Listen to the episode
Driving Profile: Ralph Velasco
(sneak peek)
RALPH: [00:00:00] They’re going to drop me off on the
Georgian side of the border and I was going to go through and meet my other
guide in Armenia on the other side.
We get to the border and she tells me,
okay, here you go. You know, we’ll wait
outside for 10 or 15 minutes just to make sure you get through and everything’s
okay.
There weren’t too many people in line,
maybe four or five people in front of me. Get up to the border guard to the
booth there, hand the man, my passport. And he says, do you have a visa for
Azerbaijan?
(intro music)
BHAVNEET:
Happy Earth Day, and welcome back to Drive With Us Podcast, a
podcast where we explore driving cultures around the world by bringing on a new
guest each episode to talk about the crazy things they’ve experienced on the
road, who they are as drivers and how they became the driver they are today.
I’m Bhavneet.
TARANJIT:
And I’m Taranjit. But before we get into who todays guest is
which you could probably already tell by the title, a quick little plug because you know we shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help right?
[00:01:00] And feel free to forward past this small update if you are just like, give me the stories. I just want to hear the guest’s crazy driving stories. Go ahead and skip past this quick update.
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We are truly grateful for all your support whether it’s just simply listening to our episodes and sharing it with others or if it’s choosing to become a patron. Thank you for choosing to drive with us every week.
And
today’s driver is Ralph Velasco, a professional travel photographer, author,
public speaker, blogger, and new YouTube creator. For the past 12 years, he has
organized and led small group tours around the world through his to travel
brands. He is usually on internationally he is usually internationally on the road
for 18 months of a year and has made over 100 International trips. Ralph shares
with us a time he was accidentally dropped off at the wrong border and almost
crossed, racing around Turkey like a rock star and struggling with a rental car
in France. Let’s meet today’s driver Ralph Velasco.
(transition music)
BHAVNEET: [00:01:50] Welcome Ralph. Thanks so much for joining us today.
RALPH: Well thank you for
inviting me. It’s great to be here.
TARANJIT: I’m super excited to
hear your stories, especially since you travel so much throughout the year. And
I can’t wait to hear the crazy driving experiences that you’ve had during those
travels. So what would you say is the most craziest or most interesting driving
experience you’ve had?
RALPH: Well, I I’ve had have
had a, quite a few. One that comes to mind immediately happened, about two
years ago almost exactly. And I was in Tbilisi, Georgia. I had just arrived for
my first trip there and my local tour operator picked me up at the airport and you
know, the traffic didn’t seem like much to me.
But I could tell she
was a little bit hesitant driving, I’m, I’m the passenger. And so. She
was just kind of taking her time and going slowly and, you know, being very
cautious, which was fine. and then she says, Oh, don’t worry about my
driving [00:02:50] tomorrow my father’s gonna drive us and I’ll be able to talk
to you and answer your questions and not have to concentrate on the road.
To be honest, in the
back of my mind, I’m like, Oh great. I was, I was kind of happy about
that. Cause, over all, having been to Georgia now the equivalent of three
or four months total, they’re driving can, is something to be desired.
Let’s just put it that way.
So the next day her
father and her picked me up at my hotel. he’s an older gentlemen and that’s,
you know, that’s fine, but, know, I’m thinking, okay, great experienced driver.
We, we’re going to be fine. So little did I know that, he just, might’ve been
one of the worst drivers I’ve ever been with and I had to spend, a total of, I
think, two days with them driving about eight hours a day.
Cause they were showing
me all around the area, which is great. And my tour operators do this all
the time and I can’t be more thankful. So I don’t want to sound like I wasn’t
appreciative But, uh, it was one of those things [00:03:50] where I don’t know
how he did it, but he slowed down to pass people and he sped up to be passed.
Now think about that.
And I don’t know how it happened, or, it didn’t work all the time, but it was
one of those things where he slowed down to pass people and sped up to be
passed. So you can imagine what that what kind of, other drivers
are even there, the rest of the drivers are giving them all kinds of grief I’m
sure. But I was a pretty, pretty scared. I’ll be honest with you. And, for some
times, I mean, I, I literally feared for my life a few times, so that was kind
of scary.
TARANJIT: That sounds like
reverse logic. Slowing down for passing and then speeding up to let people pass.
RALPH: Yeah, I don’t, it
didn’t work real well, but, it was one of those things where he, he, I guess he
didn’t want to be passed, so he would speed up. So the person couldn’t get in
front of them. And then, you know, even on two lane roads where [00:04:50] the
driver in front of us might be slower, he goes around and then he would slow
down instead of speeding up to get in front of that person before anyone comes
the other way, he would slow down.
So we’re going side by
side on a two lane road and I’m just like fearing for my life.
BHAVNEET: He was
like, I need to see who’s driving this car so slowly.
RALPH: Right. Exactly. So
then, uh, it was time for me to leave cause I was going to Armenia right after
that and Armenia borders, Georgia to the South. And, her and her father were
kind enough to take me to the border so that I could meet my Armenian guide on
the other side. They’re going to drop me off on the Georgian side of the border
and I was going to go through and meet my other guide in Armenia on the other
side.
This way, they didn’t
have to deal with, going to the other, country unnecessarily. We get to
the border and she tells me, okay, here you go. You know, we’ll wait
outside for 10 or 15 minutes just to make sure you get through and everything’s
okay.
