S2E10: Ashley Castellanos – Google Maps Disaster in Bali and Breaking Down in Vietnam(Transcript)

(sneak peek)

ASHLEY: It was like my first month driving a motorbike at that point. And so I was driving on this massive bridge and then all of a sudden my motorbike just stopped working. This is my first month in Vietnam and this happens and I just thought you know, what is my life?

(intro music)

BHAVNEET: Welcome back to Drive With Us, a podcast where we bring on a new guest each episode to talk about the crazy things they’ve experienced on the road, who they are as drivers, and how they became the driver they are today. I’m Bhavneet.

TARANJIT: And I’m Taranjit. Wow. I said that really weird.

BHAVNEET: I’m Taran cheap.

TARANJIT: I’m so cheap. 

BHAVNEET: I was thinking of a bird. But okay. You went that way.

TARANJIT: And today’s driver is Ashley, a traveler and a foodie. She’s lived abroad for 5 years in six different countries and she’s been to 21 countries. Which is amazing. Like I wish I could.

BHAVNEET: It’s astounding

TARANJIT: Yeah. She loves to learn about different cultures and experience new things as well as try new foods. She is a photographer, a digital creator, a mentor and also the host of The Venture-ette podcast. And today she shared with us some of the crazy driving experiences she had in other countries. Such as her motorcycle breaking down in the middle of a busy bridge in Vietnam and Google Maps leading her even higher up in the mountains in Bali.

(transition music)

BHAVNEET: Welcome Ashley to Drive With Us Podcast. Thanks so much for joining us today. 

ASHLEY: Thank you so much for having me. I’m so happy to be here. 

TARANJIT: Oh. We’re glad. We’re super excited to hear all your crazy stories, especially since you’ve been outside the country and also your stories and the U.S. 

ASHLEY: Oh. I’m excited to share with you guys. 

TARANJIT: The first question we like to ask right off the bat is what is some of the most craziest or most memorable driving experiences you have had?

ASHLEY: For me, the most memorable ones would definitely have to be when I was living in Southeast Asia. I’ve lived in Vietnam and Bali and I learned how to drive a motorbike there. And it’s just a driving experience so different from what it is in the U.S. I mean, the traffic laws aren’t the same. People don’t really follow them. People break the laws and rules all the time. So I guess you could say that my most memorable ones are there. One of the most memorable ones, it was in Vietnam. I was it was like my first month driving a motorbike at that point and I was driving on my way to my first private lesson for English. And so I was driving on this massive bridge and mind you on this bridge, there’s cars that drive in the middle, but on either side of the bridge that’s where motorbikes drive on. And then all of a sudden my motorbike just stopped working. It just it just died. I mean there was like still plenty of gas. So I was like what’s going on? And so I just essentially panicked and then I started just calling anyone that I think could help me. There’s like no tow trucks in Vietnam to like tow your bike. So I was just thinking who can I call to help me cuz I’m completely stranded in the middle in the middle of this bridge where there’s all this traffic just driving past. So I first called one of my housemates and he said he would come, but in the meantime, I just thought I needed to contact the people I’m renting this from. And so I’m just like on this bike and I called them and mind you the people I’m renting from the owner doesn’t speak English but his 10-year-old son did. So I’m speaking with this 10-year-old boy telling him where I am. He cannot figure out where I am I’m telling him. I’m on the main Bridge.  He’s like, can you send me a photo? I try sending a photo. It doesn’t work.  He’s like, lets try FaceTiming. The FaceTime is just not working. And then he’s like, can you get someone on the phone to speak with me to tell us where you are? And I’m just like I’m in the middle of this bridge and people are driving past me, like how am I going to get someone to just get on the phone? And then all of a sudden sure enough, this man has stopped behind me and he’s yelling at me in Vietnamese. I just hand him my phone and he is so confused. He’s so confused, but he takes the phone and then he’s talking with this 10-year-old boy. And then he gives me the phone back and the boy tells me, okay, this man is going to help you. You’re just going to have to reach the end of the bridge and our mechanic is going to reach you there at the very end. I said, okay. Well this man, he basically kind of drives off and I’m just pushing my motorbike on this bridge. But remember I had said I called my housemate who said he would come. Well he came and honestly saved the day. He meets me in the middle of the bridge and he said, okay Ashley. We’re going to try something seen it I seen it done, but I’ve never done it. I’m like, what is it? He’s like I’m going to you’re going to sit on your bike. And I’m going to put my foot on the back of your bike. And I’m just going to basically push it. Like him driving, but pushing me with his foot. I said, okay, let’s give it a go. Let’s give it a go. And so sure enough like he’s pushing me with his foot on the back of my bike and I’m not driving. I’m just sitting on the bike like a little kid. And he pushes me all the way to the end of the bridge and thank goodness cuz it was so hot that day as well and humid. So not having to push my motorbike all the way down was really just amazing. So we reach the end of the bridge and there’s the mechanic again, he does not speak English, of course not. But I understand what he’s trying to tell me. He basically tells me he’s going to do the same thing. Push me with his foot all the way up this massive main road to the shop. So he pushes me up all the way there and then I’m finally in front of this 10-year-old boy and he’s telling me how they’re going to fix the bike. But in the meantime, they’re going to give me another bike that I can use in the meantime. But at this point, of course I had to cancel my private lesson class. I just went back on the bike and I just kind of cried. Cuz I just thought this is my first month in Vietnam and this happens and, but yeah, it worked out in the end. But it was one of the most stressful well actually I’ve had more stressful things. But that was one of the most memorable experiences. I’ve had Vietnam at least 

