The Backpacker

There is a saying (I say so myself of course) that if you must reach anywhere and you are not sure of the roads, there are people (cars) you should follow and people you should not follow.

First, never follow a Pathan. No. Because his interests do not lie in the same place as yours. For you it may appear at first that he is the incarnation of the "god guide" but before you know it, he will slip away to some area, industrial most likely and smile in the most demeaning manner possible. And you have already lost your way.

Never follow a truck. They are quite baffling in the routes they opt to reach their destination. They will lead you right up to the point you should take a turn, (obviously with a 10 tonne truck in front there is very little chance for you to see the exit anyway) and suddenly decide that the straight road is after all an easier route. What happens to you? Well, you have lost your precious exit and and forced to go all over the place before finding another exit or a round-about or anything through which you can find your way back.

The Land Cruisers, Patrols and anything that looks like a mountain on wheels. Never follow them. Their primary objective in life being cruising on the lanes, which, going by the manner in they are built is quite exciting. They can easily knock down the smaller cars which have the good sense of keeping safely away from them. But if you are following any of them, you are more likely to run into the nearest car (because no car will ever give you right of way since you are not a threat at all) or drive off road and be stuck in the soft sand.  

To reach anywhere, do not follow women drivers unless you have time, patience and no destination what so ever.

Do not follow the men with ties and stiff shoulders looking straight ahead and clutching the wheels with both their hands. They are the determined lot who will never let you get close, never let you pass and lead you astray. In all likelihood they are people who are not going you way. (However for this you must first establish which zone/area has the maximum number of people arriving to offices wearing tie. If your particular area does not have people with ties, then forget following them. Get rid of them as quickly as you can)

That does not leave you many ideal driver you can follow.  SO you follow your instincts.

But, there is a but here, we know how often the good instincts fail. You land up in a place you had never seen before. So what, you say, so what if you get lost? There is plenty of time to get to work (this because you are an early riser and have hit the roads at 6 am to reach office by 9.30) and the sun is not up yet.

You have reached some place which is empty of cars and add some speed because you know after crawling at 0kmph your car is itching for a run. You convince yourself it is all for the best. You have after all, discovered new roads and the fact that so early in the morning there is no traffic on that particluar road.  Then you are very close to the desert with no idea whatsoever what place it is. You salvage the situation thus.

Park your car wherever you please! The weather is very pleasent, the sun in only a faint colour in the sky and there are plenty of sand dunes on which you can sit, sleep or stretch and watch the sun rise in all glory. Far away on the roads few trucks or cars roar by enthusiastically and the sound that reaches your ear is smooth and lulls you into another world.

The wind catches, sand flies...and slowly the sun appears. You want to lie there forever.... 

You have to get to work. All because the sun rises rather sharply.