Photos

I've been uploading photos from India for a few weeks now on Trekearth so I've decided to move on for the time being and focus on a different country from my Round-The-World trip. Next destination: Vietnam.

My first stop in Vietnam was to the rapidly growing city of Ho Chi Minh. With an estimated population of 6 million, I'd say atleast 5.9 million are whizzing around the streets at any one time on their motorbikes!

As anyone familiar with this city knows - there are rules to crossing the roads here that contravene everything you're ever taught about road safety.

Crossing the road in HCMC. Rule #1:

Don't look left or right when you cross the street in HCMC, only look ahead. Simply turn and step out into the road and ignore the oncoming rush of traffic. If you are NOT looking at the traffic when you blindly step into the road then they will assume responsibility for missing you. But, if you are watching for a gap in the traffic the responsibility for your life is yours!

Rule #2: Walk at an even pace. You are far easier to ride around if you are walking at a steady pace. If you slow down and speed up or hesitate then it's harder to judge where you'll be when they reach you!

Rule #3 Don't bother with pedestrian crossings. No motorbike rider would even think of slowing down for you just because you're on a pedestrian crossing so better to just walk across the road wherever the fancy takes you!

Rule #4: P R A Y ! ! !

Follow all of the above and you might, might just make it to the other side.

PP details: Full-frame shot, no cropping; Converted to black & white; Slight contrast and levels correction due to B&W conversion; Slight sharpening to some of the faces of the riders; Black frame added.

Regards,

Rich