tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10466309644729056082024-03-20T10:29:41.587-07:00Nivedya's ThoughtsHeyy! I’m Nivedya Gulzar and welcome to my blogs!! It’s just a space where I write what I feel like and I hope you enjoyyy!!Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-68920994813770649932024-03-20T10:27:00.000-07:002024-03-20T10:29:00.518-07:00Psychology<p>Psychology has captivated me recently. I believe psychology is a phenomenal, intriguing subject that acts as a step-by-step manual on how to become best friends with your brain. Understanding different people’s thought processes can be game-changing when working in various fields like medicine, business, teaching but also useful to form a stronger bond with yourself.</p><p>I got introduced to the subject through, ‘The Little Book of Psychology’. It was a brilliant explanation on a few popular studies completed by famous psychologists and the impact it had on the modern field today. I despise long books particularly because they appear daunting and more energy is drained longing for its end than actually reading it -- however, this book kept me hooked from start to end. It taught me about famous psychologists like, Wilhelm Wundt, who can be defined as the father of psychology, and was responsible for distinguishing psychology from biology and philosophy. He created the scientific method as the study of human behaviour. </p><p>Sigmund Freud, had also engraved his mark in psychology when he had a theory called the psychodynamic approach. He believed that psychological traits must be passed to the offspring, along with physical traits. He claimed there were three main internal forces that drove our emotions/thoughts: Id, Superego, Ego. Id focuses on the unconcious mind and the behavioural and instinctual urges that we are born with and remain with throughout our lives. The superego stores the rules and morals that have been instilled by our parents and teachers around us. It develops as we grow older and move through society. The Ego is the mediate that considers the demands of the Superego and Id -- connects them. An example would be the act of smoking. Your Id attemps to persuade you to pick up the cigarette and light it. Then, your superego reprimands you and warns you that the act is harmful for your body and can spiral into several negative consequences. Then, your ego takes both sides of the argument and decides to leave the cigarette and not smoke or become a chainsmoker. </p><p>Carl Jung is also a frequently talked psychologist in this book. He was a student of Freud and he developed many of Freud’s works to a further extent. He created the theory of collective unconciousness which is when an amalgam of minds refuse to accept a certain reality or fact and adamantly believe it is incorrect or does not exist. He created ‘archetypes’ which are images and themes derived from the collective unconcious and by understanding these archetypes, we can better understand ourselves. The archetypes include the persona, the shadow, the anima, the self and the hero. </p><p>Ivan Pavlov is also a famous psychologist who created the behavioural approach. He understood that our current behaviours are experiences from the past and tried to understand the required conditions for a specific stimulus. He was responsible for the famous dog-buzzer experiment where the dog is seen to instantly salivate at the sight of food. Pavlov begins to introduce a buzzer which is played and then followed by the food. After repetition, he noticed the dog began to salivate just by noticing and hearing the buzzer. This was a massive step in psychology. There were also other theories that followed like systematic desensitization, operant conditioning, etc. </p><p>“Psychology has a long past but only a short history” - Hemann Ebbinghaus. </p><p>As I’m moving to 11th grade, I have been contemplating which subjects I feel committed enough to pursue. However, I find psychology a strong contender as I find the way people interact and behave with each other fascinating. It’s important to understand and appreciate your brain for every small thing it does, because while you are aware of that one thing, it does a million other things you are unconscious of. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepaEPft0rN683nNSFEgiHdqS66PA_fCmwFUl-XpPvg5SrON3wLrOr8v8jWuq91by6rMeH-2wpu-_SdI94cDDolzC7s2ciuHfnVzGgFmmKMGOmrEokzrQH4mPOn5JdABB6JHmGBWkVEoLo0xEJEAtjbV4o6yTtP9Tt4cuuRbMldku4O4mjE5AOSl6Ia60/s1000/61Gf4+oZw+L._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="709" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepaEPft0rN683nNSFEgiHdqS66PA_fCmwFUl-XpPvg5SrON3wLrOr8v8jWuq91by6rMeH-2wpu-_SdI94cDDolzC7s2ciuHfnVzGgFmmKMGOmrEokzrQH4mPOn5JdABB6JHmGBWkVEoLo0xEJEAtjbV4o6yTtP9Tt4cuuRbMldku4O4mjE5AOSl6Ia60/s320/61Gf4+oZw+L._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="227" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQierfO7d8laTwGMrWzPQMSQ26cxMlA0pujf6WiWvJfkJGgqDX735Oa9ZCSOImvfqQ7Z-bwFgDOBTg9GnDtTnBaDM2ieiFG1Ub2C9NHDJuA3EBQ9VyzKccoqLgUIKo3zDjuZ6PyM0KUZgW6s9ApQeyNKqbmLYkqWE5k1OZEDRyE-VGlCx6wxfBY3KRytg/s309/Unknown.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="309" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQierfO7d8laTwGMrWzPQMSQ26cxMlA0pujf6WiWvJfkJGgqDX735Oa9ZCSOImvfqQ7Z-bwFgDOBTg9GnDtTnBaDM2ieiFG1Ub2C9NHDJuA3EBQ9VyzKccoqLgUIKo3zDjuZ6PyM0KUZgW6s9ApQeyNKqbmLYkqWE5k1OZEDRyE-VGlCx6wxfBY3KRytg/w390-h205/Unknown.jpeg" width="390" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-77597186429271121142023-10-27T11:02:00.002-07:002023-10-27T11:02:12.562-07:00War.<p>Piles and piles of bodies dropped on the floor</p><p>At some point we wonder, how many more?</p><p>Families with heavy hearts and eyes of sorrow</p><p>Never certain whether or not there will be a tomorrow.</p><p><br /></p><p>War surrounds us, engulfs us and will always be a part of us.</p><p>It starts off with envy, strong hatred and greed plus</p><p>Humans will never be happy, unless we have it all</p><p>Pervasive in our society, our pride is a pillar too tall</p><p><br /></p><p>War is never the goal, but it is the outcome that we all desire</p><p>However dire the process may be, shooters and spies we must hire.</p><p>For, they do not abide by our convention. Who do they think they are?</p><p>This judgmental world has never heard anything so bizarre.</p><p><br /></p><p>So off their heads with it.</p><p>At the end, it’s every man for themselves.</p><p>But on introspection, is it worth the countless lives?</p><p>Is this the result we would sacrifice our own kind to strive?</p><p><br /></p><p>Let us remember in the midst of despair</p><p>The longing for peace and unity we all share</p><p>Let us build a world where arguments can be resolved with peace.</p><p>A world where commotion and provocation can be put to ease.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6RM69kJ9OI-XQik3gqGFj-NKMgcMErBufc2bi9JdKqh1sm0X05Vn3kkabvxGqECpNxWbcrDCs_K6sRHzqIw0SkkaEyrbdB-u5rke42Kr-BrDu8xaf54eFzJVgKiMA2ZuLyW8XamUobJB3RWZDldat6Mm4u_i3fMJGLDPIG42ZuocoDgebMdSaEDVinI/s1600/https---tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com-filer-32-82-32827c55-c567-4508-ae60-8fe37b647fc6-42-24017617-1.jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6RM69kJ9OI-XQik3gqGFj-NKMgcMErBufc2bi9JdKqh1sm0X05Vn3kkabvxGqECpNxWbcrDCs_K6sRHzqIw0SkkaEyrbdB-u5rke42Kr-BrDu8xaf54eFzJVgKiMA2ZuLyW8XamUobJB3RWZDldat6Mm4u_i3fMJGLDPIG42ZuocoDgebMdSaEDVinI/w350-h243/https---tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com-filer-32-82-32827c55-c567-4508-ae60-8fe37b647fc6-42-24017617-1.jpg.webp" width="350" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-55303964621021089762023-10-05T09:59:00.005-07:002023-10-05T10:01:09.575-07:00The Art of Racing in the Rain"<i>The Art of Racing in the Rain</i>" is a entrancing and sentimental film that provides a unique perspective through a rather unexpected protagonist -- a charming golden retriever named Enzo, who belongs to Denny, a talented and dedicated race car driver. My sister and I watched this film together, and the moment it graced the netflix dashboard with its image, I knew I was going to thoroughly enjoy every second of it. Disclaimer *spoilers ahead*<div><br /></div><div>The movie begins by showing a glimpse of Denny racing followed by a scene where he visits the dog centre and meets Enzo for the first time. They immediately bond and from the start, Enzo and Denny have a very special relationship, filled with trust and happiness. As Enzo was frequently around Denny, he grew up near the racetrack, and was naturally a big fan of cars. He loved to sit and watch Danny race for hours on end, as if he was enjoying it through Denny. A year later, Denny stumbles accross a girl named Eve, who he met at a supermarket. They instantly had chemistry and dated very soon after. He proposed the following year, and they got married. As much as Eve loved Denny dearly, her parents weren’t too keen on the prospect of their daughter marrying a race-car driver. At first, Enzo had his suspicions on Denny’s lover, and soon jealousy crept in as Enzo was upset at the lack of attention Denny was giving him. Nevertheless, Enzo gave in and grew quite fond of Eve. Later in the movie, we find out Eve became pregnant. She gives birth to a daughter -- Zoë. </div><div><br /></div><div>Soon after, Denny had grown incredibly busy with his racing career and is often away from home. As much as Enzo was happy for him, he often felt lonely. At this time, Eve had also fallen ill, more specifically, diagnosed with brain cancer. By the time Eve realised the grave danger she may be in, it was already too late. Eve passes away in a sentimental scene with Enzo, where she claims she is no longer afraid of death. Eve’s parents were furious due to the lack of availability Denny was, to not even notice his wife’s condition. They demanded he were to give custody of Zoë to them immediately. As Denny visits their house to try negotiating with them, it ended with him storming out and accidentally pushing Maxwell, Eve’s father, who reports the incident as an act of assault. Denny was desperate to win the case, or he had to face a three-month jail sentence, along with loss of custody. </div><div><br /></div><div>During this time, Denny is offered a brilliant job in Maranello, where he gets to test cars for none other than Ferrari. He realised he couldn’t accept the job in the circumstances he was in, but reassured them he would surely join if he won the case. At the end, Denny manages to win the court case due to the confession of Maxwell’s wife, who felt guilty on the situation. Soon later, Enzo’s health begins to progressively get worse and he is beginning to get old. Denny soon notices this, and tries to fulfil Enzo’s last wish, which was to drive him around the race track. A beautiful scene that definitely made me very emotional, as Enzo and Denny sit together and Enzo beams of joy as he sticks his tongue out of the car and expresses his gratitude to Denny and his incredible life. Fast forward a few years later, Denny has officially made it to the biggest racing stage - Formula 1, where he races for Scuderia Ferrari and lives in Italy with Zoë. The movie ends with a scene of a boy running to get an autograph from Denny, and when Denny asks for the boy’s name, he responds with Enzo. Denny’s face lights up and he slowly smiles.</div><div><br /></div><div>This film transcended the typical racing movie genre for me. I loved the captivating storyline and the emotional connection it fosters with Enzo from just the first 10 minutes of the movie truly warmed my heart. More than a mere companion, the movie beautifully illustrates the profound role a dog plays as a true friend. As Enzo grew to mirror Denny’s pursuit of passion, but it also delves deeper, revealing the obstacles and valuable life lessons he had to endure. It’s a touching reminder that life isn’t just about speed, it’s about cherishing you the time with loved ones. (PS: The temptation to not immediately beg my parents for a dog was almost impossible.)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCUIoTgGyf1aq6hVEmMxOe3jtpL1RbisvDOcwYVsotax7DPkMwhR5X-IZZWwi8_ECZPz8q2WmqM7mhYybYj0vLSQLCcreCgiPD1x02uaqlRiVa8FxRGuFRBBdYzWRBTk4a9Wo4fry5yHnhyphenhyphen7OKyT85GOpPMmlXa6PVFaEd6tzb6xEhVQhumd-WxTIIU4/s2400/the-art-of-racing-in-the-rain-movie-review.jpg.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1601" data-original-width="2400" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCUIoTgGyf1aq6hVEmMxOe3jtpL1RbisvDOcwYVsotax7DPkMwhR5X-IZZWwi8_ECZPz8q2WmqM7mhYybYj0vLSQLCcreCgiPD1x02uaqlRiVa8FxRGuFRBBdYzWRBTk4a9Wo4fry5yHnhyphenhyphen7OKyT85GOpPMmlXa6PVFaEd6tzb6xEhVQhumd-WxTIIU4/w310-h207/the-art-of-racing-in-the-rain-movie-review.jpg.webp" width="310" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJYYcReXavCw7Pb5_hI9WUIoLPAyuo5syskeGw4o3lcSRkoVjHBSZcCKKACtRZvQDK2qMKX911Yx542Wn5fopiqK5bZkq03echIUEJOU1JUckbEeiRy8pwHWg1-vrCmWzHcqvqs_eKJGLd6Pv5RyFJlFJR6mqA26_WBCEXbo1gOkFUf_VLDOt8WG8ArA/s1000/the-art-of-racing-in-the-rain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJYYcReXavCw7Pb5_hI9WUIoLPAyuo5syskeGw4o3lcSRkoVjHBSZcCKKACtRZvQDK2qMKX911Yx542Wn5fopiqK5bZkq03echIUEJOU1JUckbEeiRy8pwHWg1-vrCmWzHcqvqs_eKJGLd6Pv5RyFJlFJR6mqA26_WBCEXbo1gOkFUf_VLDOt8WG8ArA/w312-h207/the-art-of-racing-in-the-rain.jpg" width="312" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-52944825512916023852023-07-11T00:25:00.002-07:002023-07-11T00:25:47.043-07:00Fear<p>Sweaty palms, clenched teeth</p><p>Thoughts racing and quivering feet</p><p>The stimulus that triggers our fight-or-flight</p><p>Body becomes alert -- ensuring nothing treads past its sight</p><p><br /></p><p>Fear is always the cause. Fear is the reason. </p><p>The reason why you can’t get yourself to go on that rollercoaster</p><p>why you may be afraid of public speaking or trying new things, </p><p>why you're scared of the dark, and the creatures it brings</p><p><br /></p><p>Fear, Pain, Anxiety. We have been engrained with it all.</p><p>It is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s okay to stumble and fall.</p><p>Overcoming a fear is difficult, it requires strength and bravery</p><p>It may take time, but the outcome is nothing short of savoury</p><p><br /></p><p>With each challenge, one becomes stronger and wise</p><p>Unlocking the potential within you that lies</p><p>Embrace the unknown, with perseverance and grace,</p><p>and discover a world where fear has no place.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFEXT5GSm8AElkKmAd2mbn1FW_BTM0YHMhRDKU3_AL-OIhjJso_NPxrl-rdtdPvpdyO0cb7028ITN-Rm0Mz0p9etHhT5MME7rMuAKwBak5u1QZgwVJ1jDXFtA_RFrs-ZnK72rri_e7TbdeqQURNHyXft4sch9hDLlKIGKdAfZhrZRqKRSOMQiECHhP6o/s1001/1633185976-1633185975253.jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1001" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFEXT5GSm8AElkKmAd2mbn1FW_BTM0YHMhRDKU3_AL-OIhjJso_NPxrl-rdtdPvpdyO0cb7028ITN-Rm0Mz0p9etHhT5MME7rMuAKwBak5u1QZgwVJ1jDXFtA_RFrs-ZnK72rri_e7TbdeqQURNHyXft4sch9hDLlKIGKdAfZhrZRqKRSOMQiECHhP6o/w331-h198/1633185976-1633185975253.jpg.webp" width="331" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-80197764504690968442023-06-18T01:16:00.003-07:002023-06-18T01:16:57.024-07:00Spanish GP 2023!<p>This year’s Spanish Grand Prix was nothing short of unexpected. It was on the 4th of June, it being a particularly spectacular weekend for the Mercedes, whereas quite a disappointing outcome for Ferrari and Mclaren. I wasn’t expecting myself to enjoy the race as much as I did and was pleased to see the numerous number of overtakes. Now let’s delve deeper into the weekend’s events...</p><p>The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya underwent signficant upgrades since the last year. The chicane in the final sector at turns 14 and 15 have been removed completely and replaced with one long final corner, which makes it easier for drivers to maximise their speed on the main straight. As a result, this unlocks more overtaking possibilities between cars. Modern day F1 cars are getting more and more competitive and similar to one another. There are two DRS zones, near turn 14 and between turn 8 and 9, along with one speedtrap on the main straight. This circuit has always been quite a high speed track, involving a combination of high and low speed corners and it is one of the tracks where tyre management is crucial. </p><p>The Spanish Grand Prix attracted the attention of many famous celebrities to see the drivers in action. Football stars like Neymar Jr., Kylian Mbappé, Robert Lewandowski, Achraf Hakimi, Mason Mount, Joao Felix, Presnel Kimpembe and Ousmane Dembélé were only a few of those present to see the drivers perform. Notable personalities like Shakira and Rosalía also came to see the special weekend. </p><p>The action kicked off on June 2nd, 2023. All the teams had been given a practice session where they were testing their upgrades they made over the week and experimenting different setups. Teams had been given an extra two sets of hards to test for their upcoming race in Silverstone. Verstappen, soaring through the practice gracefully, came out on P1. He was followed by Perez, Ocon and De Vries. Both Redbulls has been experiencing bouncing through the final corner yet still managed to grab top 2. The Mclarens and the Alpine of Esteban also faced porpoising issues. What came later on the following day was Practice 2 on the circuit. Verstappen winning pole yet again beating his FP1 time with 1:13:907. Alonso just seven hundredths behind him in P2. A pleasant suprise to see the Haas of Magnussen in P3. All drivers felt much better in their car the second practice. Russel had an unfortunate incident of rolling onto the gravel while doing his lap as the Mclaren of Piastri was blocking his path. His teammate, Hamilton managed to only score P11. The final Practice 3 began on the 3rd of June. Seargent had faced a nasty crash as he rolled into the gravel while exiting turn 14. For the third practice in a row, can you guess who came first? Verstappen yet again with a lap faster than his FP2: 1:13:664. Perez, obtained second, only 2 tenths behind the dutchmen. Hamilton managed to secure a P3, only 4 tenths behind, but was still unhappy with the state of the car. Stroll goes onto the gravel at turn 5 along with Gasly in the Alpine. Practice was finished and now it’s time for Qualifying!