Saturday, August 27, 2005
Getting to India
It is August 1st and it’s a delayed departure for my flight from Orlando to Detroit with a tight connection at the other end. Managed somehow to get on my connecting flight in Detroit, still not sure how that worked since when I arrived at the gate the plane door was shut and the access ramp was being backed away. Anyway, I was glad to get on the flight. Unfortunately, I found out later, my bags were left behind. It was, Detroit to Amsterdam then on to Mumbai (Bombay before their independence), a short overnight rest then onward to Vishakhapatnam. That name is so long, even the Indians refer to it as Vizag. Our driver was waiting for me there at the airport and was rather curiously looking at my lack of baggage. His English is very limited but I attempted to explain. No problem, we’ll get them later…
It’s a 3 hour drive to Rajahmundry, and what a drive it was. This is my first exposure to Indian traffic, driving techniques and lack of laws. Simply put, it is pure chaos… The only rule that seems to apply is occupy a space and honk a lot. The larger the vehicle the more others yield to it. Pedestrians, cows, goats, bicycles, motorcycles, auto rickshaws, cars and trucks all vie for the same spaces. Even on four lane divided roads the traffic flows in both directions in all lanes. It’s pure madness… I remember thinking it would be an amazing feat to arrive at the hotel without having an accident but we made it.
Check out this website if you want to know more about where I’m currently residing/working:
www.rajahmundry.net
It’s a 3 hour drive to Rajahmundry, and what a drive it was. This is my first exposure to Indian traffic, driving techniques and lack of laws. Simply put, it is pure chaos… The only rule that seems to apply is occupy a space and honk a lot. The larger the vehicle the more others yield to it. Pedestrians, cows, goats, bicycles, motorcycles, auto rickshaws, cars and trucks all vie for the same spaces. Even on four lane divided roads the traffic flows in both directions in all lanes. It’s pure madness… I remember thinking it would be an amazing feat to arrive at the hotel without having an accident but we made it.
Check out this website if you want to know more about where I’m currently residing/working:
www.rajahmundry.net
