Bangkok seems to be a maze of perpetual traffic jams. There are four main modes of transportation: (1) bus, (2) taxi/car, (3) tuk-tuk, (4) motorcycles. Motorcycles rule the road because they are immune to the congestion. They weave fanatically between cars and huddle at the front of the line to race ahead when the light turns green.
Tuk-tuks are second best. They're cheap, they're relatively fast, and they're smaller than any car on the road, including smart cars. The cons to riding in a tuk-tuk are the constant inhalation of Bangkok's pollution. On the flip side, when in a tuk tuk or on a motorcycle and in moments of serious stand-still, one of the two lanes on the opposite side of the road (for oncoming traffic) is suddenly transformed into a third lane in which tuk-tuks and motorcycles reign free and oncoming cars avoid them!
We had the luck (or maybe not...) to experience this once. As soon as this makeshift third lane came to an end, our tuk-tuk swerved back into our side of the road at a perpendicular angle to oncoming cars in order to get to the outer-most lane. Surprisingly, no one honks or develops fits of road rage at this behavior, so it must be the norm.
All in all, driving in Bangkok is a nightmare. It's best to walk unless you're going to the opposite end of town. Walking allows you to see the city in a whole different light. You are privy to the local food and produce vendors that adorn every street turning it into a long market tunnel (you will need to duck often if you are 6' or taller). Delicious smells arise from every stall be it fried fish, meat skewers, sweet rice or dumplings, roast chicken, noodle soups, etc. Some of the best fun is eating mystery meat dishes! In the fresh food market, there's a pervasive smell of fish, both fresh and dried, that is less pleasurable, but all the same exciting to see.
As mentioned in the previous blog, Nolan an I continue to gorge ourselves on $1 delicacies wherever we are...which is now Vang, Vieng, Laos! Read on to hear more!
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