Other crazy things I've gotten used to seeing

Besides livestock in the streets (goats mostly), the most dramatic is the entirely pervasive use of the scooter as a major mode of transportation. Scooter, not motorcycle. Little things that aren't allowed on the freeway back home. Here's a small sampling of how they're used:

1. You know it already: the autoricksaw, or auto for short. A covered, yellow scooter with a bench in the front and back. Says it carries four. They routinely pack 5 adults in there, and like 8 schoolkids. There was a story in this morning's paper about it. Hyderabad has no schoolbuses, so folks send their kids to school in autos. That link has a great picture. Also, since there's no public transportation to speak of (there are a handful of crazily crowded buses) and taxis are rare (you have to hire them in advance and they look like cars from the 50s) they're pretty much the only game in town.

2. Transporting construction materials. One guy driving, another guy sitting behind him hanging on to 1) lumber or 2) pipes, or even 3) sheets of plywood

3. Transporting entire families. The typical arrangement: Dad driving, tiny kid in front of him, sitting between his legs, hanging on to him. Mom in a sari, sitting sidesaddle, with medium kid on her lap. One arm around Dad, one arm around the kid.

4. Most scooters carry at least two people most of the time. Often two men, sometimes a man and woman. Not often: two women. Sometimes though, the woman's driving and the guy's riding behind her. Helmets? don't be silly.

5. Speaking of helmets, most of the folks wearing them are on motorcycles, which are rare.