I’ve got my bag
and everything. Say my goodbyes, [00:05:50] there weren’t too many people in
line, maybe four or five people in front of me. Get up to the border guard to
the booth there, hand the man, my passport. And he says, do you have a visa for
Azerbaijan? I says, no, sir, I’m going to Armenia. He said this is the
Azerbaijani border, Oh, they had dropped me off at the wrong border.
And pulling up, I
didn’t see a flag. I didn’t see any signage that would have indicated to me
that it was, the Azerbaijan border. And so they didn’t know it either. I don’t
think they’d been there for, many years, so they weren’t quite sure you know
familiar with it. Thank goodness they waited for me and I was able to come back
out and find them, and then they had to drive me 45 minutes to the Armenian
border.
BHAVNEET: Oh, my
God. That’s so crazy. Like. How do you end up with the wrong border?
RALPH: Yeah. Thank goodness
that Azerbaijan requires a visa because had I gotten through, I might’ve had
trouble coming [00:06:50] back to try to get to Armenia, but because they had,
they had a visa requirement, the guy wouldn’t let me through. And that really
of saved me.
TARANJIT: Wow. That is crazy. But
yeah, you are lucky in that sense that you didn’t end up crossing that border
and then it was more of a problem.
RALPH: Yeah. You know, it was
something that we laughed about, but I’ll be honest. I was kind of relieved
that, Oh boy, I’m done with having to drive with this man and, sure enough, I
could not get away. I had another 45 minutes with them to the other border.
TARANJIT: Just one more drive.
BHAVNEET: So
speaking of worst drivers, where would you say you’ve encountered? I guess the
best drivers?
RALPH: You know, certainly Germany comes to mind. They’re very
experienced. I think the us has very good drivers, mostly outside of the city,
I suppose, I think, probably Germany would come to mind first.
BHAVNEET: [00:07:50] I guess that
makes sense. Then they have the Autobahn. So you gotta be a good driver. If
they’re going to have such a high speed highway.
RALPH: Yeah, for sure. I’ve
got to think that they’re very experienced and you know, you have to be pretty
confident to drive on a, an Autobahn that has no speed limits on parts of it.
BHAVNEET: Well
since you have spent so much time in different countries. I think you mentioned
eight to nine months internationally every year. We’re interested to hear what
your perspective is in terms of if you’ve ever encountered any stereotypes of
different drivers or like any particular types of drivers in certain areas?
RALPH: Boy, it comes to mind
when I think about scooters and Vietnam and Cambodia. Because they’ve just
literally got millions of scooters that add a whole different element to the
driving situation. Now I’ve been on the back of scooters. I don’t know if I’ve
ever rented one and actually driven [00:08:50] one there, but I’ve often been
in Tuk tuks and, other types of vehicles and group vehicles for our groups and
things like that.
And you certainly
you’re affected by all of these scooters around and you just can’t believe the
way that they buzzed in and out of traffic. And it’s, it’s really impressive. I
mean, far as scooter drivers, I would think probably Cambodia, Vietnam might
have the best to those, but I have seen.
All kinds of things.
Uh, you know, a lot of these folks only have scooters to get around and it
makes sense because a car might be difficult to park the fuel can be expensive,
things like that. So scooters are very practical. But I’ve seen all kinds of
different things on the back of scooters, because that’s a way that they move
things from one place to another is on the back of a scooter.
Cause it’s probably the
only vehicle that they have. I’ve seen two double beds on the back of a
scooter. must’ve been 60 pineapples on the back of a single scooter. [00:09:50]
I saw three full grown live pigs. On the back of a scooter and they were
somehow tied on their backs side by side, and the driver was completely pressed
up against the handlebars.
I don’t know how he
drove, but I actually got a couple pictures of it out the window. And it was
just unbelievable. I mean, these were full grown adult pigs that were alive on
the back of this man’s scooter. I’ve seen a, a dog, someone’s pet, you know,
medium sized dog, just sitting loose. Like, he might sit next to the fireplace
on the back of this man, scooter, just driving along at 30 kilometers an hour
in traffic, like nothing was happening. Truly, truly amazing.
TARANJIT: That must take some
serious skill in order to balance all that on a scooter. And then still weave
in and out of that traffic.
RALPH: Yeah. I don’t know how
they do it. It’s truly impressive. [00:10:50] And they’re especially Cambodia.
I don’t know that there’s really even a single traffic light, at least one that
anyone. Abides by the traffic just flows and it just works. And I think that it
might even be a better system then having a, you know, four point stop signs or
stoplights.
And those roundabouts
are a bit of a hybrid where keeps the traffic flowing, and you don’t have to do
those stops unnecessarily but in Cambodia, especially, someone merges
into your lane and you just pull over to the side and let them in and keep
going. And it just, it just flows and it works beautifully.
And I wonder if it’s
not a better system now, it would never fly here in the U.S. Because, I, you
know, I don’t think you get people to do it, but the people that have grown up
doing it. It’s a, it’s a pretty great system. If you ask me.
TARANJIT: Yeah, I think it will be really hard to get [00:11:50] all
of the Americans to be on the same page and not have any lights here. I feel
like that’d be chaos here.
RALPH: Absolutely.
TARANJIT: So I know you on your
blog page, you have this highway code of India. what kind of drivers have you
encountered there and what are some of those differences in driving that you’ve
seen?
RALPH: Well, India has some of the best drivers too. Now, first of
all, they drive on the left side of the road, which of course was the opposite
to what we do here in the U. S. And North America, and a lot of parts of the
world. So when I’m just a passenger, I’ve never driven over there. That
throws an extra level of anxiety into it.
