| Every day we drive, take a cab, or use a | | | | steer. It's that simple. Still, I recommend not |
| subway, train, or bus to get to wherever it is we | | | | driving above 60 kilometers per hour (about 40 |
| need to go. On occasion, we pack our bags and | | | | mph) until the handling becomes more natural. |
| jump on a plane, take a break from the day to | | | | Semi-automatics do not have a clutch, but still |
| day hassles of life, and go on vacation. Still, no | | | | have a pedal for shifting. |
| matter where we are in the world or where we | | | | Know that cars will drive uncomfortably close to |
| are going, transportation plays a key role and | | | | your bike to pass you and other bikes will stop |
| knowing the types of environment we may be | | | | close and squish in at red lights and stop signs. |
| driving in can make day-to-day life and vacations | | | | Always stay near the shoulder and don't forget |
| safer and more enjoyable. | | | | into which lane you are turning. |
| On the Move | | | | On the Road: Picking Your Turn Lane |
| In November, I decided to jump on that plane and | | | | In Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the roadways |
| fly half-way across the world to Bangkok, | | | | (as they are in Britain), are on the left-hand side, |
| Thailand, on a five-month Southeast Asian tour. | | | | otherwise known back home as "the wrong side |
| For the past three months, I've traveled by car, | | | | of the road." Driving on the opposite side of the |
| bus, minivan, train, motorbike, "tuk tuk," taxi etc | | | | road means a little bit more than sitting in a |
| to get to temples, waterfalls, beaches, mountains, | | | | different seat. One thing that is apparent is that |
| borders, guesthouses, Wats, and plenty of other | | | | making left turns becomes easier and right turns |
| tourist attractions. On my journey, I've grown to | | | | harder. The trick is remembering into which side |
| appreciate the steady chaos of driving back home | | | | of the road to turn. |
| in Los Angeles. | | | | When my friend and I rented a car in Lang Kawi, |
| No Helmets, No Problem | | | | a beautiful island off the western coast of |
| One amazing aspect of driving in Southeast Asia | | | | Malaysia, I kept confusing my turn signal with the |
| is that motorbikes are readily available for rent | | | | windshield wipers as well as always wanting to |
| everywhere regardless of whether or not you | | | | look to my upper right for the rearview mirror. |
| know how to maneuver one. On the road, you | | | | Thankfully, the gas, brakes, and clutch are all in |
| will see many locals driving their scooters without | | | | the same positions. To be safe, we paid the extra |
| helmets up and down the streets nearly crashing | | | | few Ringgits to rent an automatic car to avoid |
| into everything -- not to mention cutting off | | | | the trouble of left-hand shifting. Unlike Thailand, |
| every vehicle in their way. Some drivers will have | | | | Laos, and Indonesia, Malaysia seemed to be a |
| young children clutching their backs and others will | | | | very safe place to drive - paved roads, |
| have up to three other passengers squished | | | | well-marked signs, and more cautious drivers. |
| together on the back. You'll even see some | | | | However, we were on an island and not more |
| tourists hobbling around with ace bandages | | | | chaotic cities such as Kuala Lumpur. |
| wrapped around their ankles and legs from | | | | Holding the Key |
| exhaust pipe burns, famously known in Thailand | | | | Traveling abroad can open the gateway to new |
| as real "Thai tattoos." Luckily in Thailand, most of | | | | experiences and even a newfound respect for |
| the roads are paved. | | | | home. Our world is one on wheels, where we can |
| Asia Motorbikes 101 | | | | go to and from practically everywhere. |
| Motorcyclist driving in Thailand with propane tanks | | | | Sometimes we only need a driver's license to get |
| Motorbikes are fairly easy to drive, even for | | | | there. Knowing how to drive is more than just a |
| inexperienced cyclists such as myself. Manual, | | | | means to an end. What we tend to forget in our |
| automatic, and semi-automatic bikes are available | | | | daily lives of stop-and-go rush-hour traffic is the |
| to rent at varying prices. Of course, automatic | | | | pleasure of driving. You don't have to fly across |
| motorbikes are the easiest to ride. They are a | | | | the world to know the joy of traveling. All you |
| point-and-shoot type of ride, meaning keep your | | | | need are the keys to your car. Even if your |
| right hand on the throttle and use your arms to | | | | journey is only a mile, make it a fun one. |