Eshin Direct

Rounded X

Since my time back in the Netherlands, I haven’t had the urge to drive that much. If I had gone back to London, I would have expected it, even missed it. But here in the Netherlands, I have no overwhelming urge to get into a car and thrash it out in a fit of male testosterone. Of course, it probably has something to do with the fact that my only two options at driving are two Jaguars, an X-type and an XJR. Something about them not being all that suited to thrashing about in rather dampens the excitement, and forces you to appreciate the refinery that seems to have gone into them.

I’m hardly likely to see any time driving the XJR due to various reasons (partly a reckless youth dictates an reputation of irresponsibility). But it’s a good thing. I’m likely to kill myself in something like an XJR.

The X-type is more fun but even if it is a miniature Jag, it still feels like a big massive boat. The only time I ever had that feeling that something so compact somehow gave of the impression that it was bigger than it actually was, apart from my ego, was driving an SLK. My friend also attests to the fact that driving home stoned is like driving a boat on the road. But that’s another story…

Its got this cool navigation system that pretty much tells you how to get anywhere you want, recalculating your screw-ups, and telling you pretty much everything you needed to know about your journey. What’s annoying is that its got this ultra-paranoid proximity system which happily beeps at anything that comes too close, including pedestrians. How one is supposed to park with beeps going off in every which direction (yep, it actually beeps by location of proximity), is beyond me. Parking is a feeling not a science.

Anyway, I’m still getting used to the Dutch traffic system, which in itself is somewhat baffling with this whole “priority to the right” principle. One flaw is the roundabout system here. If you’re existing a roundabout, cyclists and pedestrians have right of way if they cross your exit. Call me crazy, but this is just plain stupid. You’re coming from a situation where you have to pay attention to multiple angles of death only to suddenly come to screeching halt at the exit as a cyclist zips past. I wonder how many accidents happen on Holland’s round-abouts.