Off to the Carribean

Typically, people go to the Carribean to lie on the beach, to relax along the ocean side, take a cruise or just hang out and not have a planned agenda. I am going to the Carribean but I do have an agenda thats to watch the Cricket World Cup. Anyone I have told this to has reacted to the news with surprise- and I've received the entire range of emotions- astonishment that my wife would allow me to do this all by myself (which I am grateful to her for), grudging respect that I was able to plan for this despite a relatively "busy" executive life, envy from others who "planned" to watch the World Cup at some stage but never quite got around to doing it- but its been support all around. And frankly, even as India take on minnows Bangladesh, in their opening game, I am excited like a two year old trying his first candy!!

I really am...which is thrilling in its own way because seldom does one feel like that. And it goes back to a childhood passion not just for the game but for travel, travel not for a purpose but travel for its own sake. I have often believed that travelling around the world has been the biggest teacher in my life- lessons on adaptability, appreciation of differences, ability to understand and comprehend nuances of culture, the different varieties of food and of course, the music!! Incidentally, this trip would also make me watch a game I have become increasingly passionate about ever since I have lived out of India. I sincerely believe that apart from Bollywood movies, cricket games bring not just the country together, but for everyone living outside, give them a feeling of "rootedness" that is so sorely missed by millions of us. The game with all its subtleties brings us together and despite the fact the Indian team is not the best in the world, a veritable combination of national pride and extreme jingoism makes you toss the past records aside and root for the team to take the trophy! Based on past record, that would be a surprise, but the inpredictability of games is what gives the World Cup its unique flavor and as long as India is at the favorable end of surprises, I dont care!!!

Even as Boston faces a winter storm ( I look out of the window and I reckon there is probably four inches of snow on the ground right now), the Carribean offers a fantastic prospect of warm weather, and of course, the fantastic spectacle of world cricket at its very best. Did I mention I am as excited as a two year old....