There are countless differences between the U.S. and Laos, but one that has become crystallized in my mind the past few days has been the difference in warning signs.
Roadways in America always put safety first, there could be a pebble in the road and there would be orange cones and flashing lights galore. Sometimes we even pay a person to stand on the side of the road holding a sign that says "Slow Down." And these are union guys so you know that isn't cheap. But it just shows how much our government care about traffic safety.
In Laos, however, they take a different approach to danger in the road. On our drive to Luang Prabang we reached a section of the road that had fallen down the side of the mountain and the only thing warning us of immanent disaster was a pile of dirt and ONE dusty orange cone. The picture illustrates the scene.
My personal favorite is the usual marking for dangerous potholes in the road or a parking lot. I have seen potholes resembling the pit of despair and the only thing alerting a motorist to its presence is an upright stick with a plastic bag tied to the top. I mean, how could anyone miss that brightly colored clear plastic bag?
I guess sometimes it's the little things that make you miss home the most...
Roadways in America always put safety first, there could be a pebble in the road and there would be orange cones and flashing lights galore. Sometimes we even pay a person to stand on the side of the road holding a sign that says "Slow Down." And these are union guys so you know that isn't cheap. But it just shows how much our government care about traffic safety.
In Laos, however, they take a different approach to danger in the road. On our drive to Luang Prabang we reached a section of the road that had fallen down the side of the mountain and the only thing warning us of immanent disaster was a pile of dirt and ONE dusty orange cone. The picture illustrates the scene.
My personal favorite is the usual marking for dangerous potholes in the road or a parking lot. I have seen potholes resembling the pit of despair and the only thing alerting a motorist to its presence is an upright stick with a plastic bag tied to the top. I mean, how could anyone miss that brightly colored clear plastic bag?
I guess sometimes it's the little things that make you miss home the most...
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