TARANJIT: Well, I’m glad that it worked out in the end and I definitely would have been freaked out, too in this situation. Especially being in a different country and then your vehicle just stops and you’re stuck in a high traffic area. 

ASHLEY: Yeah. It was like I said, like I said there I knew there was no tow trucks. So it’s just like, how do you get this his bike that doesn’t work like off this a massive bridge? But luckily the shop wasn’t very far from where it was. Like if you were driving normally a 20-25 minute drive. So luckily I wasn’t out there stranded. But yeah, that was definitely a nice welcoming to Vietnam. And that kind of tended to be that kind of tended to be the thing in Vietnam. Like whether I ran out of gas or there was other times where my motorbike would break down. It it just happened quite a bit, but over time I know what to do. So but yeah.

BHAVNEET: I think it’s really interesting that pushing the bike with your foot. Like I didn’t even know that was a thing. That that’s how people push the bikes that are broken. Cuz like even the mechanic did the same thing. 

ASHLEY: Yeah. 

BHAVNEET: I would have never thought of that. 

ASHLEY: Yeah. Me either. But that kind of goes to show that when you are in other countries like that they really do find ways to make anything work with whatever they have. So it really just kind of teaches you to be at like a little bit more Innovative, you know when you’re in this kind of situations. So like I said, it worked. And it was just funny, just him pushing me up all the way up the road. I just thought you know, what is my life. But it was it was, like you said, I got through it. It was fine in the end. I really wasn’t in danger. I was just stranded for a little bit. 

TARANJIT: Yeah. I feel like I would be worried giving a stranger my phone. I don’t know. I think it’s just me, but I would have freaked out. Like what if he ran away with my phone?

ASHLEY: I know. I was just so desperate in that moment. They asked me to like find someone to get on the phone and there was this man. And I just I don’t know instinctively I was like he needs to talk to this boy. Like I need help. And sure enough luckily, he was a nice man, I guess in a sense and didn’t take my phone. I just I was just desperate in the moment. 

TARANJIT:  I know you said that you’ve had other strange or memorable experiences. Do you mind sharing this with us? 

