traffic

The flight from Newark to Hong Kong was sufficiently delayed so that we missed our flight into Saigon. The airline was kind enough to put us up in the Novotel City Gate Hotel near the Hong Kong airport where I had pork shu mai (I know I'm biased, but I think Dad's shu mai is better) and noodles for breakfast before catching a short flight into Saigon.

The hotel we booked a room at was kind enough to pick us up from the airport. The first thing I noticed about the traffic was that the majority of motorists were on motor bikes and scooters. I haven't figured out yet if the motor bikes are subject to the rules of the road or not. The flow of traffic follows steady streams and bend and curve so as to avoid an accident. I came to terms with an imminent crash before realizing that everyone on the road was operating on a system of mutual trust. Whatever one motorist did, the rest would follow or bend around him and collisions were always avoided.

The same is true of crossing the road. Motorists and pedestrians respond to each other so as to avoid a crash. The key is the pedestrian has to fully commit to crossing the road. The motor bikes and cars will avoid hitting the pedestrian, but the walker cannot hesitate or turn back. In the book I'm reading now, The Beauty of Humanity Movement, one character is teaching another to cross the street by "finding your inner peace." When I first began crossing roads, I held my breath. Now, I just cross them with confidence.

I haven't been hit yet.