It's Not Personal, Just Driving

You may remember my mentioning how nuts Vietnam was for driving...I take it back. Vietnam is tame. Driving in India is by far scarier. Yesterday was my first real driving experience in India (in the daytime) - We took a rickshaw to the bus and then a 3h bus ride to Allahabad to take the train - and I have to say, I had no idea traveling could be so stressful! There is no centre line here (at least in the minds of drivers). Our bus driver (we nicknamed him "Stone Cold" for his expressionless/no fear driving) would drive for minutes on end in the opposing lane, honking madly, forcing smaller oncoming vehicles to the side and then swerving at the very last second back into our lane when challenged by vehicles the same size or larger. If two cars so narrowly missed each other in Canada, the drivers would pull over and thank their lucky stars they just survived such a near death experience. In India, it's routine. If a vehicle wants to pass another, you drive up behind it and honk madly and repeatedly until they move over. If they don't move over, you pass them in the oncoming traffic lane. No hard feelings. Our driver tried to pass another, he was honking madly for some time but the vehicle didn't make room, eventually we passed it on the sidewalk side (I also wouldn't want to bike here, you are playing with your life biking along a road in India) and instead of getting mad at the guy for not moving (in Canada this would have warranted at least a glare, if not a "wtf" look or possible finger), there was no acknowledgment whatsoever! As if, no hard feelings, it's just driving. The driving madly up behind someone and honking repeatedly, just safety. India definitely is incredible.

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