Something I’ve learned about myself recently (or maybe it’s just taken me a long time to admit) is that its very hard for me to complete a task if I don’t absolutely have to–take scooter riding, for instance. Yes, before I left the states, I took a class and earned my motorcycle license. Ah, but that was part of the preparation; I can prepare my ass off. However, when I finally arrived in Thailand and was living at the camp, I couldn’t feel comfortable riding the rented scooter. I could take it out at 7 am on a Sunday, sure, when the streets were empty, but going around corners, entering traffic… All of it was too much. When I took off a chunk of my toe on the kickstand, that was the final straw. I let the bike roast in the sun for rest of our borrowed time together.

Once I got back from my trip to Kuala Lumpur and moved into a studio on the main road, I had to use a scooter to go anywhere, see anyone, do anything. I didn’t even hem and haw about it this time; I hopped on the bike and took off, and that’s been the end of it. I drive a couple towns over to the gym (30 minutes and traffic), I even drove up the island completely to the airport the other day (60 minutes).

I even know where I’m going now (a bit). Streets in Thailand are completely confusing. Google maps is no help, showing only certain road names in English, and even so, street signs are impossible to find. Your best bet is the large directional signs pointing your way around the island, showing the direction of locations five to twenty kilometers away.

I have gotten lost a few times, especially in the beginning of my treks. I would start to get frustrated and start yelling out randomly, forgetting, it seems, that I’m on a scooter and can be heard by other motorists, many of whom are scooters as well. But it seems that getting lost was not the complete waste of time that it seemed in the heat of the moment.

The last few days, there have been a couple occasions where I was so focused on my driving that I forgot about where specifically I was headed and got turned around. While I did let out a curse or two, I thought about where I was and made some informed decisions based on where I knew myself to be. It turned out that I soon recognized where I was and got myself on the right track. That’s right– I recognized areas of Phuket Town.

Success!

If you notice that I’m pulled over on the shoulder in that first picture, you might be thinking to yourself, oh, that’s nice a safety shoulder to pull off on.  A pull-off can be one use for a shoulder. It’s also used as:

• Set-up place for cart vendors to sell their wares
• Lane for scooters to cruise through when passing stopped traffic
• Pedestrian walkway
• Lane to go through red lights on a 3-way stop
• Parking space
• Lane to drive AGAINST traffic traveling (relatively) short distances
• Doggie bed