Bizarrely normal

Recently I was thinking about the weird, strange and dangerous aspects of life here. Everyday day I notice new and weird stuff that goes. So, I thought I would share my list so far of things that make my head turn.

1. Drivers reversing up the shoulder of a highway because they missed the turn off.
2. Drivers driving up the wrong side of the road because the other side is blocked with traffic. (Then, when the taxi driver of the taxi I am riding in signals to the other driver of his disapproval at him doing the wrong thing, the driver swears at the taxi driver like it was he who did something wrong. Go figure).
3. The sign on the back of the toilet at the airport that says "Flush twice to save water" or something along those lines.
4. Reversing down a one way street.
5. Non use of seat belts. Or finding the seat belt wrapped around the back of the seat and connected to the buckle to prevent it "annoying" the driver.
6. Pedestrians walking on the side of the highway.
7. Buses collecting passengers from the side of highways, even though there is no "bus stop".
8. Walking against the red man.
9. Excessive speeding.
10. Overtaking without signal.
11. Overtaking with signal, but signalling in the opposite direction.
12. Running red lights. Inability to stop due to number 8.
13. The highest road fatality rate in Europe possibly due to numbers 1-12, except 3.
14. Mass construction of large scale office buildings and apartment blocks in heavily built up areas.
15. The lack of any kind of town planning. i.e Lets not worry about where the roads will go, lets just build, build, build!
16. The construction of gece kondu (literal meaning: built overnight). One day there's a bit of vacant land, the next, BAM- there is house. About 6 million in Istanbul.
17. Littering- people freely, without care littering.
18. Feeding of stray dogs and cats. (apologies to cat and dog lovers).
19. The large amount of stray dogs and cats.
20. Over crowding of every form of public transport.
21. Prohibition of smoking in taxis when drivers continue to do it.
22. The price of petrol. Equivalent of AUD$3.00 something....per litre that is. Luckily our car uses gas at AUD$2.50 per litre. Great savings!

There are many more strange and wonderful things that I haven't listed here. I just really wanted to give you all an idea of the funny things that life has to offer! And, those of you in Australia, don't whine again about the price of petrol! I can say however, that the good out ways the bad by far. I will soon post about the fun, wonderful and beautiful things.