A couple of weeks ago, when we first got here and ventured out to the supermarket that morning, one thing that we both noticed was the curbs. They are huge. I'm talking a good two feet higher than the road in some places, and at least a foot in others.
I guess we didn't really think too much of it - maybe the paving slabs are particularly thick here or the builders just had left over cement. But it wasn't until the other day when someone at work said something that it all made sense: the pavements are so high off the road because if they weren't the cars would be using them as an additional lane. Which I thoroughly believe to be true.
The driving here is crazy. There are no rules, at least no rules that people follow. Not even the police. One way road but you want to go the opposite way? No problem! Traffic lights have turned red but you want to go? Just go for it!
And it wouldn't be so bad if it was just a simple road with a lane going in each direction, but most of the roads have at least 5 lanes.
I thought it couldn't be too bad as we hadn't seen a car crash despite the chaos. Then we got to Friday night last week, and bam, right in front of us a taxi didn't slow down out of a junction and slammed right into the oncoming traffic. Thankfully no one was hurt, but still. You'd think they'd take a little more care.
It explains why half of the roads here have escalators and subways to allow you to go right underneath the craziness above.
So, for now at least, we have eyes in the back of our head when we cross the street.
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