Streets of Delhi

Just another day in Delhi. Upon observing this speeding couple passing us on the highway I couldn't help remark to Daniel, "Did he have a toilet?". Daniel confirmed the siting as a smile crossed our face, you just don't get this back home. After this, It was a not a surprise to witness the scene at right. Driving in India takes a different kind of person. Driving in Delhi is not for the faint of heart. Upon landing, we piled into the Toyota Qualis, similar to a Landcruiser, and sped off for our flat. The streets aren't crowded, they're overflowing. Every meter is fought over with a passion not witnessed elsewhere in Indian life. I'm not sure how to describe the apparent animosity represented in daily driving. These are not scattered episodes of road rage, its a way of life for anyone brave enough to leave home. Pedestrians however, are prob at the greatest risk. Trying to cross the street requires an almost detached vision towards life itself. Besides cars, rickshaws (3-wheeled bikes), autoricks, scooters and motorcycles attack the roads with a vengence prevelant from a scene in a Mad Max movie. There are also large trucks and buses. Each bus carries is crammed beyond max capacity, think world record for # people in a telephone booth. The bikes and scooters weave in and out of traffic, coming within inches of the vehicles on each side of them. The bikes usually carry between 1 and 5 people, plus supplies. They do however wear helmets, usually, other than the women. Road conditions can be problematic. Potholes can spread across entire lanes but no more than 11 inches deep. They do however, even them out with speed bumps (humps in India because they are at least one foot tall). They fall randomly throughout the highway or interstate, not just for parking lots and subdivisions.

Our driver is of the rarest breed. He is a seasoned professional with over 20 years experience, who can navigate this city with a sense of ease I thought unattainable. Upon every outing, I've witnessed him do battle in the streets of Delhi. We have escaped insurmountable situations completely unscathed. Just when I think he's finally made a mistake, miscalculated by a few millimeters or won't get stopped quick enough, he somehow manages to slip by. Just the other day, we took a couple of detours that brought me to the edge of my seat. See Daniel's blog to learn of Bitoo's death defying adventures, commandeering sidewalks and busting through bus only lanes. Yep, just another day in Delhi!