ASHLEY: Yeah. This is the one that takes the cake of anything. So I was in Bali for 8 months and it was my last week there. And so I decided to take a trip to eastern Bali. So I was on the west side of Chengui and to drive over to eastern Bali it’s about a 3-hour drive and I went there to go to a Temple. And so I went there, went to the temple, got photos and now it’s time to come back. So I had Google Maps, you know, the internet data and Google Maps works just fine over there. And so I was following the map, of course, and all of a sudden it had me take a turn that wasn’t familiar from when I was going to the temple. But I figured you know, I’ll trust it. I’ll give it a go. I start going a little bit up into the mountains a bit, and like at first I was very excited. I was like, wow. Like look at the view, the trees. This is beautiful. And then I was going higher and higher to the point where it when I was driving, the road was so steep that I had to lean forward on my bike. It was like that steep. So I was going up and up further. Higher up in the mountain. And at first like I said, I was still very excited, but then I started to feel uncomfortable in that I was like, the only non Balinese person up there. Like you saw these small villages and I mean, I’ve done roadtrips like I said like in Vietnam before. And it was around that and it didn’t bother me. But I was starting to get this kind of attention that made me feel uncomfortable. And you know, I’m a female. I’m alone. I had all my belongings in my scooter. So it wasn’t on me on my back. So I just thought okay. Where is Google Maps taking?  And so I’m like still going and at one point, you know, I reached like this beautiful, I guess like viewpoint. And when I was trying to take pictures there there were people like trying to say they try to talk to me being friendly, but it was just the attention that just for some reason it just made me feel uncomfortable. So I thought I just need to keep going and just get out of here. So I’m driving and then all of a sudden, I reach this road cuz the first bit of that drive was on a pavement and then the road became a dirt road. And so I thought okay. This is fine. I have driven on dirt roads before. No big deal. So I’m driving on it, but also too I am driving like a city bike. It’s a Scoopy. A Honda Scoopy. And if you Google it, you will see that it’s kind of like a Vespa style motorbike. So it’s not really meant for the mountains. But I mean, that’s what I had. So I’m like I might as well just go with it. So I’m driving on this dirt road and then all of a sudden, it becomes this road where it was really it was like dried mud. Like where it was really muddy and then people definitely drove through it when it was wet. So when it dried up it was very uneven. And Google Maps is telling me I need to go through this and I just thought okay. I’ve made it this far, I’ll just keep going. So what I had to do was like I turned off the engine of my bike and I started walking it down on this uneven dried mud bit and I’m still high up in the mountains mind you. And so it was just like a small section and I finally reached the end of it. And again, it’s a dirt road again. And there’s this beautiful opening in the trees and the most amazing view of the ocean. And I looked down and the road that continued wasn’t necessarily much of a road or a trail anymore. I just thought, if I go down this I’m not going to make it out alive. So I’m like I need to so I’m just like I’m like I need to go in reverse and go back. Cuz at this point again. I have to go back up that dried-up muddy road that I mentioned but this time I have to go back up it And the thing that was scary about it this time because this bit like on my right side was basically like a cliff with like all these trees and stuff. It was like very steep and then to the left of me like I said, it’s just very uneven. So there’s like this small bit where it was kind of flat that I was trying to get my bike on in order to get back up. So for this part I turned again I turned my motorbike off and then I’m pushing it up this bit of the road. And I’m just like terrified. Like I said on the right side is like a cliff thing and the left side is just like an uneven road. And I’m like, I don’t wanna one, hurt myself and two, hurt the bike because it’s a rental. And so you know that’s what’s going through my mind. And so I’m pushing it up and then there’s a point where I got stuck in the road. And I freaking out So I’m like, okay. I need to turn on the engine, and it’s an automatic bike so you accelerate with the right handle. So I’m trying to accelerate it like ever so slowly cuz I don’t want my bike to shoot out from like my hands. And so I’m trying to accelerate it and it’s not going up. And I’m like, oh my gosh. Like, how am I going to get this up? And then at some point like I keep trying and trying and then eventually I am able to push my bike up. And then I’m at the top of where that mud road began. So I just stopped the bike and then I just start crying cuz I’m just so overwhelmed and I just want to just get out of there. And I’m like, okay, I’m not going to follow Google Maps. I’m just going to try to go back the way I came from and try to go back towards the temple again. Cuz the temple is a tourist area. So I figured if I could just go back there, start over and then try to go back to Chegui, which is on the west side of the island, I should be fine. So I start to go back where I came from. I’m still up in the mountains again, and I’m like, I just went out of these mountains. Like they are beautiful, but I just want to get out. So I’m driving and then Google Maps is telling me to go take a turn to this other dirt road and I’m like, I didn’t go on this dirt road coming the way that I had before. And when I was there, there were these Balinese man that were hanging out sitting outside their home and they were like yelling at me like basically telling me to go straight and not take the dirt road. And I’m like, you know, I’m going to listen to them. You know these dirt roads have not done me any favors. So I was so I started to drive like again straight along that pavement road and I finally started descending. And I was like, okay, thank goodness. I am starting to get out of the mountains and then of course surely enough what happened it starts to downpour rain cuz it is a tropical island. And so I take my poncho, it’s pouring down rain and I’m like, I just want out of here. And so I’m driving out and I finally made it out of the mountains. And now I’m in this little like kind of small little town or village. I had pulled over to take out my phone to see where I was and where I needed to go and then this man who thankfully spoke English asked me like where I was going. And I told him Canggu, which mind you, I’m still 3 hours away. I am still on the estern side of Bali and Chengui is on the west side. And he just started laughing at me and I said I’m serious here. Like I’m trying to go to Canggu. And he was like okay. And I told him I remember a highway that I drove on to get towards the temple and I’m like where is that highway? Like, I just need to get to the highway and I know that will take me back. And he said, oh you just take a right here. You’re going to go straight for a bit and he said it’s like 1 kilometer or 2 kilometers away. I said, that’s fine. I just need to get to the highway. I just want out of here. And then sure enough so I start driving where he kind of told me to and I finally reached the roads that I had drove on on my way to the temple. And I finally made it towards the beach cuz the highway is towards it’s like literally right alongside the beach. Like on the bottom half of Bali. Well actually no, the southeastern bit of Bali. And of course as soon as I get out of there, the sun comes out and I just thought, Wow. Okay. So yeah. I eventually like I drove again another 3 hours back to Canggu and the first thing I did was treat myself to a nice meal because I was like, I deserved it. I just want to eat. But yeah. That was one the most scariest and interesting driving experiences I ever had. 

TARANJIT: Yeah. You had quite the adventure. 

