Ambidextrous Driving

 Simbawang Park. We drove here last night.

I am driving Singapore and things are going pretty well. I only drove into

 oncoming traffic once! 

Singapore is less than half the size of Oahu and 5 times the population. With 6 million people 

it is certainly the largest city I have ever driven in. I used to be proud of my 

Denver driving skills! And to drive it on the opposite side of the road than 

I have been using for 35 years is a little intense.

Mindy, my dear neighbor who has kept me sane during this move, took me driving in a 

quiet part of the island the night we got the car. With a white knuckle grip, she said positive encouraging phrases 

while she directed me to make right, left, and u turns. 

The next morning I recruited Lainie, a very brave woman indeed,

 to accompany me downtown to run errands.

 I don't want to be alone if I get into an accident.

We went right to the heart of the city, Orchard Street, and jockeyed with the taxi drivers 

and motorcyclists and we survived!

Here are a few tips for driving on the "Wrong Side Of The Road":

1. Get a backseat driver! Their warnings/encouragement to stay on the correct side of the road are life saving.
2. Right hand turns are wide, left hand turns are tight.
3. The windshield wipers and turn signals are switched. I have the cleanest windshield in SE Asia.
4. The gear shift is on the left instead of the right.
5. Watch out for the countless death-wish motorcyclists and the cocky taxi drivers.
6. It is easier to drive in traffic, especially when making turns in intersections, you just follow the bloke in front of you. This is harder in areas with no traffic. All my driving mistakes have been in quiet neighborhoods, thank goodness.
7. As a passenger try not to scream when you think your husband is driving into oncoming traffic. (which he was not.)

Also:

Everyone backs into teeny tiny parking spaces here. Get a teeny tiny car (we did) and get some backing up skills pronto. Our car is so teeny that Roland's knees are in his armpits. Almost.

Just think how confusing it will be next summer when we go home to the states for the summer! Ack!

This is keeping me young. Right?

Simbawang. Ike visiting with some guys about his longboard. 

Singaporean teenaged boys are quite interested in his longboard.