Traffic in India is something to experience. Prabhaker provides an apt metaphor. "Imagine a cattle drive across Texas. The steers bunch up against one another as they come to bottlenecks and sometimes you can even imagine them leaping over one another. Occasionally, there may even be contact but each steer lowers his head and is pushed forward by pressure from the rear."
Utpal patiently helps us get a comfortable ride in a cab from Mumbai to Pune. It's about a three-hour hop. We've tried to catch a train but the arrangements were not the best and all consulted parties felt that the roads were adequately improved so as to make our journey better by car. Several tunnels have been opened up through the mountains. Besides, we have our luggage to consider. On the other hand, our companions show considerable travel-wisdom. They and we can carry everything in one load.
Our cab-driver shows somewhat less patience and wisdom. At 130 kph, he shows just as much balls as at 30 kph in the city. The horn squawks for a larger proportion of the three-hour trip than it was silent. Any car we pass that is slightly slower gets a severe glare and sometimes a bit of lip from our driver. It's all we can do to keep from laughing out loud - or trembling in fear. We are pretty relieved to finally arrive and Prabhakar proposes a little sarcastic adieu for our driver. I suggest that the sarcasm is perhaps a bit too subtle so we drop it. Neither of us wants to get on his bad side.
James and Paula, You are Absolutely Cool!!!
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