by Andy
I’ve decided that I would like to keep running list when I see things that are dramatically different here than in the States. Almost everything different here, but I’ll try to pick some interesting things to share. So here’s the first one. Riding on motorcycles is different here.
Everyone rides a motorcycle or some kind of motor-scooter. It’s just how people get around here. And if you don’t have your own motorbike, you ride on a taxi motorcycle. First, the motorcycles here differ from the ones in The States in that the average engine size about 125cc, I’ve seen one 250cc and one 600cc of the thousands of bikes here. Compare that to the states where really the smallest bike on public roads are 250cc and most people ride 600cc or larger. So, here the cars pass the motorcycles because the motorcycles are slower, while the bikes in the US are almost always traveling faster than the average car.
Also, nobody wears protective gear here beyond a helmet. But even then, only about half the the motorcycle drivers wear helmets and absolutely none of the passengers wear helmets. It helps that bike go slower here, but I still can’t help but to think about bad things that could happen. At home in Texas, I would never ride my motorcycle without my helmet, leather jacket, long pants, boots and protective gloves even in the middle of the summer. But even I will jump on the back of the moto-cab with no gear, wearing just shorts, a t-shirt and sandals (I’m a squid here, for you bikers out there).
The amount of people on a single motorcycle is much different here too. Two is the maximum in the States, but here I’ve seen a family of five on one bike which included a mother holding a baby on her leg as she was a passenger. That’s just normal though. Jody tells me that the most he has seen on one bike is seven… and I believe him. Two guys riding on the same motorcycle is also common practice here that would not be socially acceptable in the States. Heck, I was the back passenger on a bike with three guys Saturday night when the four of us Makarios guys went out for “Guy’s Night”. Us four guys shared two moto-taxis, and that’s just normal. Though, one of the motos did not make it up the steep, bumpy hill back to our house since there was over 600 pounds of passengers on a little 125cc bike. Oh well.
Chris and Charlie share a moto-taxi on “Guy’s Night Out”. Not pictured is me sharing one with Jody.
Carpenter Mike gets a ride to the hardware store.
And people carry anything on motos here.
An example of a family on a bike. I’ll see if I can get a picture of a larger family sharing one bike.
Adventure = experiencing the cultural diferences!