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Published: January 26th 2012
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Well, just stopped off in Varanasi on our way from Bodh Gaya to Agra. Another 5 hour drive this morning and we're now waiting in the Hotel Radisson before we board the overnight sleeper to Agra at 17:45 which should be . . . . interesting. Also, the laptop is bust ( 14 day old HP Netbook ! ), so we will have to resort to hotel Internet and cyber-shacks for the time being. No piccies with this entry as the camera is in the car (and I'm not sure where the car is right now !).
Bodh Gaya was mind-blowing, for a number of reasons. But, before we get to that, I thought I should tell you a little about what we have learned about driving in India while it's still fresh in my mind.
Driving in India involves a different conciousnous altogether from driving in the UK. For example, I'm still not sure whether they drive on the left or the right, it seems to be up to you. In addition, the use of the horn is entirely different too. I reckon our driver must have blown his horn say once every 15 seconds for the whole journey, which makes a total of 1200 times for the whole journey.
The blowing of the horn has many different meanings in India. Here are just a few:
1. I'm behind you.
2. I'm in front of you.
3. I'm at the side of you.
4. Get out of my way (trad)
5. I'm getting out of your way.
6. I wonder what pressing this does.
7. Namaste.
8. My horn sounds like this.
9. Does your horn sound like this ?
10. It's quite sunny today.
11. Moo cows.
12. I haven't heard my horn for a few seconds, I wonder if it is still working.
They use it to tell the world where they are at regular intervals, I imagine rather similar to how dolphins communicate, when in a shoal of traffic.
With that in mind, here are a few questions that illustrate correct usage and behaviour for Indian road etiquette:
1. You are driving down a dual carriageway with a separate central reservation, when all of a sudden, you notice a large truck blaring its horn, on your side of the same dual carriageway travelling in the opposite direction in your lane. What do you do:
a) Accelerate, maintaining your course
b) Blare your horn
c) Swerve out of the way at the last minute only if it looks as though they're not going to chicken out first.
d) All of the above
e) None of the above
2. You are driving in a busy city when you come to a busy roundabout. You want to go right, what do you do:
a) Indicate right, wait for a gap in the traffic, then join the flow.
b) Blare horn to make a gap.
c) Dive straight into the traffic, not bothering to even go the right way round the roundabout, ploughing straight in the oncoming traffic, blaring hormn continously.
d) None of the above
3. You are driving down a busy street, when a pedestrian steps off into your path. Do you:
a) Blare your horn maintaining your current course of direction and speed.
b) Swerve to avoid the pedestrian.
c) Make an emergency stop.
d) None of the above.
Answers:
1. d) 2. c) 3. a)
How did you do ?
If you scored 0 or above, you are now eligible for a full Indian driving licence. This allows you to drive a car, motorbike, tuk-tuk, bus, HGV or elephant throughout India.
Don't get me wrong, our driver a was a good driver (the guide explained that driving in India is an art), we haven't hit anything at all, its just a differnet mind set.
Anyway, nearly time for the next bit of the adventure so better go. Will provide an update on Bodh Gaya when we get to Agra (Internet-access notwithstanding).
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Steephen Thomas
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