Means of transport (MoT)

1. Feet: Within the cities, between the sights, it is often not worth taking a riksha. However, some rules should be obeyed. First of all, don't rely on traffic lights when you cross the streets, neither on marked crossings. Second, you are used to left-right-left looking for the traffic, continue that until infinity, unless you have 3 turns in a row without one of the following MoT driving on the lane you want to cross. This brings me to the third point, have subgoals, one lane at a time, reach for islands they are valuable. Do not let yourself distract from the constant , unless it is longer than one second but then it is too late anyway. Rejoice each street you cross without being killed. Finally, try to ignore people trying to sell you something, with a joyfull "thank you", but don't smile at the boys around you (see prev. entries), if the sellers are to annoying, don't be joyful but grumpy, same goes for the beggers. Don't give ANY money to kids, EVER. They will not go to school, unless the will earn less, so keep your small change for the old ladies without a pension fund.
   
2. Bike: I distinguish 3 kinds of bike: a real motorbike, a bicycle and a scooter. The scooter is real fun, you can rent them for between 200-300 Rp a day and stroll along the streets through the villages. Today, we did a wonderful trip along the shore in Verkala, trying to find a fortress. You have to drive VERY carefully, honestly, there are bumps everywhere and with the monsoon there are puddles you shouldn't drive through too quickly. And yes, Mum, I had a helmet. The motorbike option is of course the coolest of all. Chennai is famous for the Ensfield machines... Anyway, they just introduced that helmets are obligatory, but hardly anyone cares: the girls need to at least have a chance to look at the boys with those amazing machines (that is what the boys think), covering the face with a helmet would be so stupid. Admittedly, it is so damn hot in this helmet! Bicycles: the bakfiets was definetly not invented in the Netherlands. I have seen some of them here, that are at least as old as the greek mythology but still work perfectly. You can transport about 50 huge bags of rice on them... Otherwise, biking is similar to A'dam. Same chaos, same bell ringing, same amount of people on the bike. I didn't try them yet, they are supposed to have no suspension at all.
   
3. Bike Rikscha: Cheaper than a Moto, this MoT has a very old driver and vehicle. The driver is really old, seriously, at home they would be sent to a retierement home. However, they take a long time and the whole time you feel sorry for that poor man, who in that unbearable heat has to transport you and your enormous backpack to your hostel. Sometimes they stop and chat (not asking for the way, but actually chatting), but they are greener and somewhat authentic.
   
4. Moto Rikscha: You have to take one at least once a day. They are quick and often cheap, unless they realise you are a tourist. There are no traffic rules for rikshas, they have nice manual horn, and a meter, which seriously needs to be dusted. Prices have to be bargained before: the best strategy is to somehow have an idea how much it should cost and walk away if the price is not alright. In Chennai, you should not take a normal but a prepaid riksha (so I heard) because they rob you otherwise. Though I have not a clue how to distinguish them. Also, if they want more money afterwards, don't give them anything, not even tips. They should learn that they can not take everything from the tourists. Finally, prices vary from place to place, Ponticherry has a minimum of 30 Rp, here in Verkala its 20.
   
5. Air conditioned taxi: No idea, but the drivers constantly ask me whether I am interested...
   
6. Goverment Bus: For long distances point 4 and 5 are too expensive. Goverment busses are the cheapest way, but not necessarily comfortable. They always cost below 100 Rp, for my 10h trip I paid in total less than 100Rp. However, there are disadvantages, if you get a seat, you might end up between a rosary praying egocentric money-begging old woman and a woman with a newborn (which actually ended up peeing on my trousers, after I still had 6 h of travelling ahead). You will not sit next to a nice person of the opposite gender, unless he is a tourist, because that is what you don't do. Just a social rule. In Tamil Nadu, make sure you don't sit in the first 3 rows of the large seats, they are a lot less comfy than the rest.
   
7. Private Bus: Never did that, but they are air-conditioned, more expensive and have to be booked in advance
   
8. Train, sleeper class: The trains stink. It is hard to explain what the smell is, but in general I would say it is toilet smell. I slept in a sleeper class train, you basically have a normal train, not really compartments, and like in the German City Night lines, the lowest bed is a seat, the middle bed is to lean and the topmost bed is already open. At one point someone will come and ask if you would like to order some food, don't do it, its terrible. Just rush out at a station and get some cheaper and better street vendor food, or buy food from the guys that sell snacks in the train. Sleeping is possible, believe it or not, at around 10 everyone goes to bed, lights are turned of and no one talks anymore. Bring your own blanket(should you need one)/pillow. The doors are always open and people look out of the train.
   
9. Train, second class: Stinks as well, but sleeping is not that easy. One can very well sleep in the luggage carrying metal shelves, but I think that its very uncomfy, I didn't do it. Otherwise, its the same as 8.