I made this video the other night as I was driven home from our factory situated in one of the Mactan island economic development zones (MEPZII) to our house which is in a subdivision about 4k's away.
Being piloted through the tricycles, bicycles, cars, pedestrians and some wheel gobbling potholes ... plus the odd dog or goat by Maning - my trusty driver of the last two months. This video gives you some idea what a journey like this is like. It will also give you some idea why my driving has been limited to weekend day times as I slowly immerse myself into a very different driving mindset.
The drive is made longer by the fact that the factory is on one side of the airport and we live on the other side. Initially the drive is down a reasonably wide road that tht would normally take two lanes each way but here has dynamic contra flow!!
No one indicates and if a tricycle spots a prospective customer they will just stop. Very few traffic lights are functional and to cross an intersection you just creep until the oncoming traffic has no option but to stop!!
From this reasonably wide road we turn off into a road which can just take two lanes of cars. However it is also occupied by the same combination of bicycles, pedestrians (a lot more) as well as dogs (many) and the odd goat or cow. Pedestrians generally walk with their backs to the traffic - leaving it up to the drivers not to smack into them.
This whole system is made possible by a unique combination of patience, trust and delicate driving skills.
It is certainly a unique experience.
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