Cause I, you know, I’m
thinking of things the opposite way when it comes to, well, who’s got the right
of way and things like that. But the Indian drivers, especially the ones that
we have for our vehicles, our group vehicles, I mean, these are professional
drivers. They are super calm. They I’ve had drivers that will just lay on
the horn all the time and, and they’re [00:12:50] especially, and in Cambodia,
it’s really just to let someone know that you’re there.
It’s not about getting
angry or get out of my way honk honk, it’s like da daa, I’m here be aware
that I’m I’m on your left or coming up behind you, whatever, just sort of a
warning. I think that system works well, but it does make for a cacophony
of, of horns just 24 seven in some places.
But the Indian drivers,
especially the professional ones that I’ve worked with, are super calm and
they, just have patients like you can’t believe. Cause you have to, I mean, if
you didn’t, you would go nuts, trying to get angry every time someone, cut you
off or blocked in front of you or took a turn when in front of you when they
shouldn’t have, I mean, there’s just a thousand reasons.
that. I might get
irritated with the other driver, but, you know, when you’re doing it every day
for your whole life and your professional driver, or even not, it, just
become immune to it and, just go with the flow. You [00:13:50] have to.
BHAVNEET: As I was reading your blog posts. I was because we have been to
India. I was there like, yup. That’s accurate. That’s very true. Especially the
horn. I. I agree that it 24 seven, our uncle even told us that nobody uses
their rear view mirror. And he just had, I think it was a CD player or
something just covering it.
And he’s like, nobody
uses that it’s only windshield driving.
RALPH: Yeah, I believe that’s,
it’s, the, they call it the Sonic fender. The horn and it just, lets people
know that you’re there. kind of the same thing happened in, happens in
Cambodia. And one time we had a driver who just every time anyone would walk up
towards the side of the road that we were on and he was driving, he would honk
and.
The person had to have
known that, this, medium sized bus was coming down the road, but he had to just
let every thing and person and car and Tuk, Tuk know that he was coming. So he
[00:14:50] was honking for like three hours straight. And finally, I had to
call my local tour operator. I said, could you please ask him not to honk the
horn like this?
I mean, if there’s. No,
if it’s a war in danger and there’s an accident about to happen or it’s, you
know, really emergency. Absolutely. But not every time, you know, a chicken
comes to the edge of the road, he’s honking the horn and it was super
irritating for three hours.
TARANJIT: Oh, I bet that must’ve
been so annoying. I know you have them you’re mostly the passenger when
you’re in other countries from the sound of it, but has being in those driving
situations, influenced your driving back here in the U. S. Or are you still the
same kind of driver like that doesn’t affect your driving?
RALPH: Uh, I don’t think it
really affects my driving. I I’ve been to Europe probably a hundred times
now, and I’ve only rented a car twice. And mostly the only reason that I don’t
is that number one, [00:15:50] it can be very expensive to park. A fuel is very
expensive. especially if you’re staying in bigger cities, you always have to
deal with parking, figuring out the different signs.
And it’s just so nice
to take trains or buses, or sometimes I’m driven and either go door to door or
just walk, things like that. But, the couple times that I did drive one time
was in Croatia and Montenegro, and that was fairly, innocuous because. That was
somewhat rural where I was. So it was really nice driving and it wasn’t
difficult to place.
I was staying and
cottar Montenegro had a parking spot, so I didn’t have to worry too much about
that. But this past year I rented a car to drive in the South of France. And
that was, an interesting story. And, and the reason I did is because
there’s not a lot of public transportation, especially in the more rural parts
of Provence and the Dordogne and places like that.
[00:16:50] So, I wanted
to have control and to be able to, take off into little side roads and things
like that. So I rented a car and I was flying in from Morocco to Nice. And my
flight got in late. I want to say it was supposed to be an 11:30 PM and it got
in about 12:30. And so I contacted the rental office and I said, well, the
office closes at 12:00 PM.
I said, Oh no, I, I, I
gotta get my car, you know? And she says, well, I’ll tell you what, you can pay
an extra 40 euros and the the office manager will stay. I said, fine, I’ve got
to have my car. They ended up not charging me the extra 40 Euros for whatever
reason, but, I did get their late, but I got the car.
Then I get into the car
and I cannot find reverse. I’ve driven stick. I’ve driven stick forever,
but I hadn’t driven stick in a long time, probably six or seven years.
You know, I remember you used to just kind of, you know, pull it over to the
left and back, and that was reversed. [00:17:50] Well, now on, at least on this
car, you had to pull something up on the shift to then be able to move it into
reverse.
And I didn’t know that,
and I’d never seen that before. I think it’s a fairly new feature. And so it
took me like 10 minutes to figure that out and thank goodness my car was backed
into the space at the car rental agency. So I was able to kind of let it roll
out. I actually, I think I had to push it out, but I ended up finding reverse
and, then, immediately I hit a toll.
Like right out of the
airport. There’s a toll. Now I got to figure out how the toll system works
there. All these different things that you really don’t think about, then all
the signs are in French.
Imagine that,
Right. Lot of times they’re French and English or, you know, the local language
in English, but that’s a, I hate to say it, but very American of me to assume
that that would be the case there, but I’m in France. Why should there be
English signs in English?
Right. So it was
interesting because I can’t tell you how many [00:18:50] words I
recognized that we use in English that are of French origin. So I was
able to kind of squeak by and over time. And I was there for like two or three
weeks. And so I was able to figure it out, but, it, it, it was always something
then I couldn’t figure out how to get the GPS working because I never used GPS.
