Indo-Pak Series

Its winter in most part of the globe. India is no exception too. Cold waves is hitting the Northern Belts severely claiming a few lives too. Common health hazards like fever,cold and cough are troubling all sections of people all across the country. Though viral-fever and flu are affecting people to some extent, one fever that is spread all over the country and affects everyone severely is the cricket fever. The cause being the Indo-Pak series played in Pakistan for the next 45 days.

The passion for the game of cricket in this part of the world is incredible. People from all sections and of all ages are anxious about the series. True, the arch-rivalry between the two countries is considered to be of more venom than the ashes that is played between Australia and England. The two teams would be playing the third series in less than 2 years. India visiting its rival for the second time in 2 years.

Even before the series is likely to start, the pakistan skipper started playing the mind game on the indians by announcing the kind of tracks that the indians would play. Ofcourse, his indian counterpart would not bother much about that. Despite there is much hype prevailing about the series, both the captains are very cautious and calculative about what they talk and what they decide. Neither of them are followers of what history tells them.

On whats going to be an intriguing series between the rivals, both the teams look equally balanced though Pakistan would try to capitulate on the home advantage. The indians on the other hand have tasted success against the srilankans in both the forms of cricket and so did the pakistanis too had a good run against england. Inspite of all the the hype, home advantage and banking on Shoaib and Co., the indian batting line-up is still a pretty strong line-up on paper. The current form also being a key aspect of the team makes it a huge tussle between the rivals. An exciting and nail biting tussle is on the cards leaving that the team that holds its nerves is likely to emerge as the winners of the rubber.

Habit of Reading

Knowledge is Power, Knowledge is Wealth are some of the famous sayings about the knowledge a person should possess. On analysis about how a person gains knowledge is a welcome quest leaving the analysts to answer.

What is the source for gaining knowledge ? is an immediate question from a knowledge-thirst individual who wants to improve his/her knowledge. On thinking a little deep, we can infer from the fact that as a kid we gain knowledge by going to school. Though whether it is to the liking of the kid or not, school becomes the major source of knowledge. As the kid grows up, learning new things accumulates his/her knowledge. Researchers reiterate one fact that kids have greater learning skills. True to the fact as they grow up they are very curious about learning new stuff be it anything, subjects of their interests, sports or general knowledge, they excel in all departments.

What happens when he/she grows older ? They no longer go to an institution and gain knowledge. Then what becomes the source for gaining knowledge for adults ? The answer is very simple. It is Reading. It just does not improve his vocabulary skills of the language alone but gets him/her a wide knowledge about various fields. By gaining all this knowledge by means of reading the person betters himself/herself everyday as his/her perception of the happenings in this ever-changing world makes him/her a wiser human. Not just perception, confidence and decision-making abilities may also improve which is what, leading a successful life is all about.

I personally feel guilty about not having the habit of reading. Though I try to cultivate this great habit, I keep faltering in my attempts. Would find a favourable day to achieve it some time very soon :-).

What a sleepless night ???

Looking at the title many may be misled to assume to think about stories of extreme fantasy. Ofcourse, its one of those weird topics to discuss in a blog. It was such an unforgettable experience for those who happened to experience it.

On a wonderful evening we a gang of 6 friends planned to watch a movie online. We did so watching one of the best films of Bharathiraja. We did start watching the movie, a little late. One of my friends who felt very sleepy went to bed in the middle of the movie. By the time the movie was over, it was midnight. It was time to go to bed. We were staying in 2 different appartments one above the other. So, me and another friend who were staying in the apartment above decided to go to bed.

Our friend who went to bed earlier, had locked the door. Much to our dissappointment, both did not have the keys of the appartment. We started to buzz the calling bell. There was no response from our friend who was in deep sleep by then. We continued to buzz and started hitting at the door. Still no response. Then we went back to our friend's apartment right below our apartment. We thought of giving a buzz in his mobile and in the landline number to our friend. We kept trying hard to wake him up. All the guys decided to knock the door hard, call him in landline and mobile and buzz the calling bell simultaneously only to find ourselves fail in all our attempts. All the people living nearby started opening their apartment and looked at us, as their stare meant what the hell was happening around. It was one of those most embarassing moments for all of us. But, nothing could disturb our friend and his slumber.

