Typically, the stuff I write are consequences of some experiences, especially those which I call the “powerful” ones. Evidently, it took a while for such an experience to occur, which is why I am here, after a long long time to post something that is worth a read.
Melbourne, Australia. The city I am in at this very point of time. The experience I was talking of is pretty much here, in Australia. Well, I couldn’t have asked for a better stress-buster than a holiday in heaven. The one agenda I had in mind when I stepped into the flight was to meet the creatures I’ve never seen before, the Kangaroos. I almost forgot about them when I met the people here, the Australians. Well, to those who beg to differ, I would just say, only if you come here will you acknowledge the fact that the number of people living in harmony exceeds those who create nuisance manyfold.
A description of the nature and the landscape here is not something I can put in words only because nature is what I call an irresistible creation (food also, by the way) that ought to be experienced within nature herself. Not that people aren’t as irresistible. Well, not all of them are. Or should I say very very few of them are. For me, every Australian is irresistible.
It’s strange I have read a lot about Australia but haven’t really been amazed by its very existence in this world. I have seen Australian people on tv. The fact that they are such wonderful people to bond with is something I’m sure I wouldn’t have believed just by looking at them. Every aussie I’ve accosted so far has been amazingly generous to me, like he or she knew me since birth. Everyone here carries a magical smile, which is probably enough to keep them (and others) pumped up for the day. Every conversation begins with a “Hey, how’re you doing today?” and ends with “Have a great day, cheers.” Or with a tiny joke. Like there was this one guy who we saw at one of the outlets in Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, who started it off with something like this.. “ Hey there. Good morning… uhm, if it’s morning that is.” My brother, who is pretty used to such conversations with random guys answered his usual witty way, saying, “Depends on which part of the world you’re in.” The guy laughed and said “well, I’m from Russia.. so well, yea.. morning there too I guess.” And the conversation created a seemingly comfortable atmosphere to shop in, though all I need for shopping is good stuff and money.
I have noticed a sense of discipline that shows in almost everything they do. Everyone looks impeccable from head to toe. Fitness is like food, here. They are obsessed with it. Punctuality is quite evident from the way they almost fly past each other every morning. There is no compromise on discipline, nevertheless. They do not cross the roads unless the lights turn green. Every street is neat, which is expected, but is worth a mention. All cars have automatic gears (I drove one in Melbourne!) and are driven with lane discipline, speed discipline and amazing judgement. Oh ya, and, I do miss hearing the noisy honks outside on the streets of Mumbai every millisecond. The vehicles here can easily do away with the horns. I haven’t heard a single one and neither has my brother. So, well, there is a lot to learn from these guys.
Well, to leave this place is going to be hard, not only because of the people here, but also because of the kind of comfort it delivers. Everything I see, hear or feel soothes me. We took a drive out of the city today on this road called “The Great Ocean Road”. It gets its name from the fact that the road makes its way with the Pacific on one side and beautiful landscape on the other. What more can you ask for..! The beaches with sun-kissed shores and the blue sea, with the horizon stretched from one end to the other and the breeze.. all of which made me feel like I was in heaven. Time had a chance to come to a standstill but it dint.
I would go on and on about this place but it’s time for me to go, continue this experience. Well, I had another reason to share this with those who have read it so far. India is a beautiful country, without doubt. We can make it better, nevertheless, if you just go back and read the description of only one hundredth of this country. We Indians are blessed with the second largest population and the brightest of minds. We can make wonders if we put to use the body and brain of our country to make it a more adorable place to live in. A little more discipline in us, citizens, can probably lead to a welcome change. One of the million little changes could be to stop littering the roads and railway tracks. Another one could be to do less of the spitting on the streets. I urge all of you to do something less, if not something more. After all, it’s your country.. your motherland who’s given you a place to live in. So consider this a duty. It’s something we ought to do without anyone telling us.. We can create a better tomorrow if we make a change today.
Melbourne, Australia. The city I am in at this very point of time. The experience I was talking of is pretty much here, in Australia. Well, I couldn’t have asked for a better stress-buster than a holiday in heaven. The one agenda I had in mind when I stepped into the flight was to meet the creatures I’ve never seen before, the Kangaroos. I almost forgot about them when I met the people here, the Australians. Well, to those who beg to differ, I would just say, only if you come here will you acknowledge the fact that the number of people living in harmony exceeds those who create nuisance manyfold.
A description of the nature and the landscape here is not something I can put in words only because nature is what I call an irresistible creation (food also, by the way) that ought to be experienced within nature herself. Not that people aren’t as irresistible. Well, not all of them are. Or should I say very very few of them are. For me, every Australian is irresistible.
