If I had to describe our Indian experience so far , it's all a bit random. Driving rules - traffic lights roundabouts, one way systems, side of the road to drive on, make your own lane, all a bit random. Tuk tuks drivers are the equivalent of an F1 driver on a circuit. They find the smallest of gaps to get through at hair-raising speeds, dodging oncoming traffic as they go - mostly.
They should put this billboard at the border as it applies to the whole country
Train timetables, bus stops, bus routes are all a bit random. The drive down from Ooty hill station was interesting. When you're a 20 tonne Volvo bus, you drive where you like, including overtaking on blind bends into oncoming traffic. We had the two seats behind the driver so there were a few sphincter clenching moments.
Visas, forms, hotel check ins , data duplication, all a bit random.
And as for pedestrians, today is a good day to die. They walk out into the road, with no care for oncoming traffic in the belief that it will go around them. I must admit, we have started to do the same to a certain degree otherwise we'd never get anywhere.
Maximum family members on a moped so far - 4. Maximum people in a tuk tuk so far - 8. I'm still trying to work out if there are any traffic rules, and tuk tuk rides can be hair-raising but fun - so far. The noise is incredible as cars, mopeds, buses etc. all have their horns going, all the time.
Wandering cows are treated as roundabouts, and they are everywhere even in the city centres.
The people are really friendly and extremely curious. We hear "where are you from?" many times a day. If we sit down in the shade for a break (as we walk everywhere) we get families and children coming to chat and have their photos taken with us. Apparently it's a big deal here as many people don't travel outside of their own country so seeing a white face in a non-tourist place is a novelty. We've gotten used to it now but it felt very strange in the beginning.
It has certainly been an interesting trip - so far.
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