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> Bicycling Parasol Girls, Luang Prabang, Laos      As with the prior image of a military pollce riding his motorbike one handed with parasol in the other, so do these ladies here travel on bicycle. His motor-biking version probably evolved from prior parasol use on bicycles before motorbikes became ubiquitous as they are as they are in present day Laos. With the easy going pace of life here, and the most basic economies and dependability that are part of bicycling, it is still a major transportation form in present day Laos as it is throughout SE Asia.
> Bamboo Bicycling, Nha Trang, Vietnam       Bikes and motorbike are everywhere in Vietnam, getting people and things where they need to go. One of my future projects has to be cataloging the ingenuity and variety of these human powered two wheeled vehicles as incredible beasts of burden. It is amazing what people can accomplish when not burdoned with safety regulation, and the amount of gear that can be ingeniously strapped to a motorbike or bike. Another project should document bamboo as used in every day life in all kinds of ways. This bamboo carrying push bike is heading north out of Nha Trang along the coast, quite away fro the tourist scene.
> Gucci, Saigon, Vietnam      That irony of vibrant capitalism in communist Vietnam is highlighted with the welcomed entry of the highly priced Gucci brand of accessories and status. Consumerism is big, with aspirations for things "western" overwhelming completely in day to day life any exposure to potential resentment over prior western imperialism. Not only do locals thirst for ability and interchange in conversational English, but they also wish to understand and adopt as much as possible the inscrutable aspects of Western Culture of which they wonder and crave. Upward mobility seems a paramount value in current Vietnamese culture.
> 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.
Gucci, Saigon, Vietnam     

That irony of vibrant capitalism in communist Vietnam is highlighted with the welcomed entry of the highly priced Gucci brand of accessories and status. Consumerism is big, with aspirations for things "western" overwhelming completely in day to day life any exposure to potential resentment over prior western imperialism. Not only do locals thirst for ability and interchange in conversational English, but they also wish to understand and adopt as much as possible the inscrutable aspects of Western Culture of which they wonder and crave. Upward mobility seems a paramount value in current Vietnamese culture.
> Gucci, Saigon, Vietnam      That irony of vibrant capitalism in communist Vietnam is highlighted with the welcomed entry of the highly priced Gucci brand of accessories and status. Consumerism is big, with aspirations for things "western" overwhelming completely in day to day life any exposure to potential resentment over prior western imperialism. Not only do locals thirst for ability and interchange in conversational English, but they also wish to understand and adopt as much as possible the inscrutable aspects of Western Culture of which they wonder and crave. Upward mobility seems a paramount value in current Vietnamese culture.
Gucci, Saigon, Vietnam     

That irony of vibrant capitalism in communist Vietnam is highlighted with the welcomed entry of the highly priced Gucci brand of accessories and status. Consumerism is big, with aspirations for things "western" overwhelming completely in day to day life any exposure to potential resentment over prior western imperialism. Not only do locals thirst for ability and interchange in conversational English, but they also wish to understand and adopt as much as possible the inscrutable aspects of Western Culture of which they wonder and crave. Upward mobility seems a paramount value in current Vietnamese culture.
Photo by: photographie-irie • see photo in gallery
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