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Riding India for dummies... Riding India for dummies...
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Southern Asia Topics specific to Southern Asia, from Iran and Armenia east through Pakistan and India to China / Vietnam / Indonesia.
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Old 7 Mar 2011
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Riding India for dummies...
Talk to me............
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  #2  
Old 7 Mar 2011
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Carnet, horn, cows
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Old 7 Mar 2011
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Horn, horn, horn!

Oh and imodium works quickly when Delhi-belly sets in.
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Old 7 Mar 2011
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hahahah !

Oh no, not another carnet country !! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A rethink maybe in order then....

I was wondering about cost of living per day, road conditions, fuel availability etc.
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Old 7 Mar 2011
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Road hierachy from top (God like) to bottom (dirt)

Cow
Goat
Horse
Sheep
Camel
Bus
Pedestrian (well at least they think they own the road)
Big Truck
Med Truck
4WD
Small Truck
Tractor
Van
Big Car
Med Car
Horse drawn Cart
Small Car
Auto Rickshaw
Rickshaw (cycle)
Motorcycle
Bicycle
Children (and other small objects)
Dog


Once you realise you're only above a bicycle then you've understood the most important.
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Old 7 Mar 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TurboCharger View Post
Road hierachy from top (God like) to bottom (dirt)

Cow
Goat
Horse
Sheep
Camel
Bus
Pedestrian (well at least they think they own the road)
Big Truck
Med Truck
4WD
Small Truck
Tractor
Van
Big Car
Med Car
Horse drawn Cart
Small Car
Auto Rickshaw
Rickshaw (cycle)
Motorcycle
Bicycle
Children (and other small objects)
Dog


Once you realise you're only above a bicycle then you've understood the most important.
Sounds just like Africa !! lol
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Old 7 Mar 2011
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Fuucckking Chaos
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Old 7 Mar 2011
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Fuucckking Chaos
Its only chaos if you are trying to travel faster than the general flow. What's the rush

The truck drivers are OK but the bus drivers are the worst. In the north, they seem to employ young men who want to keep to their schedules. They are not biased against motorcycles, small cars also get the same treatment.

However, don't let that spoil a great place

John
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Last edited by Redboots; 8 Mar 2011 at 11:21. Reason: Badly thought out!
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Old 7 Mar 2011
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I once followed a long-distance bus a bit on a curvy road in the South... it was one of the funniest/craziest/hairiest experiences I´ve had in the entire country! The thing had no springs or suspension to speak of, yet it was loaded full of people and their stuff, many many times I was 100% certain, that there´s NO WAY it can make that next bend without falling off the road. But it did! And it blasted right thru the small villages, the driver just kept the pedal nailed, incredible how no-one was hurt (...but it happens - in fact over 200 dead on those roads every day!)
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Old 8 Mar 2011
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...vibrant and totally chaotic
I have to say that (in my opinion) after 8 years on the road and 71 countries travelled that India was the worst place to ever attempt to ride a motorcycle.
the list of 'who rules the road' is a good one Turbocharger!
You are left totally drained at the end of the day. I found that I was unable to enjoy the riding as your concentration has to be 200% + 360 degrees awareness (!!) every second you are on the road. its exhausting.

the noise of the constant horn use plus the pollution also adds to the feeling of frustration and exhaustion. if you want a quick read look here at our time in India
.2ridetheworld.com : diary

would I go back. Oh yes...but not on a motorbike, then at least I could enjoy it a bit more as its a beautiful, vibrant, colourful, highly overpopulated, poisonously polluted country with a 'deathwish' population once they get on the roads on any form of transport.

as long as you are aware of all of this, go, try to be safe and find those rare quiet and calm areas...there are a small few of these still left in India!

note: yes India is a Carnet country. how were you thinking of getting there? shipping straight in or via a landborder...from?
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Old 8 Mar 2011
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Originally Posted by Lisa Thomas View Post
You are left totally drained at the end of the day. I found that I was unable to enjoy the riding as your concentration has to be 200% + 360 degrees awareness (!!) every second you are on the road. its exhausting.
Very well said. My two trips riding in that country, that was EXACTLY how I felt every evening! So true about the concentration, too - the density of traffic, combined with the rules of the road á la India, you´ll just have to see it to really believe it.

I´m also glad I went there, as it´s a fantastic, bizarre country, that gives you a very raw experience (in good and in bad!), and I hope I get to go again... but not on a motorcycle any more, I´ll rather ride somewhere else!!
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Old 8 Mar 2011
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Sounds just like Africa !! lol
I think the only difference with Africa is that you need to reverse the position of Cow and Camel.
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Old 8 Mar 2011
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My whole point of riding is to enjoy myself and it doesnt sound like fun riding.. Just stress !

I think it could be better with a backpack from reading this
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Old 8 Mar 2011
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Horns, buses and hostages
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redboots View Post
Its only chaos if you are trying to travel faster than the general flow. What's the rush

The truck drivers are OK but the bus drivers are the worst. In the north, they seem to employ young men who want to keep to their schedules. They are not biased against motorcycles, small cars also get the same treatment.

However, don't let that spoil a great place

John

This is so very true. Infact the way we explained the road rules, read lack of them, is like this. Think of a horse with blinkers on. It only sees what is directly in view in front and so only cares (gives way) to something directly in its field of view and higher in the hierachy (see scale earlier). It doesn't care about what is to the side or behind. So when you take the same approach in Indian roads, I think it works quite well.

And I think Horn, horn, horn was an understatement!

Don't need headlights, or blinkers or any lights for that matter as long as you have a horn.

Horn when appraoching an intersection
Horn when entering an intersection
Horn when overtaking (long horn)
Horn when turning
Horn when stopping
Horn when starting
Horn when changing direction
Horn when not stationary ie all the time.

PS most vehicles have more than 1 horn just incase one breaks. Buses have the most incredible tunes, sounding like an ice-cream truck or Mr Whippy but don't be fooled you better get out of their way, they don't take hostages!!!
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Old 9 Mar 2011
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...faster than the flow...is that possible??!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redboots View Post
Its only chaos if you are trying to travel faster than the general flow. What's the rush
mmm..I think I will have to disagree with the first bit of this statement! most of the time its impossible to travel faster than 'the flow' as the density of traffic will not allow. so...even when riding at the same speed as all of the other vehciles on the road, pushbikes, the small motorbikes, etc....even the cow often walked faster than we rode! it is still complete and utter chaos and you still need your attention absolutely focused.

however, you are indeed correct in saying
'whats the rush'! ...there is absolutely no point in rushing through any country because if you do why bother visiting it in the first place!

is it different to the cities in Africa...I have to say 'yes' in my experience it is. However, exactly how is difficult to enunciate. ..perhaps it is the continual use of the horn! After a while it did my head in....
however, Go and try it! and have fun but be safe!! and AWARE all the time.
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Last edited by Lisa Thomas; 9 Mar 2011 at 09:34. Reason: spelling
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