Another quirk that I noticed, at-least in Mumbai: there are no names for some roads. I go to work from “Off S.V Road” to “Off Link Road” for instance.

I particularly liked the part about “Para-diggum” – and I agree that English pronunciation is a matter of opinion.

This one is my favorite getting-directions answer of all time – many times, the reply I get is something like this:

“Go straight from Regal Cinema.”

[ Insert any other landmark here instead of Regal Cinema. ]

The point is: Ok, straight, but which way? There are at least 2 (opposite) directions to go in when you’re at any landmark (if it’s on a single straight road – and more if it’s at a T-junction (3) or at a cross-roads (4) … but no one ever realizes this.

The best part is, they always emphasize the word “straight” earnestly, as in “straaaiigghhhtt” – because, of course, saying it like that makes sure you’ll reach the place

- Vasudev

Here it goes….

“Sir, you see this traffic moving in that direction….”

… somehow this gentlemen made me look at a traffic-stream that I would not have noticed otherwise….

“Just stick to the traffic for ….umm….30 minutes…if they turn left, you turn left…….”

Although it cracked me up, I controlled my laughter so that I don’t offend the gentleman….

I was truly amazed becaused I followed his directions and I reached my destination without much trouble….

Praveen

Appreciate your patience and salute your spirit of adventure. Wow ! to your great sense of humour too while writing this piece.

While you did share your experience on a middle path, I am sure you would have gone through extremes as well – where either the coordinates are too detailed or the address is absolutely open ended. To get yourself to set course could be quite a challenge.

Just to illustrate, try an address like the one below and you’ll know what I an referring to. :

Old House No 856; (New House No : B-1717)
5th Main; 7th Cross; 3rd Phase;
4th Block; XY Nagar II Stage
( next to ABC Kalyan Manatapam West Gate )
Bangalore

or – where it could just be as simple as the one under :

Sri S P Das, IAS ( retd )
GPO Road, Cuttack, Orissa.

Either ways, you will have two things guaranteed (a) that you will have to ask ‘people-who-look-knowledgeable’ folks for directions (b) that you will have quite an adventure and more stories to write!

Happy meandering.

Saurav Mohanty

Without a GPS, I faced some inconvenience but I still prefer to ask for help from people. The inconvenience was manually rolling down the passenger side window in my car while inquiring; then it was not always easy to stop the vehicle on one lane roads. In some cities, and in certain weather conditions it can be harder to get help. Clear road signs, severe weather condition, minimum speed limits, traffic regulations, lack of population, make US driving safe and easy but boring for desi drivers me.

In US cities, I have asked strangers for directions hundreds of times, and with a 90% plus success rate I mostltly left with a smile and arrived with a thankful heart.

In India, with some many places to go, our ‘per capita’ or ‘per sq. mile’ address locations are significantly more than in US. With a more diverse traffic system, languages spoken, class inequality, I am so excited to go to India and enjoy the ‘agile’ way that I first learned there. For me, the Quality of journey is critical than the Productivity of travel.

You do have a gift for writing, laced with humor