Drumbeats from Africa - Prep (KL)

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20 June : Kuala Lumpur : BEHIND THE SCENES

In two weeks we will be flagging off in Durban, South Africa. But before that we will be busy with the final preparations. The first group of the PETRONAS Adventure Team members (including me) will be leaving for Durban this Saturday.

We are the people normally in the background. Most of the times we are not included in the photos, the newspaper articles or the television documentary. We are the guys behind the cameras, under the bonnets and setting up the banners before the rest of the team arrives. We are the guys that get left behind when a car breakdowns.

So this time we are the guys that get their story told first.

Logistics coordinator Faruk Rahman, hardly gets any sleep before the start of the event. He is in charge of getting all the team members there and back (wherever ‘there’ is !). He also has to get the cars shipped on time and be there when the cars arrive – dealing with customs officials and shipping agents. His job doesn’t start there though; it starts way back in December last year when Halim, the expedition leader, (read – Head Honcho) revealed the destination for this year’s expedition. The initial routing, local contacts, initial costings, recces, the list goes on and on.

I only look like this after 5 cups of coffee

Right beside him sits Azman Baharuddin, media and public relations director; his job is REALLY in the background. He goes to the initial meetings with the sponsors, making the deals happen. Without Azman there might not even be an expedition. That’s how important his job is. When nothing goes wrong there’s hardly any credit, but when something does go wrong the public relations guy is always one of the first to get the blame ! Aaah, it’s a thankless job. This time Azman has also taken on another thankless job – the sweeper. Whatever the job, you can be sure Azman will do his very best.

It's tough work but someone's got to do it!

No repair job is too small or too big for the mechanics and their non-mechanic buddy Botak. From left to right: Arif, Botak, Shun Mean, Ah Tee, Stiven, Francis and Woon.

The mechanic team headed by Stiven Sim as coordinator and Ah Tee (Ng Chin Swee) as head mechanic has another one of those thankless jobs. Always on call, the mechanic team are the backbone of the PETRONAS Adventure Team. Working in the toughest conditions with limited spares and tools, the mechanics make big repair jobs seem small. With Ah Tee, Francis, Ah Woon, Shun Mean, Botak (Lee Kim Sia) and Arif on the job you can be sure the cars will all arrive in Cape Town.

Clockwise from left: Sani, Azmi, Azhari, Sidik and Karim. Zaini wants to remain annonymous (he's camera shy)

Last but not least are the ‘go-fers’ Zaini, Sani, Azmi, Azhari, Sidik and Karim. Already veterans in the 4WD business, these guys have years of experience under their belt. And they apply this experience in every expedition making life comfortable for the rest of the team. They prepare the food, cooking and camping gear, oversee the

packing of the cars and generally help everyone do anything! From cooking to repairing cars, from visas to containers these are the guys behind Expedition Leader Halim Rahman, these are the guys working as a team making the expedition run smoothly.

Next Drumbeats – the guys behind the guys in the background! In other words, the guys I forgot to mention in this article! See you in Durban!

The Head Honcho in case you didn't know

9 May : Kuala Lumpur : AFRICAN DRUMBEATS

The drumbeats begin….This year the PETRONAS Adventure Team is going to AFRICA! The continent has been called many things and not all of them complimentary, warning explorers of its unforgiving nature. But Africa has its rewards, especially for those who have the courage to explore and discover its treasures.

I have never been to Africa. Before my recce trip there last April, Africa has always been a distant dream, so this expedition is definitely special.

I am sure it is the same for the rest of the expedition members. Another two months before the flag off and the preparation for the expedition is reaching fever pitch.

Personally, I began my preparations a few months ago, researching the route, watching documentaries and getting all my gear together.

Preparations are underway

This time the team will be camping out for more than 40 days in diverse weather and terrain. Preparing for Africa is not all about camping equipment though, there are also medical issues, food, communications, and for me cameras to prepare. Both my arms were aching for a long time after all the vaccinations – yellow fever, typhoid, meningitis, hepatitis, etc. And then after all that, there’s still no guarantee!

I have also been sampling the many different brands of pre-cooked food, and also getting myself familiar with cooking quick but wholesome meals. I must admit pre-cooked food has improved a lot over the years! Now we can have a great Malaysian meal in less than 10 minutes!

Over the next few weeks I will be reporting on the preparations of the team members here in Kuala Lumpur and the latest news from our African Team in South Africa. For now, the team is busy getting the cars and themselves ready for a scrutineering session and medical checkup on the 10th of May. See you there!