Kecelakaan = Accident!

Well today it happened. I hit a motor scooter. First a mental picture for you--if you've ever gotten up in the morning and in a half-stupor went to the coffee pot and poured that first fantastic cup only to realize you cup was UPSIDE down and coffee was going everywhere--you can imagine the traffic here.

We had stopped behind a little van (which is a local bus). Now you can be almost alone on the road until you stop then you are overrun with motorcyles on both sides. Like the coffee flowing over the bottom of the cup, down the sides and all over the counter. Alone. Stop. Covered with motorcycles like ants on a cupcake at a picnic.

Well, we were stopped and so I was edging around the right side of the van and looked dutifully down the hill to make sure no traffic was coming up in the right lane. Only I just never looked over my right shoulder. Then BAM! I hit the scooter. At first I thought the guy was just going to keep on going....but reason came to him and he stopped.

We got out and my hubcap had hit his footpeg and bent it back. He couldn't shift right and he was unable to move it back into place. So I grabbed hold and got it almost back with my foot (outweighing the guy by at least 100 pounds, I think). But it wasn't perfect. More people came to the scene and conversation started. Then the thing I expected since I hit him happened. The lady with us said, "He is asking for money."

You see accidents here are settled on the spot. In cash. No lawyers. No insurance. Just show me the money. So I (while praying) said, "How much does he want?" To my surprise the response came, "Twenty thousand should be enough."

TWENTY THOUSAND?!? Are you SERIOUS? TWENTY THOUSAND!!! But I had no choice. I paid it. And I left the scene $2.21 poorer but much wiser.