Imagine slipping on a sleek headset and instantly transporting to a vibrant digital world where you can work, play, and socialize with people from across the globe. This tantalizing vision of the metaverse captured our collective imagination just a few years ago. Tech giants poured billions into developing virtual realms, and futurists proclaimed the dawn of a new digital age. But as we approach 2024, that initial spark seems to have dimmed. Has the metaverse dream already faded into obsolescence, or is it simply evolving?

Beyond the tables was a high wire fence where teams in red and green T-shirts played soccer. Intrigued, we stepped closer so my teenage son could watch the game while my eyes were caught by something entirely different;

Watching the players on and off the field, I was struck by the diversity of gender, race, ethnicity, size, and age of the assembled group on the other side of the fence.

Having said the enjoyments and benefits I had during biking on a normal sunny day, imagine how it would be to ride a bike on a rainy, drizzling morning. It is like a heaven on earth.

First, the visuals of the city would be changed. The road looks cleaner without dust, traffic would be less, you could feel the chill breeze, trees looks greener than usual and feels like the road is mine. I once went out for biking at 6.30 am when it started to…

It was our last night in New York City, and we were wandering the streets of Chinatown for our farewell dinner when we came across a lovely park where groups of old Chinese men clustered around numerous Backgammon tables, their wise, crinkly eyes evaluating players and exchanging glances.

Fun and the benefits from riding a bike in the early morning have been never like before. It is the mood setter for the day if it is done first thing in the morning. For someone like me who wants to explore different places and happenings in that place, and don’t like to be constrained to an usual running spot like parks/roads, same gym environment, biking is the last resort to have fun and exercise at the same time. Even cycling has many benefits like taking you to a new place, meet new people, and even you can go for jogging in a different locations each day, getting a fresh breathe avoiding the usual crowded city environment, starting the day with peace of mind. I visualize it as a way to get out of my own mind race and feel grateful for what I have. Sometimes I even get more creative thoughts during cycling which doesn’t happen otherwise with the thoughts occupied mind.