</p><p>Qualifying day was on June 3rd, 2023. Q1 began with Alonso slipping in the exit on turn 1 and driving into the gravel, yet managing to return on track. Tsunoda and De Vries (De Vries spins again at the same spot in Q1 later) both had trouble with the car as one went off track and the other spun on track. The Alfa Romeo of Bottas had also spun near the gravel, along with the Williams of Albon driving into the gravel at turn 5. Wow that’s a LOT of spins and it’s just Q1. Anyways, Hamilton manages to secure pole with a time of 1:12:937. Norris being P2 with 3 tenths behind followed by Russel. Leclerc faces a miserable qualifying and doesn’t make it to Q2, as he is within elimination zone (elimination zone are the drivers that are between 16th - 20th when Q1 ends). The drivers eliminated in Q1 are Bottas, Magnussen, Albon, Leclerc and Seargent. Q2 begins shortly after with Verstappen on pole this time. Perez stumbling into the gravel midway through Q2 but manages to return. He continued to struggle on track, securing himself only a P11, which was in the elimination zone (in Q2, the elimination zone is 11th to 15th). Russel in the elimination zone at 12th place desperately tried to attempt one more lap, but failed to notice Hamilton on a lap beside him and came into contact with him. The damage wasn’t severe but it caused Hamilton’s front wing to get damaged and Russel to be unable to perform his outlap. The cars eliminated were Perez, Russel, Zhou, De Vries and Tsunoda. Q3 then began with Verstappen with a stunning lap getting him on pole position yet again. Followed by Sainz. A lovely lap by Norris got him to secure P3 and Hamilton who was on a flying lap, made an error on the final corner which unfortunately cost him a chance in the front row, but still securing P4.</p><p>The Sunday of June 4th was Race day. The red lights shone brightly one by one...and “it’s lights out and away we go!” and its a brilliant start for Verstappen and Sainz as they both come close near turn 1 but Verstappen manages to stay ahead. Hamilton manages to overtake Norris who tries to have another go at it in the next turn, but comes too close to Hamilton’s car and comes into contact with it, causing the Mclaren to lose two places. Russel gets an impressive start as well, gaining 5 places through a slightly controversial off the track overtake which doesn’t get penalised by FIA. Stroll also manages to overtake Hamilton and suceeds with a suprisingly easy pass. Norris gets damage on his car, which required him to pit, dropping him from 6th to 20th before the first lap finished. In lap 11, Russel pulls a wonderful overtake on Ocon, obtaining P5. In lap 14, Zhou Tsunoda and Hulkenbürg have a fight on who obtains P14 and Tsunoda manages to stay ahead. </p><p>Most cars have pitted already to their second set of tyres -- mediums, except for the Mercedes boys who manage to miraculously take care of their tyres for an extra 10 laps approx. giving them a very big advantage on track. They were going for a one pit strategy. On lap 28, Hamilton pits and puts on mediums. He battles Sainz, and with fresher tyres -- the outcome is inevitable. Hamilton easily overtakes Sainz, grabbing P2. Perez and Alonso were both stuck at P9 and P8 at lap 31, but their roles finally switched when Perez overtook him on the main straight. Perez manages to overtake Tsunoda less than two laps later, obtaining P7. He also catches up to Ocon, snatching P6. On lap 35, Russel performs a late lunge on Sainz and overtakes him, taking P3 in the process. Both Aston Martins weren’t performing very well, Alonso at P6 (far from his usual results this season) and his teammate who was four places behind. Perez who reached P3 begins to pit, giving time for Russel to obtain P3 instead. On lap 56 of the grand prix, Tsunoda and Zhou battle for P9 and they come close, causing Zhou to move to the side in defense. An angry Zhou believes he got pushed off track and when FIA reviewed it, Tsunoda got a 5-second penalty. I thought the penalty was absurd, especially since there was space between Tsunoda and Zhou so Zhou had the freedom to stay within track limits so it wasn’t Tsunoda’s fault that Zhou exceeded the limits. Besides, a 5 second penalty for such a minor inconvenience is way too harsh and on one of Tsunoda’s most impressive races this season, he was kicked out of points. L on the FIA’s side. </p><p>The rest of the Grand Prix went rather smoothly with Max Verstappen getting P1, 24 seconds ahead ahead of the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton in P2, 8 seconds behind him is his teammate, George Russel. Lewis Hamilton, securing his 193rd podium of his career, gets voted driver of the day as well for his phenomenal efforts. The double Mercedes podium pushed them up the constructors championship, overtaking Aston Martin in second. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihl-qcKyFqpY2-6zeSsssQxMEmonUaQGVGJ536-Uy-bdiMNOyOWXWIBv-WK9c6AJzx_ioAl1jwOELGUQzgxpL8cvqQYZIH_S616Zeb7LhGUlBJzmsE5r8PzlucDe8z9wS-Fm07KsQuHwW3zMgGaZj7F7oQNQW8m3vnQ7yrTneiRqIOiBqkbk4sAHTO/s1125/XPB_1212138_HiRes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="1125" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihl-qcKyFqpY2-6zeSsssQxMEmonUaQGVGJ536-Uy-bdiMNOyOWXWIBv-WK9c6AJzx_ioAl1jwOELGUQzgxpL8cvqQYZIH_S616Zeb7LhGUlBJzmsE5r8PzlucDe8z9wS-Fm07KsQuHwW3zMgGaZj7F7oQNQW8m3vnQ7yrTneiRqIOiBqkbk4sAHTO/w398-h224/XPB_1212138_HiRes.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-69165928963360293212023-06-04T08:51:00.003-07:002023-06-19T11:19:52.713-07:00My Honest Review on 'The Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse'<p>Okay...when I tell you I began typing this as soon as I finished the movie and reached home, I’m not lying. There’s so much to talk about in this movie. I was VERY, VERY, VERY excited for its release and as soon as it released, I headed straight to the soundtrack by Metro Boomin, which I then played a million times. You can imagine, I had very high expectations for this movie. I saw promising reviews about it with people claiming it was just as good as the first, if not better. It released on June 2nd, 2023 and I watched it two days later. Here is my review...enjoy!!</p><p>I’m going to begin with the soundtrack. I adored it. The first movie had some phenomenal songs which everyone knew were going to be difficult to beat. Examples were: ‘Sunflower', ‘What’s up Danger?’ and ‘Hide’. But when I opened the soundtrack and played the first song, Annihilate, my jaw dropped. WHAT IS THIS MELODY? Swae Lee has a way of embodying Spiderman when he sings. He did it on the first movie’s soundtrack -- he did it again. His voice is just destined for the movie and fits flawlessly to the ambience. I don’t think any other singer could be just as perfect for it as he is. My favourite songs on the track were ‘Annhilate’, ‘Am I dreaming?’, ‘Calling’, ‘Hummingbird’, ‘Link up’...at this point I’m just naming every song on the track, but I definitely recommend taking a listen, you won’t regret it.</p><p>Now the main point of discussion, how was the movie? Don’t worry, I won't spoil it, in case some of you may want to see it. In my opinion, it was delightful. The first thing you’ll notice in the movie, is how Sony had elevated their animation skills to the next level. They steered away from realism and focused more on non-photorealistic animation. The animations are presented as a comic-book style, filled with texture. Something very different, as well as quite risky and new for them -- but it definitely paid off. The graphics were phenomenal, and mesmerising, you could tell it took a lot of effort. The movie was exceptional and it had many suspenseful moments that kept me off my seat. This movie focused more on Gwen and her personal life. It also showed the bond Miles and Gwen had, and how tensions arise between them, and how they overcome it. The movie focused on developing both of their characters. In the first movie, Miles faces people underestimating him and believing he isn’t ready to become a fully fledged spiderman. In this movie, Miles faces a similar problem, except he is having an inner conflict with himself as he realises he needs to choose between his family or the multiverse. In both movies the director wanted to keep one concept the same -- everyone doubts Miles and he proves them wrong. That’s what makes Miles different from the other Spidermen: he doesn’t want to follow everyone else’s footsteps, he wants to walk his own. </p><p>One minor problem I had with the movie, was that I felt too much was happening at the same time. I understand the idea behind it, but they could’ve made it a little less action-packed, as it got slightly confusing at times. The main antagonist, Spot, barely had enough screen time. I didn’t get to see enough character development of him as I would’ve liked. He was a great supervillian, but for half the movie, he wasn’t even there. This leads back to my point of there being too much happening at once.</p><p>But otherwise, I loved this movie. My eyes were wrapped around the screen the entire time. I was flabbergasted when I realised the movie ended at such a climactic moment. I waited after the credits to see if it was a joke, but MARVEL...HOW COULD YOU END IT SO ABRUPTLY? Now, I have to wait another two years for the sequel. But until then, I’ll probably replay the soundtrack another million times. Definitely recommend this movie, to all those Marvel/DC fans or just a simple film lover, a solid 9/10.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T3i4QOpdFE3FdTl6YH3AT-mcsPmpzI0n0-FqDhmbQJnqFuPH2HQfyvzEC1u9vbjUb0kuNZdOBgDniCxtWeho6rlUoZnCrbin2BDEJ-G3QImME7ORvnpu7Iy9P7qdRjkg72kZPFsf-aoNJBn7pLTRRvO2oZbkG4xuEUhVWzYxbcFiahJGDVgNHkCx/s900/spideman-across-the-spider-verse-movie-poster-button-1671558249641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T3i4QOpdFE3FdTl6YH3AT-mcsPmpzI0n0-FqDhmbQJnqFuPH2HQfyvzEC1u9vbjUb0kuNZdOBgDniCxtWeho6rlUoZnCrbin2BDEJ-G3QImME7ORvnpu7Iy9P7qdRjkg72kZPFsf-aoNJBn7pLTRRvO2oZbkG4xuEUhVWzYxbcFiahJGDVgNHkCx/w226-h226/spideman-across-the-spider-verse-movie-poster-button-1671558249641.jpg" width="226" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSOh7f2W2Cxv6XHDs9qsKXqvQike15QX_rmzcH8KyvPo_u23giLkg1ydGdhVEoPlgukIF-e8zXQ6cB1KPvvLgrIiZyfaZ1oAL4sEDCRyWomQNeYj1vJH1ExF1MiEToDy6h-g0C6oF8EbVmMP_WJFhtrYW4VFDTAv6lS47RI5wwA8HrCNsev2Q-DOx/s999/Across-The-Spider-Verse__scaled_800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="800" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSOh7f2W2Cxv6XHDs9qsKXqvQike15QX_rmzcH8KyvPo_u23giLkg1ydGdhVEoPlgukIF-e8zXQ6cB1KPvvLgrIiZyfaZ1oAL4sEDCRyWomQNeYj1vJH1ExF1MiEToDy6h-g0C6oF8EbVmMP_WJFhtrYW4VFDTAv6lS47RI5wwA8HrCNsev2Q-DOx/w196-h246/Across-The-Spider-Verse__scaled_800.jpg" width="196" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-ITcJHpixqCzSviI-hqq-HPRgxblM5Ryxi1bXzCylSJjS-I0ueM8qwYjr5jLeVo-y3v75Mb2KuIaPH4u2ctDSq-CmbJLNA64eAn_QueqLC7WrJoFGNtnytsZM1x2au4SUUcdqmV7RuRLRPkzTx3PuasoeLhq9Y9SlANI3hNn_04RTUwAJ1D-zB73/s400/spiderman_across_the_spider_verse_poster_by_artoflegion56_dfo121q-400t.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="293" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-ITcJHpixqCzSviI-hqq-HPRgxblM5Ryxi1bXzCylSJjS-I0ueM8qwYjr5jLeVo-y3v75Mb2KuIaPH4u2ctDSq-CmbJLNA64eAn_QueqLC7WrJoFGNtnytsZM1x2au4SUUcdqmV7RuRLRPkzTx3PuasoeLhq9Y9SlANI3hNn_04RTUwAJ1D-zB73/w181-h248/spiderman_across_the_spider_verse_poster_by_artoflegion56_dfo121q-400t.jpg" width="181" /><br /></a><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSOh7f2W2Cxv6XHDs9qsKXqvQike15QX_rmzcH8KyvPo_u23giLkg1ydGdhVEoPlgukIF-e8zXQ6cB1KPvvLgrIiZyfaZ1oAL4sEDCRyWomQNeYj1vJH1ExF1MiEToDy6h-g0C6oF8EbVmMP_WJFhtrYW4VFDTAv6lS47RI5wwA8HrCNsev2Q-DOx/s999/Across-The-Spider-Verse__scaled_800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br /></div>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-88049822085118533222023-06-03T01:08:00.001-07:002023-07-09T02:17:07.469-07:00Everything Wrong with the Little Mermaid<p>I’m going to be completely honest, it definitely wasn’t one of Disney’s best movies...Disney has the habit of creating awe-inspiring originals and falling short when it comes to producing a realistic version of it. No doubt, Beauty and the Beast was definitely one of the exceptions (loved the movie). But, The Little Mermaid just wasn’t worth the watch. I’m sure you may have heard some unflattering reviews about it here and there, but here’s my review. </p><p>Now, it would be wrong to just start listing the negatives without mentioning the positives first. One thing I had to point out were the visuals. They were definitely one of the highlights of the movie and it is one detail I appreciate Disney for taking time on. When you take a glimpse of the underwater world, you would be shocked by the amount of detail they included from the variety of species to Ariels gorgeous tail. Ariel and Ursula also played their part well, along with the other members of the cast. The songs were lovely and it was a pleasant surprise to see new additions. </p><p>But there were quite a number of negatives. I’m suprised to say it, but I disliked the Little Mermaids plot. I never took notice of it in the animated version, but now you can clearly see the flaws of each character. Ariel, had barely any character development and she was presented as a slightly foolish girl who sacrifices her voice and her life in the sea world, just to go on land for three days without even a certainty that the prince would fall in love with her -- rather even recognise her. She also ignores advice from her father and begins to visit the sea witch despite his warnings. Let’s not forget risking her life by jumping onto a boat swarming with humans (whose main objective is to kill mermaids) in the beginning of the movie. Was I the only one that noticed this, but was Ariel THIS careless? Also after Ariel switched to a human and started to wander around the castle, you would expect the prince to treat her as a stranger. But no, he shows her all about his private life and takes her with him wherever he goes. I found that a bit sloppy. I know I can’t really complain on the plot of the movie, as Disney just copied its originals, but STILL. </p><p>I was also confused as to why they decided to put such a dull orange-brown on Ariel’s hair, which was supposed to be a bright red. Her hair, is one of the key parts of her appearance, by dulling it out, they failed to successfully recreate the resplendence of the main protagonist. Many people also complained on how they failed to recreate the key side characters: Flounder and Sebastian. Flounder specifically looked like a common everyday fish. I also was apalled to see how lazily they designed Ursula’s costume. Her makeup and hair was of terrible standard and while it does slightly add to the more eerie villian aspect of her, they still should’ve taken a bit more effort on her presentation. The last thing I disliked about the movie was how they killed Ursula. The climax reached when the King resigned his throne to Ursula in order to get Ariel back. Ursula was now ruler of the seas and could do anything she wished. She rose to the top and attempted to wreck havoc on the Prince’s castle and its inhabitants. It was all going good and I was enjoying it, until I realised how they managed to defeat Ursula. Ariel took the pointy end of a broken boat and crashed it into Ursula, piercing her stomach and killing her. That’s it. Ursula didn’t see this, in fact she was too busy casting a whirlpool and deviously smirking. I mean, it just took a broken boat to kill Ursula, the Sea Witch who ruled the sea world? I found that a bit disappointing. </p><p>The movie was quite disappointing and as much as the setting and props were enchanting, the plot and characters just let the movie down. Disney has many great movies, but this wasn’t one of them -- a 5/10 and wouldn’t recommend much, unless you purely enjoy the photgraphy and editing of the scenes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pwOkB9y4gvzuqz2c6LLxIye2PicjOQceffA6eyssOqSJuRNrmJYUvBwzl1IidgeYdl8sMcUYC1nwTzG2NaJ6JMAOrtTvDncGrDHkrDEn6NVGgJSE5RMQkNkmUVn9jCw3PRhQ7zvmHkPfDpX2GviHkSeBFbWFVwO8CPEBuyJoq82NV1bsLGPaJWOE/s1280/the-little-mermaid_d.jpg.