The other night Jo-Jo and I hitched a ride with a Sawngthaew (Truck Taxi) by bike. Sawngthaews are Toyota size pick-ups with a soft or hard shell over the truck beds. Eight people can fit inside. Around the perimeter of the truck are side railings and two ladders on the back leading to a storage on top.
Jo-Jo and I were waiting at a light and one pulled up to the right. Jo-Jo was in front of me and he looked back at me and then gestured to hold on to the truck. So with the left hand I held my bike and the right grabbed the side railing. We were on busy road so to go as fast as traffic was quite exhilarating.
To simultaneously keep my bike steady, a safe distance from Jo-Jo’s back tire inches in front of mine, the back tire of the truck, and watching the road was a serious test of my bike skills. The truck driver was having so much fun with us too! He would swerve wide enough to clear any road obstacles so that we could continue the ride. We managed to go from the base of the mountains all the back into the area close to Old Town, about four miles.
Jo-Jo was shocked that I had never done that before. He said in France its very common, as well as riding two to one bike, which is another thing I had not done until a few weeks ago.
It’s really not as impressive as what the locals do with scooters here. Three to four on one scooter is pretty common. I love seeing the family’s: Mom, Dad, baby in the baby seat in front, and one more child sandwiched between the parents. Or the date version is pretty amazing too. The women wearing skirts sit sidesaddle on the back, balanced perfectly. Sometimes she will have her legs crossed and the high heel will dangle.