I usually use my phone
but I paid extra to have GPS in the car. so I wanted to figure it out and then
I couldn’t get it off of French. So. Yeah. The, the woman talking to me is
speaking in French, but I knew that there had to be a way to get her to speak
English. you know, it was just one thing after another, like that, which it was
just a comedy of errors, I couldn’t figure out how to use cruise control.
Then there was some
sort of a proximity indicator that every time I went over, One of the lines in
the road, it would honk, or it would beep couldn’t figure out how to turn that
off. So that was just one thing after another, but it was quite the learning
experience.
TARANJIT: [00:19:50] That’s
hilarious. Especially when you like got the GPS. I was like, well, isn’t that
going to be in French for then you had trouble figuring that out too. So it was
just funny, but at least you had a good time.
RALPH: Yeah. I tried to make
the best of it and not get too frustrated.
BHAVNEET: Also
really good that your car was backed in for you. I was just imagining you
trying to reverse. And then the people just sitting in the office being like,
look at him, he can’t even get the car out.
RALPH: I know it was
embarrassing but I figured it out. And, I’m here today.
BHAVNEET: Now,
you know.
TARANJIT: So if money and costs
and all this was not an issue. Would you prefer to be the driver? Would you
prefer to be the passenger?
RALPH: I love to drive. I do
enjoy a nice long drive, but man, I love to be driven too. I love not having to
think about parking and traffic and. concentrating on the road. I’m
probably 50 50 on this. Now when I travel, I’m on the road 8 or 9 [00:20:50]
months of the year, and I probably hardly ever drive during those eight or nine
months.
So when I do come back
to the U. S. And I drive. You know, it’s like riding a bicycle. Um, it’s not
like I have to figure it out again, obviously, but, I enjoy driving sometimes.
I like to maybe listen to podcasts and things like that when I, when I’m
driving. So I miss that when I don’t drive, but I also love to be driven and
not have to think about that stuff.
And when I go on
scouting trips, cause I organize and lead tours around the world. I, when I go
on a scouting trip, which means that I go usually a year ahead of the group to
try things out, do everything, experiment and meet everyone and test out the
hotels, visit the restaurants and meet the hotel owners and things like that.
I’m often driven around
by either my local tour operator or a guide, or sometimes even a third person
who’s a driver. And then me, and the tour operator able to talk and discuss and
do things [00:21:50] like that. One time I was in, Turkey and I was scouting
and a great tour operator who hired a driver to take us everywhere.
And when I’m on these
scouting trips, I usually see two, three, maybe even four times the amount of
things and activities and places. We might go see two or three hotels a day,
obviously you can only stay in one, so they’re zipping me around pretty quickly
to do all these things that I would never do that many things with a group
because you just, it would be impossible.
But, the one time we
were in, I think it was Bergama Turkey on the West coast, and we’re going
to see some ruins and. I’m checking that out. We’re walking through the town,
I’m getting some photographs. And then I said, okay, I think I got all my shots
here. And as soon everything, man, my tour operator gets on the phone, calls, the
driver, the guy screeches up the door flies open I get in and he takes
off and it was, such a, a luxury.
And I felt like a
rockstar because. [00:22:50] I almost didn’t have to think of anything
and it was just like door to door all the time. that’s, that’s luxury for sure.
BHAVNEET: when you are driving. How would you describe your driving? And
would you say that your family and friends would describe your driving in the
same way?
RALPH: Yeah. I’d like to think
I’m a very good driver safe. I always like to be the second fastest person on
the road. And I usually drive about 10 miles or nine miles over the speed
limit, knock on wood. I haven’t had a ticket in probably 35 years. I like to go
fast. I mean, I, I, I’m not a speed demon, but I don’t like to go the speed
limit that’s for sure.
And, I think.
People would agree that I’m a very good driver and I don’t think anyone’s
afraid to drive with me.
TARANJIT: So since you liked
speed, I’m guessing you enjoyed that whizzing around in Turkey, then.
RALPH: Yeah, if I recall that, this was five, six years ago, but I
remember the driver was very good and very conscientious and [00:23:50] nothing
worse, especially if I’m with a group, I won’t tolerate a driver. Who’s unsafe,
no way. or with my own life, but especially if I’m leading a group and we’ve
got a driver who’s unsafe, which God I can’t remember one or two times in over
a hundred trips that we’ve had that happen, but, that’s a real problem.
I mean, I never ever
put one of my groups in danger. It’s nice to be zipped around like that feel
like a rockstar.
TARANJIT: I imagine You
were talking earlier about how some countries honking is just part of the,
driving culture. Would you consider yourself someone who tends to honk or a
honker?
RALPH: No, no, I’m not. I
rarely honk. maybe if, Yeah, I’m at a light and I’m behind someone and I could
tell they’re on the cell phone or something, and the lights changed and, and
spend three or five seconds. you know, I might just do a quick toot to let the
person know that, you know, Hey, come on.
But, I, I’m not, I’m
not an angry driver, I don’t [00:24:50] think. but, I, I very judiciously used
the horn cause I think it should only be used in emergencies or just, quick
reminders like that.
BHAVNEET: Well,
since you are, you said more, level headed when driving. What would you say is
your biggest driving pet peeve?
RALPH: Oh, it really bugs me when I am. At a light making a left
turn and the person in front of me, there’s one car in front of me and they
don’t pull out into the intersection to make the left. And then, you know,
they’re waiting for traffic coming towards us. Then when the traffic ends, they
go and the light turns red.