ASHLEY: Yeah. like I said, I made it through. I it’s in those moments, you just kind of have to think fast on your feet and think like, okay. What can I do? What do I have access to? You know and just kind of go from there

BHAVNEET:  And now, you know, like you can’t always completely trust Google Maps. It doesn’t always put you in the right place. 

ASHLEY: It really doesn’t. I mean, Google Maps failed me. It hasn’t failed me since, but that day, it really did. 

I mean, like I said, I did get some nice photos and views for a bit while I was up there. But then after that I was like I just I just went out

 like I’m done. 

TARANJIT: Yeah. We’ve heard several stories now where Google Maps puts you on a road and then you end up either on a road that’s not really a road or at the edge of a cliff. 

ASHLEY: Yeah. Exactly. And it’s just like and it’s amazing to me how Google Maps can like identify or like find those little I wouldn’t even call roads they are like little trails. it’s like, how do you know of this? It’s crazy what technology can do? But yeah, it’s just something that I did not expect. Cuz like I said, the beginning of it was paved road, so I thought oh. It should be fine. It should maybe it’s like a shortcut to get to the west side of Bali and no, it wasn’t at all. So yeah. Just stick to highways if there’s highways I guess sometimes.

BHAVNEET: And the fact that the sun came out when you got back to the highway. Like now now you’re in the right place.

ASHLEY: Exactly. I just thought I was just kind of thinking about it cuz when I was like going through that up in the mountains, I was like I feel like there’s a life lesson that can be learned right now. And I was like which is great and all but I was like this is great and all. But I didn’t expect to like learn, I guess this way. I guess the lesson, as cliché as it is like no matter, you know, what challenges come your way, it’s pushing forward and overcoming it. Cuz that definitely was a situation that I really just didn’t really know how to get out of, but then like once I thought about it for like a second I was just like, okay, I need to just retrace my steps. At one point, actually when I was up in the mountains, my bike also fell over. Like I was on this road where it was gravel and then like my bike just kind of fell over.  And like luckily I didn’t fall with it, but I just thought like, oh my gosh. What have I got myself into? And I was supposed to be with a friend, too. She canceled on me last minute that morning. So it would have been interesting how things might have played out had she like gone with me. But I’m still happy I went. The temple that I went to was absolutely gorgeous. So I guess it was worth the trip.

TARANJIT:  Yeah. I think you were mentioning that on your way up the locals were trying to like talk to you. Maybe they were trying to warn you, don’t go this way. 

ASHLEY: Maybe. Well I hope. No it was just like when I was driving up, everyone’s backs were faced toward like was like facing me and then they would hear the motorbike and like everyone was just staring. It was just this awkward stare that just and I guess because they don’t get westerners up there which I mean I totally understand, but that just kind of made me feel like uncomfortable. And I don’t think they would have hurt me, but it’s just, you know, I’m up I’m by myself.  I’m up in the mountains. No one really knows that I’m up there. It’s just kind of like I just started to feel like a little uncomfortable. When those these teenagers were trying to tell me hi,  when I was at the viewpoint, they were just trying to say hi. Which I mean like no big deal. it’s just I just felt like I needed to get out of there for some reason. And I’ve traveled a lot quite a bit. So it’s just kind of listening to your instincts that maybe like where you’re at is not the best situation that you should be in.

BHAVNEET: Since you have been in multiple different countries, were there any are there any like stereotypes that are associated with drivers of those areas? 

ASHLEY: Well I think in Asian countries, the stereotype is that they are not good drivers and whatnot. But it’s just a very different way of driving. Like I mentioned before laws there and whatnot isn’t like really like enforced as much over there on the road. So like in Vietnam one thing that you would see a lot like I saw so many people running red lights, running driving on the wrong side of the road, driving on the sidewalks,  and I’ll be honest I was doing it, too. Cuz there would be so much traffic and you’re out in this heat and you’re like on this road and you’re at the stoplight and there are just so many cars. Especially, in Hanoi where I was living, the density is just like the population density is just very high and so and the roads aren’t very wide. And so when you’re like in downtown or like in the central part of the city of Hanoi, there’s just the amount the crowds of motorbikes is just crazy. And everyones always trying to get ahead and move forward. And some of those ways to like get ahead and move forward is to just get on the sidewalk and drive past all the traffic that’s there or like like I said driving on the wrong side of the road. I mean I did that, too. I’ll be honest. I mean like when in Rome, right? it’s just and also, too with the honking, that was just something that was very different as well. Like here in the U.S., people honk usually out of anger. And being like, hey. You’re cutting me off or something like that. But there, it’s more like a like a language in a way that like you typically honk to say like, hey. I’m coming up behind you or like hey. Move out of the way because I’m going to pass you or something like that. So people are using their horns all the time. And when I was first there, it if anything it drove me crazy. I was like, why are you honking at me? And then I learned more as to how it’s used and then I started using my horn more. Like to honk at cars. Like maybe like a car is like coming out or something and I need to like honk to let them know that I’m like coming by them. It’s just a warning kind of thing. So it’s just it’s just very different over there.

