Fridae

Team Sri Lanka comprising Sahran Abeysundara and Englishman Howard Bicknell of the first ever Amazing Race Asia, which ended its broadcast earlier this month, is arguably one of the most watched and talked about teams in the race.

Team Sri Lanka comprising Sahran Abeysundara and Englishman Howard Bicknell (right).

Howard, 40, is an Area Manager for a British Tour Operator in Colombo, Sri Lanka while Sahran, 32, runs an interior design firm and an event management company. But what is probably not known to most readers is that Sahran is also the co-founder of Equal Ground, the only organisation in Sri Lanka that serves the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Questioning (LGBTIQ) community. The duo tell Fridae in an exclusive interview about how they met a decade ago, preparing for the race, trusting each other to make the best call for the team and whether Sahran actually cried as much as it was shown on the telly.

æ: Howard and Sahran, your team came in sixth in the inaugural 36,000km Amazing Race Asia (TARA) which saw 10 teams from Asia compete. Is it true that you guys signed up to celebrate your 10-year releationship? What other factors inspired you to join the race?

Howard: We had watched all episodes from all series of the US version of the race and had always got involved whilst watching as though we were a team competing and worked out who would do which 'roadblock' and which 'detour.' We always have our favourite teams and of course those not so favourable. When TARA was advertising for Asian teams to apply, we felt this was an ideal opportunity for us, and one that could not be missed! In applying we did not feel particularly confident that we would get selected but we were so glad we were! Sahran and I met in 1996 and also it was my 40th birthday in May last year so being in the race was a celebration of many things.

Sahran: This was also our opportunity to put our money where our mouth was. And yes there were many reasons to celebrate that year and we felt that the Race offered us an opportunity to go out of our comfort zone and do something so different and unique!

æ: How did you guys prepare for the race?

Sahran: We really did not do much; it was more of trying to be prepared mentally.

Howard: We did not have a great deal of time once we confirmed our spots in the race. Since we both go to the gym three or four times a week and deem ourselves fairly fit, we started to look at our geography a little bit more, however there was far too much to cram in especially when you have no idea where you will be going. I looked through all old episodes and made a note of 'roadblocks,' 'detours' and countries visited, just to remind me of what had happened and what may happen in TARA. This actually made me a little more nervous and thought that there was no way they would have a bungee jump in the first series. You never know how wrong you can be!

æ: Did the challenges you anticipated prior to the race turn out to be what you experienced during the race?

Sahran: Yes, we did anticipate the type of challenges, but until you actually do some of them you never totally realise how difficult they can actually be!

Howard: I know I didn't talk too much about the actual challenges with Sahran as his list of phobias is longer than a child's Christmas wish list. I thought that it might only deter him and make him nervous and I was so desperate to take part! In fact, we did feel that the producers and planners had taken Sahran's list and made that the basis of the first part of the race!

Sahran: They so picked on me!

Howard: You will note that after our elimination there were no further height challenges, however this was coincidence and not done on purpose.

I think as the first challenge the abseiling really took the wind from Sahran's sails and did not get us started on the right foot, however my driving an automatic in Kuala Lumpur didn't really help either as I have only driven manual vehicles before. Anyway we made it and we learnt what was expected. It's difficult to prepare for the race adrenalin. This only comes once Allan blew his whistle and you know there is no turning back. It's fab!

Sahran: I would never have been able to do the race if not for Howard, he talked me through my phobias and knowing he was there at the end of the rope while rock climbing, or on the other side of the mesh in the snake pit was a great comfort.

æ: The official race web site said: "Where most people would think that the pressure of being on TARA could be disastrous for any relationship, friendship or otherwise, Howard and Sahran are quietly confident." What were the moments that truly tested your patience with each other? And how did you resolve them?

Sahran: Howard and I work well together but this race was different and entering it we were skeptical as to how we would be under pressure. The thing was... it really didn't matter it only highlighted more, the wonderful qualities about Howard.

Howard: We were really pleased with how we worked together on the race and we really did not have any arguments at all - which was how we thought it would be - as we both know each other really well. However I will admit I did have a bit of a strop on (which was not shown in the show) in Singapore as we were the last team to come out of the airport and we went to MacPherson Road and stopped at the wrong Caltex garage. I had said to Sahran to make sure that it was the right one and we let our taxi go only to find it was the wrong garage. It wasn't Sahran's fault really, we were both very tired and I think I said some choice words but we were fine when we found the correct garage and washed our car faster than some other teams so we were back in it again.

We know each other so well, I know when he's tired or fed up and then I can take the lead and vice versa and I think this came across during the show.

æ: Many travel guidebooks suggest that new couples or friends who do not have much experience traveling with each other set some ground rules in case of disagreement. Do you have any tips on travelling together without killing each other and conflict resolution?

Howard: Sahran and I have travelled together quite extensively so we knew how we would be with this. I think if you are a new team travelling together than you have to assess who is better qualified for what part of the job. Sahran has an excellent sense of direction which I don't, so I will always go with his thoughts and trust him. I am better reading the clues and have a logical mind so usually I choose the 'detour' or 'roadblock' which I thought would be the best for either him or I. We did really well until Krabi and chose the coconuts rather than the buoys as we thought they would be brown coconuts and would smash easily. The green variety with its husk on was plain cruelty!

I think although you are travelling together 24/7 you can still give someone his space just by being quiet. We both enjoy each other's company so it wasn't really an issue for us. I think you have to work out each other's strengths or know them and work with that; and if your partner makes an error it was not done intentionally and shouting will not solve it. Learn from the error and move on having laughed at yourselves in the process.

æ: How has the race changed your lives?