And it only allows one
car to go. I’m always very courteous and, I I’ve heard different things that I
don’t know if nowadays this is considered illegal to, to actually go into the
intersection and wait until it’s safe to take that left, but I I’ve got to
think it’s still is, but, you know, I’ll pull out as far as I can.
So, at least one or two
other people [00:25:50] can make it through the light with me. Doesn’t make
sense for just one person to go at a time. So that’s something that really gets
me.
BHAVNEET: Yeah, I
definitely saw that. It was a big problem, especially when you’re driving in
the city. You’re like there’s no way anyone’s going to make it, unless if you
actually sit in the intersection.
RALPH: Yeah. I mean, you pull
up there, let one or two other cars behind you get through it safe and, you
know, it’s just inconsiderate to wait until you’re the only person that can get
through. And then the light turns red and it’s, it’s such a waste of time.
That and
TARANJIT: That really also bugs
me with left turns is If there’s a person in front of you and they don’t pull
up to the line far enough. So your signal just never turns on.
RALPH: That too. Yeah exactly
right. Or are also people that don’t use their turn signal. I use my turn
signal all the time and I want people to know that I’m getting ready to turn or
I’m going this way or that. And if someone doesn’t use it [00:26:50] to let me
know, um, I, I consider myself a very courteous fellow driver. And so I guess I
expect that of other people and it doesn’t always happen.
That’s for sure.
You know, Romania, speaking of turn signals, what happens in Romania is
oftentimes they will drive. Like there’s a lot of just two lane roads. And so
people will actually turn on their opposite indicator like the turn on the
right indicator, meaning that they’re going to pass you instead of, you would
think that would turn their left one on to pass you on the left because they do
drive on the right hand side of the road. And that was always something that I
had to get used to. They often will drive half on the, what do you call the
apron?
The right hand side?
TARANJIT: Oh, the shoulder.
RALPH: The shoulder, they’ll
drive half on the shoulder and half on the road. And this is actually a
courteous thing because it gives you room to pull around them, but they might
have their flashers [00:27:50] on while they do it. It’s interesting how these
different cultures drive around the world and have these different ways of
doing things.
And if you travel much,
you, you really have to figure that out pretty quickly, wherever you go,
TARANJIT: I’m just picturing
somebody either. Like. The U S going there, or from there coming here and
they’re just doing what they’re used to. And then the others are just like,
what is going on?
RALPH: Yeah. I mean, it would
be hard for me to be driving there and do and drive the way that they do or use
the indicator the way that they do it would take a while to get used to that,
because it’s the opposite of what I would think is the way to do it. It doesn’t
mean my way is right, but, that’s the I’ve I’ve grown up driving.
TARANJIT: I still can’t I don’t
understand the whole put the right signal on to go left. I can’t process that.
RALPH: Yeah. I don’t know if
they’re telling the person behind them that they’re going to the right so that
you can go around to the left I don’t know. I can’t explain it.
BHAVNEET: At
least they [00:28:50] use their signals. Here it’s a rare few people who will
actually use their signals.
RALPH: You feel like here in
the U S there’s people don’t use their signal,
BHAVNEET: Oh yeah
Definitely.
RALPH: In Chicago. I haven’t
found that. to me, it’s, especially once someone’s a speed demon and
they’re, they’re really racing through, medium amount of traffic and they’re
not using their turn signals.
That’s just really
dangerous. And it’s just, it’s I think it’s people just trying to show off. I
mean, that’s when you should be using your signal to let other people around,
you know, that what you’re doing.
BHAVNEET: Yeah, we’re in Maryland. And I feel like one in probably 20 cars
will actually use their signal.
RALPH: Wow. Guess I’m
pretty lucky here in Chicago. Because I would say one in 20 doesn’t I imagine.
TARANJIT: So since you are a
level headed driver, I’m imagine you haven’t had road rage yourself, but has
anyone ever had road rage towards you?
RALPH: I mean, don’t get me
wrong. Of course I, I get irritated and I might bang on the steering wheel for
something that [00:29:50] someone did, but, I’m not gonna get crazy and, get
out or get into an argument with someone about, anything that’s happened
to me so far. But, I, one thing that really does get me is someone giving you
the finger I would never do that to someone and there’s people that just
use it Willy Nelly.
And, to me, that’s
super offensive and, it’s not something that I just throw around ever, but, you
know, them’s fighting words it’s just, wrong. And I, I think, a lot
of times people just use it, not even thinking how strong of a signal it is to
the other driver.
That I don’t like, but
as far as road seeing, road rage, gosh, I can’t remember having seen too
much, No, not really, one thing that, certainly parking and especially in
a place like Chicago, that gets a lot of snow. There’s always the stories in
the winter about people shoveling out their cars that are parked on the street
and then, pulling out and then someone.
Drives [00:30:50] right
in and takes it, or they try to put chairs there, which I guess is illegal. And
so that, that can always stir up some big problems. Not, anything that’s
ever happened to me, but I know that, that can really be a problem. You spend
two hours digging out your car and then someone just pulls right into it.
but I don’t think that
you can just. Put some chairs there or something to block it for eight hours
for you to come back after work kind of thing,
BHAVNEET: Yeah.
That’s crazy. I don’t think, okay. We don’t get that much snow here, but
imagine the frustration, it’s like I spent so long shoveling.
RALPH: I, you know, I, I don’t know what the right answer is to
that. Take the bus.
BHAVNEET: Well, now that we know the kind of driver you are, let’s go back
to driving first. How would you describe your first time driving experience and
who was it with?
