In words of admission then, I'd like to
make a summary of a few things that we recognise and are aware of so
far. That's how is goes:
* on the road:
- the speed breakers (“lying policemen”)
are most commonly marked by a bulk of stones lying freely on both
sides of the road - so you will not fly over it without spotting it
(in theory, cause we already did it a couple of times...). Usually
'installed' on the entrance/exits of th cities, next to the
self-constructed shops-alike stalls, before school areas, junctions,
railways tracks and in any other spots actually. Sometimes huge ones,
sometimes you can't even feel passing them through, just single or
multiplied – you never know where and how they're gonna be, but all
in all it's good they exist cause Indians drive as lunatics! (widely
known ;));
- animals most commonly encountered on the road, in
abundancy, are cows (in the first place) and it doesn't matter
if it is a highway/national road or just an off-road path in the
middle of nowhere ; dogs and goats – I would say
equally frequently spotted around ; in Rajasthan you can see loads of
camels just by the road and then after probably sheeps
would go. Almost no cats here, which is fairly incredible
and I have no understanding to that, except that they may eat them..or
sth... O_o
- on a highway: it's not always certain
that if you've got two lanes in one direction and another two in the
opposite one the cars and other vehicles will follow it accordingly.
Actually the rules don't exist here, and sometimes you can be stunned
and petrified at the same time with the amount of drivers going...the
opposite direction! It's pretty a hassle, if you can't differentiate
if a truck goes towards you until it reaches a distance more
transparent to your insight...(all because it's painted equally on
both sides – the rear one looks exactly the same as the front one).
The rear mirrors are used just while overtaking (to make sure that's
somebody else is not approaching you in the same time) ;
> on the exit from Delhi to Agra you can't
slip on a highway (motorcycles prohibited!), but to our
surprise, there's no problem with jumping on it afterwards once you
leav the city.. Genius, hehe.
Highways normally are free of charge for:
motorcycles/rickshaws/tractors and they're pretty well maintained.
- oh, and if you mistake a road you were going
to take – don't hesitate to turn back (the opposite direction) and
just turn back on the right one (we practice this tecnique every now
and then ;)) ;
- use a horn ALWAYS, or you are lost
It't not a joke. Otherwise big trucks will not see you, tractors will
not hear you anyway (they always
have a radio or some other mistic device turned on out loud,
so you think there is a wedding or other event
somewhere close every time) and rickshaws/cars/other
motor-vehicles-alike will give you a way or indicate they are
approaching you (the rule of using a horn works the same way for
everybody everywhere). Hint: be alert on what's in front of you –
that's the only rule that we got to know so far. On junctions –
slowly, but firmly get through the wave of vehicles coming from all
sides...
- it's better not to drive over night (loads of
trucks on roads, without working lights, which mreover are quire
reckless to other vehicles), we drove a few times but just in Delhi
and don't wanna find out how it is off road or anywhere else ;
* Indians always :
- will speak to J. first cause he's a man in
this relationship. Sometimes if the situation rounds about a room
renting or trying to find out sth about the neighbourhood they will
turn back to him, not me ;
- men hold hands/fingers, not couples as we are
used to ;
- or usually, give you a price that is quite
far away from the proper one, you have to either know more or less
what should it be or just bargain randomly without hesitation ;
- they try to get you on their side with almost
everything, to buy their clothes/craftship/tobacco/water/eat at their
restaurant or anything else that comes to your mind. If you don't
need anything and trying just to wander around, don't respond or
catch an eye contact – it helps, but not always, or simply (even
better is to do it beforehand) refuse politely, thanking for any
service offered. It's tiring sometimes, but what else you've got
left? ;)
- always and forever will stare at you, because
it's you who is an invader and so much different! Obviously.
Nevertheless it's pretty hard to buy sth you need, if you are
surrounded with half of the village (literally) looking at you as if
you were an alien who fell down from the skies just a moment ago (yes
it happened to us quite a few times already). And then a whole procession follows you, which is even more troublesome and overwhelming ;
- carry loads of things
on the top of their heads, especially women. Astonishing how do they
keep it in the right position all the time and walk a long distance,
let's say from one village to another or some remote bushes back
home. Sometimes there are bunches of branches/piled up utensiles/buckets or ceramic jars with water or even some heavy tools inside. It all surely weights!
This post will be updated just after we find out more about this vast country and its habits.
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