From Point A to Point B

One thing is for certain. When you travel around the world, you're going to see a lot of how the world gets around.

It amazes me on a daily basis the diverse and innovative ways that people use to get from point A to point B. Of course there are all of the usual means of transportation, but even they are not so usual when you see and experience them first hand. Many of these adaptations are subtle - like the taxi meter that runs just a little bit faster than it should, or more obvious - the bus seats that recline further than they should (I've never slept pinned at the knees before).

Note the message on the top of the window... hmmm?

The fun part is all of the transportation that is so different from what you see at home. From incredibly user friendly, high tech and efficient bus systems in Paris to cattle and horse drawn wagons sharing the busy road with every other vehicle. Whole neighbourhoods pile into and onto the truck, van, wagon/ tractor. Everywhere is a seat, or bed for those longer hauls. Livestock is welcome. Seatbelts have long been removed and used for roadside repairs. The horn is a tool for communication and not just a way to tell someone off. Bicycles are still the best way to travel in some regions and in Africa people walk.

Count them - there are six!

The best seats.

The smile tops it all.

Gone is the notion that motorbikes are for the the lone easy rider. Forget doubling. Without alteration 100 cc skooters have seats for six, can be mounted to a comfortable side car for four, pull trailers for people or whatever, carry 60 chickens or four pigs to market or be loaded with any household item you could possibly imagine. Best if the rider has a passenger that can hang onto the said item, though that is not a requirement. We've seen motorbikes hauling everything from artwork to beds to 20 foot ladders on the busiest of streets in Saigon. Surprisingly, (not really) they can also serve as the mobile kitchen/playpen/family wagon. Oh yeah, they can be offered as taxis to families of four traveling around the world with their backpacks. Granted not on one motorbike (silly) but two... The price was good, but we declined.

Definitely a message here.

Not as common as it used to be.

We've also needed to swallow any notion we have of western safety standards or we would never have left the airport terminal. I can't wait when we get back to Canada and Mima has to sit in a booster seat... that is going to go over well I'm sure. Seatbelts are rare, as are simple notions like passing lanes, driver certification, directions of travel, stopping at red lights (if they exist) or structural integrity (wow, that rust is really strong when reinforced with twine and cowshit). However, we aren't quite ready yet to completely ignore safety. We research bus company reputations, avoid boats retired as worthy fishing vessels just to be used for tourists, actually look to see where the life jackets are and have avoided renting the one motorbike for four.

As we marvel at all of these ways of getting around, we also use them. A quick inventory of modes we have enjoyed/ endured so far include (in no particular order):

• planes (10 so far)
• trains
• automobiles (driven on the left side, right side, from the right side on the right side ...)
• sailboat (thanks GBs, John and Tinushi)
• cable cars
• escalators and elevators (What? ... we don't have them in Rossland)
• tuktuks in Bangkok, Ao Nang, and Siem Reap (no they aren't the same)
• metros above and below ground
• London Eye ferris wheel (does this count? Thanks Granny Bird)
• luxury buses (Turkey - attendants with drinks, snacks, blankies; individual TVs; wifi enroute)
• buses from hell (Egypt - love the videos; Tanzania - 12 hours, one stop, no WC; Cambodia - the above mentioned reclining seats)
• skooters (ridden and rented)
• ATVs
• ferries (Greece - large luxurious; Thailand - not so large nor luxurious)
• fishing boats (large and small)
• bicycles
• kayaks
• camels
• elephants
• back of pick-ups
• safari Land Cruiser
• horses (thanks Auntie Chris, Geronomo, and Marina)
• taxis (from London taxis to
• our legs and feet (the best!!)

Seven months or so into our trip and we think we have seen a lot, but are looking for even more ways the world can show us their transportation ingenuity.

The easy way to get around.