Extreme Sport #1: Motorbikes

I'm glad that I checked extreme sport coverage on my health insurance because after my first experience on a motorbike in Hanoi, I definitely think it qualifies! It was hot and muggy today, like most days during this time of year, so I decided to keep it breezy today by wearing a dress. Of course, I wasn't planning on riding on the back of a motorbike today. After work, I hopped on the back of a motorbike today for the 25-minute ride from downtown Hanoi back home. I tried to explain that it was my first time on a motorbike, but my driver just smiled and said to hold on. 

At first, the ride was scary, as I didn't put my feet on the passenger foot pedals before we took off, so my legs were just dangling by the bike, inches from the pavement, curbs, and other vehicles quickly passing us by. When we finally stopped at our first stop light, which were few and far between, I was able to position my feet and feel a little more stable on the back. Then, things really picked up. My driver started weaving around the mass of cars, pedestrians, bicycles, and motorbikes that jammed the roadways in Hanoi. You want to make a left hand turn here? Just lay on your horn as you cut across the cars, pedestrians, bicycles, and other motorbikes that aren't stopping, but instead trying to weave around you as you cut across them. After several turns like that one, I thought I could handle it all, but then we turned on the main highway. After speeding down the highway at what felt like break-neck speed at times, we turned onto a quiet little street with no traffic--ah, home.

As I dismounted from the bike, trying not to flash everyone as I threw my right leg over the bike, I gave the driver back his helmet and thanked him for the fun ride. He smiled and said, "not bad." "No, but I don't think I'll be driving one of these for a while," I said.