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Land Rover Magazine Issue 39

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Icelandic surfing, enabled by the new Land Rover Defender | Artisanal globe-making in London with Bellerby & Co | Gallery of stunning drone photography | Author Helen Russell explores the meaning of happiness | Exclusive short story by Jean Macneil

VISTA BALANCE NAFI

VISTA BALANCE NAFI LEFONO How the wheelchair rugby player for the New Zealand Wheel Blacks stays at the top of his game Ō*LYLQJXSōLVQōWLQ1DƓ/HIRQRōVYRFDEXODU\:KLOHSOD\LQJUXJE\LQ Dunedin, New Zealand, in 2007 he suffered an accident that left him with C7 tetraplegia. Since then, he’s taken up wheelchair rugby and risen to become a key member of the New Zealand national team, WKH:KHHO%ODFNV+HōVDOVRZRUNHGWRJDLQDGHJUHHDVDTXDOLƓHG SK\VLRWKHUDSLVWŊWKHƓUVWHYHUWHWUDSOHJLFWRGRVRŏ7KHMRXUQH\ since the accident has taught me a lot about myself and about life,” he says. Lefono now has his sights set on the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Land Rover Magazine spoke to this extraordinary athlete WRƓQGRXWKRZKHPDLQWDLQVEDODQFHLQKLVOLIH MALT MATHS What role has wheelchair rugby played in your life? It’s played a huge role in changing my attitude about life after my injury. Through the sport I’ve met other guys with similar injuries ZKRDUHOLYLQJIXOƓOOLQJOLYHVZKLFK gave me a new perspective. What was your state of mind in the aftermath of your accident? At the time of my injury, I was a young and active 21-year-old, so being told by the doctor that there was little chance I was ever going to walk again was a huge shock. How did you maintain focus physically and mentally during your rehabilitation? I focused on what I could still do. I could still use my upper limbs so much of my rehab was focused on maximising my upper limb VWUHQJWK0HQWDOO\WKHƓUVWWZR years were tough as I was pretty down about the whole situation, but I took it one day at a time. +RZGLG\RXIHHOZKHQ\RXƓUVW played for the Wheel Blacks? 0\ƓUVWWRXUQDPHQWZDVLQ Sydney in 2010 and is one of my proudest moments. Not only because I was representing my country, but also because I was back playing sport and being physically active again. How do you unwind? It’s a tough one, because you’re always thinking about and preparing for the next game, so it isn’t anything glamorous. Between games I like to watch 1HWŴL[DQGOLVWHQWRSRGFDVWV Apart from wheelchair rugby, what else is important to you? Spending time with loved ones. I’m very close my family so I try to head out to see my parents every Sunday for some home cooking. I love spending time with my partner Amanda and our loud little guard dog Ruby. How did qualifying as a physiotherapist help you? It taught me that anything is possible with focus and hard ZRUN,WZDVVDWLVI\LQJWRƓQLVK my studies because it was tough, due to my physical limitations. I’m currently working in the community as a wheelchair and seating therapist, prescribing mobility devices mainly for individuals with spinal injuries like myself. What has your journey since 2007 taught you about life? I think in life we’re all faced with challenges but it’s how you react to those challenges that makes the difference. I have learned to make the most of things. Technology meets craftsmanship in this precision distillation An estimated third of all rare whisky in circulation worldwide is said to be counterfeit, which makes investing in prized bottles a risky proposition for connoisseurs. So, Scotch whisky maker Ailsa Bay is putting some decidedly futuristic tech behind its pleasingly old-school taste. It has pioneered the use of highly secure blockchain data management to ensure that every one of its bottles can reliably trace its history back to the Girvan-based distillery. It has also come up with a new measurement system: besides the usual PPM, which indicates the degree of smokiness in the malt, it also uses its own unique measurement of SPPM (sweetness parts per million), PDNLQJLWWKHƓUVWHYHUZKLVN\WRKDYHDQDQDO\VHGPHDVXUHRIVZHHWQHVVailsabay.com IMAGES: MAREE STEUNEBRINK/HUMANS OF SOUTH AUCKLAND; CAMERON SPENCER/STAFF; TONG THI VIET PHUONG 28

VISTA N 03 POINT-TO-POINT VIETNAM Ho Chi Minh City Da Nang Distance 532 miles Driving time Four days It’s only since the 1990s that Vietnam has opened up to visitors, but its jungles, beaches and vibrant urban culture have made it an essential travel destination that delivers huge variety. This drive heads north from the capital through the Central Highlands and up to the beautiful South China Sea coast, and touches on much of what this colourful nation has to offer. 02 03 Naman Retreat, Da Nang After four days immersed in the culture (and heat) of Vietnam’s interior, it’s time to relax amidst the draping plants and hanging gardens of the celebrated Naman Spa Retreat. The recipient of the Design for Asia Award in 2016, Naman’s stunning architecture combines lush greenery, natural stone and bamboo to create an oasis of peace – the ideal way to conclude this four-day adventure. namanretreat.com 01 Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) embodies the chaos, culture and commerce of modern Vietnam. Explore its wide boulevards and labyrinthine byways, and marvel at its mix of historic French colonial buildings and modernist architecture. The beautiful new T House café in the city centre is a great example of the elegant emerging building style. Grab a Vietnamese coffee before you set off. facebook.com/ Tshouse.cafe 01 02 Dray Nur waterfall, Dak Lak Province A journey through the lush Central Highlands is incomplete without a visit to this spectacular waterfall. Still virtually XQNQRZQWR:HVWHUQ tourists, the 30-metre high Dray Nur offers stunning panoramas over the surrounding countryside, while its neighbouring villages give a fascinating insight into the country’s traditional way of life. 29

 

Land Rover Magazine

 

Land Rover Magazine showcases stories from around the world that celebrate inner strength and the drive to go Above and Beyond.

In this issue, New Defender is put through its paces by two inspirational young adventurers as they prepare for an expedition to the South Pole. We also celebrate 50 years of Range Rover by taking a journey of discovery to Dubai. As well as looking back, we look to future as a group of visionaries explain the technologies that could change the future for all of us.

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