today we got up early to drive to agra...that's where the taj mahal is...it was about 5 hours driving...5 hours of alot of holding your breath...here's some thoughts on driving in india...lucky we were not driving ourselves...but, i don't know if that's better or not...
1. our driver is a sikh, which is a form of religion..they don't believe in cutting their hair or hurting anything...sooooo, while we are driving he doesn't want to hit anything...
2. ok, there are alot of animals in the streets..i'm not saying to hit them, but, he would swerve to miss..which is sort of scary...driving fast...we were worried we would crash trying not to hurt the squirrel or frog in the street...
3. the goats that almost caused us to crash as he swerved away from them as they bounded into the street...and the guy behind us that almost rear-ended us...pretty scary...
4. one thing i've noticed is that they HAVE to pass at any opportunity...you're driving along behind a truck, then he wants to pass and you go in the other lane and you see another truck coming towards you...that's when it's like chicken...hopefully, you'll make it...
5. everyone just wants to go as fast as possible and never, ever stop...so, they make ways to do so...watch out anyone in the way...
6. the road was pretty good for quite aways...but, then we hit the old road..don't know if i should call it a road..it was a 'rut'...so then we were swerving to miss the ruts..don't try and sleep with this going on...
7. plus, then we got to agra and besides being on a semi dirt road that led into town...traffic was crazy...everyone just going for it...on motorcycles, trucks, camels and carts..you name they were there...
8. and, if you're stuck in traffic in a town..there are always the people tapping on the windows wanting money or you to buy something..the blind beggars...the best of everything...
9. there are these great trucks that look like they were built in about 1920, they actually use a crank to start...they are usually hauling something..people, hay, whatever...
10. the trucks, vans, carts, everything...are usually filled to the brim with people...there is always room for 1 or make that 20 more...how many people can you fit in a 5 passenger car? probably about 30...really...they are smashed inside..then people hang on the back, sit on the front...it's unreal...
11. speaking of over burdening something...the trucks are filled to way over flowing...i mean...they have huge huge burlap type coverings that they put over hay, or whatever they are hauling and it is twice the size of the truck...it's just crazy...so top heavy...
12. motorcycles usually have at least 3 people on them..sometimes 4 or 5...babies smashed in the middle of people...a little girl sitting up front of her dad..the women sit 'side saddle' because they have their saris on...one motorcycle was in an accident today because her sari got stuck in the wheel...
13, oh, this is fun also...when the road you're on has a 'diversion' and suddenly you're on the other side of the road..wouldn't matter if everyone knew that's what you were doing..they just honk...or if they need to get to one side and they are driving down the other way..they just drive on the wrong side..no worries...
14. camel dung that is piled up and sold for cooking fuel.
15. the little little children that run around naked..that way you don't need diapers..
so those are a few of the thoughts going through my mind today...AND we get to do it tomorrow, driving to delhi...yipee!
1. our driver is a sikh, which is a form of religion..they don't believe in cutting their hair or hurting anything...sooooo, while we are driving he doesn't want to hit anything...
2. ok, there are alot of animals in the streets..i'm not saying to hit them, but, he would swerve to miss..which is sort of scary...driving fast...we were worried we would crash trying not to hurt the squirrel or frog in the street...
3. the goats that almost caused us to crash as he swerved away from them as they bounded into the street...and the guy behind us that almost rear-ended us...pretty scary...
4. one thing i've noticed is that they HAVE to pass at any opportunity...you're driving along behind a truck, then he wants to pass and you go in the other lane and you see another truck coming towards you...that's when it's like chicken...hopefully, you'll make it...
5. everyone just wants to go as fast as possible and never, ever stop...so, they make ways to do so...watch out anyone in the way...
6. the road was pretty good for quite aways...but, then we hit the old road..don't know if i should call it a road..it was a 'rut'...so then we were swerving to miss the ruts..don't try and sleep with this going on...
7. plus, then we got to agra and besides being on a semi dirt road that led into town...traffic was crazy...everyone just going for it...on motorcycles, trucks, camels and carts..you name they were there...
8. and, if you're stuck in traffic in a town..there are always the people tapping on the windows wanting money or you to buy something..the blind beggars...the best of everything...
9. there are these great trucks that look like they were built in about 1920, they actually use a crank to start...they are usually hauling something..people, hay, whatever...
10. the trucks, vans, carts, everything...are usually filled to the brim with people...there is always room for 1 or make that 20 more...how many people can you fit in a 5 passenger car? probably about 30...really...they are smashed inside..then people hang on the back, sit on the front...it's unreal...
11. speaking of over burdening something...the trucks are filled to way over flowing...i mean...they have huge huge burlap type coverings that they put over hay, or whatever they are hauling and it is twice the size of the truck...it's just crazy...so top heavy...
12. motorcycles usually have at least 3 people on them..sometimes 4 or 5...babies smashed in the middle of people...a little girl sitting up front of her dad..the women sit 'side saddle' because they have their saris on...one motorcycle was in an accident today because her sari got stuck in the wheel...
13, oh, this is fun also...when the road you're on has a 'diversion' and suddenly you're on the other side of the road..wouldn't matter if everyone knew that's what you were doing..they just honk...or if they need to get to one side and they are driving down the other way..they just drive on the wrong side..no worries...
14. camel dung that is piled up and sold for cooking fuel.
15. the little little children that run around naked..that way you don't need diapers..
so those are a few of the thoughts going through my mind today...AND we get to do it tomorrow, driving to delhi...yipee!
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thanks for making my day with your thoughts...