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pwOkB9y4gvzuqz2c6LLxIye2PicjOQceffA6eyssOqSJuRNrmJYUvBwzl1IidgeYdl8sMcUYC1nwTzG2NaJ6JMAOrtTvDncGrDHkrDEn6NVGgJSE5RMQkNkmUVn9jCw3PRhQ7zvmHkPfDpX2GviHkSeBFbWFVwO8CPEBuyJoq82NV1bsLGPaJWOE/w320-h179/the-little-mermaid_d.jpg.webp" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyS-8DLBjqbEgYQc7nmX-e-8WdhxuW1XwCASOrzhTw8MkMhTLPL-4kabLLI8ySlJ16MKNTu02P6NjGkxaG7m37fNk-1-WLexQiB1ey_oi95ks6x2rEHKAoX95uA08arvJcKJ3O1j0J6ImyWDw4LClFSSwgJ5P006dM5_ap_ElRgKBEvI-j2XDw-LEF/s1280/230427162711-02-disney-little-mermaid-poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyS-8DLBjqbEgYQc7nmX-e-8WdhxuW1XwCASOrzhTw8MkMhTLPL-4kabLLI8ySlJ16MKNTu02P6NjGkxaG7m37fNk-1-WLexQiB1ey_oi95ks6x2rEHKAoX95uA08arvJcKJ3O1j0J6ImyWDw4LClFSSwgJ5P006dM5_ap_ElRgKBEvI-j2XDw-LEF/w300-h168/230427162711-02-disney-little-mermaid-poster.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-14569705626446670092023-05-19T01:47:00.002-07:002023-05-19T01:47:51.738-07:00Miami GP 2023<p>This Miami Grand Prix was nothing short of....clean. Well so clean that it is the 13th race in all of f1 history with not even a SINGLE DNF (a car that did not finish). I did enjoy this race as it had many unexpected moments. But without further ado...let’s start from the beginning of the 2023 Miami Race Week.</p><p>It was practice on a Friday, the 5th May where all the teams were testing the cars and making minor adjustments and upgrades to improve its performance as much as they could before the actual race. The practice results were a pleasant surprise with a Mercedes 1-2, Russel P1 and Hamilton P2. Not me thinking we could genuinly secure a Mercedes podium this early in the season but you cant blame me for having hope. Leclerc secured P3. Practice 2 was held later on the same day. The positions changed to Verstappen finishing P1, Sainz P2 and Leclerc again P3 before crashing into the barriers in turn 8, ending the session and causing a red flag. Practice 3 was held on Saturday, the following day and nothing much changed. Verstappen finishing top again, Leclerc P2 this time and Perez, Verstappen's teammate, finishing P3. </p><p>The qualifying was later on the same day. Qualifying is very important, especially on this track. This is because overtaking is so difficult here in this track. This is not only due to the recently shortened DRS zones the FIA have introduced to make racing more difficult, (WHY FIA? WHY?) but also because of the low grip track surface. Even slightly off the track line can lead to you losing control and crashing into the barriers, which is why overtaking may be incredibly difficult. </p><p>Q1 was quite interesting as it began with Hamilton accidentally hitting the barriers because he came awfully close to Haas, very strange. Anyways, Q1 ended with Verstappen first, Sainz second, Perez third and Leclerc fourth. A delightful surprise was to see both Haas cars in the top 10, Magnussen P5 and Hülkenberg P8. Both Alfa-Romeo cars were also doing exceptionally well in this track, with Bottas P6 and his teammate, Zhou with P10. The Mercedes struggled with P17 and P18 in the elimination zone, but quickly recovered with Hamilton claiming P6 from Bottas and Russel claiming P11 from Alonso. The last 5 got eliminated (16th place - 20th place) which were Norris, Tsunoda, Stroll, Piastri and Sargeant. </p><p>Q2 started with an unsafe release from a Haas car in the pits, which was close to colliding with Alonso’s car. It ended with Verstappen P1, Leclerc P2 and Alonso P3. Ocon manages to claim a brilliant P6, Bottas following him with P7 along with the Haas of Magnussen reaching P8. Definite surprise when the underdogs performed so well in this track. Unfortunate day for Hamilton as he had a slow lap time and couldn’t escape the elimination zone, falling into P13. His teammate Russel, managing to secure himself better, with P10. In the last moment, Gasly came through with an incredible lap time moving himself up to P8. The last 5 got eliminated again (10th place to 15th place) which were Albon, Hülkenberg, Hamilton, Zhou and De Vries.</p><p>Q3 was definitely a shock to many, as we all expected it to be another easy max pole. But due to a slippery lap, his lap time was deleted because he exceeded track limits. This left Verstappen frustrated while his teammate, Perez, managed to secure P1. Everything was going smoothly, with Alonso at P2 and Sainz at P3 followed by Magnussen and Gasly. Leclerc was desperately attempting a good lap this time to get himself on the podium but made a mistake on turn 8 (exactly the SAME corner he made a mistake on in FP2) which caused him to crash into the barriers causing a red flag and ending the session early. This left Verstappen unable to complete his lap which left him in P9 for the actual race. Leclerc was P7. </p><p>The Miami Grand Prix began on a Sunday afternoon. Many celebrities arrived on the day like Serena Williams, Tom Cruise, Roger Federer, A$AP Rocky, etc. FIA decided it would be a nice idea to setup a parade to introduce the drivers to the audience (because why not, it’s Miami anyways). So singer Will.I.AM’s orchestra played out his new track, THE FORMULA ft. Lil Wayne, as he sang and introduced the drivers. It was definitely entertaining especially to see some of the drivers expressing their dislike for the whole show as it seemed ‘unnecessary’. Personally, I quite liked it. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgpoJlAFNMxuxe7OOITRp4YS6bSIyCORMl1kft3-RTPO26eFUkfRjgkj0wTKQM5G8idC8wT_NZuf7YA9dVmGeMifh3Ta7ri8hz6mTC3ZxEGrUguOuyhdNB8tJTG4kGRDsuRmUWmVyXiWhek_Guyk4qCQEuFl5l9dr3cGpOT-OB7KS-5NHv3Q_88s1/s1024/cool-j-introduces-drivers-on-the-grid-prior-to-the-f1-grand-news-photo-1683579194.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgpoJlAFNMxuxe7OOITRp4YS6bSIyCORMl1kft3-RTPO26eFUkfRjgkj0wTKQM5G8idC8wT_NZuf7YA9dVmGeMifh3Ta7ri8hz6mTC3ZxEGrUguOuyhdNB8tJTG4kGRDsuRmUWmVyXiWhek_Guyk4qCQEuFl5l9dr3cGpOT-OB7KS-5NHv3Q_88s1/s320/cool-j-introduces-drivers-on-the-grid-prior-to-the-f1-grand-news-photo-1683579194.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The race began with Perez on pole. “It’s lights off and away we go..” and a clean start for Perez as he maintains pole, followed by Alonso and Sainz. Gasly manages to overtake Magnussen and reaches P4. Russel overtakes Magnussen as well and gets P5. Verstappen gets a difficult start, especially on hards, and loses a place to Ocon in P9. In Lap 4, Verstappen gets DRS and slingshots past Leclerc and Magnussen up to 6th. Later on in lap 8, Verstappen does another clean overtake on Russel in P5. It’s only a matter of time until he catches up with Gasly, which he does one lap later, overtaking him effortlessly in the corner. In lap 14...can you guess who overtook who? Yes, Verstappen with another overtake on Sainz who could barely fight for the position. Just one lap later, Verstappen overtakes Alonso and moves up to P2. Yes, he went from P9 to P2 in a matter of 14 laps. INSANE. Sainz pits in lap 20 and gets a 5 second penalty due to speeding in the pitlane, dropping him to P7. Perez pits in lap 21, leaving Verstappen to gain pole. From lap 15 to lap 20, Hamilton has managed to gain an impressive six places, going from P12 to P6. In lap 21, Sainz manages to overtake him, leaving Hamilton in P7. Russel pits, dropping him down to P12. In lap 37, Leclerc manages to overtake the Haas of Magnussen and obtain P11 (don’t know why it took him that long but Ferrari never fails to disappoint me :)) But wait...ONLY TO GET OVERTAKEN BY MAGNUSSEN AGAIN ON THE SAME LAP. Yes, bad day for Leclerc, very bad day. Don’t worry ferrari fans, Leclerc manages to then overtake Magnussen on Lap 38 (it just took him 38 laps to do so!). Hamilton pits on this lap, this time on mediums, dropping him back to P13. 8 laps later, he’s already in P9. Max pits and since he’s so far ahead, by the time he finishes pitting, his teammate has only barely passed him (Perez is P2) so they battle it out but in lap 48. Verstappen remains victorious and overtakes Perez (beautiful battle from both drivers). Hamilton overtakes Ocon and lands in P8. Leclerc manages to fight his way through with the amount of laps he has left, and reaches a brilliant P7 in lap 48. On lap 53, he overtakes Ocon, who accidentally locked up, giving room for the Monagasque to speed past. One lap later, Hamilton catches up to Ocon and Leclerc. With DRS, he gets the opportunity for an overtake, which he beautifully does and obtains P7 while chasing Leclerc down. Only a lap later, he gets DRS yet again and zooms past the Ferrari, landing in P6. The race ends, with Verstappen in P1, followed by Perez, Alonso, Russel, Sainz, Hamilton, Leclerc, Gasly, Ocon and Magnussen. Logan Seargent came last which was quite disappointing considering it was his home race, but in his defense, he doesn’t have a very competitive car. Verstappen crowned driver of the day as well, for his brilliant recovery from P9 to P1.<p></p><p>F1 has definitely become a lot more interesting when compared to last year, as most of the cars are preforming on the same level and many are catching up fast. I doubt we will ever see a dominance like the Mercedes dominance for Redbull no matter how much the odds may look in their favour now. I’m sure FIA won’t allow it. Anyways, I loved this Miami Grand Prix, not only because Hamilton made a brilliant recovery, but because of its unexpected outcomes. That's F1 for you, never underestimate its unpredictability! </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXKdZWjkuCH8r7BtCjBnDHK6n_BZHKjL00cY93qb1O0JMNKqLW0TVOxOtZjCxeyBhfXMV63RzHGJBtkZ7kM8dPZhIwWyrDmBemvm5kpCF0RI4FwSxkOGTn6i05RtLEpmsFNUIMFesrrpr32o8V4PlkNCcRJxDlAPpqCgJ0jWR6eimxxzGOVA5DlSV/s1856/Screenshot%202023-05-19%20at%202.13.53%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1856" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXKdZWjkuCH8r7BtCjBnDHK6n_BZHKjL00cY93qb1O0JMNKqLW0TVOxOtZjCxeyBhfXMV63RzHGJBtkZ7kM8dPZhIwWyrDmBemvm5kpCF0RI4FwSxkOGTn6i05RtLEpmsFNUIMFesrrpr32o8V4PlkNCcRJxDlAPpqCgJ0jWR6eimxxzGOVA5DlSV/w330-h191/Screenshot%202023-05-19%20at%202.13.53%20PM.png" width="330" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRTXo8Y7iCADjHl39N2n4BL6BDKl5wlpOSeav3omQ1dxNZOTTy1x7oqxLq8lT9UwZP2vX7dNy_Iw0tBom8g1SulUDtFlRh-b2bsLUb-aRAVpdRfVtsSpaOZoW0FrkFieXiw6NujGs7M6rr9c-5W2WW-J3sAzAx4hhaxg4NqDNswok9YnUcF34jTZi/s2560/miamigp-hero-scaled.jpeg.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1685" data-original-width="2560" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRTXo8Y7iCADjHl39N2n4BL6BDKl5wlpOSeav3omQ1dxNZOTTy1x7oqxLq8lT9UwZP2vX7dNy_Iw0tBom8g1SulUDtFlRh-b2bsLUb-aRAVpdRfVtsSpaOZoW0FrkFieXiw6NujGs7M6rr9c-5W2WW-J3sAzAx4hhaxg4NqDNswok9YnUcF34jTZi/w288-h191/miamigp-hero-scaled.jpeg.webp" width="288" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-91034794800743891012023-05-16T10:09:00.002-07:002023-05-16T10:09:37.799-07:00The Truth Detective - Tim Harford<p>If I’m being honest...I didn’t think I would like this book very much. The reason being, by the cover, I assumed it would be filled with economics problems and theories which require a lot of thinking. I’m naturally a SLOW reader so I knew this would take me at least a week to finish since I like to understand the concept thoroughly before I turn to the next page, which is what turned me away from this book. Well, boy, was I wrong. Let this be a lesson to anyone like me. Don't judge a book by it’s cover -- cheesy and overused but accurate. The Truth Detective by Tim Harford is an incredible and intriguing book which gives tips on how to deal with data. Lots of data. Also I finished it in a day. YES. A DAY :) (to all the fast readers out there: let me have my moment)</p><p>Warning: Spoilers Ahead...</p><p>The Truth Detective teaches you how to make sense of a world that doesn’t add up. Numbers, misleading headlines...all of it can be overbearing at times. This book helps you to detect which data is accurate and which isn’t, which data is necessary to pay attention to, and the ones which are irrelevant. He cites information from professionals and experts who deal with data on a daily basis. An example of one of his tips is to take notice of big numbers when reading large sources as most of the time, they hold the most important points of the article. By skimming through the rest of the article but holding special importance to these numbers, you’ll manage to get valuable information without spending unecessary time. I wouldn’t want to spoil it for you, but I can say the tips are definitely helpful. One comedic element he commonly used was referencing famous detectives who themselves erred and how to avoid making their mistakes -- one of the detectives being none other than Sherlock Holmes. He also uses various unusual yet funny examples to help explain the concepts which makes it a lot easier to understand. </p><p>One thing I loved about the truth detective is the font. I know it’s random but the font just shocked me because of how fun and energetic it appeared. It reminded me of the Geronimo Stilton graphic novels specifically because their font is very similar. I had an obsession with the Geronimo Stilton novels because I loved the font so much and it looked so intriguing and vibrant (I also liked the story generally and definitely recommend reading it, but I digress). I loved how some of the words were bolded or put in bright colors and crazy fonts used which added a bit more of a dramatic effect. </p><p>The Truth Detective was everything but predictable, which was why I enjoyed it so much. I’m probably going to explore more books by the author as he is certainly gifted at writing (also love the font). Definitely recommend this book, 1000/10!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vR1lqqNXlhKiGsRYJBmUL8xP_ncf1DW-lo6ZjeJkG1ImDv7u5F5Lc05ERh_VGKEnIGsw-osjwjcJ1sIrBabPA5xfng9lv7Vnq5S593H5jlHcUrMF_xIuIHZo57TXF8_K03BP4CbX5Cgk21KgmRIVpmm3PDqUVklS06xvSoHmB0YyOKz1KAOtcliQ/s1000/91Pbx1qP+pL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="714" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vR1lqqNXlhKiGsRYJBmUL8xP_ncf1DW-lo6ZjeJkG1ImDv7u5F5Lc05ERh_VGKEnIGsw-osjwjcJ1sIrBabPA5xfng9lv7Vnq5S593H5jlHcUrMF_xIuIHZo57TXF8_K03BP4CbX5Cgk21KgmRIVpmm3PDqUVklS06xvSoHmB0YyOKz1KAOtcliQ/s320/91Pbx1qP+pL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-39907721161665585462023-05-14T10:32:00.002-07:002023-06-18T01:18:56.377-07:00A Fun Spanish family Itinerary!! Pt. 2Continuation of the Spain Trip<div><br /></div><div>Day 5 - 22nd April:</div><div>Today, we visited the Prado Museum! I was eagerly anticipating our visit here, because there’s so many astounding Spanish artists’ artworks I wanted to see, like Goya, Rembrandt, Salvador Dali.We woke up at around 9am and went downstairs to have breakfast before getting ready to go to the museum. When we arrived, though it was bustling, we managed to enter pretty fast. The museum was amazing and we spent over two hours in there, just examining all the paintings. I liked Goya’s ‘Witches Sabbath’ and ‘Charles IV of Spain and his Family’ but unfortunately, I couldn’t find ‘Saturn devouring his Son’ by him. Nevertheless, Rubens made another version of it which was intriguing. Afterwards, we sat down at a nearby cafe and had macarons and pastries. Then, we went off to watch a Flamenco dance, which was phenomenally graceful...just breathtaking, how swiftly and effortlessly they moved their feet. It lasted about an hour, and soon after that we got some lunch at a nearby restaurant. Then, we decided we would go shopping and headed to Bershka first. We bought a couple of clothes -- I got a lovely tropical oversized t-shirt, a cropped basic white tank and a grey shirt. We then headed to a few designer shops before getting dinner at another restaurant. Finally, we took a taxi and headed home. </div><div><br /></div><div>Day 6 - 23rd April</div><div>Today we were heading back to Barcelona. We packed our bags and headed to the train station to return to the bullet train. The train was around 3 hours again and we ordered the ceaser salad...again (was genuinely so good)! After we reached the hotel, we relaxed and stayed in our room for the rest of the day. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxu_m8VVOVBfsqoFgMBJM-CjaRV6PB8oCYn3QylAEOMwqhrZen43Zit2y9p5svAqn63nGLf92mZa2vrpSp_eDy1LNQe1FTrSJVlirBD1w4XxFqzdOcXEuWXqmQG1whEI6YcbYO0cLfunEQ6jW34rGuLO_-E_uI7M813ko9r4uOHJZSrejvzYVlUALU/s4032/IMG_1175.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxu_m8VVOVBfsqoFgMBJM-CjaRV6PB8oCYn3QylAEOMwqhrZen43Zit2y9p5svAqn63nGLf92mZa2vrpSp_eDy1LNQe1FTrSJVlirBD1w4XxFqzdOcXEuWXqmQG1whEI6YcbYO0cLfunEQ6jW34rGuLO_-E_uI7M813ko9r4uOHJZSrejvzYVlUALU/s320/IMG_1175.HEIC" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3ZCXrZ6wP22RzsgQViQLWubC7jEDrDcmFtDyh1YIUwDCm0ClHMYd3Wn_euP96chTWa25sne5FNvQupvAcjBsIuz7ro515vzdtrBOeecM39oS9TcrzxMB7Mb0Fb_sDmFP9N49dou_apfnU0SrEv_wC08UtptZCpRthzqpGFRvwKYDcN92IBunpZ_N/s4032/IMG_1094.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3ZCXrZ6wP22RzsgQViQLWubC7jEDrDcmFtDyh1YIUwDCm0ClHMYd3Wn_euP96chTWa25sne5FNvQupvAcjBsIuz7ro515vzdtrBOeecM39oS9TcrzxMB7Mb0Fb_sDmFP9N49dou_apfnU0SrEv_wC08UtptZCpRthzqpGFRvwKYDcN92IBunpZ_N/s320/IMG_1094.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Day 7 - 24th April<br /></div><div>This was the day we were going to the PORTAVENTURA Theme Park!! I think you can guess by now that we like themeparks! We got ready early in the morning at around 8am and went downstairs to get breakfast before getting into the bus which would take us to the themepark. The bus lasted around 1.5 hours but once we reached, my jaw dropped. It was much bigger than the Warner Bros themepark, and right beside it was Ferrari Land! I knew Ferrari Land was going to literally be another dimension of insane so we decided to just enter the PortAventura theme park. We checked in and got the fast passes as many teenagers were joining in the same time too. The rides were absolutely nerve-wrackingly addictive. We started with the ‘Furious Baco’ ride which went from 1-135km/h in 3.5 seconds...that’s fast! We were literally blown away by the speed, and it was agressively shaking. Definitely jolted us awake for the rest of the day and probably was the scariest one. We also did the ‘Stampida’, ‘Tutuki Splash’, ‘Tami Tami’, ‘El Diablo Tren De la Mina’, ‘Angkor’, ’Silver River Flame' and ‘Dragon Khan’ and THE ‘Shambala’. Yes, the biggest ride in all of Europe, YES, THAT ONE!! We were genuinly so nervous to try this ride so we first did the Dragon Khan, and it wasn’t too bad, the loops were very exciting and you were upside down a good portion of the ride, so it was enjoyable. However, we couldn’t compare it to the Shambala. They rose you up to what felt like was a mile high, and then dropped you straight down, immediately followed by another rise and drop soon after...The ride was also just a minute long, which didn’t make it better. But, if you ask me, I loved this ride. It was very scary, and the drops gave me too many butterflies to count...but it was still an insanely fun experience and I definitely recommend trying it out. Afterwards, we got a few photographs of ourselves during the ride and headed home. </div><div><br /></div><div>Day 8 - 25th April</div><div>Today was our last day before we headed to the airport tomorrow. TODAY WE WERE GOING TO THE BARCELONA STADIUM! Honestly, one of the things I was looking forward to the most in our trip. We woke up at around 9:30, ate breakfast and got dressed before going on a underground tram to the stadium. When we reached Camp Nou, it was quite crowded, so we had to register and opted for a basic tour. Inside, we got to see all of Barcelona’s trophies (there were HUNDREDS, a whole room filled with them) and watch their best games, many with Messi in it. We also got to see Messi’s Golden Boots and Ballon D’ors, along with his jerseys. It was absolutely incredible. It was crazy to imagine how much Messi contributed to the success of this team. Afterwards, we visited the Barcelona F.C shop, where we got a couple jerseys. I couldn’t find ones with their names but there was an option for customization, so I decided to personalize the number 10 with my name. Then, we went to a restaurant to get some food before taking a bus to visit another of Gaudi’s architectures. This was a beautiful house with stained glass and recycled materials. One thing that was truly mesmerizing about his architecture was how different they were. The artwork that surrounded the home was truly ahead of its time and by recycling materials he was saving the planet far before anyone else got on it. After we finished taking a stroll through the house, it was already evening and we were tired. So, we stopped by a café, had dinner before heading home in a taxi. Good night :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0DAPXrCfd0XUZDykowNBOVALmACVysmh4zgPQYp77uIurRgZ6PHK2MbGUb8VJR_93GD03T4ym2tmGTBTPaedHVEEDt-aAp8CwiWauruFR-3U1FuFonG0HHJLoR3eSDQVX-p37UALMwSAiE8ehbC_uY66TDf7wMvJpKV9PY9HgcDj6pUnCm9WubMD/s4032/IMG_1139.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0DAPXrCfd0XUZDykowNBOVALmACVysmh4zgPQYp77uIurRgZ6PHK2MbGUb8VJR_93GD03T4ym2tmGTBTPaedHVEEDt-aAp8CwiWauruFR-3U1FuFonG0HHJLoR3eSDQVX-p37UALMwSAiE8ehbC_uY66TDf7wMvJpKV9PY9HgcDj6pUnCm9WubMD/w378-h283/IMG_1139.HEIC" width="378" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZ5b2T2JOeYIRaphtEqMkKaMrK7van3EIG5x5CoqnkapYjI77oM6KK0byHJJuTMIRoJdniBgrEmMjABGadWrVQRJGk3ggdIiHWVIchmvgUEv6OoX34IpPxDZJFkIkokp0fE0cYPm1c_Qd9nOlDwMemRmCs49BbhdCsaekzcPPn33UMH4fuMuMvJ1O/s4032/IMG_1149.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZ5b2T2JOeYIRaphtEqMkKaMrK7van3EIG5x5CoqnkapYjI77oM6KK0byHJJuTMIRoJdniBgrEmMjABGadWrVQRJGk3ggdIiHWVIchmvgUEv6OoX34IpPxDZJFkIkokp0fE0cYPm1c_Qd9nOlDwMemRmCs49BbhdCsaekzcPPn33UMH4fuMuMvJ1O/s320/IMG_1149.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Day 9 - 26th April</div><div>LAST DAY!! I definitely didn’t think I was going to miss spain as much as I did but the trip was genuinly an incredible experience. We woke up at 9am, got dressed, went down for breakfast and packed our bags quickly before heading out of our rooms. We sat downstairs and waited for the bus to take us near the airport. After we reached the airport, we checked in and went to the VAT desk to get the taxed money back. We shopped in the airport for a while before heading into the plane and getting ready for our stop at Dubai.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for coming along with me on my journey through Spain. It was nothing short of brilliant and it is a country filled with amazing clothes, food, architecture and people. A word of advice would be to learn a decent amount of spanish before coming here as...you are DEFINITELY going to need it. But, I would recommend Spain to anyone who hasn’t been before. 11/10!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-4866740918407428032023-04-30T06:48:00.006-07:002023-05-02T04:44:11.899-07:00A Fun Spanish family Itinerary!! Pt. 1<p>Hola!! My trip to spain was nothing short of exhilarating and unforgettable. Our stay lasted eight days, from the 18th April to the 26th April, and we stopped by Barcelona and Madrid. I pictured Spain to be a tropical paradise with delicious food, gorgeous views and home to a fascinating culture; it was definitely all that and more!! </p><p>Day 1 - 18th April:</p><p>On the first day we arrived in the early afternoon and checked into a good hotel. We then ate at a nearby restaurant and ordered a salad, a spanish omelette, some beef and a berry cheesecake. The food was delicious but definitely different. Since our entire family had ZERO knowledge on the spanish language, you can assume that it wasn’t easy ordering the food, especially since the menu itself was in spanish. But thank god google translate existed, as it made our lives a lot easier. We translated the menu and ordered off of that. Then, we went back to the hotel and rested for a while. In an hour, we got ready as we had tickets to a cable car trip, Teleferic de Montjuic, where we could get a glimpse of the beauty that is Barcelona. After taking the tram and a bit of searching, we could register ourselves and enter the cable car. It slowly took us upwards and we got a brilliant view of the nature-rich side of Barcelona, as well as the more industrial side. After we reached the opposite end of the cable car journey, we got out and visited the Monjuïc Castle. It was fascinating and had many archaic sculptures. At the top of the castle we had an amazing view of the ocean and couldn’t stop taking photos of it. Soon, we went to a restaurant called Tapa Tapa for dinner and had Paella and a chocolate pyramid with ice cream for dessert. We returned home after, before heading to bed, tired but happy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTXwA01naP0cG_EVep2EYR1wp8fC2KxnOrQuuPRA2ojwHLZwPRZtRGYQGD4rJ9lWLGa5iLy44NUXgKMf2vlBFF2hFXf6wKRvtWFVW_VgPkbWjdJxzdybOppTVbx0ouFx1mFVsaIqJ7h9v4HUwWTkqBE2iWjbovOuONMKO3C5-zC3pBkSjNpvPsZnE/s4032/IMG_0788.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTXwA01naP0cG_EVep2EYR1wp8fC2KxnOrQuuPRA2ojwHLZwPRZtRGYQGD4rJ9lWLGa5iLy44NUXgKMf2vlBFF2hFXf6wKRvtWFVW_VgPkbWjdJxzdybOppTVbx0ouFx1mFVsaIqJ7h9v4HUwWTkqBE2iWjbovOuONMKO3C5-zC3pBkSjNpvPsZnE/w303-h227/IMG_0788.HEIC" width="303" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-CyjhaTisWvJnRCWopG-mbHlCxoMgT2tvltae2HmtHOOLg8YIKilBAT-l-wznko1e43zYiitlf4M7FmLJCwhppOy6zBncyg8QYoyEMle5lHLGhuWalllixgJTPrYlGK3PTg5bwhWB9skelct-1p0t7DwUSoky9xz8J2p1V9jWScSN9tjmnDN93OC/s4032/IMG_0778.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-CyjhaTisWvJnRCWopG-mbHlCxoMgT2tvltae2HmtHOOLg8YIKilBAT-l-wznko1e43zYiitlf4M7FmLJCwhppOy6zBncyg8QYoyEMle5lHLGhuWalllixgJTPrYlGK3PTg5bwhWB9skelct-1p0t7DwUSoky9xz8J2p1V9jWScSN9tjmnDN93OC/w305-h228/IMG_0778.HEIC" width="305" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Day 2 - 19th April: </p><p>We woke up at 8:30am in the morning and went down for breakfast. I got jambon, bread, sausages and some pastries. Then, we returned upstairs and got dressed; we were going to visit one of the famous Gaudi architectures, the Güell Park. Gaudi is one of the most well-known architects in Spain and his work is truly fascinating. In all the buildings he designed there are small elements representing him. He built with tools that were recyclable. Gaudi used paper cups on the roofs of the buildings to represent his alcohol/coffee obsession and the entire building is built from recycled and discarded materials. You can’t tell me that’s not simply ingenious!! Gaudi was ahead of his time, as he made an effort to save the planet much earlier than everyone else. He also incoorporated multiple animal sculptures in his architectures like lizards, snakes and elephants. We finished exploring in the afternoon, and went to a nearby restaurant and had a pork burger, some nachos and a ham baguette sandwich. After lunch, we visited the iconic Segrada Familia! An astounding masterpiece designed by Gaudi, but wasn’t finished before his death, so the building is still a work in progress. He incoorporated Jesus’s genesis and crucification on the front of the church in a beautiful way, along with coloured glass. We also got a chance to see the classroom Gaudi built near the castle (definitely recommend a visit to the Segrada Familia, if you ever get the chance). Afterwards, we were strolling past shops and got a couple souvenirs and I got a GORGEOUS pair of sunglasses :) We then returned to our hotel and had dinner. For dinner we had some shrimp croquettes, chicken wings, steak and vegetarian Paella. We also ordered a caramel custard which turned out to be humungous, the literal size of a LARGE PIZZA (it took sincere efforts to finish it all). Then it was time to sleep. Buenas Noches!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WqOSpebhvw2T9EqnZiBVsDzwbe5YtUCS5UEJ1eqYmFyoNTtee1xgRXg7v67FPXggRlE0J2zrfTQ9NpzUBon3wk7l3CwxpditXELN1stmzik_nwgC2ImzIBDm-jfb2x4EsiYRSzAWOcP8LR0f5EN2-STgdiy3pIecBqak2TtYopJFsoUYUkMebJO4/s4032/IMG_0877.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WqOSpebhvw2T9EqnZiBVsDzwbe5YtUCS5UEJ1eqYmFyoNTtee1xgRXg7v67FPXggRlE0J2zrfTQ9NpzUBon3wk7l3CwxpditXELN1stmzik_nwgC2ImzIBDm-jfb2x4EsiYRSzAWOcP8LR0f5EN2-STgdiy3pIecBqak2TtYopJFsoUYUkMebJO4/w225-h300/IMG_0877.HEIC" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdLcUwt4FpbmBuuISutIdhg6-jyaQc6zQoru6p1_k-FYf-f44chMFC8suNutBc8v3XXtlNFvy7QcMp9n0CeyAQQQ1PpoO4hjKXukZ9EMe1MVT-GOvEnOt7il5E4k0czMrHQawEt6Fgbo7nSQMdfsxoD9X4_on8oDOrLSyIkPNa-KxekxWTiMYBfNC/s4032/IMG_0861.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdLcUwt4FpbmBuuISutIdhg6-jyaQc6zQoru6p1_k-FYf-f44chMFC8suNutBc8v3XXtlNFvy7QcMp9n0CeyAQQQ1PpoO4hjKXukZ9EMe1MVT-GOvEnOt7il5E4k0czMrHQawEt6Fgbo7nSQMdfsxoD9X4_on8oDOrLSyIkPNa-KxekxWTiMYBfNC/w374-h279/IMG_0861.HEIC" width="374" /></a><br /><br /></div><p></p><p>Day 3 - 20th April:</p><p>Today, we go to...MADRID!! We got ready in the morning and headed to the train station. We were going to take a bullet train. I don't know why, but I was suuper excited about the bullet train (probably because I imagined it to be like the movie). The trip was around 3 hours and we had an amazing caeser salad halfway through our journey (literally I am in my ‘salad' phase). I took a nap until we reached Madrid. After we reached, we took a taxi to our hotel where we relaxed for the rest of the day :))</p><p>Day 4 - 21st April:</p><p>WARNER BROS DAY!!! Yes, today we were going to warner bros!! We woke up early in the morning at around 9am. We ate breakfast quickly and got dressed to take the bus. The trip was 30 minutes or so. When we reached, the place was swarming with children and teenagers -- with what I assumed was a school field trip. We quickly got ourselves registered and got the fast pass, as we already knew the lines were going to be LONG (best decision we made in this trip tbh). There were dozens of rides, but we were only interested in the rollercoasters :) We went on the Coaster Express (wasn’t bad, I liked this one the best, fast but nice), Hotel Embrujado (it was like a haunted house and it spun 360 which was veryyy cool...but they spoke in spanish the entire time so we had no clue what they were saying), Superman (honestly, I loved it but it was SCARY. My calm side told me this was going to easy but no, no it wasn’t) and finally, the Stunt Fall (bad. Very, very, VERY bad. Don’t make the same mistake as me and try this one). The dry rides were very entertaining but nowhere CLOSE to the water rides. The Rio Brave’s flume ride was...CHEF’S KISS. The drops were crazy, but spectacular and I loved when the water splashed on your face. Shoot-the-Chutes was also super fun, and probably the ride which got us the most wet. We ended up drying ourselves TWICE the entire visit as we got ourselves wet in the start (we got into a wet ride on purpose) and needed to dry ourselves to continue and finish more rides, and when we did, you can guess what happened after..Overall the trip was super fun! Warner Bros never fails to give a good time. We headed home and ate dinner at the hotel’s restaurant before heading to bed. </p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-59034806577243593692023-04-27T11:34:00.004-07:002023-04-28T06:38:47.051-07:00The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters - Goya<p>The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters was an iconic masterpiece made by arguably, one of the most famous spanish artist of them all, Francisco Goya. On 6th of February 1799, Goya released a series of eighty prints which he famously referred to as '<i>Los Caprichos'</i>. The series was meant to critique and shame contemporary Spanish society. The Caprichos was his most controversial and offensive critique, which was soon censored from the public. Of the eighty aquatints, number 43 was ‘The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters’ and it was assumed to be an expression of Goya’s personal thoughts. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ROZ_KY-L6kP_fexut7vRr6kKBofwl3efEOgOFQJB_NDlNiDDec4CsP5mwWlgPOHRSSg3R4Smz9tJJrFjqdUzlTA8ADGcFrC-w6gwmPo-kv-QzazLBPm5iHJmzovPKMIG2A0W9p4pRJWzJfku-2C0AubnHYgREVJbsfeIOyL3qby_mvdartCLyW7u/s4000/Francisco_Jose%CC%81_de_Goya_y_Lucientes_-_The_sleep_of_reason_produces_monsters_(No-1._43),_from_Los_Caprichos_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2645" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ROZ_KY-L6kP_fexut7vRr6kKBofwl3efEOgOFQJB_NDlNiDDec4CsP5mwWlgPOHRSSg3R4Smz9tJJrFjqdUzlTA8ADGcFrC-w6gwmPo-kv-QzazLBPm5iHJmzovPKMIG2A0W9p4pRJWzJfku-2C0AubnHYgREVJbsfeIOyL3qby_mvdartCLyW7u/w285-h431/Francisco_Jose%CC%81_de_Goya_y_Lucientes_-_The_sleep_of_reason_produces_monsters_(No-1._43),_from_Los_Caprichos_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg" width="285" /></a> </p><p>In the painting, there is a man, presumably Goya, sitting on a chair laying his head on a wooden table. He clearly looks tired and frustrated as his hands mask his face. Behind him are seen a swarm of animals ranging from Owls to Bats to a Lynx. These animals are commonly associated in Spanish folk tradition with mystery and evil. They seem to be flying behind him, desperately attempting to get his attention. There is spanish writing engraved in the table stating the ’Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters’ in Spanish. The caption of the painting states that: ‘Imagination abandoned by reason produces impossible monsters; united with her, she is the mother of the arts and source of their wonders.’ The painting is presented in black and white, using rather uninspiring and monotonous shades. </p><p>This painting in particular from Goya was interesting because of its ambiguity. I found it quite challenging to analyse this painting as it required quite an imagination to interpret it. The artwork can be described as Goya’s personal manifesto as it explains how he believes reason must accompany imagination. Art rests on both logic and imagination. The monsters behind Goya symbolise conception without rational analysis. The animals that swarm around him are symbols of evil and ignorance. Perhaps Goya's use of colour here just emphasised the lack of creativity. Another possible interpretation of the painting could be how it displays the consequence of letting one guard’s down and how submitting to irrational thoughts and emotions can unleash monsters.</p><p>I liked this painting because of the number of ways it leads itself to interpretation. Even though, the painting is not traditionally vibrant and attractive, it intrigues the audience by the strange demeanour of the piece. The idea of the animals staring directly at the viewer as they haunt the man leaning down is intimidating yet fascinating. This is a painting with many layers and multiple interpretations. Goya was clearly a genius of his time and his work continues to enthral people to this day. </p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-12261643617589546892023-04-07T23:38:00.009-07:002023-04-27T10:46:24.803-07:00Bambi<p>“The colder the winter, the warmer the spring, the deeper the sorrow, the more our hearts sing”. If I could rate all the disney movies out of 10, Bambi is one of those movies I would give a solid 10. This movie is so reminiscent of my childhood and whenever I watch it, I still get emotional at how wholesome and beautiful the relationship of the animals in the film are. Short disclaimer, *spoilers ahead*.</p><p>If you haven’t watched Bambi yet, I strongly implore you to close your laptop and go watch it immediately because you’re missing out! Bambi is the type of movie I doubt will ever get old, and was too great for its generation. There are two Bambi movies. The first movie was my favourite, and was when Bambi was born, and guided by his mother and forest friends. They taught him the ways of nature and prepared him to become a young prince. His father was known to be the Great Prince of the forest and respected for his wise demeanour. One day, Bambi and his mother take a stroll through the forest and encounter a group of hunters. Bambi’s mother sacrificed herself for Bambi to escape and run away, leaving the young deer to fend for himself (very emotional scene). Bambi’s father took him under his wing and helped train him to be the next Prince. On the way, he gets many friends, his best friend being a rabbit called Thumper and a female fawn, Faline. Bambi is an animated film but one thing I truly loved about the film was how elegant and surreal the graphics were. One of my favourite scenes was when all the animals of the forest gathered to see the young prince for the first time. It was a very warm and adorable moment. The scenery throughout the movie was magical and you’ll find that character attachment happens incredibly fast. The relationship the animals have with each other is so pure and natural, and their lives seem so simple yet mesmerizing. When Bambi’s mother died, Bambi had no moral support or parental figure to look up to, and then the Prince came and guided him. The forest animals also supported Bambi through his journey and Thumper never failed to make Bambi feel like he was family. Their relationship was built upon playfulness and trust. At the start, Bambi was generally a more shy and reserved animal but throughout the movie, his character developed and he became more playful and brave.</p><p>I had a lot of expectations for Bambi 2, and I’m pleased to say it didn’t disappoint. Bambi 2 was a beautiful movie about Bambi and his father. It focuses on how their relationship flourished out of them allowing themselves vulnerable with one another. It also showed instances where both of them learnt from one another. Their bond grew closer as they had to endure many challenges, at one point Bambi almost died (another very emotional scene). Bambi also grows and takes the role of young prince beside his father. He also gets a girlfriend and manages to stand up for himself when he faces a deer his age who teases him. The beautiful scenery and music was just as impressive as the first movie and one of Disney’s greatest achievements. One thing I loved about the movie was how there wasn’t really one antagonist. The movie mainly revolved around Bambi’s trials and tribulations to becoming a young Prince. It expresses the importance of family and friendship in growth and development. </p><p>Bambi was my favourite Disney movie of all time, and not only for it’s lovely animations but the simple and sensitive story it portrays. The movie focuses on the story of life and romanticises the splendour of nature. I definitely recommend it to anyone who hasn't already witnessed this beautiful masterpiece (definitely not going to rewatch the movies right after this).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsS-Yyl7pKbx69qa01ngk2PFfVlJ_as0hrihaOUhG8XoJlTeYImyZg7g-xUR1f8h2Oah0pjOA2t4wfsGkD0JQK0JhShbjuG-3yeTYo9zDt-8tkcXprVMEq-gnwt64tN1WJB965wIs95O0lauTWdd62Xy9061EZCR0qZahj9lTrlbZV4Us1aUVkI1w/s950/scene-Bambi.jpg.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="950" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsS-Yyl7pKbx69qa01ngk2PFfVlJ_as0hrihaOUhG8XoJlTeYImyZg7g-xUR1f8h2Oah0pjOA2t4wfsGkD0JQK0JhShbjuG-3yeTYo9zDt-8tkcXprVMEq-gnwt64tN1WJB965wIs95O0lauTWdd62Xy9061EZCR0qZahj9lTrlbZV4Us1aUVkI1w/w276-h221/scene-Bambi.jpg.webp" width="276" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjd1W3zaEdQ3Tl-WxFOxJn4x1805IQ16q9egxDC1YUXEZN_yiN7q7LNg0QnR51vY6k0DX7v6UiLcxGpYanZw9gHYyXd4eUHv4c7bLcnrhATpNv_oIHXrwyhuhxAsiPOt3H6trTGuemhEiCV17NH9g5vl_D_x-oIV2lMeaA-sn7WVCSYDFwmRJkKZC/s350/bambi-ss4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="350" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjd1W3zaEdQ3Tl-WxFOxJn4x1805IQ16q9egxDC1YUXEZN_yiN7q7LNg0QnR51vY6k0DX7v6UiLcxGpYanZw9gHYyXd4eUHv4c7bLcnrhATpNv_oIHXrwyhuhxAsiPOt3H6trTGuemhEiCV17NH9g5vl_D_x-oIV2lMeaA-sn7WVCSYDFwmRJkKZC/w343-h193/bambi-ss4.jpg" width="343" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-45475059819423692312023-04-05T07:24:00.003-07:002023-04-05T07:24:18.410-07:00Australian GP 2023One word to describe this race -- hectic. From the start to end, this race was anything but boring, and so, as a Formula 1 fan, I felt it was only right I wrote my personal reaction to this race. Allow me to walk you through the Australian Grand Prix, that took place on Sunday April 2, 2023.<div><br /></div><div>It all began in qualifying. As many F1 fans may already know, each race week, all F1 teams are allowed three public practice sessions and a qualifying session before the race happens on Sunday. The Australian GP is hosted in the Albert Park Circuit. This circuit is known for being quite bumpy, but also a relatively faster circuit, with two DRS zones and a speed trap. In a circuit with tight corners like these, a good chassis and front end is critical in getting the upper hand. With a relatively smooth qualifying, where Max took pole in FP1, Alonso taking pole in FP2 and Max taking pole again in FP3, the qualifying was yet to begin. </div><div><br /></div><div>As qualifying began on Saturday, things were going progressively well until Perez had a lock up and rolled into the gravel trap in turn 3, ending his qualifying with P15, at the back of the grid. As Q3 came, the Mercedes seemed to be excelling particularly well on this track as they were competing against Verstappen and Aston Martin for pole position. As the three teams took turns on pole, it finally ended with Max on Pole (four-tenths ahead), Russel on P2 and Hamilton P3 -- A Mercedes podium. After a brilliant qualifying for the Mercedes, everyone thought this may well be a possible victory for them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Race day began, and it was 3pm in Albert Park as the teams strapped in their drivers and the formation lap started. All the drivers were eagerly awaiting for the race to begin. Soon, it was lights out and away they went. An amazing start for George Russel, who was already beside Verstappen in a matter of seconds. In the first corner, Russel had overtaken Verstappen and soared ahead. Hamilton quickly took advantage of the struggling Verstappen and effortlessly accelerated past him. Unfortunately, Verstappen wasn’t the only driver without an ideal start. Leclerc, who had started 7th, was now beside Alonso and above Stroll. As he was going for an overtake on the outside, he failed to notice Stroll was between him and Alonso, and both come in contact, as Leclerc slid into the gravel. His race ended, on the first corner. His teammate, Sainz, has managed to move up one place, into P4. In Lap 7, Albon had a slippery crash into the barrier in turn 7, ending his race, and causing the safety car to be deployed. Russel, who took advantage of the opportunity quickly pitted his tyres and gave up his position from P1 to P7. It would’ve been a good move except that the race was red flagged right after, so all the cars were free to pit without losing positions. Russel had given up pole position to Hamilton who pitted and would lead the race after the red flag would be cleared. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ten minutes later, the race adjourned on Lap 10, and the formation lap began. Hamilton, who was leading the race was free to race at whichever pace he wanted and he chose to slow down, causing a bit of chaos to the drivers behind him who weren’t prepared for the sudden braking. Magnussen had to go on the gravel because he wasn’t able to brake fast enough. After the formation lap finished, the race began. Hamilton got a wonderful start and managed to keep Verstappen at bay. Russel went from P7 to P5 in a matter of corners and Gasly had a lovely start as well as he managed to get to P4. De Vries comes into contact with Ocon, and his car is sent gently flying, but returns to the race. On lap 18/52, it all came down to Hamilton and Verstappen as they both raced each other for first position. Unfortunately, Mercedes weren't yet as fast as the rocketship of Redbull and Verstappen sailed across Hamilton on the straight with the help of DRS. Russel who managed to reach P4, had encountered an engine failure and what started out to be a brilliant race, ended with a DNF for the Mercedes driver on Lap 18. Perez managed to make up many places as he reaches P9 with a daring overtake on Ocon and Piastri. Sainz also gains P4 from Gasly with an epic overtake. On Lap 53, Magnussen’s tyre comes off after a collision in the barrier and another Red Flag is waved, stopping the race again. This was the red flag which was quite unecessary, as the tyre could’ve easily been removed and with a safety car, the matter could’ve been resolved in minutes. However, this meant that Verstappen’s 10 second gap was now gone (Abu Dhabi 2021 flashback). </div><div><br /></div><div>With only two more laps to the end, the race began and Verstappen managed to stay in front with Hamilton closely following. Alonso, who was P3, spun and lost positions due to Sainz hitting the wheel of his car in the first corner. His position was returned, while Sainz was given a 5-second penalty (quite unfair especially because 5 second loss in position would automatically remove him from points). Stroll had a lockup and drove into the gravel. Both Alpine’s came in contact and collided into the barriers, causing ANOTHER red flag. Definitely the most chaotic start, leaving the final lap to be done under the safety car. Verstappen taking first, Hamilton getting second and Alonso reclaiming third. A very special podium with 11 total World Championship holders.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, the Australian GP was definitely bizarre and exciting but it had multiple eristic moments. The fact that three safety cars needed to be deployed was a bit ridiculous, especially the second safety car. It’s understandable it was done to make the race more interesting especially when the first driver is 10 seconds ahead of the second. But some of FIA’s decisions have been incredibly strange, such as giving Sainz a 5-second penalty when there’s only one lap remaining, or an instance in the previous race in Jeddah, where Alonso was given a 5-second penalty for incorrect starting grid position, which was later turned into a 10-second penalty due to an incorrect pit-stop, and then removed hours after the race. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, I definitely enjoyed the race and watching Mercedes at the front, even if it was for just a while. Ferrari have been especially disappointing since the start of the season, and competing for podiums seems unrealistic for the team this year :(( Mercedes and Aston Martin look particularly strong this season, and I hope that by the middle of the season, both will manage to get race victories. This race would be a solid 8/10 and can’t wait for Baku!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqtWotCQRSQuV-qKvQyVgbPw0NcFrvKYA-UBI_4ZE3tX9KF0jB7SxB7FGq0N5ds0K_MNyJd1z0YqXs1UIMy11364tbxxhFTAGK3_kmuxk3cNXaGaDtVSdRP0q5TtlATDxLQdcShhcRqjAKrtIeZunA-qasPkykcK_J3mqjlYmgrn43tHSPULTSFZj/s840/d34b2-16804245427029-1920.jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqtWotCQRSQuV-qKvQyVgbPw0NcFrvKYA-UBI_4ZE3tX9KF0jB7SxB7FGq0N5ds0K_MNyJd1z0YqXs1UIMy11364tbxxhFTAGK3_kmuxk3cNXaGaDtVSdRP0q5TtlATDxLQdcShhcRqjAKrtIeZunA-qasPkykcK_J3mqjlYmgrn43tHSPULTSFZj/w299-h199/d34b2-16804245427029-1920.jpg.webp" width="299" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeR57W0rw935F9re897fk3-La2YBm_f6UrR4fsD1rcSF_1eu1ELPQE_LMktEMfzXg8wgGqCMw067Pqlp2U8VCbvOvtnun35GMVQC7YcqrpUQ9Hj830XbD53FgNqriW7njLKJ9KPHsfo7SYZ1MdLY1WFL5qxnPnmRoC8OTyQ_NDY0Ldu2IQCp3Abl5/s1440/Aussie-GP-Hero.jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeR57W0rw935F9re897fk3-La2YBm_f6UrR4fsD1rcSF_1eu1ELPQE_LMktEMfzXg8wgGqCMw067Pqlp2U8VCbvOvtnun35GMVQC7YcqrpUQ9Hj830XbD53FgNqriW7njLKJ9KPHsfo7SYZ1MdLY1WFL5qxnPnmRoC8OTyQ_NDY0Ldu2IQCp3Abl5/w321-h180/Aussie-GP-Hero.jpg.webp" width="321" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-57665927732982302352023-03-22T10:41:00.005-07:002023-03-25T06:56:09.692-07:00Irises - Van Gogh<p>Irises was just one painting out of Vincent Van Gogh’s scintillating collection of masterpieces. In 1889, Van Gogh was struggling with episodes of self-mutilation and hospitalisation. He decided to submit himself into a mental asylum, where he worked on a total of 130 paintings before his death a year later. One of the paintings he worked on was ‘Irises’, which he painted using inspiration from the gardens in the asylum.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-U8wH-gbuEXygVc4w1qQ5rnKNiBObJmfzhYP_0Dr0otxUL2fBPRqYWbhhPssnIVnv3HSkweqJ7yGmVkxsWgizZEk3osnFLDBSvpNYWURw-PizyJPSQEiVJ4OYNnhF7Tugkyypr4HrmVJi0UUd7Wn0AxLWkEBOD7Mn95ydsjw0jaelQCib1z6Tt4Q_/s1200/Irises-Vincent_van_Gogh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-U8wH-gbuEXygVc4w1qQ5rnKNiBObJmfzhYP_0Dr0otxUL2fBPRqYWbhhPssnIVnv3HSkweqJ7yGmVkxsWgizZEk3osnFLDBSvpNYWURw-PizyJPSQEiVJ4OYNnhF7Tugkyypr4HrmVJi0UUd7Wn0AxLWkEBOD7Mn95ydsjw0jaelQCib1z6Tt4Q_/w347-h266/Irises-Vincent_van_Gogh.jpg" width="347" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The painting displays a field of flowers, their main colors being: ocean blue, orange-yellow and pearl white. These colors beautifully complement each other and create a sense of harmony. The main subject of the painting are the blue irises which elegantly dance in the wind. In the left-hand corner of the painting, Van Gogh paints the brown soil beneath the flowers, which gradually disappears as the green leaves and irises begin to conceal its presence. Van Gogh uses a lot of green in this painting, which makes the azure blue of the lilacs stand out more. In the midst of the blue lilacs, there is one conspicious white flower standing oddly on the left side of the page. It looks intriguing but is drowned out by the royal blue of the majestic flowers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Van Gogh uses a range of different brush techniques in this artwork. He uses smooth strokes when painting the leaves and the stems, which creates a sense of tranquility and grace. He uses multiple shades and tones of green when painting the leaves. You can clearly notice the leaves closer to the painting have a more lighter blue-green whereas in the background, the green is much more prominent and bold. The soil seems to have much more texture and there is a range of different shades of brown. The effect he uses for the soil makes it look rough and disorderly. Some parts of the soil seem fresh, some old. He uses quick brush strokes and under closer inspection, looks rather peculiar. