crossing streets in kolkata is like a game of capture the flag... when you are going in to enemy territory nearing the opponent's flag and base, weaving in and out of people, jumping forward in confidence and then even a small hesitation leads to an all out retreat, and finally, you just decide, heck let's go for it, and you go in, hoping you'll successfully get the flag. If not, well, you're frozen.. or dead... squashed. That's what it's like, especialy during rush hour.
I have to admit, it's improved drastically on the major roads, even just this past year, but some side roads, buses and cars just zoom down and it's hard to get across the road. when you see an opening, you shimmy your way over. any hesitation will force you back to the sidewalk where you came from. only those who are bold, those who courageously call out in the name of... their hand... as they hold their palm up at cars tellibg the cars that you're walking and you'd better wait for me to get across... will get across. alternatively the technique i try to adopt is to follow closely alongside another brave soul and use them as a a buffer, protection from the incoming cars.
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