English Cricket Team shows India who's Boss...

I am upset . Very upset. I have reasons to be. As a cricket fan in a nation that takes pride in its national side fanatically, the ongoing England-India Test series has left me disheartened with a series whitewash looming large and Indian defeat seeming the obvious conclusion.

By the time I will have finished writing my blog, India's position would have deteriorated further and unless saved by the riots (which is pacifying ) or the weather, India can do no more than watch them going down 0-3 in the series and with it , lose their place as the "numero-uno" test side in international cricket.

Another test match is left, but the blame game has begun and the ever so fimiliar picture of the 90's is here for everyone to see. Yes, we must stand up for our team and not be unduly critical but we also must state facts, how harsh they may sound.

India has been simply outplayed in the series and I don't see that changing just yet. Call it the t20 effect or what u like...bottomline is this....India is about to lose the series comprehensively, Indian players failed , We are mightily dissapointed as a nation that loves its cricket !

-Raja

http://iioablett.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/iioablett/author/submission/10

Odisha Odessi

Went on a weeklong tour with ma and baba to Odisha for partly work and part pleasure. Liked Rambha and Gopalpur on Sea in particular. Realised not for the first time that Bengal and Odisha have much in common, the trip only reaffirmed my faith. (Good food helps decide !)

I may well have to become a resident of Odisha, as we know it today, but in ways more than it will remain a second home for me no matter where I decide to stay for the next few years of my life.

A thing or two about ...dreams

1. Don't ever stop chasing your dreams...not matter how impossible it seems..

2. If you can dream something good , chances are you can give it a fair shot.

3. Dreams and Dedications make a powerful combination.

4. Don't take your dream very seriously ....don't neglect it either...balance it out.

5. I dream all the time.....what about ?....let that remain a mystery for u guys.

6. All the best for all the dreams that you'll may have...I too have a dream of something good...let's see what comes of it..

7. Stay clear of the bad dreams though !

8. Dream it to do it...

AN AUTUMN IN THE ANNAPURNAS

The Annapurna range of Nepal can be best viewed from Pokhara in the autumn months. I had the privilege to the witness the majestic beauty of the Annapurnas with my family. It was a real delight though the prices of commodities seemed to burn a hole in the pocket, but that was soon forgotten with one glance at the pristine lake Phewa, with waters that were about as crystal clear as it gets. This was my first visit to Nepal but something inside me tells me that I will come back with eyes wide open ready to wonder in amazement at the marvel of mother Nature in the lap of the Himalays.

Pre Puja- Puri trip

Spent some days in the holy city of Puri in Orissa just few days back. There visited the holy temple of Lord Shri Jagannath as also the Gundicha temple. Took a bath in the waves of the ocean. Visited Konark, situated 40 km from Puri as well as the well-known Chillka lake. Also went to the artists' village at Raghurajpur for some souvenir shopping. The weather was hostile in the beginning but, it changed from the second day onwards giving way to clear blue skies and the sun beaming down on the waters of the blue sea- all perhaps for us to watch from the balcony of our sea -facing room and enjoy.

CWG- DELHI,2010 : MORE BLOTS THAN BOON

Even amidst the recent fiasco being played out in the domain of the media,

I believe that if we put our mind and heart to it then we could still pull off something that can be considered a decent edition of the games...only a handful days remain before the games begin....but make no mistake, even if we manage to pull off the games this time at the last moment, the image of Delhi as host to these games will remain etched in everyone's memories for the wrong reasons. Yes, India's image as a host to such international events has rarely taken a serious beating in front of the sporting fraternity of the whole world as this time...in light of recent events I ask, were the gains worth staking goodwill of the entire nation in the hands of people who, in hindsight, it seems didn't know their jobs?...So much for reputation !