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The sapphire blue of the irises is what makes the artwork truly resplendent. The richness of the multiple tints of blue blurs out all the extra colors and creates an surreal effect of confidence and elegance. Van Gogh uses a range of different techniques on the flower petals as sharp brush strokes on the inner corners of the petals, with small quick strokes with such precision. There is such intricacy in the flowers as he contrasts the light blue to the dark blue, while adding hints of white. In the centre of the flower there is a small dot of golden yellow which adds a sense of warmth to the flower. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The pearl white blossom on the left has a very quite yet bold appearance and is what is noticed in the picture, only after truly examining it. It stands out and somehow doesn’t fit in with all the other earthly colours, making it unique and attractive. The orange flowers further away from the irises are bright but slightly faded. Their presence is acknowledged but not prioritised. Van Gogh uses quick brush strokes when painting these flowers, and focuses on using different tones of orange, rather than tints, as compared to the irises. You can see the orange progressively fading into the distance, getting duller. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This painting was a clear depiction of Van Gogh’s amazing expertise and his skills when it came to the use of colour, brush techniques and attention to detail. One aspect I loved about the painting was the beauty of the irises. The deep and rich blue are the highlight of the painting, complimented by the subtle variations of green, orange and white. He manages to use different brush techniques to create a sense of harmony and tranquility, while also creating depth and texture. The overall effect of the painting is a sense of elegance and beauty that is truly remarkable. While the white blossoms and the tints of orange have their own unique charm to the painting, it doesn’t distract the attention from the irises. In short, ‘Irises' is a testament of Van Gogh’s incredible skills and ability to capturing the beauty of the natural world in such an effortless and captivating way.</div>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-8996274713645289472023-03-18T09:42:00.001-07:002023-03-24T01:14:27.406-07:00Failure<p>Failure, a term that often invokes distress</p><p>A label we give to results we assess</p><p>It may come from unsuccessful attempts or awful exam scores</p><p>and frequently occurs to the hero at the start of many folklores</p><p><br /></p><p>But is failure a bad thing? That is the question.</p><p>Flooding your mind with negative thoughts, mind congestion</p><p>Yet the pain only seems to be temporary</p><p>As at some point, acceptance is necessary</p><p><br /></p><p>Acceptance and improvement are the two fundamental things</p><p>Implement these traits into your life and watch how success clings</p><p>The secret is to never doubt yourself or your potential, and to not only await the result</p><p>As we eagerly anticipating the results </p><p>Without enjoying the journey it's an insult.</p><p><br /></p><p>Success will take time, and plentiful trial and error</p><p>But each step is an experience and at the end, we obtain something much rarer</p><p>Our skills improve and we achieve a sense of contentment.</p><p>We become better versions of ourselves through this investment</p><p><br /></p><p>But success would have never been achieved without failure</p><p>As many of us already know, failure is an unavoidable step in nature</p><p>Everyone of us has endured it and some have learnt and reached success</p><p>It is what makes us human and we should embrace it nevertheless</p><p>Because it’s never about the destination but about the mental and physical progress.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-86875749057353103162023-03-10T07:27:00.005-08:002023-03-10T22:34:41.811-08:00Kylian Mbappé<p>Mon joueur de foot préféré -- Kylian Mbappé. Some may know him due to his immense speed, his goal scoring abilities, or simply from the World Cup Final, where he scored a brilliant hat-trick, two penalties and a shootout penalty. Mbappé has quickly become one of the world’s greatest players, at only 24 years old. </p><p>Kylian Mbappé Lottin is a french footballer born on 20th December, 1998 in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, Bondy. His father was Wilfried Mbappé and was Mbappé's coach from a young age. Mbappé has two siblings, his elder sibling, Jirès Kembo Ekoko, and his younger sibling, Ethan Mbappé. Mbappé made his debut at AS Bondy on December 2nd, 2015, at the brink of 17 years old. On his first season, he barely had playing time and overall, only scored one goal that season. In 2016-2017, it was a different story; he managed to score 15 goals as well as capturing AS Monaco their League 1 title. In that season, the team managed to defeat Manchester City and Dortmund, before progressing to the UEFA semifinals, where they unfortunately lost to Juventus. Next season, Mbappé immediately signed to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), along with Neymar. Both players let the team to victory by scoring consecutive League 1 titles (2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020). During these years of dominance, Mbappé earned multiple trophies for League 1 player of the season. In 2021, PSG signed Lionel Messi, where they won the League 1 title for that season. On the 4th March 2023, Mbappé had scored 201 goals for PSG -- the most goals made by a PSG player in history, surpassing Edison Cavani. Currently, Mbappé has a contract with PSG until 2025, where he is ranked the highest paid football player in the world. </p><p>In 2016, Mbappe, leading France’s national team, won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship. One of the highlights of his career, was the France victory in the 2018 World Cup, where they defeated Croatia 4-2. Mbappé, at only age of 19, became the youngest footballer to ever score in a World Cup competition. He also became the second teenager to score in a World Cup Final, securing himself the World Cup’s Best Young Player Award. In 2021, Mbappé scored the winning goal for France against Spain in the final of the UEFA National Tournament. At the 2022 World Cup, he scored a penalty in the 80th minute, followed by a hat-trick less than a minute later. He also scored another penalty for France in the extended time, leading to a penalty shootout, where he scored another goal. He scored eight goals in 7 matches, more than any player in the tournament, earning him the Golden Boot. In total, Mbappé has scored four goals in World Cup finals which is more than any player in history.</p><p>The incredible potential of this man and his charming personality off-pitch, is what makes him my favourite player. Mbappé has extraordinary feats at such a young age which makes him such a valuable asset to PSG and a wanted player by many teams. His agility and his spectacular goals make him a menacing player to defend against and when he has the ball and is running towards the opponents' goal, it’s safe to say the opposing team is in danger. He’s also known for his ability to change games. Mbappé single-handedly changed the odds of matches in many occassions, an obvious one being France vs Argentina. His dribbling skills are also immaculate and he has wonderful chemistry with his teammates. Neymar and Mbappé both make one of the craziest duos in football, as they are both in sync with one another and easily able to predict each others’ movements. Together, they have managed to score many goals and assists. Mbappé and Messi are also one of the best duos in football. Since Messi is known to be an incredible playmaker, and Mbappé is known to be an incredible goal scorer, you can imagine that both their skills together would be deadly. Off-pitch, Mbappé speaks multiple languages: French, English, Spanish and a bit of Italian. His PSG teammates commonly refer to him as lively, outgoing, and a joy to play with. His politeness and knowledge is appreaciable in his interviews and makes him a pleasure to listen to. </p><p>I’ve only recently gotten into football but I can tell I’m going to support this man for a long time. His world cup performance was nothing short of heroic, and I’m sure his prime is coming very soon. His skills, talent and personality is what makes him one of the greatest players of our generation. His presence and contribution in games is mesmerizing and watching him play has truly become a common pastime for me. Rooting for you Mbappé...Allez Kyky de Bondy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0O8WQ07adpGpOmnEHEG1xDr8s-cNrWM1E9FnbQQDHyBjPSLnjz896grJE0kQXOlYCacwTPupFZq9R91Y70UBJWZhhbE_oQVEh7J1CgdMT4hqJH-0YWEYxOvmNVEwnAWz-pw0JHurM_QpZAhjXMz1UVphEa1Hx0ed5oZKMsLrp8bPFENKTMemof-8/s1026/Screenshot%202023-03-10%20at%208.54.32%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1012" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0O8WQ07adpGpOmnEHEG1xDr8s-cNrWM1E9FnbQQDHyBjPSLnjz896grJE0kQXOlYCacwTPupFZq9R91Y70UBJWZhhbE_oQVEh7J1CgdMT4hqJH-0YWEYxOvmNVEwnAWz-pw0JHurM_QpZAhjXMz1UVphEa1Hx0ed5oZKMsLrp8bPFENKTMemof-8/w236-h240/Screenshot%202023-03-10%20at%208.54.32%20PM.png" width="236" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0oTqN8FPLIRU9T4jCL-smi96WXd9eFyWgWWlLc7AqUljvJP6TOSDS7IBI-3Hj3N9PVzUyX1MbR2gYQV86P28Fl0S06CKPbeC1aNMUR1fkzhd1jut138lzXaSKrkUKETUrs6vG5fT44Z-ZYv1MOimP1hPoXy254Ej6H4AjY3uwR8Y_UpEr3Bt2E2j/s1600/imago1020526458.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0oTqN8FPLIRU9T4jCL-smi96WXd9eFyWgWWlLc7AqUljvJP6TOSDS7IBI-3Hj3N9PVzUyX1MbR2gYQV86P28Fl0S06CKPbeC1aNMUR1fkzhd1jut138lzXaSKrkUKETUrs6vG5fT44Z-ZYv1MOimP1hPoXy254Ej6H4AjY3uwR8Y_UpEr3Bt2E2j/w366-h235/imago1020526458.jpg" width="366" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-21922027741420927412023-01-21T22:58:00.004-08:002023-01-22T07:31:53.547-08:00Heaven - Mieko Kawakami <p>This book would definitely go under my all time favourites. Ladies and Gentlemen, Heaven, by Mieko Kawakami! The book was written by the same author who made the bestseller, <i>'Breasts and Eggs</i>’ (now becoming one of the books on my have-to-read list). My sister recommended ‘Heaven' when we were going to Vijaywada for a couple days. I have to mention, I’m quite a slow reader. It takes me a while to process books whether it be fiction or nonfiction, and that would probably be the root cause to my detatchment of the art. However, I managed to finish this book in less than half a day, because it was so mesmerising. Some parts of it I found were so wholesome and endearing; I have to admit, I cried three times reading the book (and I promise I’m not usually an emotional reader). Since the beginning of the book, I was enraptured in the pages and I genuinly loved how Kawakami wrote with such clarity and simplicity. He definitely had a way with his words. </p><p>Heaven was a fictional novel about a protagonist who gets bullied. He has a lazy eye making it difficult for him to focus on anything. He believes is the reason he gets picked on, and got the nickname ‘Eyes’. On a random day, he was sitting in class when he found a letter under his desk. He would constantly get these letters which would ask him random questions like ‘How was your day?’. He got skeptical that he was getting pranked, then he realised it was from a shy girl called Kojima. Kojima also got bullied often due to her tattered clothes and shabby, unpolished appearance. The protagonist and Kojima continue to share notes, where both of them bond and talk about various topics, like one another’s writing skills. At some point, the protagonist compares Kojima’s writing to a 6B pencil which is “soft and rigid at the same time. Almost unbreakable.”. The story builds on the friendship of these two characters which was sculpted on their similarities. They both support each other and provide solace. One day, Kojima organises a trip with the protagonist, and takes him to an art museum. There, they both stare at multiple paintings when she points to her favourite one -- “Heaven". She explains how the painting reminded her of a couple who finally reached happiness after enduring immense pain and tourture. </p><p>The book focuses on the pain of the characters’ and their constant thoughts, leaving many parts for interpretation. Kawakami makes it evident to the reader how both of them fulfil one another and the amount of vulnerability they express when alone, making that the pinnacle of their friendship. Kojima is generally a very quiet student who barely interacts in class. Yet when she comes in contact with the protagonist, she becomes a bubbly, energetic and effervescent individual. The protagonist being the shy overthinker, who forgets all his problems when with her. Kojima believes that everything must have a meaning, and that suffering must have an end. She believes both of their misfortune is bound to come to a halt. The protagonist thinks more of the present, and how to deal with his bullies and to escape his miserable life. One of the highlighting factors of the book was when Kojima mentions how she copes when she feels like the world is falling apart. If there are moments when she believes things are too good to be true, or too dreadful, she takes her scissors and cuts objects. Not in a destructive way, but to help her regain composure and remind herself, everything is normal. It explains how Kojima must have endured a lot and the reason she had to cope with her thoughts this way, could be because she never had proper emotional support or someone to spill her thoughts to. Since Kojima faces problems with her mother and step-father, the only leaning figure she had for comfort was her father, who was almost never available. </p><p>Heaven was truly a magnificent book and definitely a must-read in a lifetime. The simplicity of the book also makes it easy for almost anyone to read. The book gave me a rollercoaster of emotions, with quite an unexpected ending (I wont spoil). I’m normally steer into the direction of nonfiction but I'd have to excuse myself on this one. 1000/10!</p><p><br /></p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-34540715511557826632023-01-14T07:58:00.002-08:002023-01-14T08:00:16.524-08:00My trip to Dubai!!During my christmas break, I travelled to Dubai for five days, and it was nothing short of exhuberant...<div><br /></div><div>Day 1</div><div>Our trip started on the 23rd of December, 2022, when we reached the airport. Personally, I despise the excrutiatingly long waiting-time airports are notorious for. However, after the waiting time, we finally managed to board our flight through Emirates Business Class. It had been MONTHS since we travelled so you could imagine how excited I was. The trip was approximately four hours and I was debating between multiple movies but, due to my sudden football interest after the World Cup, settled on Pelé (amazing documentary, definitely recommend). After we landed, we quickly checked in through the E-gates and finally reached Dubai. Our mom greeted us and we had to visit the dentist immediately after, as we had been delaying our checkup for a while since we were out of the country. The dentist checked my sisters teeth and asked me to return in the evening. After reaching home, we rested for a while, before my sister’s friend, Sara, came over. We ordered korean food before I head to go back to the dentist :’) . After the visit to the dentist, we went back home to pick up my sister and Sara before heading to Dubai Mall, where we went shopping. We originally planned to go to Cheesecake factory, but after realizing it was fully booked, settled on a nearby restaurant. I ordered pancakes (never too late to have pancakes) while my sister and Sara ordered seafood dish and my mom ordered a sandwich. We ended the day by watching ten minutes of Glass Onion before passing out :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Day 2 (24th December, 2022)</div><div>Today, we were planning on getting a haircut for no reason particularly. I decided to get it trimmed; my sister cut it shoulder length along with a slight trimming of her curtain bangs, and Sara got bangs. After, we all got our hair blow-dried. When we came back home, we ordered some korean food and got some pastries, which were absolutely deluctable. While we were eating we finished the movie Glass Onion (very prodigious movie, has a big plot twist). At the end of the day, before Sara was about to leave, we decided to make chocolate covered strawberries while watching home-alone. Unfortunately while we were melting the chocolate, SOMEONE (my sister) put the wrong microwave settings and accidentally burnt it, and when we opened the microwave, fumes flooded the kitchen (fyi, it wasn’t life-threatening or anything) but we managed to reduce the smoke through wafting the air around aggressively. After a very dramatic end to a Christmas Eve, we waved goodbye to Sara and went to bed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Day 3 (25th December 2022)</div><div>Our grandparents and our cousins were to reach, from Kerala, early in the morning. We welcomed them and talked, before opening the christmas presents under the tree. Since, it was my grandfather's birthday as well, we got a berry cake for him from Sugar-moo (scrumptious, same cake I got previously on my birthday, 100/10). While we ate cake, we talked and watched netflix. In the evening, we went go karting with four of my cousins. This was probably one of the highlights of my trip because it was SO FUN! Even if it was just twelve minutes, it felt like my inner Lewis Hamilton engulfed me, and although it was my first time, it came so naturally; the moment was absolutely beautiful. When I hit the acceleration pedal, I felt immersed in the car as the air brushed past me through my helmet. Thankful to my formula 1 obsession, I remembered tips drivers’ gave on how to make a perfect corner while minimizing break time, and how to overtake effortlessly so I tried to incorporate it into my driving. I completed nineteen laps in twelve minutes and my only regret was not attempting this sport sooner. Our day ended with us going on a stroll through the city before returning back home and sleeping.