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Watching Danny Boyle’s latest Oscar-winning masterpiece “Slumdog Millionaire,” is worthy of experiencing an emotional roller-coaster ride that can only be offered by the “Chawl City” Mumbai. As it is said, the city that never sleeps, the city that is the center of the world (narrated by a character called Salim in the movie), the city with an economic and social contrast ratio of 20,000,000:1 consequently reveals itself on the screen with all its color and dark shades. Director, Danny Boyle and  screenplay writer, Simon Beaufoy (based on the novel Q&A by Vikas Swarup) has masterfully crafted the film using the Indian version of the television game show “Who wants to be a Millionaire?” i.e. “Kaun Banega Crorepati”

In one of the fastest growing economy of the world how slums and street life has grasped its surface is masterfully depicted by Danny Boyle, but Slumdog Millionaire not only brings to life the dark as well as the bright side of the city of Mumbai in a unique style that is shocking and overwhelming at the same time.

Slumdog Millionaire is the story of Jamal, an half educated “chai-wallah” (tea boy) in a modern high-tech call center who is on the verge of winning the highly coveted two crore (twenty million) rupees award money participating in a quiz show, is indeed a miraculous fairy tale. It is so unthinkable that the show anchor (Anil Kapoor) gets him arrested to just know how this lower class boy can cheat his way through to the correct answers with fathoming speed.

Fortunately for Jamal, the answers to the questions comes from his own life experiences and not from any academic books – the unforgettable memories of his early life in the slums and streets of Mumbai – his fight for existence along with his brother Salim at the foot of the Tajmahal, and finally in his quest for the love of his life – Latika! Ironically, the final question in the quiz game show comes from the book “Three Musketeers” by Alexander Dumas, that he and his brother had only started to read during his limited access to academic study in the school at their very early age. He chooses to opt for the “Life Line” called Phone a Friend – his brother and Latika, but both fail to answer. Hence, Jamal decides to empower his destiny to decide -and once again gambles his life with huge courage in heart in front of millions of television viewers.
The performances put up by all the lead characters were enthralling and spontaneous, the remarkable one being the performance of the children in the first half of the movie. The inspiring and thematic music by Indian music God A. R. Rahman has helped heighten the emotions and the final song and dance scene during the credits was a treat.

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You need to have a fit body that lacks fat & you also need to have fun. If these are the two things you are looking for then there is a great solution, cycling. Take part in a biking competition & you will find yourself having a lot of fun along with a mental strength that will grow in the process of the competition. And by the time you finish the competition you will have made a few friends too.

We often don’t give things like this a serious thinking because we don’t believe we can do it. But just take a look at what you need to be a bike racer. All you need is a cycle & to know how to ride one. Don’t you think that you have the ability to do both so easily? Then why don’t you go for it?

When you go for a holiday take a trip to somewhere where cycling is going on so that you can enjoy your holiday & participate in cycling at the same time. It will give you a mental toughness & if you are participating in a cycling out side your native area then it gets even better as you get to know new people & somehow it gets the best out of you.

When you really sign up for one of the events then make a plan & know the route which is like knowing a new historical place by studying the map during a holiday to a new place.

You must have your friend, family & loved ones in the event so that it allows you to take the event as a light & enjoyable one rather that taking it as a serious challenge & become depressed if you can’t win. At least you don’t want to get yourself upset while in a holiday.

Cycling is a great way of having fun with your family & friends. It has all the elements that you need to keep your body & mind fresh. You allow yourself to taste the freedom when you go ahead leaving the air behind & grow a sense of urgency to complete what you have started. So why not give it a try?

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As far as the safety is concerned there are companies which are certified by CAA & there are pilots who are qualified in terms of their safety record.

There are places in US & UK where hot air balloon festivals are celebrated with immense enthusiasm. Britain holds the big Bristol balloon festival where over 200 balloons take part.

Hot air balloons are different in sizes & shapes according to their usage. There are the big ones which carry more people as they are stronger & has the capacity too hold more fuel on board.

Hot air balloons are difficult to handle for the pilots so it should be flown in the early mornings or in the evenings as the air remains still & manageable at those times of the day. During the day time there might be certain difficulties as the air consistency might be hampered due to the thermal changes.

For the safety reasons in Africa & other countries, the balloons are tracked by GPS which might save you from landing among a herd of lions in Africa as balloons are one of the most effective ways to see the rear & dangerous animals even in African jungles without disturbing the animals.

Flying in sky at the dawn & dusk is a wonderful & unforgettable experience. It gives us the feeling of freedom from our hazardous regular life & takes us closer to the nature. And of course the fun doing a hot air ballooning is like nothing else.

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