training. Should we really expect that just because someone won this bike race more than once, after suffering a serious illness, they are different or better or have more integrity than an athlete who has raced around France ten times without ever breaking into the top 100? Do we have a right to expect that someone who can run really fast on artificial legs should also be a nice person? Of course we would all like to think that Superman really exists, just as some like to believe that a dot of light in the sky is an alien fleet seeking contact and others like to believe that trees can talk or that humans could fly if we only believed it hard enough. Maybe we should realise that superpowers are limited to things like comic books, Walt Disney movies and the bible, and stop believing all those Hollywood films and History Channel documentaries that make us think ‘super’ is something that can be part of our reality.

health & well-being

– ‘It’s sometimes hard to stay in the zone and combine routines with eating healthy food’ –

Pain-free life By Evelina Kvartunaite

I have been always interested in a healthy lifestyle but, considering the speed at which our daily lives move, it’s sometimes hard to stay in the zone and combine routines with eating healthy food. I would, therefore, like to share some ideas on how to implement healthier aspects into your life without completely changing your normal routine.

enough greens and salads, and try to replace crisps and sugary chocolates with nuts or carrots, which can be a great snack during the day. When it comes to routines, try to sleep more and you could perhaps improve the quality of your sleep by getting a better mattress. Do not eat heavy meals just before going to bed. Also, don’t forget to air your bedroom and create a tranquil environment. Little things like this do count! Let’s start with food. To me it’s not so much about You might consider supplementing your diet with always purchasing your groceries from health food vitamins and food supplements. The best results, I shops but finding the right balance in your daily find, can be obtained from herbal remedies, like algae intake and also not overdoing it with fast foods. If you for protein or Echinacea to strengthen the immune know you will be having a full dinner with friends system. Don’t underestimate the knowledge of your or colleagues, for example, then just settle for a more grandmother in the latter case! These things do work, humble lunch and make sure you drink enough albeit in a more subtle way, and you will probably need water during the day, since coffee, tea and alcohol to take the herbs for a longer time in order to feel the can dehydrate your body quite rapidly. Usually, your full effects, but your body will certainly be happier daily intake of water (or natural juice, herbal teas, etc.) that you didn’t just feed it chemical-laced, fast-action should be no less than 1.5 litres. Also, make sure you eat pills.

health & well-being

– ‘Eat enough greens and salads, and try to replace crisps and sugary chocolates with nuts or carrots’ –

One of the things we tend to forget is that when we want to cleanse our bodies, we should also clean our homes and our minds. Spring is not far away and that’s a great moment to throw out things you never use but which remain stacked in the corner of your home, just in case. Make sure you throw out that single sock or jars from cookies you finished five years ago. Opening spaces in your home can create space for more magic in your life. The same goes for your mind. As hectic as our lives may be, make sure you make time in your day to relax, do something you enjoy and enjoy it to the full. Don’t hold on to painful things; they will only make you feel weighed down and unhappy! All in all, make sure you remember to behave happy. As much as life can be challenging and daily routines pressuring, this is your life and it is all in your own hands!

– ‘Opening spaces in your home can create space for more magic in your life’ –

sport

On The Volley

By Simon Joseph

The point ‘There’s no denying it; football is popular!’

‘Big events are often described, amazing statistics are gathered and the effects can be astonishing’

It has been estimated that just under half of the entire world’s population (46.4 per cent) watched the previous football World Cup in South Africa in 2010. This means that the competition reached more than 3.2 billion people globally. There’s no denying it; football is popular! But looking at the figures, it begs the question: what was the other 53.6 per cent doing at the time? Since the end of last season I, too, have been looking for other ways to fill the empty space the beautiful game used to occupy. In my pursuit of different interests, I was briefly drawn in by the world of science. I also thought about joining a cult, and planting my balcony. But could any of these possible alternatives provide the same levels of pleasure that football once did?

I thought this was worth looking into. I began to search for some exciting science and came across a phenomenon called a ‘gamma-ray burst’. These cosmic explosions are supposed to be the largest concentrations of energy in the universe. Furthermore, about a thousand years ago one of these took place in our own Milky Way galaxy. That’s right, a big bang only five or six thousand light years from our planet. Excited by the impact this event must’ve had, I read on. But, apparently, the researchers of this important discovery believe it did not even emit any visible light. Therefore, even though this massive burst of energy sounds dramatic, our medieval ancestors probably wouldn’t have noticed a thing! When asked what effect such an explosion might have if it happened closer to Earth, scientists said that they are so rare we shouldn’t expect one anywhere near here for at least another million years. In other words, it is extremely unlikely we will ever experience one again. So much for science.

