Driving

I learnt driving a car about six months back in Boston. I love it. We bought a second hand Honda Accord and it has given us no trouble- I love the highways and sometimes go for long drives along I 93 just on my own, thinking about different things, then get off at a Dunkin Donuts, get a Diet Coke and drive back!

Americans here tell me that Boston is one of the craziest city to drive in. They say- If you can drive in Boston, you can drive anywhere! You know what- I have heard that of every city I have ever lived in. If you can drive in Delhi, you can drive anywhere; if you can drive in Manila, you can drive anywhere; if you can drive in KL, you can drive anywhere- I could go on and on. The point is simple- there is good and bad driving in every city- you just think you are in the worst city just because people don't follow lanes and honk when you don't move fast enough.

I love driving for three reasons:
a) It gives me time to reflect, to think about various things that are happening in my life
b) I really enjoy the speed, especially at the highways
c) I like seeing the changing landscape, the greenery along the highways and discovering newer, undiscovered places that have so many secrets hidden.

I am going to India next week and I shall not be driving there. I would rather rely on autos in the cities and trains in between them. I love the Shatabdis and the Rajdhanis- they are efficient and very comfortable and give you a good flavor of the landscape from a distance. I am looking forward to my holiday. I shall also be going to Singapore and Philippines and that promises to be loads of fun. I will miss driving but what the heck- there is so much to do in Asia besides driving, I don't think I am going to miss it.
Mohit.