We only need a moto-rickshaw and a bicycle now!

Okay, so some of you have heard my stories of the driving here. This trip has been even more enlightening in the intricacies of "India Driving Ed. 101". Tonight marked the third road incident that would have resulted in an ICBC claim. Actually this might have gotten us thrown in jail!

So here we are driving down the road with Evil Knievel; this is the name I have given our driver. I'm sure he will do a barrel roll over the river before the end of the week. As always the roads are packed with vehicles, bicycles, and people. Our driver doesn't like to be behind anyone so he passes them in any means necessary. Tonight we started to pass a transport truck on the curb side of the road. It just so happens people here find it necessary to WALK ON THE FREAKIN' ROAD. So here we are bombing down the curb side and no room to spare. The driver starts blaring his horn to let the truck and the dumbass walking on the road know we are coming and ain't gonna stop. Does anyone budge? Nope. Now Dennis and I know this is gonna be close because we could reach out the window and touch the truck. As we pass the guy walking on the road I hear a SMACK and notice our mirror has been knocked in! We nailed the guy's elbow with our side mirror going about 50 kph! I know that must have hurt like a mother-trucker.

The funny, or un-funny depending on if you are going to hell like me, is that we didn't even stop or slow down for that matter. Dennis and I can't help but burst out laughing. Our driver starts to blame the guy walking on the road. Granted the dude should not have been walking there but even I know where the brakes are.

At this rate we have now hit a person, a motorcycle, and a car. I figure by the end of the week we need to hit a moto-rickshaw and a bicycle. Once we do this our driving adventures will be complete.

I really hope Evil K. doesn't drive us to Mumbai.

d

Photos

I haven't posted too many photos yet so here are a whole bunch!!

Katraj Snake Park

No Comments?

I have been writing the blog for 3 weeks and haven't seen any comments yet. Is anyone there?

d

My motorcycle ride

Last night Dennis and I were invited out to Manil's home for dinner. It is most of the way to work so it was actually quite a long drive in a moto-rickshaw. What is funny about the Indian culture is that I didn't realize they were like the Italians. They feed you enough until you are ready to explode! The food was wonderful, we had something called Sambar (sp?) with these small rice puck type things. It was an all veg meal and didn't make me feel too bloated because it was not cooked with too much oil.

I really started to realize how much more in tune with their health they are here. North Americans tend to eat a lot of processed food without giving much though to how it got to their plate. Here in India everything is made from scratch and is always fresh. Looking around you see very few overweight people. Most are so lean you think they might blow away in a strong wind, but they look very healthy.

After dinner was done Manil told us he was giving us a ride home ... on his motorcycle. Horray for 3 dudes on a 125 cc bike! It was not as bad as it sounds, but having Dennis sandwiched between me and Manil was hilarious. Especially so when I told Dennis I was getting turned on har har har. The ride was really fun because the city was quite calm at 10 pm at night. We got to see an hear so much more than we normally do in the car and moto-rickshaw. I'd love to get behind of the wheel of the bike at that time of night. Not so much in the day time though. That is a little too scary.

As we were going back to the hotel we passed the infamous red-light district. Manil pointed it out which is when Dennis suggested we drive through it. Hilarious! I told Manil my short "sari story" as we rode through. This time all the hookers actually looked like hookers. If the one who grabbed me before looked like that I would have been a little bit wiser. What was really funny though were all the workers eyeing me on this bike with Manil and Dennis. I just kept seeing all these heads turn! Damn me and my Casper skin. I'm sure they were seeing money signs in their head as we rode by. Too their disappointment we only rode by and did not stop. I'm not making that mistake twice LOL

It was a great night. I hope to have a few more like that before I leave.

Cheers
d