In the world of science, big events are often described, amazing statistics are gathered and the effects can be astonishing. So, if people aren’t watching the football, maybe they are making life-changing discoveries.

Somewhat disappointed with science as the ideal alternative to football, I turned my attention to looking for a guru to follow. I’d heard of the idea while in India several years ago: renounce your earthly pleasures and

sport

‘Forsaking pleasure only leads to more misery’

get closer to ‘the truth’. They even have mass meetings over there on certain auspicious days. One recent assembly, the Maha Kumbh Mela, saw 35 million people gathering on a single Sunday, making it the biggest cult jamboree in the world. I doubt many of them took a radio to listen to the footy results. Even so, I didn’t see the point of going all the way back to India for one event, or of following someone I was never likely to meet; and anyway, the next Mela gathering is not for another 144 years, so it couldn’t really become an alternative leisure pursuit.

philosophies or fake religions in order to draw in the lost and the vulnerable? My search for pleasure in alternatives to football wasn’t finding much in the way of fulfilment.

Still searching for a guide, then, I began looking closer to home. At first I could only find a restaurant called the Dutch Guru; then I discovered a few individuals making claims to be spiritual guides and having access to higher powers. Their teachings are along the lines that much of existence amounts to misery and to avoid all this misery we must forsake pleasure. But surely forsaking pleasure only leads to more misery; and besides, it sounded too much like what I’m already doing. I just don’t have anyone to guide me through it. Moreover, do I really need my own personal ‘special one’? Aren’t they all fakes anyway, tailoring fake

We all have basic needs to fulfil; the need to protect ourselves from disappointments, for instance, or the need for hope in difficult times. We all need some pleasure in our lives now and again, and if we follow football, we need to feel that our team is in with a chance of winning something. The chance of Tottenham winning a major trophy within the next million years seems about as likely as witnessing a gamma-ray burst. Being a dedicated follower of football means always hoping for perfection, even in difficult times; and at the end of a season the truth is there for all to see: the league table never lies, or so they say. Gurus and their followers dedicate much of their lives searching for the truth in refraining from life; but there’s something flawed or incomplete about dedicating your life to trying to escape it. None the wiser, I waited for the ice to melt before planting some daffodils and tulips on my balcony.

‘I turned my attention to looking for a guru to follow’

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white out sport

Dangerously fun

By Ananda van Welij

‘Don’t do it, it’s not worth it!’

Just another girl from a country without mountains, addicted to snow.

I’m 16 years old and sitting on a dune overlooking the beach. I’m wearing my skiing gear even though there is no snow in sight and the temperature does not call for warm clothing. I’m listening to a man, the same age as my own father: “Please everyone, don’t do it, it’s not worth it! The pain, the emptiness, the frustration... None of us should be here today”. The ski clothes are a tribute because today we are all together to remember a friend’s life and say our goodbyes. His passion for those beautiful white flurries turned on him when he got caught in an avalanche and wasn’t rescued in time. Thinking back to the pain in his father’s and sister’s voice and of everyone at that beach that day still makes my throat tighten up today, ten years later. It’s the one experience that made sure I’ve barely ever ventured outside the slopes over the following ten years. That day on the beach I promised myself and my family that I wouldn’t go free riding, looking for fresh tracks, unless under the supervision of a guide, with people who I trust and who know how to use their equipment. People have called me conservative, scared and even boring

when I said no to riding outside the slopes when it had snowed forty centimetres overnight. They told me I’d missed out when they returned at the end of the day with big smiles on their faces. But I only have to think back to that day on the beach and I have no regrets about missing out, especially when they can’t give me a decent answer as to what danger there might be of an avalanche. Right now I’m sitting in Haute-Nendaz, Switzerland, physically exhausted but mentally energised. I’ve just finished the final day of my avalanche 1 course from the Snow Safety Center. The last few days have been challenging; an avalanche of information about what might set one off when riding off-piste and learning to read the signs provided by the ski patrol and nature. The course combines theory and reality right from the outset, under the supervision of highly qualified guides. It’s the ultimate way to learn how to respond to your surroundings. Snow changes from minute to minute and just that little bit of extra weight from one person can transform the whole mountain into an arena of doom. But now I know what to look for. On one of our descents, one of the guides kicked-off a small avalanche. Because of the information we’d been given and the precautions we’d taken before skiing down, we knew it could not turn

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‘An avalanche of information about what might set one off when riding off-piste’

into something colossal that could cost him his life. But it still scared me a bit to see it happen right in front of my eyes. It made me even happier with my decision to avoid riding off-piste over the past few years and invest in the course.

avalanche course and hire a guide. No one will ever be able to give you a 100% guarantee it’s safe but you owe it to yourself to get as close to that 100% as you can. You will learn to enjoy, push personal boundaries and gain new respect for the mountain. It will allow you to go places you can only dream of.

