Yes, I Can Carry That!

A popular mode of transportation here is the motorcycle. People use them as taxis, and they are convenient because they cost less than taking a car taxi and they will take you to a specific location rather than just dropping you off on route like a regular taxi would. They are actually quite dangerous because they weave in and out of traffic and get into alot of wrecks, so most of us missionaries avoid riding on them. These motorcycle taxis often are seen not only with a passenger, but also with what the passenger needs to take from one place to another, whatever it may be. Sometimes the things people carry on motorcycle taxis are huge and seem almost impossible to balance. But I am convinced that the motorcycle taxi drivers all have one motto: We can carry anything! For large, awkward items, passengers often hold the item to the side or back of the bike (causing an obstacle for those of us driving cars!), balance the item on their head and the head of the driver, tuck the item in between them and the driver, or give the item to the driver to put in front of him (sometimes people carry multiple items, so the driver is forced to carry one item in front of him). Below is a list of items that I or others have seen passengers take on motorcycle taxis. Some of these might sound impossible, but they always seem to make it work, even if they have to wobble slowly down the road and cause an obstacle for others!
- 30 flat cartons of eggs
- a large bookcase
- a plastic lawn chair (not folding)
- 3 children, mother included
- a large, live hog
- live chickens
- lumber
- a large pane of glass
- a box spring for a bed
- rebar, extra long
- a door
- a car engine
- rolls of carpet
- two business men, complete with suits and briefcases (with the driver, there were three men on the bike!)