We thought of giving one final try to wake him up. We tried to knock the roof of the appartment below our appartment in the space where our modern day Kumbakarna used to sleep. Oh boy!!! we again failed. Then after trying almost for more than an hour we decided to sleep in our friend's appartment.

We also thought calling 911 for the fear of what could have happened to our friend. But later decided to wait till dawn. That night went sleepless for most of the guys.

The next morning, ofcourse our friend was kind enough to wake up all the guys giving a big blush hearing to what he did the previous night. We stood puzzled what his blush meant to all of us !!!

My first trip to US

United States !!! the dreamland of many is where I had to travel for the first time outside India. Infact, it was my first trip in a flight too. I was supposed to come to the US along with 4 other guys as a team of whom I was not aware of their whereabouts. I got a chance to meet all of them only the day before I was supposed to travel with them. I would say that I just got acquainted to their names at the time of boarding the flight. But, I did not find them to be strange to be with though not familiar. I was just happy to go to the US as a team rather to go all alone. I would say that it was an interesting trip for me as most of the others it was not their first experience in a flight.

From the time I got into the Anna International Airport in Madras, it was a new experience and it was full of excitement for me. Be it the take off or be it the landing, it was all great fun and I enjoyed every bit of it. And then, in the US we had come in to the Salt Lake City. We went to a nearby hotel and we stayed there for 2 nights. I enjoyed the trip to the US but the trip also it was the most tiresome trip I had ever had. 22 hours of travelling and we had to be in the Airport Systems for almost 28 hours. That was terrible. Thus, my virginity of travelling by a flight was broke by this wounderful journey.

Well, after coming in here, I got to travel a lot as my nature of job involved travelling all across the US. The flight travelling is no more exciting.

My First Driving Experience

Not many had problems learning driving in the US. Almost all my friends who had learned to drive felt comfortable in the US for its wide roads and its systematic traffic rules. Everybody to whom I spoke told me that driving is pretty easy here and it should be a cake walk. Yeah!!! I too believed that and it was ... when I was learning at the driving school. But all of them had also told me that the road test would be tough and that isn't a cake walk. So, I thought I have got to practice a lot. Also, my friends insisted me to practice well.

My friend decided to give me a ride in his car and he took me to one of the parking lots nearby and thats where the driving school also takes its students to practice. He was on the next seat to that of the driver's. Initially it all started well. He told me that I was driving well. I was encouraged and happy. After driving for a while, he observed that I was not very comfortable in taking left turns compared to the right ones. So, that was all the feedback I got from him. I was happy then because, it was not a bad comment.

Then he asked me to park the car in one of the slots. My friends who accompanied me to practice as well were standing just next to the slot where I parked the car. I was slowing down to park the car. The car was then very close to the curbs. My friend asked me to come to a complete stop. By that time, I instead of braking the car, accelerated the car. Oh my God !!! All my friends outside the car and my friend inside the car got terribly scared. My friend started yelling at me on how could I accelerate when supposed to brake. Well, the incident was not over. Since I got on top of the curbs, my friend asked me to back the car and then park it. This time, I had put the reverse gear and I accelerated again. The car came down of the curb pretty fast and again all the guys could not believe what I was doing. Neither did I :((. Oh man !!! That was terrible !!! my friends exclaimed. I was trembled too. But thank god nothing more serious happened to the car as well as to anyone else.

Well it all started like that and after having practice on a number of occasions, I went to the road test and successfully cleared that. What a relief it was !!! I was relieved to a great extent after clearing the test.

Though many were able drive so easily, it was not the same for me. I really had a tough time. But somehow got through it. All thanks to the almighty. Also, I would like to thank my friends who trained me and trusted on me and accompanying me despite those terrifying moments :)).