But it wasn’t all about danger signs and learning where you’re not allowed to go and what you shouldn’t do. A big part of the course’s information and training is about the ability to enjoy; to enjoy skiing, to enjoy those white flurries and to learn how to look differently at the mountain. By doing this I’ve been able to shoot down the mountain, get a new type of confidence in my riding, have fresh snow fly around me and have the biggest smile on my face while gasping for air at the end of my decent. In short, knowing I’ve done everything I can to prevent causing a day like 10 years ago. I’ve gone on hikes and explored the mountain like I’ve never done before because I’ve started to look at the mountain in a different way. If you ever have the urge to go outside the slopes, shoot through that fresh ‘pow’ and enjoy everything that nature has to offer, make sure you do it safely. You pay to learn how to drive a car. Please do yourself and those close to you a favour and, even for just those three metres next to the slope, spend the money to take an

Although I didn’t get the nine hours of sleep over the last week, which I like to get on an intensive ski trip, waking up, getting outside, breathing in the fresh air and thinking back to everything I’ve learned draws a new type of energy from deep inside. Energy for life and the new day ahead. Learn, listen, share, play and enjoy. Special thanks to Maarten, Sander, Rolf, Jurgen, Joey and Michiel for everything.

‘I’ve barely ever ventured outside the slopes’

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Information and training is about the ability to enjoy; to enjoy skiingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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‘Shoot through that fresh ‘pow’ and enjoy everything that nature has to offer’

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The Gold Room So, there we have it; in the real Premier League world Manchester United have what appears to be an unassailable lead. Meanwhile, here in the FFG-CL (http:// thesentinel.eu/ffg/Latest-FFG.htm), I too find myself with a lead that will be hard for the other master managers to claw back, creating the customary tension at the very end of the season.

By Denson Pierre

Having modified the competition format all of those years ago to suit patient professionals, I must confess to a degree of pleasure in seeing all of my ideas on the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;long gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; working to perfection, albeit for the first time. Like Manchester United, however, I know it simply takes catastrophic injuries or extra effort from rival teams and managers to change things dramatically, even during the final 20% of the season. We shall see.

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Looking Back at You II GK: Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) 1m - Maybe a masterstroke. Keen to remind the world of his superb goal-tending skills and to regain the Brazilian World Cup number one shirt at their home tournament. Rating 9.0 DEF: Billy Jones (West Bromwich Albion) 1m - An exciting watch even if the stream of West Brom clean sheets has momentarily dried up. Rating 8.25 DEF: Robert Huth (Stoke City) 2m - Now one of the sure picks for above average scoring in fantasy football. Rating 8.50 DEF: Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) 5m - Once more proving his worth with clean sheets, goal scoring and occasional MoM awards, despite the entire Chelsea challenge again faltering. Rating 9.0 MID: Oscar (Chelsea) 3.5m - All the signs are there that he is the real deal as a Brazilian-style number 10. As he powers-up over the next couple of seasons he will surely be mentioned in the same breath as the best in the world. Rating 9.0 MID: Juan Mata (Chelsea) 5.5m - So often this season he has again been just that little bit better than all the other attacking midfielders in the league. Rating 9.15

MID: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) 5.5m - The ‘go to’ man for the spectacular and athletic awe inspiration again this season. His all-round game is almost there. Rating 9.10 MID: Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) 2.5m - A worthy full-season debut, even if the re-emergence of form in other key players at Liverpool has seen him benched (and in court) of late. Rating 8.75 MID: Michu (Swansea City) 2m - Based on immediate return on budget investment he is the greatest buy (one season) in the history of the Premier League. Outstanding. Rating 9.05 FWD: Jermaine Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur) 3.5m - Still the likeable ‘strikers’ striker’ whose impressive goal scoring runs continue to be completed mainly in patches, unfortunately. Now injured. Rating 9.0 FWD: Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 6.0m - Roundly disliked as a personality (public) but not much can be said against his brilliance and goal-getting on the pitch. As likely to be key in the final 20% of the season to as great an extent as he has been from the very first week. Rating 9.05 Total rating (max. 100) = 97.85

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CZECH REPUBLIC STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT!