Now that I’ve gotten the boring statistical data I find fascinating out of the way, let us talk about the reality, that is, life on two wheels. You can not imagine the amount of ingenuity that is created by the persuasive power of necessity. Do you need to move from one apartment to another? I know a guy with a moped. Everyone has a friend with a truck in the States. Everyone has a motorbike in Vietnam. People sleep on them, travel around with their family of five on them, and conduct business on them. Yesterday, I saw a guy deliver an eight-foot tree to a home strapped to the back and him for extra support. 10 foot 2x4s, multiple boxed flat screen T.V.s. I love seats and countless pieces of furniture. That is no exaggeration. I’ve seen entire markets balanced across the back with baskets stacked with today’s fresh fruits and vegetables. 
They are parked on the sidewalks, so pedestrians in many places have to walk in the streets. They oftentimes go the wrong way down one-way streets or simply drive on the sidewalk walk, and no one seems to care. In the massive roundabouts that make up the city centers, there are no lines, no lights, and bikes just dart and dive in every direction. The absolute worst thing you can do when walking across the street is hesitate. The bikes anticipate your movements and drive around you like water around a boulder. Change direction or speed, and something may go horribly wrong. When you’ve committed, hold your breath and keep moving as consistently and predictably as possible. There is no room for being flashy, brave, or heroic here. It’s a rush you can’t get at Six Flags and comes from an activity as simple as crossing the street. It’s clear that no one here wants to injure anyone purposefully, but it’s a rat-eat-rat life on the busy, congested roads. Everyone is trying to preserve their little bit of real estate, and everyone has to do their part to keep it as safe as possible.
