If you ever go to Jaipur, resist all of your natural instincts for self preservation and ride an auto rickshaw or "Tick-tick" through the many streets of the city. In fact, ask your driver to give you a tour of the city or even better, his own neighborhood.
I am still amazed at the variety of modes of transportation that I saw while praying desperately to be spared from any head on collisions with motorcycles, cars, trucks, bicycle rickshaws, bicycles, busses, tractors, horses, camels, mules, water buffalo and, yep, elephants. All of these different mechanical and non-mechanical creatures share the road.
Then there are all the other critters just wandering around on the streets like pigs, cats, dogs, chickens, small children, elderly men and elderly women. One of the guidebooks said the streets of India have their own rhythm, and I think I'm starting to see it. John wondered aloud the other day, "I can't decide if Indian drivers are the best drivers or the worst drivers in the world". I have come to the conclusion that they are the best. Even though they are breaking every rule of the road. Even though they lay on their horns with wild abandon. Even though they never brake for pedestrians. They maintain a calmness that just blows my mind. It's like their in a Zen state. I keep expecting to see some road rage or, at least some angry words, but it's all just part of the flow.
From the back of the Tick-tick, I can see the driver's facial expressions and he remains calm after another car nearly forces him off the road. Maybe I'm just a victim of Stockholm syndrome, (or whatever that syndrome is where you start love your captor) but I have been impressed with the skills of Indian drivers.
Here are a few pics captured from our own little Tick-tick.
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