Is the cry that is sent via text message to those young ex-pats who invariably drive “illegal” scooters ( with no driver’s license, no scooter license, no insurance, so why bother with a secondary offence like not wearing a helmet) as they are pursued by patrol car or motorcycle. Since the fine for retrieving the scooter and getting the licences is worth way more than the scooter itself, most simply turn and quickly walk away from the offending scooter and dissappear into the crowds. To say that Beijing is large is like saying Everest is high – it’s just not possible to comprehend the scale of the place. And yes there is the inevitable pollution, universal smoking, loud horking in the street, bathrooms where you must remember to bring your own tissue and face the door (lucky to have a door), and 12 lane residential roads (read highways) where pedestrians must assume all risk in entering a crosswalk – even if it says its safe. On the other hand, the architecture is spectacular, there are an infinite number of restaurants with well made regional specialties, people are friendly, and personal violence is unheard of. I am as safe here (Ok, except from the cars) as I am in Toronto, even after dark. I am learning a bit about the Chinese pysche through experience: last night we were offered “packaged chop sticks and napkins” for a pittance at a very nice Peking style restaurant, even though the same items were offered for free on the table. The rationale is that by packaging them separately in paper, you are assured that they have not been touched by another hand: they are therefore special, just for your use alone. Similarly, tea offered in paper cup at an office is a higher sign of respect than offering the same tea in a china mug: the mug has been used, the paper cup is pristine and pure. In the same restaurant, a young man was tossing handmade noodles around as entertainment between courses: it quickly became clear why chairs have personal felt “jackets” to cover your own jacket. As he swirled and twirled, he occasionally noodle slapped the back of your chair. “Noodle slap”- a phrase of my own invention – do with it what you will. Well, I must be off – I have no luggage (thank you Air Canada) so therefore must go buy some clothes and running shoes because I am hiking around this city in boots with 3inch heels!.
Archive for April 8th, 2008
Abandon Scooters, Abandon Scooters!
Posted in Uncategorized on April 8, 2008| 1 Comment »
Where I was, What I did, and What I thought about it all
- September 2020
- June 2020
- October 2019
- August 2019
- March 2019
- December 2018
- August 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- September 2017
- July 2017
- May 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- October 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- November 2014
- October 2014
- July 2014
- May 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- November 2012
- February 2011
- January 2011
- March 2010
- February 2010
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- Amazonia Aqua y Sal Cebicheria Beef Burgundy in a Pressure Cooker Bi-Culturalism Boeuf Bourguignon Boutique Hotels in San Miguel de Allende Cantina Carnival Casablanca Valley Casa de Cocinas Casa Linda Central Mexico Charles Darwin Chile Classic Recipe Colonial Mexico Common People Condessa Cooking Schools Day of the Dead Dining in Mexico City Ecuador Every Grain of Rice farmhouse villa Fuchsia Dunlop Galapagos Harry's Bar HIgh Altitude Cooking Italy Jacaranda Trees Julia Child La Selva Lodge Le Mirage Garden Hotel & Spa Luxury Yachts in the Galapagos Majolica Malbec Marcella Hazan Mendoza Mero Toro Mescal Mexican Beef Mexican Cooking Mexican Markets Mexican Music Mexico Mexico City Michael Coon Monterchi Mucho Mundo Chocolate Museum Napo River Natural Selection Oaxaca Panamericana 2013 Pigs Trotters Polanco Pressure Cooking Rainforest Salentein San Miguel de Allende Santa Rosa Santiago Tapiz Tenderizing Tough Cuts of Beef Tequila Torrontes Tuscany Umbria Valarie Coon Valpariaso Vermentino Vernaccia di San Gimignano Vintage Race Cars Voyage of the Beagle Wine Country of Argentina Wine Country of Chile