RALPH: You know, I think my
mom probably took me to practice before I got my license more than anyone.
We, would go to just like one of the big [00:31:50] parking lots in the
area, whether it was a church or a business and just drive around. And it was a
great way to learn. You know, get used to those peddles and how the steering
works and things like that.
I got my driver’s
license on my birthday, on my 16th birthday. And remember, driving ever since.
I just, I’ve always been a very confident driver. I went to a driving school.
So I didn’t do, I don’t remember that it was actually even offered at my high
school. It might’ve been, but I didn’t live near my high school.
So I, I went to a
local, I think it was called Adam’s driving school here in Chicago. I
remember the first time, and I think about this often almost, oftentimes when
I’m merging onto the expressway and, you know, the importance of getting up to
speed and just kind of finding that space to, to merge into and, think
probably the first time I did it, I was somewhat intimidated.
I was timid. And so
you’re going kind of slow and the traffic’s [00:32:50] passing you and that’s
definitely not safe. You need to be up to speed with the traffic to be able to
slide in there. And so, from that day on that I, that I did that with the
instructor. I, you know, I don’t think I ever did it again.
And so on my 16th
birthday, I got my driver’s license and, was driving ever since.
But I would say
that my mom was the one that, that really taught me, trusted me to take
me out and show me how to drive and things. I, I never drove stick. I didn’t
try stick until I bought my first new car when I was maybe 24. And I bought a
stick on purpose. I actually bought it intentionally so that I had to learn how
to drive stick.
I’d driven it a few
times before with friends cars, but I never had a car or spent much time in it.
So this forced me to learn how to drive stick. And it was one of the best
things I ever did. The other one of the best things I ever did was learning,
was taking a typing class in high school.
I don’t know if people
think about that, but, especially at my age and, I’m 57, but back when I was in
high school, you know, they [00:33:50] offered typing classes and. that was one
of the best things I ever did was take a typing class, but I also feel that way
about, the driving school.
TARANJIT: How was your first time driving stick? How was that
experience?
RALPH: I’m sure. I was alittle
bit hiccupy, but, I don’t, I don’t remember grinding them too much, you
know, that was my car now. And so I had to really, be careful and learn how to
do it. But, again, it’s one of those things where you did. When I rented this
car in France last year and hadn’t driven stick in probably six or seven years,
it took a little bit of getting used to, but, I picked it up right away and it
was no problem.
it’s a little bit different
when you’re trying to, parallel park or, do make some three point turns or
something like that it takes a little getting used to, but, Yeah, I think I
always did pretty well with it.
TARANJIT: I’m curious to know,
because a lot of the guests we’ve asked in the past, they usually say no to
this, but did you have to parallel park on your test and do you think it should
be part of the driving test?
RALPH: I don’t recall, but I
[00:34:50] pretty sure it was part of the test. And I absolutely think it should
be part of a test because that’s a really important skill to have when driving.
I was just on the road the other day. And this lady was try, you know, I could
tell she was trying to parallel park and there was just no way she was going to
be able to get into the spot that the angle she was.
And, I almost pulled
over to ask her if she’d like me to help her. But she had, there was a couple
of people I think that were driving with her that were kind of guiding her as
much as possible, but I think it’s a very, very important skill to have. So I
definitely think people should need to learn it.
BHAVNEET: I
agree, especially in like a city, like in Chicago or like Baltimore. If you
can’t parallel park, what are you going to do? Keep driving in circles?
RALPH: Yeah, no, there’s no
way you got to know that skill.
TARANJIT: They took it off of the Maryland tests right now. That’s
why I’m just curious to know how many people had to do it. And then if it’s
still around or not.
RALPH: Yeah. I’ve got to think for sure that [00:35:50] it’s, it
was on the test that I took. I even remember, I don’t know if you guys
had to do this, but when I was in grade school taking like bicycle driving
tests and having to stay between the two lines that were six inches apart with your
bike and, going through cones and that I think has really good training for
driving.
You know, it, it helps
you to be more confident. I remember it was always the slow kids that
were, weaving all over the place and could never stay between the two lines
and you need a certain amount of speed to be able to stay straight and, and all
that stuff is just really good training for driving.
I think.
BHAVNEET: Wow.
You guys? Yeah, a lot of good training. I did not. I haven’t, I’ve never heard
of that.
RALPH: Yeah. I mean, there was
driving, I think, to be able to bring a bike to school, you had to go through
this, riding test. And we, you know, this was like before, up until sixth
grade. So we probably had to be in fifth or sixth. And, you know, there was a course
that they laid out and I think it was really good training even for [00:36:50]
driving later because they wanted you to be confident that you knew how to ride
a bike to school safely.
That was the whole idea.
TARANJIT: Yeah, that does make
sense. Especially at that young age you want to make sure that the student gets
there safely and knows how to ride that bike.
So thinking into
the future of driving and with the possibility of cars being able to drive
themselves, what do you think about this? And would you be comfortable getting
in that car?
RALPH: Yeah. I mean, it’s, it would, you know, I’d have to see it,
happen for a while before I, you know, and all the testing and everything. And
I know that they’re working on it now, but I’ve got to think that eventually
that’s going to be a thing. And we’re just going to be able to jump into the
back of these driverless cars that are probably going to be safer than, than we
are, because they don’t text.
They don’t put on
makeup. They don’t, I don’t know what else, that, I think that. In the end,
they could be a lot safer than man driving.
BHAVNEET: I
agree. I would not be one of the first people to be like, yes, I’ll have a
[00:37:50] driverless car.
