Yes!! It’s time when people across the world catch a fever which hits once every 4 years and is very very infectious and has tell-tale symptoms of hoarse throats, sleep deprivation leading to bleary eyes and emotional highs and downs which can put the best of roller-coasters to shame! 🙂
Yes, unless you are a visitor from Mars, you must be aware I am talking about the FIFA World Cup, which starts in a few hours in Brazil. Now, if you are not familiar with India, you might be wondering why an Indian is so excited about Football?? Google tells me that India’s ranking in 2014 is an envy-inducing 154!! 😛
But, that is merely a piece of statistic, which tells nothing about the passion many Indians have for the game, or the cult-like following the Messis, Neymars and the Cristiano Ronaldos of the world have here. Indians make up for their lack of football playing prowess with an enthusiastic following for the game. And amongst Indians, no one is crazier about football than the Bengali (I am one, but not crazy for football). And, most Bengalis are traditionally Brazil or Argentina supporters (I used to support Argentina). And thanks to the time difference between India and Brazil, most matches will start-off well past midnight, Indian time. So, people are busy calculating how they are going to juggle their jobs and the number of days they will need to report sick for work!
These photographs were taken in the beautiful city of Gangtok, which is cradled in the mountains. It’s a place I love going back to. The Paljor stadium, is a must visit destination, if you are an early riser. It is open to all citizens of Gangtok, for their morning walks. Youngsters can be found honing their dribbling skills. And, as I found out, 3 days in a week, Gangtok Police conducts aerobics classes for its forces. I was lucky to visit the stadium one such day. It was a funny sight to see the kids playing football while the policemen and women were busy doing aerobics!
I hope you enjoyed viewing the moments as much as I did! 🙂
Know-All's Box 
I definitively like watching your pics than the game, good ones once again! 😉
Haha…thank you!! 😀 That’s a huge compliment! 🙂
Yes, it is, and it’s all sincere!
I know…i really do! Thank you so much!
I love it. The kids are just running around, everyone is getting on with their thing side by side. I would love to take my kids along so they can join in the ball games as we admire those wonderful mountain views.
Thank you!! 🙂 I don’t like generalising, but I find the people in Gangtok very nice! There were guards at the gate to the stadium, who were apprehensive about allowing a stranger with a big camera inside( Gangtok is not far from the international border) but after a while they allowed me inside and even chatted with me…and the overall atmosphere was very friendly! I loved it there! BTW, did you get to visit the Paljor stadium during your visit to Gangtok( i believe you had mentioned visiting the place)?
I visited very little of the place, really – I was working and didn’t have much hanging around time. And I spent half of that chatting with the rest of the team rather than sightseeing! I have to go back one day 🙂 .
Oh!! you must!! 🙂
🙂
BTW: I prefer cricket to football any day
Haha..well…I think you are in a majority here! 🙂
Excellent report. Great imagery and the perfect amount of punchy, relevant prose. A most enjoyable read.
Thank you Alessandro! As always, getting a compliment from you means a LOT to me! 🙂
I’m proud to say that I’ve never watched a whole football match my entire life.
Haha…that would be heresy to most Bengalis! 😀
The world cup has already shown quite a few surprises, hasn’t it? I am not sure which team I am rooting for now that my favourite team is out (England). Anyway, great images you have captured from the Paljor stadium. I look forward to seeing India in next world cup!
You bet!!! This year the world cup has been crazy but amazing! Though the pre-quarters left the more reputed teams breathless, the underdogs failed to bite! I would be content to see India make to the world cup finals in my lifetime!! 😀 Thank you for dropping by 🙂
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Hey Bronwyn!! Thank you!! It really is awesome to know that you enjoyed my post!!! Thank you! 🙂 🙂
Hmmm! You have been AWOL since this post on the 12th…am I to assume that you yourself have this fever despite claims to the opposite?
Ahhhhh!!! Why why why must you destroy my attempts at portraying a “stiff upper lips” attitude! 😀 And don’t you know that the fever I mentioned is highly contagious! 🙂 I have been keeping very busy off late, and watching just one match a day also does not help 😦 Miss blogging!
Oh but there has been some good matches hasn’t there? USA was a pleasant surprise.
You bet!!! They have been amazing! Klinsmann has done wonders to the team! Ceteris paribus, I believe, next world cup, USA will do even better! So, are you following the tournament actively? 🙂
More or less. The other match that was a corker was the Brazil one – unless I’m mad that’s the one that went down to penalties. Very exciting!
Wanted them to win as it’s their home town and they always bring the party with them.
Oh yes! That was a cracker! In general, the matches have been very good!
These are well taken fun shots. Yes, I have been wondering where India is in the world of football. If you are no longer supporting Argentina, who did you switch to now?
India is very much present in the world of football…but, sadly, as a spectator! A vocal one! I still love the Argentine team..Messi is amazing, isn’t he? I also love the Holland team’s style.. 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I am not fan of either.
Haha…so whom do you follow?
My country of course, and I respect some other countries which do not include Argentina or Holland.
Exciting! Of course your football and our football here in the US are completely different games, but both exciting, heh? Thanks for sharing. As usual your photos are to die for. BTW, I’m a US football fan. Miami Hurricanes for college and Raiders for NFL. Although the Raiders have been total bums lately..LOL. 😀
Thank you…as usual, you are too kind!! 🙂 If you are not following football or soccer, let me tell you that the US team did quite well in the world cup! I don’t know the rules of American football do get to watch it occasionally while surfing channels…Don’t worry..I am sure the Raiders will be back with a vengeance, next season! 🙂
Lovely geometric pictures! Composed my people it looks even more interesting! Good job! 🙂
Thank you! I had a good place to take the shots from….i guess…i was just plain lucky! :3