I have either watched a movie or had had a dinner at a swanky restaurant or both, the previous day. Just the thought of getting up and going to office is killing me. Even as I reach office, I am already thinking about when to leave for home.
That's how Monday mornings typically start for me. And then I wonder, if the weekends are for taking a break and for rest, how come I am so badly exhausted at the start of a week.
How, instead of coming back fresh to work, I am even more tired?
But, this weekend was a refreshing change from the tiring(?) weekends I usually have. I got to spend 2 days in a wonderful, natural environment, away from our crowded city, the pollution, the traffic.
Have you ever spent two days without carrying a cell phone, a wallet, a watch with you? Try it. Trust me, you have no idea of the immense sense of freedom and lightness it brings. It’s like a huge load is off your shoulders. To have no obligation to answer the phone, to have no idea about what time of the day or night it is, is pure bliss.
Pick up any newspaper or watch any news channel. These days, they either talk of corruption, match fixing, accidents and some controversy or the other. Why should one fill his or her mind with all this trash? To have freedom from the grip of newspapers and televisions creates so much free space in your mind, it’s as if you have emptied the recycle bin
We went trekking to a small fort nearby on Sunday morning and were greeted with a clouded sky, lots of fog and a sprinkling of intermittent rain. Along our way to the top, we had to cross a small river, which made the walk really exciting. The feel of the cold water touching the feet was so soothing.
Halfway to the top of this fort, we found a majestic waterfall. It was inviting us in its laps. It was time to get totally drenched in water. The water was so pure and clean, I bet no mineral water can be better. I just closed my eyes and heard the sound of water falling from the top. It was so rhythmic and calming.
Imagine my joy when a hot plate of upma was served to us, even as we are enjoying a swim in that water. It was a rare joy to be had in the lap of nature.
I would just love to go back and have this experience again!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Master class number 48 and still counting
The master blaster delivered another master class when he scored his 48th test century against Sri Lanka this week. He has scored almost a 100 centuries, close to 150 fifties, more than 30000 runs in international cricket, till now.
Mind-blowing and mind-numbing stats these, for any cricket follower! But some people are just so hard to please. They still complain that Sachin is not a match winner for India. The Indian government should soon consider bringing in a legislation to arrest people who say Sachin is not a match winner:)
I remember watching an interview of Sachin, taken by the original little master Sunil Gavaskar, about a decade ago. During that interview, Sunil had predicted that the master blaster will score 50 test centuries and 15000 test runs by the time he finishes. Its a tribute, first to Sunil's astute cricketing judgment and secondly to Sachin's supreme batting skills that today, he is close to achieving both the targets.
His journey from a boy of sixteen, playing his first match, to a batsman, whom everybody acknowledges as one of the greatest of all time, is stuff ordinary people don't even dream of, let alone actually living it.
The scars of a bad debut at a very young age take a long time to heal. Ask Sri Lankan Marvan Attapattu, who debuted at the age of eighteen and got three ducks in his first three innings. He confessed years later that he was not ready for international cricket at such a young age. Sachin was barely out of his school days when he made his debut against Pakistan. Imagine facing the likes of Wasim, Waqar, both at their peak. A Waqar bouncer hit Sachin on his face in a match in that series. There was blood on the pitch. Sachin's response? He came on the front foot next ball to hit a cover driven four.
I recently read a book written by Sachin's brother Ajit, a very interesting one. Almost everything Sachin has done since his international debut is very well documented now. But this one talks about Sachin's journey from a school cricketer to his first test match. It brings out some very interesting facets about Sachin the boy, which are still seen him as a cricketer - confidence, focus, fearlessness. Ajit mentions that when Sachin was taken to Ramakant Achrekar's cricket coaching class on first day, he was asked to watch others practicing in the nets. While going back home, Sachin told Ajit that I know I can bat much better than all of them. Mind you, Sachin had never played with a leather ball till then.
At another time, while Sachin was scripting a double hundred in a very prestigious school cricket final, Ajit asked him if the opposition was doing something to disturb his concentration? Sachin said that they know very well that these things don't have any effect on me. Come to think of it, that's how it is even today, ask the Australians:)
Sachin gives me one more reason to be a proud Indian! Even the Pakistanis admire him whole-heartedly. Perhaps he will be able to solve the Kashmir issue once and for all if he is the one talking to Pakistan:)
I believe there are only two things missing from Sachin's resume - A signature test innings, the kind Brian Lara played twice, with scores of 375 and 400. Secondly, of course, the world cup. Many Indians are already dreaming that Sachin will score a wonderful 100 to help us win the final at Wankhede in 2011. Keeping fingers crossed for that one!!
Mind-blowing and mind-numbing stats these, for any cricket follower! But some people are just so hard to please. They still complain that Sachin is not a match winner for India. The Indian government should soon consider bringing in a legislation to arrest people who say Sachin is not a match winner:)
I remember watching an interview of Sachin, taken by the original little master Sunil Gavaskar, about a decade ago. During that interview, Sunil had predicted that the master blaster will score 50 test centuries and 15000 test runs by the time he finishes. Its a tribute, first to Sunil's astute cricketing judgment and secondly to Sachin's supreme batting skills that today, he is close to achieving both the targets.
His journey from a boy of sixteen, playing his first match, to a batsman, whom everybody acknowledges as one of the greatest of all time, is stuff ordinary people don't even dream of, let alone actually living it.
The scars of a bad debut at a very young age take a long time to heal. Ask Sri Lankan Marvan Attapattu, who debuted at the age of eighteen and got three ducks in his first three innings. He confessed years later that he was not ready for international cricket at such a young age. Sachin was barely out of his school days when he made his debut against Pakistan. Imagine facing the likes of Wasim, Waqar, both at their peak. A Waqar bouncer hit Sachin on his face in a match in that series. There was blood on the pitch. Sachin's response? He came on the front foot next ball to hit a cover driven four.
I recently read a book written by Sachin's brother Ajit, a very interesting one. Almost everything Sachin has done since his international debut is very well documented now. But this one talks about Sachin's journey from a school cricketer to his first test match. It brings out some very interesting facets about Sachin the boy, which are still seen him as a cricketer - confidence, focus, fearlessness. Ajit mentions that when Sachin was taken to Ramakant Achrekar's cricket coaching class on first day, he was asked to watch others practicing in the nets. While going back home, Sachin told Ajit that I know I can bat much better than all of them. Mind you, Sachin had never played with a leather ball till then.
At another time, while Sachin was scripting a double hundred in a very prestigious school cricket final, Ajit asked him if the opposition was doing something to disturb his concentration? Sachin said that they know very well that these things don't have any effect on me. Come to think of it, that's how it is even today, ask the Australians:)
Sachin gives me one more reason to be a proud Indian! Even the Pakistanis admire him whole-heartedly. Perhaps he will be able to solve the Kashmir issue once and for all if he is the one talking to Pakistan:)
I believe there are only two things missing from Sachin's resume - A signature test innings, the kind Brian Lara played twice, with scores of 375 and 400. Secondly, of course, the world cup. Many Indians are already dreaming that Sachin will score a wonderful 100 to help us win the final at Wankhede in 2011. Keeping fingers crossed for that one!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)