Domestic Goddess Travels: On The Road

Picture: Bernadette & Paige on the move

Hanoi is a city that lacks car parking space so many local people ride scooters as they are small, cheap to run and will fit a family of four on quite easy if you know how. So as I say I will give most things ago when living in a new country. Isn't that what its all about?

There are many rules about owning a scooter here which I wont go into in this blog so the next best thing is to hire one.

Asking as many expats as I could I did some research. "Excuse me I see you ride a scooter is it rented" I would asked other expats when I had the chance too in a store or on the street. My research paid off as an expat put me onto a man who rents scooters, all you need is your passport, an address, rental fee and sign your life away so to speak.

There I was in the small shop talking to the owner seeing one of the 'Honda Waves' and agreeing on what time he could deliver to where we where staying at the time. I am adventurous but not crazy, there was no way I was going to ride through the heart of Hanoi never having any experience on a scooter before trying to find my way home. In Hanoi anything can be delivered and scooters are no exceptions.

When the scooter arrived I was given some instructions and the rental man wanted to make sure I was happy with the bike. I decided to ask our house keeper to give it a test ride as she rides her own scooter, "All Ok very good" Hien said.

With the instructions running around my head about the gears, breaks and steering I sat on the scooter to get a feel for it. By this time there was Paige yelling I want to ride it mummy, three security guards all trying to speak in broken English to me offering advice, as well as Hien giving advice. 'No pressure whats so ever' I thought and I took off very slowly to cheers from everyone. I just went around the small parking area a couple of times and decided with everyone watching it was time to let the excitement calm down.

An hour later I decided to give it another go without everyone watching. With a check list completed; wheel lock off, kickstand up, gear in first and checking brakes off I went around the car park again with no one watching or so I thought. It was a good way to get used to the scooter and at one stage one of the other guards come over and offered some advice which I welcomed. Feeling more confidence it was now time to hit the road.

Through the front gate I went to a cheer from the guard at the gate, round the corner and onto the road. With the wind blowing in my face, the sun shining I was flying, "I'm the Queen of the road" I never thought 15km per hour would seem so fast.

After a couple of days after getting used to the scooter I took Paige for a ride. She just loved wearing her helmet and the special belt that goes around her waist and me to keep her secure while riding on the back of the scooter.

Getting my scooter licence

Things comes to those who wait. The process of getting a scooter licence here is quite a long one, paper work, medical, and driving test, what was I thinking?

The paper work, which I was lucky to have one of the ladies Tuyet from the companies office arrange and fill out for me. I just had to supply eight passport photos with me wearing a shirt with a collar, my passport and my local car licence which was done previous as I had an Australian drivers licence so a simple paper work process.

The medical, which I had to do a full medical in one of the local hospitals. Taking two hours and four departments later which included a dental check, eye check, throat, nose, ear check and a breathing check and he I was thinking it would be just an eye examine.

There was even special forms that had to be filled out. With no surprises about my health and after each check was completed I was given the ok. When it came to the last section of the medical a staff member decided that she had to get permission from her manager as they had never seen an expat before. I couldn't believe the fuss, maybe they thought my heart was different or my blood was a different shade of red, anyway I got there in the end and once again Tuyet was there helping, she couldn't believe the fuss either. For me it was an experience that I think I will always remember.

The driving test, couldn't I just pay that bit extra no questions asked? I thought as I stood in the line to start the process. I was told I had to be at the testing place by 8am which I was no thanks to a taxi driver that didn't have a clue, so this wasn't the best start to my day. With Tuyet once again helping me we approached a large garage that was filled with people waiting to have their name called, I think about 300 in total where waiting, hmm I thought "this is going to take a while". We checked out the numbered list, I was number 127 "my lucky number" I hoped or should I say "I prayed". Half an hour went by and my name was finally called seems all the expats the whole three of us had to be all done together so we approached the bench and had to sign I think I counted seven pages of yet more paper work.

Once completed the lady grunted at us to follow her, Tuyet said we had to pay for the test so we went up three flight of stairs in double time trying to to keep up with the lady where we found another two ladies and a man checking paper work and taking the fees. Another half an hour went by and while chatting quietly myself and one of the other English expats was told to shut up by this rude power hungry woman. I felt like walking up to her and slapping her. She was so rude to even the local people pointing and talking rudely to them, she didn't have speak English for me to understand what she was saying I could just tell by her tone. By this time I was so nervous and felt like backing out but once again we where on the move to another location which turned out to be the testing area. On approach to the area I notice about 50 other people all waiting , "Just shoot me now" I thought as everyone watches everyone else do the test "What pressure" I thought. I am so glad that the English expat and I got talking as we talked through a game plan which I think helped me in the end. One after another we saw the people tackle the driving coarse. The coarse consisted of riding around a figure eight which was about 1 meter wide, then along a white line which was about a metre wide as well, around some painted cones and then along a section with small speed humps.

No going out the lines and your feet can not touch the ground on the coarse I was told or point will be deducted. By this time my hands where sweating, I felt sick and to be honest was asking myself "what was I thinking". "Bernette Playsord" I heard "well that must be me" I thought so I approach the scooter that was supplied with my helmet on and sat down. I went through my check list in my mind; kickstand up, gear in second, break on and to be honest there was no where to run. I was just about to commence when the man giving out the scooters out pointed to the gear and waited me to go in third, with a look from me and the words "Are you joking" I said "no" and then the judging panel over on the side line then said over the loud speaker to "start". "Shoot me now" I think I was thinking..

Off I went a bit shaky but as I entered the figure eight I found my self say a loud "revs, revs" which helped to get the bike in the motion I wanted and made me focus, it all happen so fast and I was at the end of the coarse and was totally relieved and I even punched the air in glee not knowing if I had passed or not but I was so happy with my run that it didn't matter and no matter what I could always do it again now knowing what to expect. I parked the scooter and headed over to the judges on the side where Tuyet was waiting for me. Papers where signed and then I asked Tuyet "did I pass?" and her smile said it all, I had passed. I was so happy, I think I had the biggest grin on my face.

What a process to go through from start to finish, paper work, medical, and driving test if I knew then what I know now I think I would of completed the process anyway as the feeling of finally getting my scooter licence will be something I wont forget.