</div><div><br /></div><div>Day 4 (26th December 2022)</div><div>On the fourth day, we visited the Museum of the Future, and took millions of photos, while enjoying the variety of virtual and augmented realities and the human-machine interactions. We stayed there for four hours or so, before heading to Dubai Mall with our cousins, where we went shopping and visited a few cafés. I got new cargo pants from Bershka along with some macaroons from Ladurée. By the time we came back home it was evening, so we ate dinner and headed to bed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Day 5 (27th December 2022)</div><div>Today was WARNER BROS DAY! My cousins and I planned to go to Warner Bros in the morning and we reached at 12pm. Going to a themepark during your holidays is absolutely a must, especially if you’re in Dubai. It was delightful and we went on multiple rides, including the Fast and Furry-ous, the Riddler Revolution and the Joker Funhouse (my favourite being the Riddler Revolution and the Flintstones Bedrock Adventure). The only disappointing part was the ridiculously long queues we had to endure before experiencing the ride, which would have only lasted a maximum of five minutes. Unless you had the fast pass for the waiting-lines, it was almost unbearable. We adjourned midway to eat at a restaurant: Brontos Burger and Ribs, where I ordered a burrito and a milkshake. We ended our visit by going to the 4D Justice League ride, which ironically was the only ride we went on where there was no waiting line. Since my birthday, along with my cousin’s, was coming up, we decided to celebrate it today, since we wouldn’t be present on the day. We ordered two cakes; I had a tiramisu cake and my cousin had a chocolate cake (fun fact, for my actual birthday, I got another tiramisu cake...can you tell I like tiramisu?). I loved the tiramisu cake it was absolutely delicious and after stuffing myself to my hearts’ content, we headed to bed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Day 6 (28th December 2022)</div><div>Today, in the morning, we were to meet up with our cousins to visit the recently opened, Aya Lightshow. It was truly a scinitillating experience. The lightshow had multiple rooms, each with a different theme. They each had a innovative and gorgeous idea-- altogether it was truly breathtaking. One of the rooms was called ‘The Falls’, which included a reverse waterfall (the droplets were defying gravity). My favourite room was ‘Flora’, which included a sentient garden filled with lights and mirrors. After the lightshow, we went to a restaurant called Asha and had lunch, before heading home. We rested for a while and in the evening, our flight was due, so we headed to the airport. The next day we were back in Hyderabad.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, my trip to Dubai was anything but unforgettable and I can confidently say I enjoyed every second of it. Dubai always has a way of making sure you have a good time. Until next time... :)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXz18o304icKIti5P8tuKHup3l6FlM5jL65oB2FhgiVrdDrpnqQ3Mc6c1ntVp80y4t2wKOLGk11VWf-aO_hgcoZTgkXReqJWHv2Fsp4N0qPPT0tDjPwI2em_dk43362Yud25LJmj_xg9bPC4j71LMUgOz2FKKiXbrIlRmU9Ig1W5EjF1jv29Yc3WLd/s4032/IMG_9331.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXz18o304icKIti5P8tuKHup3l6FlM5jL65oB2FhgiVrdDrpnqQ3Mc6c1ntVp80y4t2wKOLGk11VWf-aO_hgcoZTgkXReqJWHv2Fsp4N0qPPT0tDjPwI2em_dk43362Yud25LJmj_xg9bPC4j71LMUgOz2FKKiXbrIlRmU9Ig1W5EjF1jv29Yc3WLd/w240-h320/IMG_9331.HEIC" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDD45sSRA6u1nNxidHJ6nDv6_eWs3NGX67nb8sI9Ir1RA61n9mcMMqybqNOREl64v2ulPy0Eo9YaKgg0tKALFFn9tf2t0KcUASbdgL_Ume3JsGUFStFSkIojeNxsNPwQGG4VdRaca87XjaB62-kYd2JyoZIVYChNbO7nErl7MD8xX3Bq3ro4nioDHH/s4032/IMG_9262.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDD45sSRA6u1nNxidHJ6nDv6_eWs3NGX67nb8sI9Ir1RA61n9mcMMqybqNOREl64v2ulPy0Eo9YaKgg0tKALFFn9tf2t0KcUASbdgL_Ume3JsGUFStFSkIojeNxsNPwQGG4VdRaca87XjaB62-kYd2JyoZIVYChNbO7nErl7MD8xX3Bq3ro4nioDHH/w239-h320/IMG_9262.HEIC" width="239" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVV-PftuXaX0J9muHeYkDz0h7aLFSvLB2Jlm0VJ2L2BA6FLYXdjDqNo-ogIzJrxF0WvHv0ZOq8vaDG_SLlBPmUbWns4sAdIjUX3l9UNGdF1b0wvVZNS-QPVhrJKXPIjOfuhUSWJYAScj3YinvGPPI-GPIYsR6Dsd5Lzygf41o5rPd4uuE5dkMtTq-/s4032/IMG_9311.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVV-PftuXaX0J9muHeYkDz0h7aLFSvLB2Jlm0VJ2L2BA6FLYXdjDqNo-ogIzJrxF0WvHv0ZOq8vaDG_SLlBPmUbWns4sAdIjUX3l9UNGdF1b0wvVZNS-QPVhrJKXPIjOfuhUSWJYAScj3YinvGPPI-GPIYsR6Dsd5Lzygf41o5rPd4uuE5dkMtTq-/w236-h315/IMG_9311.HEIC" width="236" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97UAEAzQ9ARPdiieNzNfPkLtyDk_KTu4gS6xhhneykFBH3CdAqY8VM9qcOEJEJe-JM8XwV4h1GK4rQUW2doL-cA4erJm_0_GNDt6HVwW0OrH3JHfCGBANMoJIbp2QeaaKzdp4gG8lhoXQREB26OSJ_NGbB-GhBP9vajInAqvzhQpezNa8F-NoHQ88/s1024/PHOTO-2022-12-26-10-37-55.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97UAEAzQ9ARPdiieNzNfPkLtyDk_KTu4gS6xhhneykFBH3CdAqY8VM9qcOEJEJe-JM8XwV4h1GK4rQUW2doL-cA4erJm_0_GNDt6HVwW0OrH3JHfCGBANMoJIbp2QeaaKzdp4gG8lhoXQREB26OSJ_NGbB-GhBP9vajInAqvzhQpezNa8F-NoHQ88/s320/PHOTO-2022-12-26-10-37-55.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-90437210612052006602022-12-21T04:14:00.003-08:002022-12-21T04:14:58.928-08:00World Cup!<p>One of the most prestigious and highly-anticipated competitions of the sporting world, The World Cup. Different countries from all around the world compete with each other in multiple matches, and the victors are crowned the champions of the World Cup. </p><p>The World Cup is held once every four years, and hosted in one country. In 2018, it was in Russia and in 2022, it is being held in Qatar. The tournament is organized by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, aka FIFA. With an estimated cumulative viewership of 26.29 billion, it is indubitably the most popular sporting competition. Hundreds of millions flood the stadiums during the matches and engulf in the essence of thrill and eagerness for their teams’ victory. </p><p>The 2022 winners of the World Cup are Argentina. The previous winners in 2018 were France. The trophy has been won by eight teams so far. Brazil holding the cup an astounding five times, Germany and Italy with four titles each; Argentina, France and Uruguay with two titles each. But not just ANY country can compete in the World Cup. There is a qualification phase, taking place over three years, determining which teams can qualify to the Cup. During the tournament phase, thirty-two teams compete for the title within the host’s nation for approximately one month. </p><p>I used to be a heavy 'basketball over football' fan (still am, but more lenient). The main reason of my bias was because I thought basketball was more interesting and genuinly more enjoyable. Waiting one hundred and twenty minutes for a ball to get ONE goal, after constantly being passed around, was a bit risible to me. But after giving the World Cup a chance, I realised how people find it enjoyable. When your eyes latch on to the player with the ball, as they dart to the goal, pass to their teammate who is inches away from scoring the perfect goal, the adrenaline is real. What suprised me about this sport is that one can never be certain when things will go according to plan. Maybe the team you were playing against, who were originally terrible and an easy victory was guaranteed, may play spectacularly and beat you 3-0. Or maybe you might be running with the ball and accidentally pull a muscle, leading to a sudden aggravation, causing you to lose the ball and let your team down. </p><p>This World Cup final was definitely one of the most intense and craziest matches ever. If you didn’t know, I was rooting for France (though I still love Argentina). As I watched Argentina score 2 goals before the half-time with 0 goals for France, I was already close to losing hope. How would France be able to score 2 goals after half time, while ensuring Argentina won’t get another goal during that time? If they could score even one goal after the half time, it wouldn't be as much of a loss. After half time, I could start to feel my disappointment creeping in, so I began to do other chores, to keep my mind distracted. That was, until there was 79 minutes on the timer. It was a penalty, and for France! Guess who took it? None other than Kylian Mbappé. My heart raced, This was your chance Mbappé. Secure a 2-1, and that’s it, it’s now or never. He did. I waved my hands in the air, having a little more hope than before. Less than one minute later, France has the ball. It is quickly passed teamate against teamate, getting closer to the goal. Then Mbappé gets the goal and scores a HAT-TRICK! My jaw dropped and my family and I were astounded at what we witnessed. I leaped in the air and was screaming in celebration. “TWO GOALS IN LESS THAN 100 SECONDS!”, I laughed (my family still processing what happened). I couldn’t sit down after that, I was so shocked at how quickly the score changed, that my faith in France skyrocketed out the roof. "They are going to extend it to 120 minutes," my sister exclaimed. During the last 30 minutes, Messi scored a goal and France scored a penalty just 15 minutes later. Mbappé took the goal and scored. The atmosphere was incredibly intense, as we it was time for the penalty shootout. Mbappé was first to score the penalty, and he did. Followed by Messi, who also scored. Unfortunately the next two France players missed and after 4 consecutive penalty goals from Argentina, their fate was sealed, and Argentina had won the World Cup! My family was celebrating, and I was too, but I felt sympathetic for Mbappé’s loss. He carried France and scored a total of 4 goals, one of them being a hat-trick. Mind you, he was only 23. But Argentina played better overall, and I was absolutely elated to see Messi’s smile after his World Cup win. </p><p>I’m so glad I got the opportunity to watch this World Cup as it was definitely one of the greatest. It was one of the most intense matches I’ve ever seen and I’m relieved I realized how interesting it is sooner than later. I probably shouldn’t judge sports without actually having any knowledge on them, because football is a very entertaining sport and I now understand why it’s so popular. Besides that...any sport recommendations?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoW0mtvhkpIk8jxfVSCfU48Y7HplJIKxpqMyuBi2fHHRqVVlOXwwvfRCjJTZzTSxwuLsyC2WzNK-rCXyesOZ-Kgm3Bzw8d1m0P8Fs02BDXC__wloQiCiwnSJltT0LtKLgF0136wukchTLpDUVsVka76jJlPVC21G33A476mVTG5Sn0CUX9oHKDrWe/s1080/FkSAJvRWAAIgNgg-scaled.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoW0mtvhkpIk8jxfVSCfU48Y7HplJIKxpqMyuBi2fHHRqVVlOXwwvfRCjJTZzTSxwuLsyC2WzNK-rCXyesOZ-Kgm3Bzw8d1m0P8Fs02BDXC__wloQiCiwnSJltT0LtKLgF0136wukchTLpDUVsVka76jJlPVC21G33A476mVTG5Sn0CUX9oHKDrWe/w353-h235/FkSAJvRWAAIgNgg-scaled.jpeg" width="353" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-17708357294440705252022-11-16T04:11:00.001-08:002022-11-16T04:12:35.099-08:00My Vacation to Vizag (Part 2)<p>Part two, ladies and gentlemen, of my vacation to Vizag! Quick recap: we explored a beautiful botanical garden and drove up hills, visited the Borra caves, went on the vestadome train and now we were heading to the Radisson Bleu hotel.</p><p>24th October,</p><p>The Radisson Bleu hotel suite was breathtaking and didn't disappoint. It had a beautiful view over the beach and a lovely bathroom. We were already exhaused so we decided to rest in the hotel for the rest of the day. I was able to watch the Formula 1 race (United States GP) as it was in the middle of the night and felt a rollercoaster of emotions as Sir Lewis Hamilton was inches away from his first victory of the season, but was overtaken by Max Verstappen. I then passed out after the race, as I stayed up until 2:30am (not that I minded). </p><p>25th October,</p><p>Next day, I woke up at around 10:00 am and my dad, sister and I went to the breakfast buffet downstairs as we were famished. After we ate, we rested for a bit before my dad and I went to the beach to go surfing. We were accompanied by one of my friends as well. There was a surfing instructor who helped me and taught me how to position my legs on the board without falling (even though I still fell). It was an incredible experience and I managed to ride some large waves. I came back and then showered. After, I rested for a bit before we headed to an international restaurant near the hotel. The menu was shockingly long, which triggered my indecisiveness, but I got some spicy fried lamb. For the majority of the rest of the day, we stayed at home and relaxed. In the night, we went down to the pool and swam for a while. Since it was dark, the infinity pool was glowing and it looked stunning lit up. We headed to the hotel, ate dinner and then went to sleep.</p><p>26th October,</p><p>On our last day, I started the morning by going to the gym at 8am, and I worked out for 30 minutes or so, then went upstairs to wait for my sister to get ready. We went for the breakfast buffet after, where they gave us complimentary cakes which were delicious. We then headed back to the hotel to begin packing for our trip home. By 3:30pm or so, we left the suite and went on a painfully long car ride (drive lasted around 5 hours) before we finally reached!</p><p>The vacation was simply unbelievable and I loved every second of it. I learnt so much and got to connect with nature and visit scintillating caves and gardens. I’m glad I managed to come across this opportunity and definitely recommend visiting the greener areas of India, if you ever get the chance :) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrzCbaTpQvfohCDd-KkwIvYP6Nw6TKCSrpAprndfnlAr0Aa7pbodDK124ur0a6UWXunXCIwXhq_OHzN1zwx-q8PGHXx74fv01t--czvfbCiszcqPSZ6tD5Tn9xdOjvAumgpu_J--5jbnhe5xV9IzYppT6dV_YV26W4mbupXDQkP26jyCPQ1zLkBcS/s1024/f6728c4b-ce00-42f1-b02b-09a40d7e8abe.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrzCbaTpQvfohCDd-KkwIvYP6Nw6TKCSrpAprndfnlAr0Aa7pbodDK124ur0a6UWXunXCIwXhq_OHzN1zwx-q8PGHXx74fv01t--czvfbCiszcqPSZ6tD5Tn9xdOjvAumgpu_J--5jbnhe5xV9IzYppT6dV_YV26W4mbupXDQkP26jyCPQ1zLkBcS/w305-h231/f6728c4b-ce00-42f1-b02b-09a40d7e8abe.JPG" width="305" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpcdpzgjycVPLhIuux_3GpgO7ZrvBJZPXsr23hwoI9bxzDw_F6usyQgqKPjpZAF9o-3J2Vo3M2C4G3zVYQzGLKQCUh1pBIGkpO7fM2jmXAsfqNvrWaqS2KwT6acUdY14y-qDdsEYpp4kRSLitkygoPAmRsLyuYqrZvJxWQLX_BCin376mEARrp3O9/s4032/IMG_8782.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpcdpzgjycVPLhIuux_3GpgO7ZrvBJZPXsr23hwoI9bxzDw_F6usyQgqKPjpZAF9o-3J2Vo3M2C4G3zVYQzGLKQCUh1pBIGkpO7fM2jmXAsfqNvrWaqS2KwT6acUdY14y-qDdsEYpp4kRSLitkygoPAmRsLyuYqrZvJxWQLX_BCin376mEARrp3O9/w305-h230/IMG_8782.HEIC" width="305" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-81827372137607440752022-10-25T08:04:00.002-07:002022-10-25T08:04:31.599-07:00My Vacation to Vizag (Part 1)<p>During my Diwali holidays, my family and I booked a trip to Vizag where we would explore nature, coffee plantations and visit beaches. Our journey began on Friday, 21st of October.</p><p>DAY 1</p><p>We began with a four to five hour car ride (buckle up, this is just the start to our exhausting journey) to Vijaywada from Hyderabad. There, we stayed for a short while before taking a train to Vizag. The train was approximately five hours as well, so this gave us plenty of time to rest and rejuvenate before getting ready for the long day ahead. The train was an interesting experience, especially since the last time I’ve been on one was many years ago. After we reached Vizag, we had ANOTHER car ride to the resort which was two hours away. By the time we reached the resort, we were exhausted and slept for an hour before we continued our journey. We then drove up a mountain trail. It was a beautiful experience, the clear blue skies and enchanting greenery was enough to keep me engrossed throughout the ride. </p><p>We visited a beautiful botanical garden and explored the whole garden on a small train. We saw multiple silver oak trees, bamboo, the maroon hibiscus, purple calibrachoa and pink roses. There were adorable bridges on lakes where we took photos and altogether we spent approximately one and a half hours there. Then we continued our journey and visited a tribal gathering where we saw how indigenous people used to make their food and their traditional clothing. I got the experience to dress up in the traditional clothing and learnt entertaining games they played with guests, such as, catch the rooster. We also ate some tribal lunch and went back on our way to the resort. During our journey we saw a centre with tons of activities like ziplining and canoeing. I decided to go on the zipline once, before finishing our day and coming back to the resort. