An Ode to Motorbikes

While motorbikes are prevalent throughout Southeast Asia, nowhere are they quite as heavily relied upon and beloved as in Vietnam.  I found myself constantly amazed at the assortment of motos, and even moreso, the sheer volume and variety of stuff they could fit onto these relatively tiny modes of transportation.  From full families - often multiple adults and children - to boxes of goods, to cages holding live animals (ducks, pigs, chicks, etc.), to any manner of objects that you would never expect to be carried via anything other than a massive truck.  And bicycles, while less common now than the motorized variety, are often utilized in much the same way.  

The people are also a wonder - the older women often wearing matching ensembles that most closely resemble pajamas, their heads covered in the typical conal hats; nearly everyone wearing face masks over their nose and mouths, often in fabric that matches the rest of their outfits; and the specialty jackets worn by women in all sorts of weather that cover every inch of skin, lest they be exposed to rain or - even worse - the sun.  

I often found myself wanting to snatch up my camera anytime one of these bikes went by - sadly I was often not in a position to take a good photo nearly as often as I actually saw a spectacle go by - but occasionally I did position myself along a busy road and simply watch in wonder as the motos flew by in either direction, with all their cargo intact.

And so, here follows is an ode of sorts to the motorbike (and a few of the non-motorized variety) in Vietnam, with some honorable mentions from Cambodia.  I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them!

Vietnam

Raining?  No worries, just toss that extra big poncho over your passenger.

Babies often sat in little built in seats and rarely wore helmets.

Because sometimes you can't just strap your burden to your bike - bring a passenger!

I have no idea how this bike even stayed upright!

Sometimes a motorized bicycle works just as well!

A mobile street food stand on a bicycle.

At least he won't have to worry about getting a flat!

What amazes me most is that these boxes don't even look strapped on to the bike.

Cambodia

Schoolchildren on their lunch break wave hello.

This lady was holding bundles of chickens on either side of the bike.

There were actually two of these bikes overloaded with wicker baskets, wider than a car!  This one stopped to make a quick phone call, the driver dwarfed by his load.

One of a pair of drivers carrying a trio of pigs to the market.