The Ubiquitous Tricycle.  Where would Dumaguete be without the ubiquitous tricycle?   It would be an exaggeration to say that there are no automobiles in Dumaguete, but they are as rare as hen's teeth.Motorcycles are everywhere but, for the most part, when the average person needs to travel about downtown they have to rely on that 'motorcycle with a side-car' called a tricycle.   It's a loud and bumpy ride. I'd feel comfortable in saying that shock absorbers are not standard equipment. The driver usually tries to squeeze as many passengers as possible onto the tricycle, so it's a crowded ride to boot.   As for the traffic laws....the law of the land seems to be "every man for himself".When approaching an intersection, it's the bravest driver that proceeds first. It's stop and go.....horns honking and more than a few near-misses.   If there's a traffic light in all of Dumaguete, I have yet to see it. Most times, it feels like I am placing my life on the line whenever I cross the street.   You cross the street while traffic is moving and you hope the oncoming driver will stop (or, at least,slow down ) .It's always best to cross when others are attempting to cross. Maybe there is safety in numbers.Given a choice,I'd rather cross at an intersection....at least the drivers are forced to slow down to keep from crashing into other tricycles.   I feel more comfortable crossing one way streets like Perdices.You only have to look in one direction as you dash across.   I thought that I had seen everything when it comes to driving here, but one evening,after buying a few groceries,we left the super market at Lee Plaza and walked across the street to take a tricycle to the main terminal when I witnessed something I thought I would never see in this Dumaguete.Behind us, I saw a Dumaguete traffic control officer ( yes, they do exist ) giving a ticket to a tricycle driver.This was not the first time I'd seen a traffic officer but, it was the first time I'd ever seen one do anything.The most puzzling thing to me is, just what could the driver's offense possibly have been? How can someone break a traffic regulation in a city that doesn't seem to have any such regulations?   Perhaps the ticket wasn't for a driving offense,per se.I think, maybe the driver was without the proper tag or permit. Like everywhere else in the world, Dumaguete has it's share of government officials looking to make a dollar (or peso, in this case).The traffic police may not be able to stop the insane driving,but they might be able to enforce a tag or license regulation.   As it's often said- if you want to know why something is the way it is you only have to follow the money.   I have no idea how a tricycle driver can possibly earn a living.The fare is either 6 or 7 peso per person ( I can never remember how much ) and the price of gasoline is comparable to the cost in the USA.   Because I don't live in Philippines year round, I can look on all of this as a romantic,exotic adventure.I don't know if I'd have the same high regard for this sort of transportation if Dumaguete was my permanent address.