A 3 week trek to SE Asia provided some perspective on my existance, and of course cars. First, you need to be quite wealthy to own even an average car in Singapore or Bangkok. I still found evidence of hot-rodded cars of asian manufacture, not entirely dissimilar to what I see in San Francisco. if not more interesting for contrast.

Hanoi offered little in cars but very much in light motorcycles and scooters. Traffic rules are non-existant. Approaching an intersection no-one stops, you just slow down and gently guide your way throught the crossing traffic with many horn honks and bug eyes (at least for me). I equate it to making your way acrosss a crowded dance floor, date in hand. I survived one day of scooting around Hanoi, avoiding entire families perched on scooter, cats, dogs, old ladies, deep puddles, dirt roads, big trucks, buses and taxis, drenched by a monsoon and rescued by some the best roadside food ever. Ever!