Hobbies
“Life is about taking chances, trying new things, having fun, making mistakes and learning from it.”
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Discover my favorite hobbies below (page layout is optimized for desktop view).
Sports
Sports has always held a special place in my heart, it has helped me make great friends. During my formative years, cricket was my first love (as it is for most Indians). As I grew older, I discovered new games like badminton and chess, playing friendly matches with my neighbor uncle. It was in high school that I developed a great interest in table tennis, representing my district in state-level tournaments and later also representing my alma mater, IIT Madras, at intercollege sports festivals. At IIT Madras I fell in everlasting love with squash, I also loved playing water polo and football. I still get goosebumps when I think back to those tense Schroeter moments (inter-hostel sports competition, which my hostel won in 2016, where I was a captain of the TT and Squash team. Go Godav!).
Although my PhD has been taking most of the time, I go for weekly runs (interval training with a running group in Luxembourg) and occasional swims. Feel free to connect with me on Strava or hit me up if you would like to do any activity in Luxembourg. Also, I am always up for an online chess game. You can find me on both Chess.com and Lichess with the username ‘uselessrunner’.
Music
My affair with music began in childhood when I started accompanying my grandfather’s hobby singing sessions with playing the harmonium. My skills and confidence increased with the days but as the years went by, I found myself distracted by the demands of daily life. It wasn’t until I found myself living in a foreign country, far from home and feeling isolated during covid, that I rediscovered my love for music.
I experience great comfort in practicing ukulele, piano, and guitar, and of course, my attempts at singing. While I consider myself a self-trained amateur musician, I am quite happy with the progress I’ve made in a relatively shorter time. Recently, I am dabbling with writing my songs, visit Songwriting page. Music has become an integral part of my life, bringing me joy and solace in times of stress and uncertainty. More than just a hobby, playing music has become a way of expressing my feelings. For instance check an impromptu composition that I had created while feeling homesick (click here).
Current favourite artists: John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, Prateek Kuhad, The Local Train, Frizzell D’souza.
Traveling
I absolutely love traveling! I have been fortunate enough to visit over 20 countries and 15+ states in India. Having traveled most of the places alone has allowed me to interact with people from all walks of life and make friends from around the world. Especially, I am fond of visiting places that are close to nature (huge fan of hiking), with the Himalayas and Jungfrau region being my favorite of all. Have a look at a short clip of my song Raaste that I had recorded during a solo hike in the Lauterbrunnen Valley (click here).
Overall, my travel experiences have taught me to keep things in perspective, becoming a more accepting individual and helping me realize how small I and my problems truly are. I eagerly anticipate continuing to explore new destinations and making new memories along the way!
Photography
Initially, it was my passion for traveling that sparked my interest in photography. Now, I often enjoy going on photography walks with friends. My skills are still underdeveloped, my passion for the art is unwavering. I’m excited to continue learning and improving my skills in future. Refer to Photography page for more details.
Reading
I’m always eager to broaden my literary horizons and discover new favorites. I will be happy if you’d like to connect on Goodreads and share some recommendations. Alternatively, feel free to drop your favorite book in the box below - I’m always on the lookout for my next great read.