TARANJIT: So has this made you more likely to honk and when you go in different countries do you tend to honk more now?

ASHLEY:  Oh. I definitely don’t. I am back in the U.S. right now and I don’t think I have used my horn. Actually, no. Once, but just because someone was cutting me off which is typically the reason why people use their horns. But I definitely don’t. I think as you are like in one country to another you quickly, kind of adjust to their societal norms. And so for me when I was in Southeast Asia, I had to quickly adjust. Like I said, I had to use my horn as a warning sign or letting people know that I’m around and coming by. But here, that’s not necessarily the case because people do follow the rules and people do stay in their lanes. Yeah. It’s just it’s not something that needs to be done here. So I don’t use it. 

TARANJIT: Which country would you say,  you’re most comfortable driving in and which one would you say you’re the least comfortable driving in?

ASHLEY: I’ve only driven in 3 countries. The other countries that I went to I never drove, you know, since the public transportation system was really good. So the places I’ve driven like it’s just U.S., Bali and Vietnam. And what I would say like like I feel I guess you could say I feel most comfortable in the well actually let me put it this way. I feel very comfortable driving a car here in the U.S., but I would never ever drive a car in Southeast Asia. And driving a motorbike, I feel very comfortable driving a motorbike in Southeast Asia, but I would never drive a motorcycle here in the U.S.And the reason why is that I wouldn’t drive a car in Southeast Asia is because they’re since because there are so many motorbikes there. There are cars of course, but cars there typically have to drive so much slower than usual because there’s always motorbikes driving around them and you just tend to like stay in traffic a bit more. So I mean I would take taxis when I was there, but driving by myself it just I would rather drive a motorbike so you can easily cut through traffic and weave through cars and I just preferred that And then driving a motorbike, I feel more comfortable there because there’s not really rules that you have to follow. You could just kind of do whatever and also two people don’t well depending on what kind of roads there are I mean, if you’re on a highway, of course you’re going to drive very fast, but on like the roads around town because there’s so many motorbikes, cars do look out for motorbikes a lot because there’s so many more of them. Whereas, here in the U.S. people drive motorcycles and whatnot, but cars but like the streets aren’t aren’t really built to cater to motorbikes. It’s more for cars. So I feel less comfortable to drive like a motorcycle or something like that here. 

TARANJIT: Yeah. I feel like when you do think of Asian countries, you do think more of all of the motorbikes. There’s way more of those because people do like weave in and out more often than they do here in the U.S.

ASHLEY: Exactly. And so because there is more of that in Southeast Asia, they tend to like I said they tend to drive a lot slower and tend to be more cautious because about motorbikes that are around them. Whereas here, that’s not necessarily the case. That’s why I would never want to yeah I have no desire to drive a motorcycle or something like that here. 

TARANJIT: Now that we have heard some of your crazy or most memorable driving experiences, let’s get to know what type of driver you are. Would you say, you are the type of person who rather be the driver or the passenger when given the choice?

ASHLEY: It depends, I guess where. Like I honestly don’t mind driving. I’m a very cautious driver. I’m always on alert. I’m very well aware of my surroundings. I’m just constantly look around that you’re sure that no ones doing anything crazy so that I have to like suddenly stopped or something. I mean I think I’d like driving but then also too sometimes I can’t be bothered. It’s like, can someone else drive? I guess it depends on my mood and where we are going.

TARANJIT: So have you ever been in a car where you were the passenger and you were like, oh I shouldn’t have got in this car?

ASHLEY: That happens a lot with my boyfriend. He scares me when he drives. And he knows this cuz he gets so easily distracted and whatnot. But he drives most of the time. But I’m constantly having to be on and be like, stay focused or like, please don’t speed like that. And he said he used to be worse, and I’m like, geez. Like I don’t know how it could be worse. But yeah that actually happens quite a bit with him. 

BHAVNEET: So you did say that you are a pretty cautious driver. Would you say that your family and friends would also describe your driving in the same way?

ASHLEY: Oh yes. Yes. I have been told that I am very cautious. I’m very alert. Whether I’m driving someone in my car or even when I was driving my best friend that I moved to Bali with in Bali. So for the first month. She didn’t know how to drive a motorbike. So I was driving her and I around everywhere. And she said she was so appreciative of my driving and how cautious I am because she got on a motorbike on the back of someone else’s motorbike and that person apparently wasn’t. Like they were just like speeding and weaving like crazy. And she just told me, Oh my God, Ashley. I just really missed your driving in that moment because like I’m more cautious and don’t do that. Well at least when when there’s a passenger. Like if there is a passenger with me I tend to be like even more cautious. 