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyxx0pyv0WeqIjkketslYVcfaKclCAR6rMwA-WcdeqewDDTxe8_t2YIQR2HTxmfrIjqkcKZPjY9ppXPUEfF-7X9PtxAbECCoGAb-wWDjeIIS_nQNowGnNOLEN7l9edyNCXXhPsYYGMcarX4W49d3HKlDmO-ijvIxlq3f4cusmZ79i2lg5Ht-yC4kW/s4032/IMG_8741.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyxx0pyv0WeqIjkketslYVcfaKclCAR6rMwA-WcdeqewDDTxe8_t2YIQR2HTxmfrIjqkcKZPjY9ppXPUEfF-7X9PtxAbECCoGAb-wWDjeIIS_nQNowGnNOLEN7l9edyNCXXhPsYYGMcarX4W49d3HKlDmO-ijvIxlq3f4cusmZ79i2lg5Ht-yC4kW/w184-h245/IMG_8741.HEIC" width="184" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLM7GLdBZUzcn5it9sdqYkoQXON70AVg7PCD06aJP-s9VOUGkHmgLFVCDi0d6fWrhT7sFQGfLkXLml8TY_Exa18wONs-sKbqkx26AxBfzxxNgO_3Gd9QYDfZr1u9giFrC2m-dZctnGLawQHbplmSBJC_zfsqa3egvEXuv2HDcqM0sxpn_N2n8A0GM/s4032/IMG_8751.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcDA7dhInQ6efzr5Z8SC2Fq57exNdU5Xzrm7o4vMwWcZ7TY2SQ4Mk-mpNm48WHoCUDiV6wjrxuPG3UKtiyzM-yRIDRhRrag0RWijyfQ3co81IGbHx67u2bnuqRMhjYrlMrfwU5NuuOlhxtULOzVlL5pICBCv1KareEw-uJARMYkamm3UjHVu-LE4U/s4032/IMG_8746.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcDA7dhInQ6efzr5Z8SC2Fq57exNdU5Xzrm7o4vMwWcZ7TY2SQ4Mk-mpNm48WHoCUDiV6wjrxuPG3UKtiyzM-yRIDRhRrag0RWijyfQ3co81IGbHx67u2bnuqRMhjYrlMrfwU5NuuOlhxtULOzVlL5pICBCv1KareEw-uJARMYkamm3UjHVu-LE4U/w184-h245/IMG_8746.HEIC" width="184" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItxAwXtEbQMJ0hErJDANBJEwxBZSMM4S1V6lCTjKo5wnDUAd9_xUjlDgtQX1iV5N31tsx_wsFV32tz0zBh19ki0js_DjJ-fUM7CHGv3Ir472P0fIe2xU3iNaZmbpnCw6P46X9gShSmZ2IM7BpxgOypyLOIP2hP7xOFiBZvqDnMKTT0tES4YlM7Pkw/s4032/IMG_8749.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItxAwXtEbQMJ0hErJDANBJEwxBZSMM4S1V6lCTjKo5wnDUAd9_xUjlDgtQX1iV5N31tsx_wsFV32tz0zBh19ki0js_DjJ-fUM7CHGv3Ir472P0fIe2xU3iNaZmbpnCw6P46X9gShSmZ2IM7BpxgOypyLOIP2hP7xOFiBZvqDnMKTT0tES4YlM7Pkw/w185-h247/IMG_8749.HEIC" width="185" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div>DAY 2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This day was much more relaxed (thankfully no excruciatingly long drives), as we began the day by visiting coffee plantations. I was surprised to discover that coffee beans are green before turning ripe. There were hundreds of the plants scattered around the mountains, each covered with small green beans. After we visited the coffee plantations, we visited a tribal boarding school where we saw children who came from tribal areas, grades 1-11. We were pleasantly suprised how many of the classes used technology as a form of learning which ensured there was a wide variety of pedagogy. After visiting the school, we returned back to the resort where we had lunch, and visited the Borra Caves. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The cave was absolutely scintillating and it was lit up with beautiful colors which made it even more brilliant. The tour guide explained how the cave was said to have been found because of a cow grazing above the cave, and accidentally falling through the hole, 60m down to a painful death. The cave was filled with stalagmites and stalactites. Stalagmites form on the cave floor and are formed by mineral deposits that fell by water precipitation from the top of the cave. Stalactites grow from the ceiling cave and are formed by mineral precipitation through the cave ceiling. We also learnt how humic acid combines with the calcium carbonate in the rocks which breaks down the minerals gradually. The guide elucidated how different rock formations resembled different objects like turtles, tigers, human eyes, etc. We finally went on the vistadome train which had giant glass windows, to gaze at the scenery while travelling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8IRxzsUcLL84nseQ71qYtMC2uIysAwnLdJsVT6Kk_MfLCSSo3ES_QL7S243frWEYFfwxGiLfBRlhPE3twAlc_qZ_z7xFEfQCumSgNDOJuUjmwXA9Xm0csXw-KrFfnRRNEu7v7OJZnS1eDDkGZYV3iGEXLk_ueBEEOKVhtKBHVA44iF7UlMDh5Xbz/s4032/IMG_8763%202.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8IRxzsUcLL84nseQ71qYtMC2uIysAwnLdJsVT6Kk_MfLCSSo3ES_QL7S243frWEYFfwxGiLfBRlhPE3twAlc_qZ_z7xFEfQCumSgNDOJuUjmwXA9Xm0csXw-KrFfnRRNEu7v7OJZnS1eDDkGZYV3iGEXLk_ueBEEOKVhtKBHVA44iF7UlMDh5Xbz/w249-h332/IMG_8763%202.HEIC" width="249" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BLO5B1PEaL43Do_uBSgWQmFg237yBRuhgRaJuKErE5v0dJQNw4rYP-_YWA65-5DcVT0oJlEHn0nH0EJ_iaMqY3r9j_cmVOw5FjGXCURnO0hmxKLjEdHONgRRdGsSH3snnWiUbsbbqYhWvEChqP4EzJrrzssa2g41bTQBjEHCV4d50Vg4PSjB8Zq7/s4032/IMG_8759.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BLO5B1PEaL43Do_uBSgWQmFg237yBRuhgRaJuKErE5v0dJQNw4rYP-_YWA65-5DcVT0oJlEHn0nH0EJ_iaMqY3r9j_cmVOw5FjGXCURnO0hmxKLjEdHONgRRdGsSH3snnWiUbsbbqYhWvEChqP4EzJrrzssa2g41bTQBjEHCV4d50Vg4PSjB8Zq7/w249-h332/IMG_8759.HEIC" width="249" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-90753755013295662042022-10-08T01:07:00.001-07:002022-10-08T01:09:21.235-07:00Dont Worry: 48 Lessons on Achieving Calm<p>A recent realisation is that I love to read self-growth books. Personally, I’m not a fan of reading and it’s always come across to me as a very strenuous and tedious chore. I’ve explored the different reading genres and found that the books I tend to grow attached to would be mystery and self-growth books. During my holidays, I began reading the book, <i>‘Dont Worry’</i> by Shunmyō Masuno. </p><p>Don’t Worry is a book with 48 lessons explaining how to achieve a more tranquil, positive version of yourself and how to relieve the anxieties of everyday life. It taught me that every human has <i>‘buddha nature’</i>. It is a seed within everyone that has the potential to sprout into a magestic plant. No matter whether you have mixed feelings on a person or you tend to think the worst of them, know that <i>'all sentient beings have a buddha nature'</i>. Within everyone, there is always good. Nobody can be 100% bad, just as nobody can be 100% good. However, it’s vital to begin connections with an open mind and take off those <b>colored glasses</b>. </p><p>One of the chapters in the book explained the importance of not wearing colored glasses. Colored glasses refers to the preconcieved notions about others. Without meeting someone, don’t judge them off of opinions others may have of them. This will end up with an inevitable misjudgement based only on the preconcieved notion. </p><p>Another lesson this book taught me was to focus on the ‘now’. Instead of brooding over memories and being anxious of what the future may bring, it’s important to always live in the moment and be as concientious as possible. There is no use thinking of the past that is ‘dead’ and over just as there is no point in thinking of the future that is not ‘born’ yet. There is a poem this book teaches us,</p><p><i>Even the chipped bowl</i></p><p><i>Was once a cherry tree</i></p><p><i>On Mount Yoshino</i></p><p>This explains how our past glories are what becomes the foundation for our present state.</p><p>The tip I can give to people who have a similar mindset to me is to try exploring different book genres. Go wild. It may take a bit of time but I’m sure you will find your passion for reading very soon and will realise it’s actually quite enjoyable. I definitely recommend reading this book. 10/10 :)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9UiRApBUTxTRXOtcHLMiewOT2tP_3Acw-f-xZO9mt-DVgjdU1hX41HLmPXfa4Hvj9-Nt4dzVxRZduUkwh-UNugIWBMBjj3WltRJSCiyoEXqUHCTtV-dIsScQBi1N-L9Db4U8xPYenQiU2I7V067eAzCUJz0b5Z7wUPq0wls_ZiREzZc7CqeMyKVS/s1200/msid-81895198,width-96,height-65.cms.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9UiRApBUTxTRXOtcHLMiewOT2tP_3Acw-f-xZO9mt-DVgjdU1hX41HLmPXfa4Hvj9-Nt4dzVxRZduUkwh-UNugIWBMBjj3WltRJSCiyoEXqUHCTtV-dIsScQBi1N-L9Db4U8xPYenQiU2I7V067eAzCUJz0b5Z7wUPq0wls_ZiREzZc7CqeMyKVS/s320/msid-81895198,width-96,height-65.cms.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-14081120563008979482022-08-20T08:52:00.003-07:002023-03-10T22:46:48.182-08:00Everything You Need to Know About Sir Lewis Hamilton!<p>Sir Lewis Hamilton, my absolute FAVOURITE Formula 1 driver and honestly one of the world’s most iconic athletes. When I was younger, (before I became interested in F1) I would constantly hear his name being tossed around in conversations, but never really knew who he was. That was, until I got interested in Formula 1 in 2021. Since then, I have found myself cheering for his victory every race (along with a Ferrari podium every now and then).</p><p>But let’s get started with a simple introduction to this legend. Who is Sir Lewis Hamilton? Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton is a British racing driver currently competing in Formula 1 for Mercedes. He was born on January 7, 1985 (just one day before my birthday :)) ). Hamilton began his driving career when he was eight years old. He progressed to win the British Kart Championship at the age of ten. When he was thirteen, he was signed to the McLaren and Mercedes Benz Young Driver Support Programme. For three consecutive years he won European and World Karting Championships and became the youngest driver to ever be ranked number one at the sport. During his F1 career, Hamilton has won seven World Drivers’ Championship titles, tied with arguably the greatest F1 driver to exist, Michael Schumacher. In 2008, Hamilton became the first black driver to win an F1 WDC and he continued to win one in the years: 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Hamilton also holds record for the largest number of wins, podium finishes and pole positions. </p><p>As much as he has a life on track, he also has one off track. Hamilton is a fashion icon and has always had a love for fashion. Hamilton regularly fronts Valentino ad campaigns, such as the 'Pink PP' Fall 2022 Collection. He also attends Fashion Week and has been seen on the paddock wearing all types of designers ranging from Alexander McQueen to Nike. Hamilton is also a global embassador of Tommy Hilfiger. He has inspired many by believing fashion is a way of self expression, self-reflection, self-love and evolution. He has chosen to go full vegan, alongside his adorable dog, Roscoe. Hamilton has stood up for many campaigns such as BLM, Womens’ Rights and Human Rights. He has also donated an astounding twenty million pounds throughout 2022 to support youth, education and employment. Let’s not forget how he awarded his knighthood by the Prince of Wales in Windsor Castle in 2021.</p><p>During his journey to greatness, Hamilton had faced a lot of racial discrimination and prejudice, sometimes due to his skin or his non-conventional beliefs. Many did not support how he displayed himself on the paddock and thought he didn’t deserve his fame. I’m glad he didn’t listen to the hate and continued to do what his heart desired. He introduced fashion to Formula 1, and implored people to be accepting and tolerant towards others. Not only has he bought millions of fans to F1, such as me, he has also created a platform to spread positivity. He is one of the most influential athletes in the world and is incredibly accomplished in the fashion industry. He is mature, kind and during his interviews, you can instantly tell he is passionate about this sport. Without a doubt, he has revolutionised Formula 1 and I’m sure he will continue to achieve greatness from here.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9j-uTAkgLjlsAOEI2lS4TBofU1fPwRhbBrljEDaSvLPVjY0ARAQClmKunaWQByL8CK_qr9Leu2IwhGSS2uJMMF1kcYj0umJkEzUySsZlwhDqY6HRWMhFlO-M0930nc7MRUX30rl9zO_1q0UvmsS0ZAyb9oY5f0buFnQ_pv9DtlC1_vcgQznNXMed/s640/Lewis-Hamilton.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9j-uTAkgLjlsAOEI2lS4TBofU1fPwRhbBrljEDaSvLPVjY0ARAQClmKunaWQByL8CK_qr9Leu2IwhGSS2uJMMF1kcYj0umJkEzUySsZlwhDqY6HRWMhFlO-M0930nc7MRUX30rl9zO_1q0UvmsS0ZAyb9oY5f0buFnQ_pv9DtlC1_vcgQznNXMed/w318-h318/Lewis-Hamilton.jpg" width="318" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AUUTlXVLg8doW3MHrZAL0SXYRoxP5bAEMOjDTvagXK7Qdbdb9i6b38cGQFySbydS-ct1FsKYaz6C85G3xVHu8p1E-JG1xJG5BBeY8YnDY7Xl6R8w4HM8_ZTA1XXxtuvMiNpbHt71zuIbob9qiFJFQuOiYoPCMhjJq4t8lRcDTu3veBDe1VvPEfAo/s1141/Screenshot%202022-08-20%20at%209.20.02%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="931" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AUUTlXVLg8doW3MHrZAL0SXYRoxP5bAEMOjDTvagXK7Qdbdb9i6b38cGQFySbydS-ct1FsKYaz6C85G3xVHu8p1E-JG1xJG5BBeY8YnDY7Xl6R8w4HM8_ZTA1XXxtuvMiNpbHt71zuIbob9qiFJFQuOiYoPCMhjJq4t8lRcDTu3veBDe1VvPEfAo/w295-h362/Screenshot%202022-08-20%20at%209.20.02%20PM.png" width="295" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1046630964472905608.post-48045903077098289542022-08-13T03:28:00.001-07:002022-08-13T03:28:40.312-07:00Top Gun: Maverick<p>disclaimer: spoilers ahead...</p><p>I’m genuinly being honest when I say Top Gun was one of my favourite movies. I watched Top Gun with my family on Sunday, August 12. We watched it in 4D, where the chairs moved and there were background effects. I definitely didn’t anticipate I was going to enjoy it as much as I did. It may just be the moving of the chairs that completely engrossed me into the movie, but I liked how the movie clearly showed the development of the protagonist, Maverick. </p><p>Captain Pete Mitchell (Maverick) was a US naval aviator and was known to be an excellent fighter pilot. After more than 30 years of service as one of the Naval’s top aviators, Top Gun (an incredibly prestigious military school) had called to recruit him to train 12 graduates for a special assignment. Maverick had an unfortunate past with his wingman, referred to as “Goose”. Goose passed away after hitting the F-14’s canopy before both Maverick and Goose fell into the ocean. Maverick survived. Unfortunately the stunt pilot, Art Scholl, who was filming the scene on a camera plane also entered the same flat spin and passed away. Goose’s son, Bradley Bradshaw (Rooster), held a firm grudge on Maverick not only because he believed his father’s death was Maverick’s fault, but Maverick also blocked his former application to the naval academy. This was because he knew Rooster wasn’t ready yet. During the training, Maverick and Rooster slightly quarelled every now and then but overall got closer. Maverick was frowned at due to his teaching techniques and was replaced, but after he perfectly demonstrated how the special assignment must be tackled, he was recruited back as one of the fighter pilots.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJSdcN2rSYoD04Nq-zDVyLe5J0DxykDMOfYMYmuPn-iBMJOohUscEY2QFzM3Iwjv4HCbfWsq2S2T1NukPrLluSjDS2ZNPNtRGaa2VQUA_pkc3OaewO7Ot9G6xUQj_MUyIag-xe7diTz3b9aJ14Dl7kSQ9Ch1LmjdrgVseuxi6cw8CGrFt3ST6acfT/s1198/maerick_top_gun_cruise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="1198" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJSdcN2rSYoD04Nq-zDVyLe5J0DxykDMOfYMYmuPn-iBMJOohUscEY2QFzM3Iwjv4HCbfWsq2S2T1NukPrLluSjDS2ZNPNtRGaa2VQUA_pkc3OaewO7Ot9G6xUQj_MUyIag-xe7diTz3b9aJ14Dl7kSQ9Ch1LmjdrgVseuxi6cw8CGrFt3ST6acfT/w389-h195/maerick_top_gun_cruise.jpg" width="389" /></a> </p><p>Although this story didn’t have a proper plot, it made up with it by developing the main characters and their many relationships. One of them being the manner in which the Rooster’s anger for Maverick faded away as Rooster managed to forgive and forget. Another relationship development was Penny and Maverick’s after they got back together and began to date. The distrusting superior, Vice Admiral Beau ‘Cyclone’ Simpson, also saw Maverick’s true potential after he successfully completed the special assignment and asked him to assist the mission. Another of the attributes this movie outdid itself with was creating an emotional connection with the viewer and the protagonist. I could sympathize with Maverick as everyone constantly insisted he couldn’t be a fighter pilot anymore. Additionally, the thrilling dogfights throughout the movie never failed to keep me on the edge of my seat.</p><p>I knew Maverick had the potential to complete the special assignment as he was a very talented fighter pilot. Even with the many dangers he had to face during it, he still came out with shining colors. After the movie, I began researching the planes used throughout the movie and studied their appearance. You know a movie is good, when you begin to research about it after seeing it. I definitely recommend watching this movie and rate it a solid 9/10.</p>Nivedya's Thoughtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032192557293831666noreply@blogger.com0