RALPH: Right. I mean that
we’re talking about trucks, huge trucks. I mean, that’s a whole another deal. I
mean, for the most part, they do it with airplanes, I suppose. You know,
if you want me to talk about big vehicles. There’s always a pilots in there. as
a backup, but I’ve got my pilot’s license too. And that’s another thing that,
that driving allowed me to be very comfortable with flying.
And so it was, I was
very comfortable flying, especially going solo the first time with fairly
few hours. And my instructor said, I think you’re ready to solo and that takes
a lot of coordination because you’re, you, you know, you’ve got your, the wheel
and the left hand, you’ve got a power in the right.
You’ve got rudder left
and right feet. So you’re doing four different things at one time where with
driving. It’s not quite like that. Maybe with stick it’s a little bit more like
that. But, having to be coordinated, I think just a good skill almost for
anything.
TARANJIT: That’s really
interesting. I didn’t know [00:38:50] you had a ability to drive a plane. So do
you prefer being able to drive a car or be able to drive the plane?
RALPH: Oh, definitely plane.
They say that flying is the second biggest thrill that you will have in your
life.
TARANJIT: What’s the first one?
RALPH: Landing one. Yeah. So,
I mean, it’s one thing to get them up in the air and to be flying, it’s pretty
easy. Cause you’re just gliding for the most part. But, they all come down.
There’s no doubt with every one of them comes down, but to be able to land a
plane correctly is a quite the thrill.
BHAVNEET: I
agree. I mean, there’s a terrifying, I guess, thrill when pilots don’t know how
to land them properly, we definitely been on some planes where. I specifically
remember one where we were landing and I seriously thought that one of the
wheels flew off.
TARANJIT: That’s how hard we hit
the ground.
RALPH: That’s scary. For sure.
But, yeah. I mean, that’s, that’s scary when you’re coming in that fast and
especially on a commercial plane with hundreds of people. [00:39:50] I don’t
know if I could fly like that.
BHAVNEET: Bonus
question time. Are you ready?
RALPH: Uh oh. Sure I am. Hit
me.
BHAVNEET: If
you could make one new driving law, what would it be?
RALPH: Oh, my goodness.
You know, I think
it comes back to that, that pet peeve where, you know, you have, if you don’t
pull up into the intersection to take that left, you get a ticket. You hold
people back unnecessarily and, you’re not being safe you should get a
ticket. I think that would probably be my, my new rule.
TARANJIT: That would probably
increase the revenue.
RALPH: Yeah. Or get a ticket
for not using a turn signal. I think that probably is technically something
that they could give you a ticket for, but they probably almost never call
people on it.
BHAVNEET: Yeah,
that’s definitely something that at least here people would be getting a lot of
tickets.
RALPH: Yeah.
TARANJIT: I don’t know how they
would enforce that, but that would be an interesting law.
RALPH: Yeah. Right. To me it’s all about letting other people know
what you’re doing. [00:40:50] And how, you’re working with them, Hey, I’m going
to do this. So be aware and that’s, I think where that whole horn honking thing
comes in in a lot of parts of the world is, you know, Hey, I’m here honk
honk, in theory, it’s, it’s a good thing, but, it can be aggravating or
irritating to hear that all the time.
TARANJIT: Yeah, I can imagine. Do
you have any final thoughts or any tips that you’d like to give others drivers?
RALPH: You know, the, the more
you do anything, the better you will get guaranteed. And I, as a photography
instructor, so I teach travel photography. I say, you can’t get worse at
photography as long as you’re doing it. And it’s kind of the same with
anything. So the more people are out there driving and getting more comfortable
with it, the better drivers will be.
But I think we’re
probably driving less and less just because, wants to be in traffic and there’s
fairly good public transportation available to us. So, someone [00:41:50]
doesn’t have a lot of experience. I feel comfortable not driving for two or
three months when I’m traveling and then coming back and, jumping right in the
car.
But some people, they
might take a couple steps back in their driving skills, so kind of ease into it
and. just be aware of that. But, just get out and practice and you can help but
get better.
TARANJIT: Yeah, The more you
practice at anything like you’ve mentioned is how you get better. I don’t know
if in terms of driving, I feel like there are some drivers who, the more they
drive the worst they get, but I hope for the most part, the more you drive, the
better you should get.
RALPH: In theory, you should get
better, but, it doesn’t always work that way.
TARANJIT: well, thank you so much
for coming on. And I know you have a blog and a YouTube channel that you’re
about to launch. Can you tell us a little about that and where everyone can
find it?
RALPH: Absolutely. I have two,
two travel brands that I organize only tours when we’re traveling. So one is
called Photo Enrichmont Adventures and the other is Alla Campagna, but I’m also [00:42:50] creating, I just launched, a travel blog.
Called the continental drifter. And that can be found at continentaldrifter.co
And I’m getting ready
in the next couple of weeks to launch a YouTube channel, which is something
I’ve been trying to get off the ground for the last, I don’t know, probably
eight or nine months to be honest, but I I’ve wanted to do it. Right.
Because anyone could start a YouTube channel today with just doing selfies and
putting them up on YouTube.
But I want as, as a
photography instructor and tour organizer and a pretty well-traveled person, I
wanted to have a certain quality I wanted to have for it. And so I finally
found a really good editor and a really good person to help me with the behind
the scenes stuff. And, now that we’re not traveling with, with COVID at the
moment.
