It has reached that stage when the TS (Trailing Spouse) had to fill up the car with petrol. Now this is no easy task in the demonic driving of Dhaka. Now most expats have their driver to do the deed and and just basically handover cash, get the receipt and nothing more is said. Madam has yet to choose a driver hence, I am now learning all the bad habits of survival on Dhaka driving.
Now, having driven for over 20 years, you would think what the heck am I moaning about. The car is a right wheeled drive - same as home. The traffic allegedly drives on the right / correct side of the road and ultimately my car is bigger than the others. Well fellow readers I wish it was all that simple.
Your first problem as previously mentioned in a previous blog (Traffic) - there are no rules. If you want to drive up the wrong way on the other side of the road - not a problem. Rickshaws and Tuk-Tuks do it all the time. There is no concept of lanes. For instance the 'motorway' is a three lane road. On a good day, the traffic might be nice and operate as three lanes but normally its five lanes. The concept of roundabouts are a new phenomenon so the question of 'right of way?' is not in their parlance; and most frustrating of all - to get onto the other side of any road, there are no slipways, roundabouts, side roads etc. No no no -- you just find a gap in the central reservation and do a U-turn. There is no point having your heart in your mouth, white knuckles on the steering wheel or just panicking. Just shrug the shoulders and hope for the best is the most appropriate policy.
So after many discussions with people on where the easiest petrol station was to get to, it was time to venture out. I chose a Friday morning - good call most said - the roads would be quiet! Dhaka had obviously decided not this time when I was going out. I found the right break and did my Uy - ok so far. Identified the petrol station on the other side of the road and duly had to find another break in the central reservation to do another Uy. Ok so far.
I duly pulled into the petrol station onto what could be described as a 'forecourt' with a motley crew of cars, tuk-tuks and something described as a minibus. After lots of pointing and stating what I wanted, I was duly advised that to get to the petrol pump, I would need to exit the 'forecourt', do a u-turn into on-coming traffic and re-enter the petrol station. A new twist to driving in Dhaka! All I can say it was a bit touch and go, but thankfully some truck managed to botch up getting round some rickshaw providing the opportunity for a u-turn and then sneak into the forecourt at the petrol pump. Getting out was just as bad - one had to reverse into oncoming traffic. Again some rickshaw and a tuk-tuk were having a contra ton leaving a gap for a nifty manoeuvre to escape the 'carnage'.
Now getting home. Madam, asked how it went and ended up saying 'that's nice dear'. So when anyone again moans about traffic, try driving into oncoming traffic just to enter a petrol station - I say - Easy!