BHAVNEET: Have you always been more cautious or is that like having having driven in like other countries like Bali and Vietnam has that changed the way that you are as a driver? 

ASHLEY: I’ve always been a cautious driver like even before I moved abroad. That’s just something how that’s just how I’ve always been. And then of course when I moved to Southeast Asia like I just of course became even more cautious because I just I was like, I don’t trust anyone. Everyone’s just trying to get where they want to. So I feel like I’m the one that needs to be the caut like the more cautious one because there’s so many incidents. Like even with my friends, they would get in motorbike accidents because and it was usually kind of like a T-bone kind of style accident because someone would just kind of shoot out out of nowhere. And that tends to be like the cause of most accidents that I knew of. So especially like at intersections and stuff like that, I tend to be even more cautious cuz I’m always just weary that like someone’s just going to shoot out cuz they don’t stop.

TARANJIT: Yeah. I feel the same way. I feel like I have to take on the responsibility of not only taking care of myself as a driver, but also other drivers around me. 

ASHLEY: Exactly. That’s what I mean. Like other people aren’t going to change like the way they drive. So it’s like, I can only control the way I drive. And so I’ll be the more cautious one. That’s totally fine since I really just want to avoid any any accidents, really.

TARANJIT: When thinking of annoying drivers on the road, what would you say is your biggest pet peeve? 

ASHLEY: I guess in terms of driving cars, when people, you know, just tail you. It just kind of drives me crazy 

people kind of do that. 

And then when I was in Southeast Asia the thing that really would get my blood boiling. So like I said when they honk at you, it’s usually because they want to pass you any want you to move out of the way. There were so many times cars would honk at me. They’re literally right behind me. So I know it’s directed at me. And they’re honking and there’s nowhere for me to go. I can’t go on the sidewalk. I can’t go any forward and I’m like, I don’t know what you want me to do. And it would just drive me crazy cua it happened like so many times. But yeah. It just goes to show the mentality that they’re always just trying to get ahead. LIke very fast and that is it’s just getting used to a different kind of mentality and a different way of people driving. 

BHAVNEET: Yeah. I agree with that. LIke when we went to India, people would honk more than they wouldn’t. Like even when there was nowhere for the person in front of them to go, they’re just like magically let me get in front of you. Just keep honking. 

ASHLEY: Yeah. Exactly.

BHAVNEET: Have you ever experienced road rage?

ASHLEY: Oh yeah. Definitely. I definitely have had road rage. I feel like I’m pretty good about it. Like especially here because here like the driving isn’t as crazy, you know. But when I was in Southeast Asia. I mean like the first month or two when I lived in Vietnam, that was my first Southeast Asian country that I lived in, I I was angry like a lot. It was, but again that was just me adjusting to this different way of life and different way of driving. But yeah. The honking and the madness that you would see on the streets, it really got my blood boiling because it was just something that I wasn’t used to. But over time the road rage started to go down a lot more cuz I got more used to it. Don’t get me wrong, I would still get quite upset from time to time. But less often. 

TARANJIT: Sounds like you tend to adapt to the driving culture wherever you are. 

ASHLEY: Well you, yeah. You kind of have to. I mean, it’s just especially too when you’re like in a place by choice. It’s just well I chose to be here, so I need to adapt and make this like my new norm if I’m going to stay here. So I was in Vietnam for a year-and-a-half. So it’s just like well, you know, I’m here and they’re definitely not going to change. So I need to change my attitude and perspective on it 

TARANJIT: Now that we’ve gotten a little insight into what type of driver you are, let’s go back to when it first started. How would you describe your first time driving experience and who was it with?

ASHLEY:  The first time I drove, it was in Mexico with my mom. I was 15. I hadn’t gotten my permit yet and I convinced her to just take me driving. And my cousin and I had my cousin with me. So she was in the back seat, my mom was in the passenger seat and I just said, okay. I’ll just drive us to the store that we were planning on going to that wasn’t far from my aunt’s house. And I was very cautious in the moment. Like I was, you know, had both hands on the steering wheel. I was very attentive. But then we were practicing around this little roundabout or this street that went in a big long oval. And then after that we’re  like, okay. Now, let’s go to the store. And once I drove out to go to that store, I panicked in a sense cuz they’re like other cars around me. And I mean we didn’t crash, but there was like a moment where it could have happened and my mom nearly had a panic attack. She was just like, Ashley! And I was just like, it’s fine. It’s fine. You know, we made it there safely. But yeah. From the very beginning. I was very cautious. And my mom she’s the most patient woman ever, but she also just sometimes gets a little bit of anxiety when I drive which I don’t get why cuz I’m so cautious. But she’s a mom. She always, you know, worries. 