I’m, looking back at a
lot of the content that I’ve created over the years, that I’ve been wanting to
do something with, and there’s all these little interesting vignettes people
I’ve met things I’ve done seen. So we’re putting those packaging, those into [00:43:50]
short YouTube videos with narration. So that’s, at a YouTube and you can look
for continental drifter there.
And, I’m really excited
about, the channel and for this new way for me to share my knowledge.
BHAVNEET: Well,
thank you again so much for coming on. We had fun talking to you about all your
fun, interesting driving experiences around the world.
RALPH: Thank you. It was
really a pleasure and, keep it up ladies. This is such a unique format and I
was very excited when you asked me to be on, because it’s very, very original.
(transition music)
TARANJIT:
I feel like Ralph has such a cool job. Like he gets to travel
for a living and then go see these different countries, create these tours,
take people on these tours, but at the same time I can imagine like how much
work has to go into being able to put all that together. So kudos to him and
that he is able to do all this. Could you imagine being dropped off at the
wrong border? Like what if they had left?
BHAVNEET:
Like how did they end up at the wrong border? Were they’re not
sings that said this is the Azerbaijan border?
TARANJIT:
They must have been as good at directions as I am.
BHAVNEET:
And the way that he was describing driving is in Georgia. [00:45:45]
So I’m pretty sure they could have got turned around very easily
TARANJIT:
What if you were dropped off but they left? Like what would you
have done in that situation?
BHAVNEET:
Why would they have left? I’m pretty sure you had a phone. This
is not like you were a stranded without a phone. I hope.
TARANJIT:
Okay. Well, like what if you didn’t have you’re depending on the
Wi-Fi and didn’t buy phone service like we did when we went to Australia. What
would you have done?
BHAVNEET:
I’m pretty sure he did since he does this for a job.
TARANJIT:
No I’m saying if you…
BHAVNEET:
You just start walking back. Be like, sorry wrong border, Just
start walking in the other direction. Eh. Didn’t want to come here. Nope. How
far do I go? Which…
TARANJIT:
Wrong border. Eh. Eh.
BHAVNEET:
Try again. Like Family Feud. Not that border. Try again. Just be
like which direction. Oh that direction. Okay. Start walking that way.
TARANJIT:
You would just walk?
BHAVNEET:
What else you supposed to do?
TARANJIT:
Taxi?
BHAVNEET:
Excuse me sire. Give you your phone.
TARANJIT:
Taxi. Yeah would you ask the border patrol person?
BHAVNEET:
Like can I call those people back that just left me here without
[00:46:45] confirming that I was in the right spot? Thanks.
TARANJIT:
Probably just look at you like, no.
BHAVNEET:
Well, would you like to let me cross? I have nothing else to do.
TARANJIT:
For his rental story. What would have happened if the rental
office was like nah, were not staying open and you were in this situation?
BHAVNEET:
Yeah, what would you do?
TARANJIT:
I’m asking you.
BHAVNEET:
I answered the other one. What would you do?
TARANJIT:
I don’t know. I would probably be so stressed out to the point
that I I just wouldn’t be able to function.
BHAVNEET:
Would I had to drag you around like we did in the airports. This
way. That way. Run.
TARANJIT:
Yeah. Probably. If you were not there with me, I would probably
still be in that spot.
BHAVNEET:
Just standing there? Uh. Until the morning, and they would be
like, oh hello. How long have you been standing there? Since last night.
TARANJIT:
So in those countries is often usually like manual.
BHAVNEET:
I was just about to ask you.
TARANJIT:
Yeah, I was going to ask you.
BHAVNEET:
[00:47:45] Would you be able to drive manual? With the with having
no experience driving manual? I mean, I don’t think they would let you.
TARANJIT:
Well I don’t think I would have rented a car in the first place
if it was manual like manual was the only option.
BHAVNEET:
That’s true.
TARANJIT:
But then it’s also like, do they drive on the opposite side of
the road?
BHAVNEET:
I don’t think I don’t know if they do. I don’t know if France
does but it’s very select few countries that do.
TARANJIT:
I feel like I would be open to renting a car…
BHAVNEET:
If they drive on the right.
TARANJIT:
If they drove on the same side as we did because adding that
layer on top of it, I would be so confused. And I would have to like stop at
every turn to be like…
BHAVNEET:
Left or right.
TARANJIT:
And I would be holding…
BHAVNEET:
And be like, which lane.
TARANJIT:
I would be holding up traffic so bad because I would get to
every stop or every corner and be like, okay wait I need to get on this side of
the road. But I’m curious to know from all of you. Would you choose or opt for
manual or automatic. [00:48:45] Like what would your car choice be if you were
going to a different country? Share them with us either in the comments below
or come chat with us in our Drive With Us Podcast community on
our Discord server. Link is in the show notes below.
BHAVNEET:
And if you or anyone, you know has any crazy driving experiences
and would like to come onto the show, you can fill out the interest form
on our website at DriveWithUsPodcast.com.
TARANJIT:
And be sure to stay tuned until the end of this episode for a
sneak peek of next week’s episode. Thanks for driving with us!
(outro music)
NESREEN: But I remember driving, in New York sitting in traffic, on a bridge. we really couldn’t go anywhere. And it was back-to-back. I think there was somebody, coming from behind, trying to get in front of me or something like that.
I just remember the guy getting out of the car and screaming obscenities at me and getting out of the car. cause his car was in front of me and screaming. I won’t even repeat what he said, [00:49:00] but just these expletives and I was just Oh my God.
Oh my God. Oh my God. I really thought that I was in a, like, he was going to throw.