Last Tuesday as some you are aware, I was involved in a motorbike accident on Nguyen Dinh Chieu street in District 1. I was riding along parallel with my ‘work permit’ service agent’s motorbike. As we stopped at the intersection, another motorbike passed right between us. Unfortunately for him, he lost control of his overweight motorbike and ran into my handle bar. The next thing I know I was using my right leg to keep both of our motorbikes from hitting the ground.
That was my mistake. I should have let my motorbike fall and I would have had little injury. Instead, my right calf took the brunt of his motorbike impacting my motorbike. He luckily was able to pass with no injury. Since he REALLY looked guilty, I let him go. I was fine but I knew I would get some really bad bruises which appeared today after 5 days.
My right calf is still sore but recovering. I did not do any lower body this week but was able to attend kendo last Thursday. The bruise will be there for a couple of weeks (unless I can find some leaches). What is really funny about this accident is that many of my Vietnamese friends do not believe I was in one. For some odd reason, people here think bruises appear suddenly and do not realize that it can take days to appear. Well, here are the proof now 
Over a week ago, this woman on her motorbike nearly collided with me as she cut me off. In fact, she cut off several motorbikes in front of me. A lot of brake lights were flashing as this woman was crisscrossing through traffic. I consider her one of the worst motorbike rider’s in Saigon.
(Yes, she cut off the pink electric bike as well)
It is just 5 PM but I could tell from the dark clouds that it would rain within 20 minutes. My appointment was at 5:30 PM but I decided to see if I could race to my destination and remain dry.
I raced down Le Van Sy only to face gridlock after gridlock of slow moving motorobikes. Can’t they understand that it was able to rain cats and dogs? “Please get out of my way!” I silently pleaded. “I do not want to get wet!”
Unfortunately nobody seemed to notice, or care, that the lonely crazy foreigner on his red Yamaha Nouvo was trying to pass them. OMG, did I just get cut off by another Nouvo.
Then it started, one big raindrop followed by another big drop. I was panicking. Just one more street to cross. Traffic light is yellow with 3 seconds to go. Floor it!!!
Finally I make my destination. An Expat and a young Vietnamese girl are trying to flag a taxi.
Screw them!!! I do not want to get wet…
Finally I make it with time to spare. A couple more drops followed by more drops. Then it decided not to rain…
Damn it! All for nothing…
Just another day on the chaotic roads of Saigon.
Oh wait, there it comes finally.
Got some pictures of yours truly on my Yamaha Nouvo LX via Crystal Dinh, a Viet Kieu friend currently visiting Saigon. It is not very often you will see a picture of me on my motorbike.
(On my Yamaha Nouvo LX in Saigon)
(Getting wet in the Phu Nhuan district)
Oh, and more taiko
I took these pictures earlier in the week. Normally I never have time to take pictures from my motorbike. The traffic was running slow enough that I could take photos all along Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street from Phu Nhuan to District 1.
(District 3)
(District 3)
(Heading towards Vo Thi Sau street)
(They are paving the street again)
(near Anpha Capital)
(At the corner of NKKN and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai streets)
Recent Comments