Transportation

This one is going to be a short and sweet one as I have both no time nor access to the Internet that simply decides to come to us or not.

This photo shows what rush hour looks like.  Everybody walks.  I mean everybody, whether they are using crutches, toddlers, elders, etc.  You can see school kids walking home.  There are wide "dirt sidewalks" on both sides, but the surface is nowhere even.  You must have a good eyesight to talk and walk at the same time otherwise you would find ourself on your face next to donkey's poop.

Modes of transportation here in Matakos (similar to Nairobi, except for the traffic) are basically (1) walking, (2) walking, (3) walking, (4) ride on bicycles (for hire, you sit on the back), (5) ride on pikipiki (like 125 or 250 cc motorcycles, but Peace Corps volunteers are forbidden to ride on them) (5) ride in Tuktuk (3-wheel taxi), or (6) ride in matatu (there are tiny versions and mini-van versions).  Its always fun to watch those matatus -- almost like wondering how many people can fit in a phone booth or a VW bug.  They sure do squeeze and the tiny matatus simly chug along just fine.

I have not yet seen a harley.  They all are metrics (Suzuki, Yamaha, etc.)

Poor picture, but see how crowded it is in the matatu?

Tidbids:

• If you really want to stick out in the whole town, wear sunglasses.  Not one soul I have observed wore one, so being a heavy sunglasses wearer, I try to look cool without wearing them.
• Do not text and walk.  You will fall and who knows what would land on your face.  There are many rocks and stuff buried in the dirt from eons of walking.
• No need for hiking trails, just walk here.
• Bathrooms are for... bathing.  Washrooms are our toilets. 
• Pants are underwear.  We wear trousers or slacks.
• Old Navy suede-like pants weigh you down with all the reddish-brown dust.  Smooth cotton trousers are better.  
• You can have any color shoes, they all end up red or brown anyway.
• If you wear a Chevy or Ford t-shirt, you may have people asking you waht they are.  There seem to be none around here at all.  Alot of them are Nissans, Toyotas, Isuzu, Mitisbushi, etc.  Talk about Japan trying hard to enter our economy when they seem to have the world at their fingertips.

Hakuna Matata