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India and Nepal 2022
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Location Date Asia 
1492210800 Europe 1486857600 Africa 1455408000 North America 1419033600 -
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Location Date Yangon 1492124400 Naypyitaw 1491087600 Yangon (Rangoon)
1490486400 Pathein 1489622400 Bagan 1488672000 Mandalay 1483747200 Pyin Oo Lwin 1483574400 Hsipaw 1483401600 Inle Lake 1483315200 Kalaw 1483142400 Kyaik To 1480550400 Hpa-An 1480464000 Mawlamyine 1480032000 Ngwe Saung 1479081600 Kyaikto 1473634800 -
Each morning at 7.15, I step into a taxi for my journey to the office on the other side of the city. It will take an hour and longer for my return trip. The fare is 6,000 kyat(about £4.50) and is fixed through negotiation beforehand as there are no meters.
Motorbikes are officially banned in the city and so it is mainly cars, buses and trucks on the road during rush hour. There are a few cycles but not many and the occasional rickshaw. There are plenty of street sellers who wander up through the lines of stationary traffic to sell water, flowers and newspapers.
There are many trucks and buses carrying groups of workers to their place of work, seated or hanging on from the back of the vehicle. Drivers of cars use their horn quite a lot and the driving technique is 'assertive'!
Over the bridge in the township of Hlaing Thayar, the road surface deteriorates dramatically and there are numerous huge potholes which drivers swerve to avoid. There are no road markings and the traffic is very heavy with vehicle fumes filling the air.
I have learned the technique now for walking across busy traffic - a firm hand gesture indicates you are going to step out in front of the approaching vehicle and then confidently stride forwards!
If if you don't get any more blog entries, you will know that my technique hasn't quite worked!
Motorbikes are officially banned in the city and so it is mainly cars, buses and trucks on the road during rush hour. There are a few cycles but not many and the occasional rickshaw. There are plenty of street sellers who wander up through the lines of stationary traffic to sell water, flowers and newspapers.
There are many trucks and buses carrying groups of workers to their place of work, seated or hanging on from the back of the vehicle. Drivers of cars use their horn quite a lot and the driving technique is 'assertive'!
Over the bridge in the township of Hlaing Thayar, the road surface deteriorates dramatically and there are numerous huge potholes which drivers swerve to avoid. There are no road markings and the traffic is very heavy with vehicle fumes filling the air.
I have learned the technique now for walking across busy traffic - a firm hand gesture indicates you are going to step out in front of the approaching vehicle and then confidently stride forwards!
If if you don't get any more blog entries, you will know that my technique hasn't quite worked!
- comments
Peter Hayes Hi Bro - can't help thinking of the contrast between your current location and ours! Hope your 'road crossing' technique continues to work! Just out of curiosity, when do you actually start the work for which you are not being paid!? Seriously though, We think VSO Myanmar are lucky to have you. Greetings from Sam, Ang & Sophia too! Peter & Pam Calgary, Alberta
Pam As always, the way you write not only helps me to understand the history, but shares the whole experience. Sitting in comfort in Canada, I'm glad your road crossing technique was successful! Keep the blog coming