While in Calcutta, you always here about taxi strikes. It is a holiday for everyone, because the city basically stands still. People cannot get to work and the bus system is already overloaded during high traffic times without the strike happening (Re-read my post 27+1) There are approximately 30,000 taxis in Calcutta and they are having a 2 day strike to increase their rates. Guess who scheduled her plane ticket for the first day of the strike. I am working on a few options at this time...Going to a hotel near the airport the day before and camping out there and walking to the airport or hiring a car to take me. When I scheduled the flights I was more concerned of the airline strike that had just ended and did not even think about looking if there was a planned a taxi strike. I am just not use to all the diffeent forms of transportation.
To give you an idea of what it is like riding in a taxi in India think of the following things:
1. Keep your feet on the floor and use your legs to keep yourself on the seat because of the sudden stop and go is quick and sudden.
2.Taxis occasionally drive on the sidewalk.
3. The horn is used to let everyone around you know where you are and if you are stuck in traffic hold down the horn until whatever is in front of you moves.
4. If traffic is at a stand still, taxis turn off the engines and wait until the traffic starts going again. Blow your horn just because you can!
5. Taxi drivers do not make change have exact or it is their tip.
6. Keep the windows down there is not A/C.
7. Same as a bus, keep your hands in if you want to keep them.
8. You have to negotiate your price, the first price is for suckers!
Just to give you an idea of what a 45 minute taxi ride costs from the center of Calcutta to the airport. It cost approximately 200 rupees or $4 US dollars. Cross your fingers that the taxi strike is called off!
To give you an idea of what it is like riding in a taxi in India think of the following things:
1. Keep your feet on the floor and use your legs to keep yourself on the seat because of the sudden stop and go is quick and sudden.
2.Taxis occasionally drive on the sidewalk.
3. The horn is used to let everyone around you know where you are and if you are stuck in traffic hold down the horn until whatever is in front of you moves.
4. If traffic is at a stand still, taxis turn off the engines and wait until the traffic starts going again. Blow your horn just because you can!
5. Taxi drivers do not make change have exact or it is their tip.
6. Keep the windows down there is not A/C.
7. Same as a bus, keep your hands in if you want to keep them.
8. You have to negotiate your price, the first price is for suckers!
Just to give you an idea of what a 45 minute taxi ride costs from the center of Calcutta to the airport. It cost approximately 200 rupees or $4 US dollars. Cross your fingers that the taxi strike is called off!
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