No helmet but the sun won't getcha.

This photo of my mate in Hanoi (who would kill me if she knew I had posted it), is another example of the joys of international exploration.

In Oztraylia, Noo Zulland et al, give or take the odd melanoma scare, we are all hell bent on getting tanned. In Vietnam, Japan et al however, quite the reverse is true. The whiter the better.

This is pretty common knowledge, as is the fact that the women here routinely wear elbow length gloves to stop from getting tanned, and that you can buy whitening deodorant (why you would want your armpits to be white is a little beyond me but anyway).

But this contraption, peculiar to Hanoi or so it seems, is a new one on me. It goes over the top of your normal shirt and the sleeves are designed to cover your hands when in 'bike riding position'. The top bit covers your face and the very top bit is a set of straps that conveniently help to keep the hat that you will of course be wearing, firmly strapped to your head while in transit.

How very clever.