Sleep

All over Asia I have witnessed an incredible ability of people to sleep almost anywhere. No matter what cramped situation, noisy location or downright dirty environment people have no problems in making themselves comfortable and getting some shut eye. Oh how I wish I could learn that ability.  Even on long haul flights of 12 hours I am the guy who is sitting straight up with eyes wide open while everyone around me is making the most of it.

The meat market above in Siem Reap was a great example where this lady simply slung up her hammock over the stall and got busy with the Zzzz's.

So whether it's a hammock a floor mat or a chair Asians are well experienced of getting horizontal if only for a short while. This lady above has neatly propped her legs up the wall and placed a straw fan over her eyes as shades.

And ... it doesn't really matter what you look like. Again the Asians have apparently no shame or worry about appearances ..... this old guy in Urumqi in West China has laid himself out in the middle of the town square and taken off his shoes to get comfy. Holy socks ...... not a problem. They call it ventilation!

This guy in Hangzhou, China has chosen a perfect spot in front of some grand old doors and complete with his "Nordic Casual Style" sleeping bag he can sleep throughout the cold winter night.

Or if you're a taxi driver, lorry driver or trishaw rider you have already the perfect place to stretch out and snooze as seen here with this trishaw rider in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Big Yellow Taxi

Yellow cabs in New york City are a common site and they always remind me of that famous song by Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Taxi.

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot 
With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spot 
Don't it always seem to go 
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone 
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot 

They took all the trees and put 'em in a tree museum 
And then they charged all the people twenty-five bucks just to see 'em 
Don't it always seem to go 
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone 
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot 

Hey farmer, farmer, put away your DDT now 
Give me spots on my apples but leave me the birds and the bees, please 
Don't it always seem to go 
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone 
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot 

Don't it always seem to go 
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone 
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot 

Late last night I heard the screen door slam 
And a big yellow taxi carried off my old man 
Don't it always seem to go 
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone 
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot 

Don't it always seem to go 
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone 
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot 

Text & Musik: Joni Mitchell 
(c) 1970 Siquomb Publishing Corp. (BMI) 

Colombo Tuk Tuk

The tuk-tuks of Colombo, Sri Lanka are very bright and colourful as well as providing a convenient and cheap way to get around the city.
Every year they have the  Lanka Challenge where intrepid foreigners drive these local tuk tuks over the island of Sri Lanka - this has got to be the best way to see Sri Lanka. The Lanka Challenge is by no means an easy affair; contestants will embark on a true test of character, resourcefulness, endurance and navigational stupidity. It is a real maker of men and a genuine quest for wonder woman. This usually requires you to patch up your three-wheel mean machine in the most extreme of weather conditions, marooned in the most remote of locations and wearing the most ludicrous of outfits.