When in India- honk!

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On Indian traffic.
First off, after having a more or less involuntary stay in Kashmir thanks to a very indian travel agency, we are now back in real India. We are also back to being more on our own which is a very good feeling. Getting here took some more manouvering.

After getting stuck in Kashmir the good people agreed to pay for our stay in Jaipur and make sure we got there as planned. When reaching the office in Delhi it was however, once again proven, that a deal is never a deal in India. The head man had no idea what had been said lying of course so once again it took some ill behavior on our part to get what was coming to us. The calm swedes turned not so calm. This time through the well known technique of good cop bad cop, one yelling and one reasonable. Anyways, the manager gave in (not that he hadnt already made plenty money off of us and agreed to what was previously decided on...We've also noticed that asking about honor and such strikes a chord here.

We got our car and that hotel paid for and are now in Jaipur. Going here and being here brings about another fascinating side. The honking. Most drivers are trained to keep an eye on their fellow drivers. Using rear view mirrors, expecting the unexpected and so on. This country has another solution. Everyone, fold in your mirrors to avoid them being hit! Whoever wants to pass? his problem! Do I have to notice who is behind me? no! The system is more like this. All drivers announce coming by honking your horns. The system has certain effects in that there is a constant sounding of car horns from all angles. I am thoroughly impressed by how the local drivers can somehow make out from what direction a certain signal directed at them is coming. Well, they can, cant they..?

Anyways, the dirt, smell and noise is all part of why its good to see India. Not as in good smelling or soothing noises though, far from it..

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[Kristin Gunnarsson]

TRAUMA
Vad var det jag sa?