TARANJIT: Your mom was okay with you just driving in Mexico?

ASHLEY:  Yeah. It was like in Tijuana cuz I was about to get my permit anyway. So either way, she was going to start teaching me to drive not long after. so yeah. I just don’t know why I don’t know how or what I said to convince her, but I  just said like, please. You know, like I’m going to start driving soon. So let’s just start here. i just wanted to do like I said, there was like a little bit where it was like a long oval so I could just go around in a circle. Or like a like in a oval just to practice. And the store that we wanted to go to was literally like 30 seconds away. So I just wanted to kind of get a feel for it But that was the only time I’ve ever driven in Mexico. but after that my mom’s like you’re not driving here cuz also the driving there is different than what it is in the U.S. it’s not as crazy as like in Southeast Asia, but people also are pretty lax on the driving rules a bit. like it’s not really that enforced to wear a seatbelt. Stop signs are more like slow down signs. So yeah.

BHAVNEET: When you went to go for your drivers test, were you able to do it on the first go?

ASHLEY: I was lucky that I got it, so the actual test I had to take like 3-4times. The written test, but then the driving test, thank goodness, I only did one. But I was kind of surprised because I did well, but I started off the test with the emergency brake on.

TARANJIT: Oh my gosh.

ASHLEY: And the person who was there with me told me that they’re like, you know that the emergency brake is still on? And I was like, oh my gosh. That’s how it started, but I still somehow passed. So kudos to that person for not failing me that day. But yeah. I passed on the first try, thankfully. 

BHAVNEET: Wow you got a really nice driving, what do you call it?

TARANJIT: Instructor.

BHAVNEET:  Yeah. 

ASHLEY: I know. That’s what I mean. I just thought as soon as that happened, oh. I failed. I don’t even know if there’s like any point to continue this test, but I did it. And I did well enough to have this person like let me pass. So I guess that person’s in a good mood. Either way, I’ll take it.

BHAVNEET: Yeah. Exactly. If you were to retake the test today, do you think you would be able to pass it? 

ASHLEY: Oh yeah. For sure. I feel like I, you know, am a good driver. So yeah. I would definitely pass.

TARANJIT: And remember to not leave the emergency brake.

ASHLEY: Yes. Now I know. It’s just at the time, yeah. I don’t know. I think like the nerves, I just forgot to just do that bit first. But either way, it was fine. Nothing bad happened.

TARANJIT: Staying on topic of driving tests, I know a lot of states are starting to get rid of parallel parking as one of the requirements on the test. Did you have to parallel park and do you think this should be removed or should it be kept on the test? 

ASHLEY: One, I didn’t know that was actually happening. So it’s very interesting. I think it’s I don’t know I’m mixed about it because I feel like especially if you’re in a place where there is a lot of parallel parking, I think Important to know how to do it properly. Because it is I think one of trickiest things to learn how to do when driving. So I would say like maybe depending like maybe that wouldn’t be fair. I was going to say like depending on where you’re taking the test, but I think it’s important to know. But maybe not have it on a test but you should still know how to do it. 

TARANJIT: Did your test have it? 

ASHLEY: I don’t think it did. I really can’t remember to be honest, but I don’t think it’s did. But I’m not a 100% sure. It was like so long ago. 

bBHAVNEET: We have a bonus question. If you could make one new driving law, what would it be?

ASHLEY: Oh wow. Maybe. Oh gosh. You have me speechless I really don’t know what it would be. Like, I’m trying to think like what really aggravates me. What I would really like to just stop if I could. But I guess maybe I don’t know. Maybe like not tailgate. Not tail other people. I don’t know. I’m just basing this off of what I said earlier. I really don’t know. I really can’t think. You got me. You have me stumped there. 

BHAVNEET:  I really wish there was a way that we could do that. Like any tailgaters, magically there’s a way that you can stop them from being so close to you.

ASHLEY: Yeah. That’s what I mean. it’s just we’re all going in the same general direction. it’s just I don’t understand sometimes. Like I understand sometimes people are like in a hurry for whatever reason. Like that I get. But still  it’s just, yeah. That kind of aggression, I feel like it’s not needed. 

TARANJIT: Maybe they should invent things for cars where you can like, I guess, honk at the person behind you or some kind of notification to the person behind and be like, back up. 

BHAVNEET: Reverse honk.

ASHLEY: Yeah. Something like that. I feel like technology is just improving. Like improving so much. Especially with cars. So if there was a way that maybe you could communicate more. Just like throwing like ideas out there. Just like a way to just kind of communicate more, so that way like we can move better like through traffic instead of having all this aggression or like road rage and whatnot. So yeah, I feel like if we could communicate more maybe that could maybe help lower more accidents. But it would be a nice idea. 