Sahran: Not much, the race itself has given me so much personally and now Howard and I have shared in something so special. As for my lifestyle, I am still the same. Even though sometimes Howard calls me a "Fame Whore"... I am just naturally friendly and if someone wants his picture taken with me, I'm not going to say no! How rude would that be!

Howard: It hasn't really made much of a difference. It confirmed to me that I can totally trust Sahran's judgment and that I am extremely comfortable in his presence but I knew that anyway. We are recognised in some Asian countries where AXN is high profile and that has been fairly weird when someone asks for your autograph. I felt as though I should have a wild signature which takes one second to do, however not being accustomed to this, I signed my usual full name as though it was a working document. Need to practise this I think... oh and also we now have a Sony Handycam each so we can make films and whatever you do with them� not very technical I'm afraid - can just about manage turning the volume up on the TV and opening a microwave oven.

æ: Are there any parts of the show that you think wasn't fairly portrayed?

Howard: Well yes and no. I think as the race progressed and there were less teams, it gave more chance for characters to be exposed and I think that the editing may have made some teams look like they were baddies all the way through when really they were not like that. However one team did constantly eat so that was true. On the whole I think everyone was portrayed quite well although I did feel I came across a bit nagging with Sahran when it was a height issue, when really all I was doing was talking him through it and giving him the confidence and support he required. We also laughed a lot more than is shown (probably from nerves).

Sahran: Full marks to the crew as they have done an amazing job putting the whole lot together... but I really did not cry all the time!

æ: None of the publicity material and interviews you've done reveal how you two meet, and what it says on the AXN web site is, "The two met ten years ago through a series of coincidences that took a week to happen, and that both of them swear is too complicated a story to explain." Pray tell.

Howard: I was with a friend in a bar on a Monday night and Sahran was with a friend of his. We were the only four people in the bar and we just nodded at each other and said hi without exchanging any dialogue. The following day I went to get my hair cut and Sahran was in the chair having his hair cut before me. Unbeknown to me, he had asked the stylist who I was and he was told, "that's Howard, he's a really nice guy, leave him alone." I then had my hair cut and asked the stylist the same question about Sahran and he replied, "that's Sahran, he's really young, leave him alone." This happened again on the Wednesday in a shop and then again on the Friday and Saturday. It really was a week of coincidences as we had not met before this week and then kept bumping into each other.

Sahran: What can I say... it was meant to be! Who else would I have gone on the race with!

æ: Sahran, can you tell us more about your work at Equal Ground (www.equal-ground.org); and when and how you got involved?

Sahran: Equal Ground was set up about three years ago and was the vision of a group of close friends and myself to help establish and create a communal commitment towards equal rights for all immaterial of cast, class, creed, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. I have always felt very strongly about our rights as human beings and how important it is to be able to be ourselves, for it is only when we are who we are that we can grow.

æ: Howard, what are the challenges from Sahran being an activist and a public figure in the community?

Howard: My main concern for him is his safety. I do worry that ignorance of people will be a downfall, however if he does not do this how will we ever make the ignorance disappear. It's a bit of a catch 22 situation but he is doing the right thing. Anyway he does love standing on his soapbox so he is happy in this situation.

Sahran: Some one has to do it!!

æ: What was the reaction from the local community and the mainstream media about the two of you being in the race?

Howard: Most of our friends were really excited for us and gave us a lot of support once they knew we had taken part. I think some people were shocked but on the whole generally very happy. The media in Sri Lanka did not mention anything at all about the Amazing Race either prior or during the race. More is happening now after the race has finished.

æ: Sahran: It says on on the official web site that "ten years of friendship has not erased all of the differences between the two" and you guys have "similar but distinct and different personalities." How do you complement each other in terms of the race and on a day-to-day basis?

Howard: I'm still the typical Taurean who takes 40 days and 40 nights to choose where to eat whilst Sahran is the quick thinking Arian who thinks and delivers in the same breath. He's a racehorse and I'm a carthorse. It can be infuriating for both of us but hey being different is what it's all about.

In terms of the race it's good to be racing with someone and even better that it's someone you care a whole deal for. We made a pact that if either of us couldn't do something then that was fine by the other and this was proved when I couldn't complete the scuba diving in Sydney and Sahran was not there with me to talk about it. When I quit (because of claustrophobia) I didn't know that it would be a non-elimination round and a four hour penalty unlike the digging in Bali, so in effect I had taken the decision to quit the race (only because I could not do that stunt - I could not breathe) and Sahran was great about it and supported it. It was so great when we found out we had not been eliminated - our facial expressions say it all.

æ: What are you two up to these days?

Howard: Back to where we were before the race but a little wiser and very much looking for a new challenge. We loved our stint in stardom and racing and are on the look out for something equally as exciting to try. I would love to host the next season of The Amazing Race Asia but think Allan Wu will be there for a while. Maybe co-host with Allan - that would be lovely.

Sahran: Back at work, I run an interior design firm and an event management company so reality has set in and we are both heavily into work.

æ: What are your best memories from the race?

Howard: The whole thing, the people, the places and the whole buzz. Probably the starting line was the most nerve wracking. I loved the sky jump in Auckland from the tower. The most annoying was finding the child on a swing in New Zealand - it was so easy but we were led like sheep with the other teams and didn't think as clearly as we should have.

Sahran: Howard is so right; the whole experience is something we will never forget!

æ: What other reality TV shows would you consider in the future?

Howard: Absolutely. We are ready to be the next Rob and Amber and take over however I would only do Fear Factor if they guaranteed there was no yucky eating challenge. That's an absolute no-no for me although Sahran would find this a piece of cake. I would very much like to be involved with production or host in anything like this - who knows. We never thought we would be selected for the race and we were - so anything is possible. Dreams do come true - I should know; I live with mine.

Sahran: Survivor Asia?