Monday, December 25, 2006

F1 is not going to be the same again!!!



Today on a news channel saw the new McLaren Merc car, it was in Mumbai trade race course on display sans engine.

This was ther event which inspired me to write this article. F1 is not going to be the same again ever. This is because the KING - Michael Schumacher is not going to be driving Ferrari again in a F1 race.

I started following F1 not long ago, may be around 3-4 years. I have studied on it more than I have seen it. But, since I remember, I just want to watch Michael Schumacher in red Ferrari winning. And to be fair, he hardly ever disappointed me.

I have never seen such a desire to win in anyone, and that too to win every single race he was in. I am sure some of the other drivers also will have the talent, but this blatent and if i may say so, brazen desire to win and the attitude of winning at any cost is only indicative of never say die attitude of Michael Schumacher.

This is very hard to find. There is always a time when after long hard day, you feel like resting, its only human to want this. But, not Schumacher, he never rested even last year in 2005, when Ferrari was nowhere near the manuering of Renault and brute power of McLaren, he still tried every single time.



Thats what makes him a great race car driver. Many people will say many things about Schumacher and about his "winning at all costs" attiutude. Many people will compare him to Senna, or Mika Häkkinen, or talking about how he outmanoeuvred David Coulthard in 1998 British Grand Prix.

The truth is that many drivers came and went but the Red Baron stayed and won. And won 7 world titles. The likes of Kimi Räikkönen or Fernando Alonso have a mammoth task of reaching where Schumacher has reached. The bar is very high.

Hats off to you Schumi, you are the greatest champion and every single aficionado of F1 will miss you.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Iqbal - movie review


Watched this movie on TV. Never thought will do. Pretty straight forward movie. Same old story, a good side, a not so good side. Two good players (one better than other), on each of the sides.

The player on bad side also happens to be rich, still the talented one gets through in Indian criciet team. What happens after that, they have not covered.

Overall, the same old story we have seen in a lot of this sort of movies. A good combination of Awaal Number and Nache Mayuri. A challenged boy on the doing the right thing tries to get to Indian cricket team and in the end gets there.

Shreyas Talpade who played Iqbal did a good job. He looked really at ease with the role, also looked as he is a fast bowler. Being from Mumbai (land of cricket) helped him out.

Naseeruddin Shah who played the coach - Mohit also was good. Nothing challenging about his acting though, one of the simpler roles he has played. So, he was good as usual.

I think the difference about this movie and a few others based on sports was probably the focus on the subject. There was no heroine, no songs and dance, only cricket.

A good watch, still not in the category that you buy a DVD for it or go to theatres, but should watch if its on a TV channel.

Monday, December 18, 2006

Crazy about topless models ???

Here are two more...



Ferrari 360 Spider






















But as they say... real beauty is in simplicity... so, the last one is my pick. OK!!! I am old-fashioned...

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Travelling made easy...

For those who want to travel but dont know where to go or how to book. This is the place.

Heard of Nivalink, live in Mumbai, rather, in a reverse order. Its a must know if you live in Mumbai - Pune.

A great site. It gives all the weekend getaways outside Mumbai and some outside Pune also. They also have a automated billing system, so talk to their executive and swipe your credit card. Your booking is done, just take the copy of confirmation sent on your mail id.

Travelling made easy and simple.

Keep it up guys, nice concept.

Prakruti Hermitage - Kashid

A very plesant place. Sand, surf and sun. They have accomodation in form of bunglows/cottages from bottom to top of hill. One bunglow houses four families as guests. Leaving room is shared. The rooms are quite big and well maintained.

They have their private beach also. Swimming pool, small golf course, snooker, table tennis and other standard stuff like chess/carrum etc etc.

4-star status but quite modest in price. Ard Rs. 4260 per night per couple including all meals. Meals are standard - one paneer, 2 non-paneer, dal, 2 chawal, roti/nan/kulcha, some desert and salads, so make sure you dont stay more than 2 nights or you will feel like eating out. ;-), at least for foodies.

Breakfast is eggs and some south-indian stuff. Usually the same... lots of tea and coffee and bournvita - for Arjun. :-)

Its a good drive, some 150 kms from Mumbai. Goa road out of Mumbai, cross Pen. You will see ISPAT. Go straight where Goa road takes diversion (Goa is towards left, Alibaug straight).

A few more kms till Alibaug is around 3-4 kms, then take a turn towards Revdanda/Murud. Take that road, till you reach Vikram Ispat. Revdanda is towards the left, dont turn, take the bridge to Vikram Ispat... You will find huge conveyer belts for ore or coke.

After the bridge, turn right and go straight, no turns. Prakruti is towards your left. Its actually a hermitage, cos no phones work there. No mobiles except for Tata Indicom. So, blackberrys are also out. Aadmi chah ke bhi kaam nahi kar sakta. I anyways didnt want to work so it was perfect.

Arjun enjoyed the swimming pool and also the sea. Was all in sand by the time we returned saying "bye sea" and "bye beach" 100 times.

Plan to go back sometime.

A must visit if you are in Mumbai. Will upload a few photos in the near future after I learn how to do it.