I have become an expert now. In what?
I came to Chennai 3 months
ago. I was terrified of crossing the
streets. So much oncoming traffic. Trucks, cars, buses, autos, two wheelers,
regular bicycles, dogs, cattle, and what else.
They never stop or even slow down for people crossing the street – even
at the designated crossing spots.
I come from a place where the (California
In Chennai, while crossing the streets, I used to hide
behind little old 90 year old ladies. I
used to keep them as human shields and cross the street. Now, after 3 months of practice/experience, I
have become an expert. I no longer hide
behind 90 year ladies. Nowadays, I am
leading even college boys while crossing the streets. What is the trick I learnt?
Be patient at all times and wait for the right time to
cross.
When your brain says cross the street, then do not hesitate.
Cross the street immediately.
(Courtesy: YouTube)
main streets in Delhi too look more like wild gushing streams, and it is so damn difficult to cross them! I hate crossing such roads. Congrats on the newly acquired skill :)
ReplyDeleteIt's really a busy city! I'm not used to so many cars! and, my goodness, how many people in one bus! I think I would run over ...
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Ankita. And, thanks for your congrats.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Camila. It is a very busy city. I never travel by bus here. First, I am afraid. Second, it is so crowded I cannot get into the bus.
ReplyDeleteI can totally understand your plight, cause it is almost the same scene everywhere in India. No body stops for pedestrians, they don't even bother to slow down. Most of the times I do a sprint to cross the road to avoid being run over.
ReplyDeleteLOL @ the video. Although I have crossed roads like that, it's quite rare. It maybe better to stop, wait for the signal to turn red, and then cross. But in that junction, traffic just didn't seem to stop! I feel, waiting for a few more people to join you and crossing the road together maybe a better idea in such situations.
ReplyDeleteDestination Infinity
As long as I lived in India, I was so used to crossing streets with vehicles cris-crossing from every direction. Now, I look for other pedestrians and go with them. Sometimes, I miss that disorder when I return back to the US.
ReplyDeleteI was born here in India, and am still afraid of crossing the road after 24 years :-)
ReplyDeleteI have to tell you that you are a quick learner then. After your Indian experiences, I bet that you will have some tough time in California!!!
ReplyDeleteCrossing road in Chennai is a nightmare!! wow you already mastered the art ... I struggled for 4 years :) Once in a while some driver would take pity on me and stop the car to let me cross.
ReplyDeletePreviously Whitefield where we live was so calm with hardly any traffic or people for that matter. It was almost like living in a foreign country. The temperature too was always slightly cooler than the city. We were very happy. However, with IT industry coming like a tsunami, it is a real nightmare trying to cross the main road. Luckily we don't live on the main road.
ReplyDeleteI cannot understand when people blame our population for the state our country is, for aren't we following the " Hum do Hamare Ek", for many years, and many people have gone further and practice just "Hum Do".
Strange.
We all get used and somehow survive bravely.
May be Gurgaon could do with your expertise.
ReplyDeleteYou have no clue as to how it works here.
One needs to be a trapeze artist
Nice to know that finally you overcame the difficulty in crossing roads :) TC! Keep smiling :)
ReplyDeletenice observation on common life.
ReplyDeleteCrossing roads on city main streets is quite scary even I agree with you. Staying here since ages but I still hold someone's hand while crossing;-)
ReplyDeleteOh! The skill to cross a busy road is an absolute necessity! Glad that you have aced this :)
ReplyDeleteEven now, I can't cross a busy road without using someone as a shield. If I go with friends or family, I hold their hands instinctively.
ReplyDeleteGreat that you are an expert now :) I wish I will become one someday... :)
Thanks for your comments My Era No long no comments. Hope you are doing well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Rajesh. Even where there are signals, no motorist is bothering to observe the rules.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments OIW. You are correct. When I go back (which is very soon) I would miss this traffic jam too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Karunesh. May be my bravery is in my own mind and not a reality.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Satya. I sure will have some tough time in California - starting with honking the horn.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Rajlakshmi. Those kind of drivers are very rare.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Rama. Life goes on - no matter what.
ReplyDeleteThanks for comments Mr. Chowla. Yes, one needs to be a trapeze artist.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Sindhu.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Rajesh Babu. And, welcome to my blog.
ReplyDeleteRajesh, please visit here as often as possible. Thanks.
Thanks for your comments Akshitha. I used to hide behind 90 year old ladies.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Shilpa. May be my expertise is a foolish courage.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Rohini. May be my expertise is a foolish courage.
ReplyDeleteHahaha....We just wait for some people to join and cross the road, showing our hands for the vehicles to stop. Stretch your hands and walk!
ReplyDeleteYou are going to miss this in your place! You never get bored here...people, people, people everywhere to watch!
I am a bit late, here!
When in Rome do as the Romans do is the adage that comes to my mind. Keep at it, else you can never cross the road.
ReplyDeleteCrossing the road is a Herculean task in India.Experience makes a man master and your clever brain has mastered that art well.Hiding behind 90 year-old..,interesting,S.G. I underwent a hibernation for a couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteI am used to busy street like Chennai, so crossing is okay for me. But riding in a auto rickshaw is what makes me worried...they are rocketing at high speed and often make me say "slow down" like a child.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Sandhya. You are correct. I will never get bored here in Chennai.
ReplyDeleteThanks Asha.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ashwini for your comments. I never left Chennai, in my heart.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Sarala. We missed you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Umamaheswari. Tell me about auto rickshws. When this hits a hole on the ground or bump, it feels very painful for us passengers.
ReplyDeletehahaha. 90 yr old ladies?
ReplyDeleteAll you need to cross a street in India is the heart of a warrior, the luck of the lucky (to not be run over) and the skin of a rhinoceros (to ignore the expletives of car owners)
There are so many scary streets to cross it is crazy.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you have yours figured out.
Thanks for your comments Sweetie. You are absolutely correct.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments LL. I think I have figured it out.
ReplyDeleteMay the Christmas season
ReplyDeletefill your home with joy,
your heart with love
and your life with laughter!
Merry Christmas and a happy 2015 :D
Hi SG, thanks first for visiting my post. You are right there about Chennai traffic. Crossing traffic signals are alos nightmarish.Two wheelers and some taxi fellows do not obey any traffic signals the red signal is not for them to follow:( Only police personnel if they are around they see RED.
ReplyDeleteDiscipline is something that must b inculcated right from childhood.
I was busy with my son's wedding.
Happy New year!!.
Hi SG :) Nice post.. I am from chennai so I can able to feel how it would for a person from Cal :) When I was in day shift My driver used to drop me at a road opposite and I have to just cross it to enter my apartment.. First i used to cross half of the road then u shud take rest for 5mins then u shud wait for the road to let free then have to cross another half.. this wat I was doing for 4 yrs :D since my shift has been changed now my cabs coming inside now else it wil be a nightmare for me still :)
ReplyDeleteHi SG :) Nice post.. I am from chennai so I can able to feel how it would for a person from Cal :) When I was in day shift My driver used to drop me at a road opposite and I have to just cross it to enter my apartment.. First i used to cross half of the road then u shud take rest for 5mins then u shud wait for the road to let free then have to cross another half.. this wat I was doing for 4 yrs :D since my shift has been changed now my cabs coming inside now else it wil be a nightmare for me still :)
ReplyDelete