Beep—Beep--Beep
‘Beep—Beep’ this is the sound you hear all the time in Kathmandu, and almost anywhere in Nepal where there is traffic movement. If you think some friend has spotted you or someone is asking you to move out of the way, then forget it. The car, bike or truck horn has many more uses than we traditionally think. As I write this, yes I can hear it,’ beep---beep---beep’. I often wonder who is the last to’ beep-beep’ at night in the Kathmandu valley, and who is the first to start up this great symphony on the following morning? Perhaps it’s the guy who rounds the bend near to our home at about 5.30am,’ beep—beep--beep ‘he goes I wonder who at? Who needs an alarm clock??
The horn is something you just cannot do without. Lights yes, indicators yes, but horn definitely no. People beep it as they drive very gingerly along the rough crowded roads; young lads (and not so young) do it as they spin around on their motorbikes. Big trucks carrying all sorts of stuff into the city beep, usually giving several loud three or four tones, saying in effect,” I’m big move over”. Through the hilly mountainous regions the bus will always’ beep—bee’ as it wends its way round one hairpin bend after another on the lonely often-single tack roads. As the sound drifts through the valleys it’s a sure signal to the village up ahead, the bus is coming, although perhaps its still 45 minutes away! If you stay in a house or guesthouse in a town make sure it’s not near the bus park. If you’re not sure where it is you will be at about 5am in the morning as life on the roads gets under way and the ‘beep----beep’ means, hurry up ,’ I’m leaving any minute, get on’.
For cars and bikes in the city’ beep—beep’ means simply, ‘look out I’m here’. Walkers and other road users had better not make any sudden moves. When traffic lights are at red or you are stuck in a jam’ beep---beep’ to show your frustration and build the pressure on those up ahead. If a traffic police officer is directing traffic’ beep---beep’, to hurry them up. Then when the lights turn green, or a wave from the cop comes,’ beep--- beep’ all together in a great celebration. Its like the flag has dropped at the start of the northwest 200 race.
‘Beep—Beep’ this is the sound you hear all the time in Kathmandu, and almost anywhere in Nepal where there is traffic movement. If you think some friend has spotted you or someone is asking you to move out of the way, then forget it. The car, bike or truck horn has many more uses than we traditionally think. As I write this, yes I can hear it,’ beep---beep---beep’. I often wonder who is the last to’ beep-beep’ at night in the Kathmandu valley, and who is the first to start up this great symphony on the following morning? Perhaps it’s the guy who rounds the bend near to our home at about 5.30am,’ beep—beep--beep ‘he goes I wonder who at? Who needs an alarm clock??
The horn is something you just cannot do without. Lights yes, indicators yes, but horn definitely no. People beep it as they drive very gingerly along the rough crowded roads; young lads (and not so young) do it as they spin around on their motorbikes. Big trucks carrying all sorts of stuff into the city beep, usually giving several loud three or four tones, saying in effect,” I’m big move over”. Through the hilly mountainous regions the bus will always’ beep—bee’ as it wends its way round one hairpin bend after another on the lonely often-single tack roads. As the sound drifts through the valleys it’s a sure signal to the village up ahead, the bus is coming, although perhaps its still 45 minutes away! If you stay in a house or guesthouse in a town make sure it’s not near the bus park. If you’re not sure where it is you will be at about 5am in the morning as life on the roads gets under way and the ‘beep----beep’ means, hurry up ,’ I’m leaving any minute, get on’.
For cars and bikes in the city’ beep—beep’ means simply, ‘look out I’m here’. Walkers and other road users had better not make any sudden moves. When traffic lights are at red or you are stuck in a jam’ beep---beep’ to show your frustration and build the pressure on those up ahead. If a traffic police officer is directing traffic’ beep---beep’, to hurry them up. Then when the lights turn green, or a wave from the cop comes,’ beep--- beep’ all together in a great celebration. Its like the flag has dropped at the start of the northwest 200 race.
posted by Janet & Joe | 9:40 AM
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