Traffic Scene, Hoi Chi Minh City, Vietnam
I was forwarned of crazy traffic in Siagon and especially Hanoi, and that you needed to put your life at risk just to cross streets. Motorcycles (and bicycles) dominate traffic and indeed seem to move as an uncaring, wild mass. But once engaged either as pedestrian or rider, it is actually easy. Just start walking and traffic moves around you. Or if on a motorbike, look forward and go. You soon become a part of this massive cooperative organism that moves in harmony (for the most part) with everyone anticipating what others will do. The trick is not to get spooked and hesitate, as that's what causes problems. If instead you give others a determined indication of where you are going and then unhesitatingly go there, others read that and factor it into their own actions and movement and everything works fine. Hesitate and they go where you are and should not have been for indicating otherwise, but then hesitating. It's actually easy and then fun once you become a part of it all, and you become more accepted locally for joining them in their day to day lives on their level. On the other hand I had friends who kept on complaining about how the Vietnamese just would not drive like back home, and they hence never got as comfortable with the whole thing. I didn't think we were home, but adapted to where I was, and was enriched for doing so. I think the Vietnamese acting like Vietnamese makes sense, and I should adapt to their ways while in Vietnam. It worked. By the way, this is a very mellow street scene.
I was forwarned of crazy traffic in Siagon and especially Hanoi, and that you needed to put your life at risk just to cross streets. Motorcycles (and bicycles) dominate traffic and indeed seem to move as an uncaring, wild mass. But once engaged either as pedestrian or rider, it is actually easy. Just start walking and traffic moves around you. Or if on a motorbike, look forward and go. You soon become a part of this massive cooperative organism that moves in harmony (for the most part) with everyone anticipating what others will do. The trick is not to get spooked and hesitate, as that's what causes problems. If instead you give others a determined indication of where you are going and then unhesitatingly go there, others read that and factor it into their own actions and movement and everything works fine. Hesitate and they go where you are and should not have been for indicating otherwise, but then hesitating. It's actually easy and then fun once you become a part of it all, and you become more accepted locally for joining them in their day to day lives on their level. On the other hand I had friends who kept on complaining about how the Vietnamese just would not drive like back home, and they hence never got as comfortable with the whole thing. I didn't think we were home, but adapted to where I was, and was enriched for doing so. I think the Vietnamese acting like Vietnamese makes sense, and I should adapt to their ways while in Vietnam. It worked. By the way, this is a very mellow street scene.
Traffic Scene, Hoi Chi Minh City, Vietnam
I was forwarned of crazy traffic in Siagon and especially Hanoi, and that you needed to put your life at risk just to cross streets. Motorcycles (and bicycles) dominate traffic and indeed seem to move as an uncaring, wild mass. But once engaged either as pedestrian or rider, it is actually easy. Just start walking and traffic moves around you. Or if on a motorbike, look forward and go. You soon become a part of this massive cooperative organism that moves in harmony (for the most part) with everyone anticipating what others will do. The trick is not to get spooked and hesitate, as that's what causes problems. If instead you give others a determined indication of where you are going and then unhesitatingly go there, others read that and factor it into their own actions and movement and everything works fine. Hesitate and they go where you are and should not have been for indicating otherwise, but then hesitating. It's actually easy and then fun once you become a part of it all, and you become more accepted locally for joining them in their day to day lives on their level. On the other hand I had friends who kept on complaining about how the Vietnamese just would not drive like back home, and they hence never got as comfortable with the whole thing. I didn't think we were home, but adapted to where I was, and was enriched for doing so. I think the Vietnamese acting like Vietnamese makes sense, and I should adapt to their ways while in Vietnam. It worked. By the way, this is a very mellow street scene.
I was forwarned of crazy traffic in Siagon and especially Hanoi, and that you needed to put your life at risk just to cross streets. Motorcycles (and bicycles) dominate traffic and indeed seem to move as an uncaring, wild mass. But once engaged either as pedestrian or rider, it is actually easy. Just start walking and traffic moves around you. Or if on a motorbike, look forward and go. You soon become a part of this massive cooperative organism that moves in harmony (for the most part) with everyone anticipating what others will do. The trick is not to get spooked and hesitate, as that's what causes problems. If instead you give others a determined indication of where you are going and then unhesitatingly go there, others read that and factor it into their own actions and movement and everything works fine. Hesitate and they go where you are and should not have been for indicating otherwise, but then hesitating. It's actually easy and then fun once you become a part of it all, and you become more accepted locally for joining them in their day to day lives on their level. On the other hand I had friends who kept on complaining about how the Vietnamese just would not drive like back home, and they hence never got as comfortable with the whole thing. I didn't think we were home, but adapted to where I was, and was enriched for doing so. I think the Vietnamese acting like Vietnamese makes sense, and I should adapt to their ways while in Vietnam. It worked. By the way, this is a very mellow street scene.