BHAVNEET: Yeah. Maybe someone who’s listening will hear that and they’ll make it.

ASHLEY: Yeah. Hopefully. We’ll just see what happens in the future. 

TARANJIT: Do you have any final thoughts or any tips you would like to give other drivers?

ASHLEY: Yes. Well I will just I will lean it more towards anyone that wants to drive like a motorbike, definitely always wear your helmet even though it’s not always enforced in those countries. Like always wear a helmet and always choose to be the more cautious when when driving.  I just feel like if we have more drivers who are a bit more cautious, it could make the roads safer.

TARANJIT: All great points. So where can listeners find you if they want to connect with you?

ASHLEY: You can find me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at VentureEtte. And ette is spelled e-t-t-e. 

BHAVNEET: Well thank you so much for coming on. We really enjoyed hearing your crazy stories, especially in Southeast Asia. 

ASHLEY: Oh thank you so much for having me. It was fun to talk to you ladies. So thank you.

(transition music)

TARANJIT: Can you imagine getting stuck on the middle of like in the middle of a busy bridge? The beginning of when you’re in this completely different country and you’re alone and then all of a sudden your bike breaks down.

BHAVNEET: It’s like a great way to be welcomed to a new country.

TARANJIT:  And the fact that there’s no tow trucks.  I didn’t know that was a thing.

BHAVNEET: Yeah. That was really interesting. It’s like really? It’s like then how do people is it because everyone mostly has bikes and then they just do the foot push thing? You don’t need a tow truck?

TARANJIT: Yeah. Exactly. Probably. Because I think motorbikes are the big thing and there are probably not as many cars. So it’s just like push your own vehicle to the nearest shop and get it fixed. But her having to explain to this little boy that she is stuck and she needs help.

BHAVNEET:  It’s like please FaceTime me or, you know, like show me.

TARANJIT: Yeah. And then having to ask some random person on the side of the road to like talk to this boy and figure it out. 

BHAVNEET: It’s like, here. Take my phone 

TARANJIT: Tell him where I am because he’s not understanding me.  Wow. I can’t imagine being in that situation.

BHAVNEET: That and then Google Maps trying to like throw you off a cliff. 

TARANJIT: Oh my gosh. When she was sharing that, all I could think of was all those stories that people have shared about Google Maps steering them wrong and making you end up at the edge of a cliff in a sense 

BHAVNEET: Exactly. 

TARANJIT: This well first she was just she said she would like going higher and higher up in the mountains. I think 

and then it started taking her down dirt roads, and she was like, well Google Maps is, you know, probably telling me to go the right way 

BHAVNEET: It’s Google Maps.

TARANJIT: Yeah. And then it was like, nah. I gotta stop. I gotta figure out how to get back on my own for a little bit. Which again in a different country on your own is scary. And her friend was supposed to go with her. So I feel like if I went alone versus if I had someone with me, I would be a little more calmer if I wasn’t alone. 

BHAVNEET: Well, yeah. I would.. Yeah, I would not be okay by myself. But I can completely relate to her. pet peeve of tailgaters here.

TARANJIT: Every episode when someone mentions a pet peeve, I’m like, oh yeah. That’s my pet peeve, too.

BHAVNEET: Yeah. I have a million. 

TARANJIT: Like I literally have so many pet peeves. Yup. That’s another one. Oh yeah. That’s a pet peeve, too.

BHAVNEET: I didn’t think about that one. But now it’s a pet peeve.  It’s official 

TARANJIT: It’s official. 

BHAVNEET: But then also the honking, it’s like people here honk, too. And it’s like why you honking at me? Especially in like Asian countries, I can see how that is more like she said it’s a language. More than I’m mad at you kind of thing. 

TARANJIT: I feel like they know there is nowhere to go, but they just honk like get out of my way. Like go. Go. Like they can just somehow magically clear up the jam.

BHAVNEET: Yeah.

TARANJIT: The more you honk, the clearer it becomes.

BHAVNEET: Yeah before she has any more great ideas. We hope you enjoyed Ashley’s crazy driving stories. And if you or anyone, you know, has any interesting stories and would love to be a guest. Fill out the interest form on our website at drivewithuspodcast.com.   

TARANJIT: And stay tuned until the end for a sneak peek of next week’s episode where we are joined by Elijah Hall. And he shares with us the differences of driving on the West Coast versus the East Coast, and a very entertaining story of racing in chariots in San Diego. Thanks for driving with us.

 (outro music)

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(next week’s sneak peek)

ELIJAH:  What in the world is going on? Somebody clearly went off the side of the road. And the car turned over and it was on it’s side. We’re the first ones to get there. There’s nobody else around and we start looking into the window. And I remember when I approached the car the first thing that came to my mind was, my God. I hope I don’t see a dead body.