Dear Extreme Sports Enthusiasts,
I have a new ride -- called THE SHADOW -- its a bicycle. We received some very wonderful lessons on how to ride a bike "Chinese style" from our friend Darryn who has been living here for over a year.
1. Riding a bike in China one needs to flow like water -- a bubbling brook. So you do not always go straight to your destination but take the easiest route flowing in and out feeling your way.
2. Remember everyone else is flowing like water too, but they do it better then you but they do not use peripheral vision.
3. Water flows everywhere there is space. So if you do not fill in a gap just a little smaller then your bicycle, someone carrying a desk will and everyone will just make a little room around them.
3. When you come to a cross street, first look to your right a the near corner to make sure no bike is turning right. Then look to your left to make sure no one is making a left turn. Then look right again as people merge from the right at the far corner. All the while looking in every other direction because water does not really flow straight.
4. Beware buses and black cars, they stop for no one.
5. Beware when people walk out in front of you, instead of continuing on their way and you missing them by inches, they may stop and stare as they are totally surprised by the vision of you on a bike.
6. Honking is another way of saying hello or ni hao or wei or I am behind you or go faster or I am behind you and go faster.
7. Critical mass exists and it is amazing to be a part of a group of bicycles of all shapes and sizes with everyone and their mother jostling, cutting each other off, and hauling around furniture, produce, children, building supplies, dinner or eight 5 gallon jugs of water.
Peace, Love, and Bicycle, Elaine
PS School started and I wanted to include a little TAM (Traditional Asian Medicine) Corner:
We saw awesome acupuncture today and man do they use a lot of (disposable and big) needles
Trigeminal Neuralgia Ear Treatment: Liver, Stomach, shen men, face
2 comments:
MUTT!
Fruit savages flowing like water on bicycles = excellent.
I am in Belgium--less exciting, perhaps, but at least it's not Bloomington.
Elaine! I hope you and George are having great fun! I can't believe I leave Wednesday! See you sometime Thursday night.
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