sidewalks not made for walking

I'm in Hanoi and the sidewalks are not made for walking.
They are made for parking your motorbike, welding, making keys, eating food in a squat position, selling food, making food, drinking beer, reading the paper...but certainly not for walking.
The street isn't made for walking either.
The street is made for motor bikes, cars, the occasional bicycle and more motorbikes.

I hired a motorbike driver to take me to a museum out of the city proper. When we returned to the city I had him drop me at a cafe. He didn't understand that I wanted to walk back. That's when it hit me.
One does not walk in Hanoi. One drives in Hanoi.

Thankfully, they drive slow. That combined with the years of experience at jay walking in NYC, it's not so bad crossing the street. Like India one holds their breath and you just go!

The one thing that continues to amaze me about life in Asia is how much of it is lived in the open.
There is no 'privacy'.
Bathing, washing one's hair, washing dishes, eating, cooking and in India using the toilet...are all done out in the open.
It makes me question the concept of privacy and what it all means.

Back to Kolkata in a few days. I think I'm excited :)