On the Road

You never know what you will find on the roads in Cambodia.  The basic rules are the same as in America.  Drive on the right side of the road...unless you drive a moto and plan to turn left soon.  Then, it is acceptable to drive on the right side of the road for as long as needed before you turn.  Also, you can drive the wrong way on a round-a-bout if it's quicker.  There are no speed limit signs.  Anywhere.  I have lived here for almost a year now and have literally never seen a single one.  There are a few Stop signs occasionally, but nobody ever stops.  They are considered more of a recommendation than an actual rule.  Helmets are optional.  People use turn signals are used about 1% of the time.  Therefore, this make passing another vehicle practically an Olympic sport.  You have to carefully anticipate the other driver's intentions because he certainly is not paying any attention. 

The one thing that Cambodians seem to be obsessed with is headlights.  If it's daytime, and I'm driving with my moto headlights on, everyone points at them and chews me out.  I don't understand this.  Who cares?  I like to use my headlights during the day because half the time the road is so dusty that it's hard to see.  If I can't see a big truck coming upon me, then he certainly can't see my little moto.  So, dang it; I'm keeping my headlights on! 

If you plan to ride a bike, moto, tuk-tuk, rice tractor, or are sitting on top of a truck filled with a bunch of crap, you should wear pants, a long sleeve shirt, and possibly even gloves.  Protect your face and head with a large karma (scarf).   It is also useful to wipe away the sweat the is streaming down your head because your head is so hot from being wrapped up in a turban. 

It is important to keep your skin as white as possible because dark brown people are just...eeewwww....gross.  (I am constantly reprimanded for traipsing about in a tank top and shorts especially by my friend, Thida, who wears a sweater and mittens in the summer.)  I explain that there is this invention called sunscreen and receive the same looks that I give the women who use whitening lotion. 

When I first arrived here, I thought I would never get used to these new rules of the road, but now I'm a pro...unless it's pouring rain, and I'm driving on a dirt path.  I recently learned that lesson.

This is our school bus.  No commentary required here.