Jessica Watson

Since the past couple of weeks, I have been following Jessica Watson’s blog and a journey to fulfill her desire to become the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop AND unassisted around the world! She set sail, after few trial and errors, on October 18, 2009 and this journey would take around ten months. This is the route she would follow.

“Tomorrow I’m going to get up and sail around the world” is how she shares her excitement to the audience the day before she sets sail. She is savvy in her writing and makes the reader an integral part of her journey – a surreal feeling that we too are in the yacht with her.

To be honest, I have mixed emotions out here – while one part of me thinks this is out-right crazy, the other, more strong, dearly wishes that she makes through Godspeed! I mean, how often do we follow our dreams, passion and desires amidst all the fears, apprehensions, obligations, adverse circumstances and more often than not, the inertia within? And, how often do we actually motivate someone to take those steps, with all the risks and dangers aside – to leave the ‘protective’ instinct instead, support in such endeavors to soar high? This is not the first time someone has attempted such feat yet it seems like there is way too much ado about it. Overall, I am quite looking forward to her journey, curious to read her daily anecdotes and learn all about her life experiences of the vast ocean ahead of her.

One of her recent blog posts reads – “This morning I had a school of dolphins pass by and the odd bird also drops in to check us out. I think keeping the cabin tidy is going to become one of those never ending battles. Is it just me or does housework always take this long?”

It surely takes a drive, physical and emotional, to keep going. Good luck to you Jessica and indeed, soar high!

Four Years to Go...

An overwhelming event that was the cynosure of television since the past few weeks, and we now get to view it four years from now as London gears up (hopefully, already has) to host Olympics 2012. The past two weeks were enjoyable in what seemed like a series of extensive sporting events. For the first time, I got to see a BMX competition which was thrilling. Also, the synchronized swimming was fun. While the first week was reigned by Michael Phelps, other events like fencing, water polo, table tennis, taekwondo and rowing were extremely enjoyable. High and low moments of the event made the watch quite memorable with adrenalin rush of Usain Bolt on the lead, watching Natalie Toit swim, Lolo Jones hitting the hurdle, stupendous artistic gymnastic performances and many others..

For the first time too, the Indian Olympic team achieved one gold (shooting) and two bronze (boxing and wrestling). A lot can be achieved by us Indians but wonder if Olympics even run into our average Indian mindsets. By infusing a culture of sports into our regime of daily life would probably take us a step further. For countries like USA and China, it is indeed a matter of pride to see their sportsmen showcase a fighting spirit and even having that in our players would be enough irrespective of how many medals won.

Now that the Olympics are over, I can’t wait to see them in four years.

London, bring it on!!

Highlights...contd

While Shawn Johnson got the much deserved gold, Jamaican athlese Usain Bolt performed brilliantly at the 200m run yesterday. Amazing lead shown here:

Week's Highlight - Olympics

While Michael Phelps undoubtedly reigns over Olympics for time to come, Shawn Johnson gave a stunning performance during the gymnastics competition. With August Raphsody (from the August Rush soundtrack) as the background score, her movements complimented each tune and she was able to excel in showcasing her artistic gymnastic talent. She truly deserves the silver all-rounder. Below is the video of her performance:

08-08-08

Indeed a lucky number for the Chinese and it has proved it for them rightly so! Infact, the opening ceremony of the Olympics began at 8 seconds and 8 minutes past 8 p.m. on 08-08-08!

While it is a bit late in the day to begin penning down about this quadrennial event, it has been so addicting that I thought of penning down moments of this event that have been mesmerizing, cherishable, funny and simply worth acknowledging. The world’s eyes rest on this nation that has left no leaf unturned in ensuring that they live to the very motto of the Olympic Games – Citius Altius Fortius – Swifter, Higher, Stronger.

To begin with, Google Earth launched 3d versions of the main venues of the game with models of the stadiums and the track fields. To get a feel of what this looks like, below video captures it well:

All those who saw the opening ceremony would agree that it was a video never ever imaginable! With an amazing spectacle of nearly $300 million, featured 15,000 performers with most of the events being conducted by a constant total of 2008 performers. One of the commentators rightly stated that the trophy for the best opening ceremony should indeed be retired as China has marked a legacy that, in all possibility, is a difficult match by any other country!

Some of the best performances were:

Concept of the (LCD) scroll representing the ancient Chinese culture
Olympic rings being raised from the ground
2008 drummers with perfect precision
Bouncing blocks that, in the end, reveal that it was people controlling them!
Men walking on the globe
Tai Chi performance
Dove release (spectacular)
Eruption of fireworks across the stadium and the city view
Lighting of the Torch

Stolen moments of the ceremony from youtube:

More to follow....

Twenty20: Here to Stay

A totally novel and exciting way of watching Cricket, it reminds you of the Gulli cricket that one may be used to in India. Fast paced and a total pressure-builder for both, the players and the viewers, it applies similar rules as that of the One Day. However, notably different, some varied rules apply such as two runs being awarded for a ‘no ball’ instead of one, 75 minute limit for bowling time and so on. More details could be explored in the site below:

http: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty20

Several countries are not too pleased to participate in this format - Australia for instance did not take this series too seriously - and am sure those who invented Cricket, would already be moaning in their graves! However, this new dawn matters the most currently to the Indian Junta, having won the so-called Twenty20 Cricket World Cup and against our friendly neighbours - Pakistan! Kudos to the Indian team for splendid performance inspite of a good fight by the opposing team!

Twenty20 is meant to revolutionize the way cricket is viewed over the world! Its rules, and the teams too, have already begun to capture attention of those who thought cricket boring (my Mom to begin with).
While this game may threaten to make the 50-over per side or even the test match, redundant, I think the Twenty20 is here to stay and the best thing to happen to cricket in a long time!!

Pic taken from Google Images