The alarm goes off at 5:30 am this time around, the sun isn’t even up yet. We pack up everything and head down to our little rickshaw. The morning haze was calming. A security guard watches us curiously watches us pack everything, he even helps us a little bit. So I got a picture of him next to the rickshaw.
I drive the first 90ish kilometers. I learned that in order to drive in India, you must drive like an Indian. In order to do that, you must adapt to the fact that the road is yours and only yours, except for cows, cows have the right of way. The only problem with this mindset is that everyone on the road is in this mindset. At one point, in a two-lane, two-way highway, I was trying to pass a slow truck in front of me and a giant bus was coming from the other side straight towards me. Our rickshaw’s max speed is about 60kph. Antoine is in the back screaming that there is a bus, and I’m screaming that I can make it, and I barely squeeze in front of the truck, just missing the giant bus that’s still honking at me. Poor Antoine. The only reason I stopped driving the first time around was because I was driving, minding my own business when this black car comes out of nowhere with no intentions of stopping even though I’m obviously going to be where she wants to be. I swerve out of her way and onto the civilian sidewalk, almost hitting some people and catching the side of another rickshaw. We broke their side mirror. A police officer came over asking us questions, once I explained to him that I was dodging the other car, that lady drove past us and just smiled. The police officer did his best to clear the way of people and we got out of there as soon as possible.
About 20 minutes into driving, Antoine pulled the rickshaw over and we decided to take a nap on the side of the highway for 30 minutes. We spent most of today on the highway, it was stressful for everyone involved.
A few hours later, Antoine does the same thing as me and plays chicken with another giant bus.
I drive to our first stop, we stop for gas and look for food, but everything is closed as today was India Independence Day. Most cars were going around with India flags on them and buildings were all decorated accordingly. Orange, green, and white everywhere.
I was getting angry because I kept stalling the rickshaw every time I got down to the lower gears. I also couldn’t start the car without help. We also hadn’t had any food all day.
Antoine drives to our final destination for the day. The first hotel we were going to go to wouldn’t accept our credit cards so we had to find another one. Finally, food, shelter, and a bed.
These first two days really made us realize how long this journey really will be.
-Jamie