Driving in Australia

Ha ha! You must be thinking, is THIS topic to write anything on? But honestly, I couldn’t stop myself writing about my driving experience and the thought process that kept running in my mind with a higher speed than my scooter whenever I was driving.

Just to warn you that since it is me who is posting this, don’t expect it to be exiting adventurous driving experience. But I can assure you to give more exiting adventure of your mind sitting at your very desk.

The driving experience in Australia has been a pleasant one so far. The conditions of the roads are very good which makes your face go smiley when you are on your vehicle. At least, I smile whenever I start my scooter. May be it has to do with the fact that I had seen worse conditioned roads in India than here. But the smile fads quickly soon after I start driving because now the attention goes from my happiness to my survival. I become so conscious about the rules and regulation. Just to make sure that I do not make any mistakes otherwise there will be a big fine. I’m not only worried about the fine but more about my body because one mistake on a road and you are gone.

When I go on high way, I rarely see any scooter or a bike. There are mostly cars or bigger vehicles than cars. I feel like I’m in the sea, all the big vehicles are crocodile and I am only the small fish. I feel like they threaten me which obviously I do not enjoy.

Another thing which I miss is the sense of freedom. When you drive in Australia, you feel like, you are not driving, somebody is guiding you or let me say forcing you to drive in a typical manner even though it’s your vehicle and you have paid all the money. Every now and then, I see someone is telling me, drive slow, drive with the speed of 40, now 60 or 80. Don’t turn left, don’t turn right, U turn is not permitted or stop (The road signs!). I wouldn’t be surprise when they will say, stop, park your vehicle here and go home. Lol ! the point is I have lost the sense of freedom while I drive. I know… I know… it is for good and I’m following it.

I also wonder many times that why India can’t have such rules and regulation in order to reduce the accident rates. I know population is the biggest constrain to this. But isn’t it possible to have initiation of such systems in India. At least some part of the country. I’m sure, people will love it. I wonder why our politicians who travel to western countries often are not motivated by such wonderful systems and not trying to do something similar in India too.

Anyways, hope the days will come when the driving experience in India will also be the pleasant one where you don’t have to hurt your ears with horrible horns blowing without reason and dust all over your face when you are on two wheelers.

I love India. But my love will not reduce towards it if good roads will be available with few rules and few followers.

I have attached the snap of my lovely ride. I love you jolly (My scooter)

Cheers!

Pleasure vs Happiness

I am reading one of the books of Robin Sharma - The Greatness Guide. I thought of sharing something from the book that I liked.

pleasure is great - but it doesn't last. Pleasure comes from your five senses. From a great meal, a nice glass of wine and a new car or a new scooter ( Currently bought one.. so ). Nothing wrong with these things- they make the experience of life better. But they are fleeting.

Hmmm..

Happiness, hehe, well, that's a different story. Happiness is the DNA of pleasure. My point is simply this : Pleasure comes from something on the outside. Happiness comes from within. It's a state you create by choice. It's a decision. It's an act of will. I get happiness when I write something on my Blog for example.

People can be happy when they are going through great pain and adversity. There is no pleasure evident in their external lives and yet they are content on the inside. And, conversely, tons of people are surrounded by pleasure (fast cars, nice homes, great cloths)but there is no joy within. So choose to be happy. Do what comes from within. Do listen to heart. You can't control life on the outside. Hard stuff will happen. But you can control what goes on inside.

As I said earlier, I am almost a regular reader of Amitabh's Blog. He has described what happiness means to him when thrown a question upon him by the author of the book " bachchanalia", Bhawana Somaaya. I have reproduced it below.

What does happiness means to you?

It’s a difficult question to answer but I would say happiness is seeing the welfare of the people who depend upon you. To be able to see your children prosper…To be able to wake up in the morning and see your loved ones healthy. I think one reaches a stage in life when all these things are of prime importance because it’s the worry of those you care for that really bogs you down.



Cheers ! Smile - truly - One sign of happiness.

Love,

Rakesh. . .