Well, the last week or so has been particularly busy and I have not quite gotten the time to devote to the blog. Have found out a few days back that my next project is in the Asia-pac region only, and will be based out of Sydney too! So, at least till the end of Quarter 1 in 2006, I will be based in this beautiful city. When I got this piece of news, there were several emotions racing through my mind... joy, excitement, curiosity, and also relief!
Again, to set some context, in my ~8 months in Australia, I have never ventured out to more than 120 Kms away from the heart of the city. Over 90-92% of my life here has been spent on just one street - Liverpool Street, where home and office both are situated, 3-4% in bars and restaurants in Sydney, around 1-2% in the car, and only around 2-3% has been spent in the so-called 'real' Australia, which is marked by vast tranches of empty spaces, seemingly infinite greenery, total peace and quiet with the only noises belonging to birds and animals and where the tallest structure in the vicinity would probably be the old eucalyptus tree, or the roadside lampost.
While the most important reason for such gross negligence is a phenomenon called 'inertia of rest', one cannot but indulge in the restrospective justification of his actions... which is exactly what one of the sidekicks inside my mind is doing. Ok... so what are my excuses?
For one, there was just too much workload in the initial few months of the project and all of us were working around 16 hours daily... it is true, since we used to come in at 8 AM and leave office well past midnight, sometimes even in the wee hours of morning, and we were working on most weekends too and needed to desperately reacharge our batteries whenever we had a free moment, rather than setting on a discovery of 'Real Australia'.
Secondly, in a diverse group you have to manage everyone's interests which are surprisingly not so diverse and where partying, alcohol, sleeping, lazing were more important than going out someplace far... So plans were always made, but never materialized. I had blogged about it before over here. So in the eight months here, the best I have managed to do is a daytrip to the Blue Mountains (which was disappointing since there were no mountains, only hillocks, and those too were not blue) and another wine tasting trip to the Hunter Valley, and another drive to a place called Kiama. yes, thats it... nothing outside Sydney, no Gold Coast, no bush-walking, no rock-climbing, no backpacker trips... heck, New Zealand and living the LOTR adventures is a long way off!!
But now, I have been given another chance... one more opportunity to redeem myself and thats where the relief emotion comes in. I am indeed relieved that 40 years from now when I am old and sitting with my grandchildren and when they are watching a cricket match at MCG or the 'reinvented' version of LOTR II, I will not have to live through this conversation :
"Grandpa, you have been to this place right?"
"No... kids"
"But you were just a small distance from there and you didnt go? How silly of you... we didnt know you were always senile"
I have never resolved anything over a new year day so far in my life... but this time, the resolution is quite clear and firm... To enjoy the sights and scenes of this beautiful land, because when it comes to my presence in this region, kya pata... "Kal ho na ho"
Again, to set some context, in my ~8 months in Australia, I have never ventured out to more than 120 Kms away from the heart of the city. Over 90-92% of my life here has been spent on just one street - Liverpool Street, where home and office both are situated, 3-4% in bars and restaurants in Sydney, around 1-2% in the car, and only around 2-3% has been spent in the so-called 'real' Australia, which is marked by vast tranches of empty spaces, seemingly infinite greenery, total peace and quiet with the only noises belonging to birds and animals and where the tallest structure in the vicinity would probably be the old eucalyptus tree, or the roadside lampost.
While the most important reason for such gross negligence is a phenomenon called 'inertia of rest', one cannot but indulge in the restrospective justification of his actions... which is exactly what one of the sidekicks inside my mind is doing. Ok... so what are my excuses?
For one, there was just too much workload in the initial few months of the project and all of us were working around 16 hours daily... it is true, since we used to come in at 8 AM and leave office well past midnight, sometimes even in the wee hours of morning, and we were working on most weekends too and needed to desperately reacharge our batteries whenever we had a free moment, rather than setting on a discovery of 'Real Australia'.
Secondly, in a diverse group you have to manage everyone's interests which are surprisingly not so diverse and where partying, alcohol, sleeping, lazing were more important than going out someplace far... So plans were always made, but never materialized. I had blogged about it before over here. So in the eight months here, the best I have managed to do is a daytrip to the Blue Mountains (which was disappointing since there were no mountains, only hillocks, and those too were not blue) and another wine tasting trip to the Hunter Valley, and another drive to a place called Kiama. yes, thats it... nothing outside Sydney, no Gold Coast, no bush-walking, no rock-climbing, no backpacker trips... heck, New Zealand and living the LOTR adventures is a long way off!!
But now, I have been given another chance... one more opportunity to redeem myself and thats where the relief emotion comes in. I am indeed relieved that 40 years from now when I am old and sitting with my grandchildren and when they are watching a cricket match at MCG or the 'reinvented' version of LOTR II, I will not have to live through this conversation :
"Grandpa, you have been to this place right?"
"No... kids"
"But you were just a small distance from there and you didnt go? How silly of you... we didnt know you were always senile"
I have never resolved anything over a new year day so far in my life... but this time, the resolution is quite clear and firm... To enjoy the sights and scenes of this beautiful land, because when it comes to my presence in this region, kya pata... "Kal ho na ho"
6 comments:
dude chear up machi, time will come where u can live up to the LOTR way (y may be better, if u thnk something is better :P)!
btw i got my visa! me landing there in jan. got to know ur schedule. buzz me whnvr!
Get sambharred!!!
Filtered by sambhar
Hey, Before New Zealand, you should visit Tasmania. it is quite beautiful. and Gold Coast is way over-rated
Hahaha, you better start visiting everywhere posible!! Regret Minimization eh!!
Congrats Nirav! I hope u went to opera at least. Hope u find your priety zinta from DCH too (assuming u already havent found any as yet). :)
@Bharath : Congrats! Have buzzed you already... Welcome to Australia!
@James : Tasmania has always been on the cards... just that NZ is probably much better, and given that the number of days that I would be able to afford would be limited, it would get a priority.
@Anthony : I know! Will make amends on the next trip definitely
@Khelnayak : Haven't been to the opera... and irrespective of my status, a Preity Zinta would always be welcome ;)
dude....only thing i can say and I want to say is...I PITY AUSTRALIA...probably Bush should change his punch line to GOd Bless Australia !! :p
Dude...lemme know your final travel plans for dec...
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