Two Wheels Good
Documenting a city or country from a car is a bit like doing human behavioural research without ever leaving a laboratory - there is worthy stuff you can learn but IMHO you'll pretty soon reach the limitations of what's interesting. Yeah I know, unless of course the focus of your research is car culture itself. But mostly getting out there requires removing the barriers between you and the world around you. What's your excuse when a motorbike and local driver can be yours for as little as 5 Euro for half a day? And even if motorcycle taxi's don't exist in a city of your choice it is possible to engage regular motorbike drivers to engagte in a bit of moonlighting.
Photos from motor cycle field research in Shanghai above, Kampala, Tehran, Hue, Fujian Province and Ho Chi Minh City below.
So you think language an issue? Some of the most effective days spent researching from the back of a motorbike have been with a driver that doesn't speak a word of English/German/Japanese and likewise me struggling to get my tongue around Farsi/Vietnamese/Chinese/Lugandan. What makes for a good research ride? A driver who is sufficiently aware of the passenger but ultimately knows exactly what he can get away with on the road/pavement/cattle path; a comfy passenger seat; plenty of cc's; and ultimately someone who is not phased by requests to stop in wierd places; and ends up anticipating places and peoples of interest.
Pillion highlights from this past year?
Interviewing boda-boda (motorbike taxi) driver's in Uganda for a study of shared mobile phone use, and on one occasion speeding through Kampala sitting Tour de France cameraman style i.e. the wrong way round on the passenger seat trying to get a good shot of a colleague Indri conducting an eventually very successful interview. Trust in your driver is a wonderful thing, especially when near misses are only witnessed after the miss and the only practical alternative is blind panic.
Being baled out of a sticky street situation by a motorbike driver in Tehran who knew just when to come and rescue me from over inquisitive officials. Watching Ho Chi Minh City wake and commute to work - Vietnam is after all still a 2-wheeled culture. The morning included a stop for a double condensed milk coffee and spending the next 30 minutes gripping and tripping.
And finally a day in the mountains of Fujian Province listening to tunes and staring contentedly at the back of a plant pot helmetted rider, who later introduced me to his favourite barber. The size of rock falls that were common in that part of the world would have wiped us out no matter how much wickerware protection he was wearing.
Bargain hard, tip well, don't expect a helmet.
Writing from Tokyo | November 10, 2006 | Comments (0) | Permalink
Recognise? Acknowledge?
Textures of a village stone mason workshop. Most of his work for head stones, but the odd clock mount and homage to Ho Chi Minh. Obvious pride in his work, including his carving of a topless flute player. Obvious level of skill shown in the detail of his work based on, um, close examination of his topless flute player.
With more of what is being produced and consumed being or becoming digital how do consumers (or peers) recognise and acknowledge the skills of digital craftmen and women? With the tools to publish, and easily re-publish work from others what is a suitable level of acknowledgement to associate what is produced with what is reproduced?
Writing from Ho Chi Minh City | December 27, 2005 | Comments (0) | Permalink
Specialist Tools
The humble ear scraper/cotton bud replaced by an array of dedicated tools.
Gentleman demonstrated how to make one particular tool. Cut up to 1 cm edge off a razor blade and insert into the tip of a metal handle to become a tiny shank - was used to take a fine layer of skin from inside the ear. The experience was not wholly unpleasant - somewhat like being under local anesthetic and feeling the odd tug or pull on the skin, but not really knowing what is going on.
Somewhat surprising to see head torch join the range of electrical equipment.
Writing from Hue | | Permalink
Dual Properties
Writing from Hue | | Permalink
National Priorities
Every culture has an equivilent to this, its just a matter of figuring out what it is.
Above, Bird Flu street sign in Hue, Vietnam.
Below North Korean spy hotline on subway in Seoul, South Korea.
Writing from Hue | | Comments (2) | Permalink
National Priorities
Every culture has an equivilent to this, its just a matter of figuring out what it is.
Above, Bird Flu street sign in Hue, Vietnam.
Below North Korean spy hotline on subway in Seoul, South Korea.
Writing from Hue | | Comments (2) | Permalink
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