There's something to be said for the mince-y, ladylike steps the women here take. Everyone strolls, and they have the right idea because there was 85% humidity today, which is too high to be barreling through the way I do, like I'm winning by getting there sooner. I'm dehydrating myself and missing things because I'm used to getting where I'm going without lingering. Furthermore, the sidewalks are treacherous. The only nice ones are in front of the consulates and they're polished stone and slippery. The rest are ALL cracked and ragged, partial foundations can jut out from where something was demolished and rebuilt, trash sometimes piles in corners where nobody has had the time to clean, street carts and juice stands are everywhere clogging up the walking space, so often you pick your way through or walk in the street. And the motorbikes. Good lord. I could take a still photo, but this will better illustrate the mayhem.

The video is in Hanoi, but it's the same here, and you aren't safe on the sidewalks either because the motorbikes don't even restrict themselves to the street! People park on sidewalks, pull up onto sidewalks, and will drive down the sidewalk to bypass traffic. A very common sight is for older men to be hanging out, lying back atop their bike seat with their feet up. Sometimes they offer taxi services, other times just unabashed stares.