02 February 2013

Incredible Indian Roads

On my fourth trip to Incredible India. The first few days are periods of re-acclimation to ways that I consider uniquely Indian. Walking around the neighborhood, I remind myself that the sidewalk's not for walking. Better to ambulate on the street to avoid dog poop and sidewalk disrepair.

The Indian road is a marvel. Crossing the street (be it the highway, city, residential, or rural) is like playing Frogger in real life.

And while driving on Indian roads, let me count the obstacles: cars, trucks, motorbikes, auto-rickshaws, bicycles, pedestrians (walking alongside the road or crossing), speed bumps, make-shift toll gates with bamboo bars, lazy cows, wandering cows, dogs, monkeys, and deer. You may count moving vehicles twice when you consider that you're dodging oncoming traffic as well. And tractors! Almost forgot the tractors, which are often more sluggish than wandering cows.