It’s strange I have read a lot about Australia but haven’t really been amazed by its very existence in this world. I have seen Australian people on tv. The fact that they are such wonderful people to bond with is something I’m sure I wouldn’t have believed just by looking at them. Every aussie I’ve accosted so far has been amazingly generous to me, like he or she knew me since birth. Everyone here carries a magical smile, which is probably enough to keep them (and others) pumped up for the day. Every conversation begins with a “Hey, how’re you doing today?” and ends with “Have a great day, cheers.” Or with a tiny joke. Like there was this one guy who we saw at one of the outlets in Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, who started it off with something like this.. “ Hey there. Good morning… uhm, if it’s morning that is.” My brother, who is pretty used to such conversations with random guys answered his usual witty way, saying, “Depends on which part of the world you’re in.” The guy laughed and said “well, I’m from Russia.. so well, yea.. morning there too I guess.” And the conversation created a seemingly comfortable atmosphere to shop in, though all I need for shopping is good stuff and money.
I have noticed a sense of discipline that shows in almost everything they do. Everyone looks impeccable from head to toe. Fitness is like food, here. They are obsessed with it. Punctuality is quite evident from the way they almost fly past each other every morning. There is no compromise on discipline, nevertheless. They do not cross the roads unless the lights turn green. Every street is neat, which is expected, but is worth a mention. All cars have automatic gears (I drove one in Melbourne!) and are driven with lane discipline, speed discipline and amazing judgement. Oh ya, and, I do miss hearing the noisy honks outside on the streets of Mumbai every millisecond. The vehicles here can easily do away with the horns. I haven’t heard a single one and neither has my brother. So, well, there is a lot to learn from these guys.
Well, to leave this place is going to be hard, not only because of the people here, but also because of the kind of comfort it delivers. Everything I see, hear or feel soothes me. We took a drive out of the city today on this road called “The Great Ocean Road”. It gets its name from the fact that the road makes its way with the Pacific on one side and beautiful landscape on the other. What more can you ask for..! The beaches with sun-kissed shores and the blue sea, with the horizon stretched from one end to the other and the breeze.. all of which made me feel like I was in heaven. Time had a chance to come to a standstill but it dint.
I would go on and on about this place but it’s time for me to go, continue this experience. Well, I had another reason to share this with those who have read it so far. India is a beautiful country, without doubt. We can make it better, nevertheless, if you just go back and read the description of only one hundredth of this country. We Indians are blessed with the second largest population and the brightest of minds. We can make wonders if we put to use the body and brain of our country to make it a more adorable place to live in. A little more discipline in us, citizens, can probably lead to a welcome change. One of the million little changes could be to stop littering the roads and railway tracks. Another one could be to do less of the spitting on the streets. I urge all of you to do something less, if not something more. After all, it’s your country.. your motherland who’s given you a place to live in. So consider this a duty. It’s something we ought to do without anyone telling us.. We can create a better tomorrow if we make a change today.
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3 comments:
hey... nice post.... don't want 2 argue but....it makes sense 2 say that maybe Australia is such a meticulously neat place b'coz it has a population density of no more than 7 people per square mile, and an overall population of no more than 2.8 crore.. as opposed to 954 people per sq. mile and overall population exceeding a billion people in India..... nevertheless... still lovely post.. u hav fun... n as i started reading i hoped you would write more bout the kangaroos you mentioned. :(...... u disappointed me girl... hehe... :)
yea.. i am thinking of settling.. if nobody back there minds.
well.. about the population thing.. it's not like people were thrown from above the sky.. the population explosion is because of us. well, i should have mentioned this one too when i said we should do something less.. it includes making lesser babies.
and you know what.. the irony is that in Australia, a country with a little population and a larger land, there are little people planning and executing.. and still, the outcome is marvellous. we could have given a slightly better look to our streets or the pavements at least. i still hope for a change and i'm sure you do too.
Read your post and liked it. Agree with you that there is a lot of change required in India. Lets face it, Indian attitude of chalta hai sucks! As Harsha Bhogle rightly said, we are a country of planners. We plan and fail to execute it. We plan and if. by chance we execute it, it is wayyyy behind schedule. By that time, we have something completely new to plan about.
Yes, we can change it, it's never too late! If we use our population as an asset rather than a liability, we can bring about a huge change in India. You rightly pointed out: stop spitting, keep ur surroundings clean, nt honking unnecessarily are small ways to go about with it. One more thing I would like to point out is, there should be a change in the attitude of urban higher middle class voters. Please vote, then you'd have a right person who can work towards development.
Lets hope, its not to far and Ex-President Kalam's vision for India 2020 comes true.
As far as Australia goes, it sure is a wonderful country but wonderful people? Am not sure! And dis view is nothing to do with the present racial attacks on Indian students.
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