Introduction to Road Rules 101

Well we have now been here for just over a week and life is a new adventure everyday. I'm sitting here at our new villa in Phu My Hung District looking over a street that really could be almost anywhere. Except for the street sweepers who have been sweeping the street all morning with the cutest little brooms, a few motorbikes going past with a variety of things on there back , and the back up generator humming in the background. Our street is wide with trees that make it cool and shady. All this is a far cry from where we have spent the last week but it is the many different faces of Vietnam.

Going back a few days...

After our dramatic arrival our Hotel was a welcome relief. Mind you trying to explain that there were 6 of us not 5 proved a challenge. They eventually found a fold out bed for Josh but couldn't locate a mattress so a few blankets later he had a made up bed on the floor by this time it was after midnight so we were all glad to collapse into bed.

The time difference, albeit slight, had us up at 6, so we headed down for an early breakfast. Brekafast in Vietnamese hotels is culinary to say the least, they had an array of local dishes like rice, noodles, pho and even rice paper rolls but they also had toast, boiled eggs, ham sandwiches, pastries, spaghetti bolognaise, a selection of cold meat and fruit. It's like they put out anything they think western culture could possibly eat. Alexander's aim was to try everything in as much quantity as he could - a goal he achieved over the week we were there.

We were all keen to hit the streets on our first morning in Ho Chi Minh so off we set. Trying to describe the streets in Ho Chi Minh city is impossible. The people, the colours, the smell all stand out but it is the motor bikes that dominant this crazy city. Everone rides a bikes here and there appears no road rules yet it seems to work. What is amazing are the things that are carried on these bikes everything from babies, entire families, fridges, huge floral arrangements. We are endeavouring to find the largest family on a bike yesterday Zander saw 6 albeit there were 4 kids and 2 adults but still an impressive

feat. To cross the road the following steps must be adhered to:
1. Forget everything you have ever learnt about road safety.

2. Just cross, anywhere

3.Walk at the same consistent pace without stopping or pausing.

4.Cross individually - a big group is a big target to hit.

5.Take no notice of traffic the bikes, the cars and the mini buses will go around you.

This is all easier said then done it is truly amazing watching the children, who I have encouraged to cross at lights or pedestrian crossings, who I have held hands with as we cross, now just crossing willy nilly.

I am sure I will get used to it.