Back to work...
Back to work--just in time to miss great weather and the great outdoors. :( Everyday I remember more bits about our trip to China and Korea that I probably failed to mention in our journal.
Riding as a passenger in a vehicle in China really altered my 'experience' as a driver back in the US. The streets in China (and to a small extent in Korea as well) were so crowded that folks (regardless of type of vehicle) were driving almost like 'ions'--ricocheting off of every 'imaginable' surface one would see along a road, structure, sidewalk, you name it. It just seemed like you had to be 'prepared' at all times for almost anything to dart out in front of your intended path. Folks didn't seem to 'clear' their paths when they changed lanes and would pass on the right, left, you name it--but they'd always preface their 'action' with a short 'toot' of the horn to let folks in the vicinity (who were being passed blindly) know that somebody was overtaking them in a blind spot. This honking would be misinterpreted in the US as rude behavior and probably eventually would lead to road rage. Never saw that happen in China--in fact, it just seemed to be the 'norm' as opposed to the exception.
Back to navigating the US interstates in our area since our recent trip has really become 'less exciting' than the streets of China and Korea. Driving in Korea had changed 'considerably' for the better between our time living there from 97-98 to now. It's almost like everybody went through driver's ed and learned what a stop sign and red light actually meant! Funny, in China, I don't recall ever seeing anybody blatantly running a stop sign or a red light--which had been the norm in Korea back in the 90s.
Just odd musings, I suppose.
When we went out for a 'walkabout' Beijing on our final night in China, we came across these teenaged boys who were wearing these 'half skates' on their shoes. It was really interesting. It looked a bit like those shoes with built in 'skates' in the sole but these were metal contraptions that you strap onto your shoe's heel and they had two high speed rollerskate wheels that would fall just on the outer sides of your heel. I tried them on thinking they'd be really easy to use--especially because I've spent a lot of time inline-skating, rollerskating and ice skating over the years. These 'half-skates' were almost impossible to figure out. They seemed to be 'opposite' of skating--you lean into your knees and had to balance your legs in sort of an A-frame effect simply to 'roll forward or backward' with the contraptions. Just as it seemed you'd figure the devices out, you'd fall on your bottom or the front of your shoe (without the wheels) would catch the surface and propel you to the ground--unless you could quickly re-catch your balance. Interesting! I asked some questions about the 'half-skates' and learned they were designed by a Korean entrepreneur, built in China and retail for about $35. I wasn't sure if I wanted to invest in a pair knowing they'd probably ensure I broke a collar bone in the future. But they were certainly interesting to study and attempt. I guess it's only a matter of time before we see kids 'heel skating' around the country. ;)
Riding as a passenger in a vehicle in China really altered my 'experience' as a driver back in the US. The streets in China (and to a small extent in Korea as well) were so crowded that folks (regardless of type of vehicle) were driving almost like 'ions'--ricocheting off of every 'imaginable' surface one would see along a road, structure, sidewalk, you name it. It just seemed like you had to be 'prepared' at all times for almost anything to dart out in front of your intended path. Folks didn't seem to 'clear' their paths when they changed lanes and would pass on the right, left, you name it--but they'd always preface their 'action' with a short 'toot' of the horn to let folks in the vicinity (who were being passed blindly) know that somebody was overtaking them in a blind spot. This honking would be misinterpreted in the US as rude behavior and probably eventually would lead to road rage. Never saw that happen in China--in fact, it just seemed to be the 'norm' as opposed to the exception.
Back to navigating the US interstates in our area since our recent trip has really become 'less exciting' than the streets of China and Korea. Driving in Korea had changed 'considerably' for the better between our time living there from 97-98 to now. It's almost like everybody went through driver's ed and learned what a stop sign and red light actually meant! Funny, in China, I don't recall ever seeing anybody blatantly running a stop sign or a red light--which had been the norm in Korea back in the 90s.
Just odd musings, I suppose.
When we went out for a 'walkabout' Beijing on our final night in China, we came across these teenaged boys who were wearing these 'half skates' on their shoes. It was really interesting. It looked a bit like those shoes with built in 'skates' in the sole but these were metal contraptions that you strap onto your shoe's heel and they had two high speed rollerskate wheels that would fall just on the outer sides of your heel. I tried them on thinking they'd be really easy to use--especially because I've spent a lot of time inline-skating, rollerskating and ice skating over the years. These 'half-skates' were almost impossible to figure out. They seemed to be 'opposite' of skating--you lean into your knees and had to balance your legs in sort of an A-frame effect simply to 'roll forward or backward' with the contraptions. Just as it seemed you'd figure the devices out, you'd fall on your bottom or the front of your shoe (without the wheels) would catch the surface and propel you to the ground--unless you could quickly re-catch your balance. Interesting! I asked some questions about the 'half-skates' and learned they were designed by a Korean entrepreneur, built in China and retail for about $35. I wasn't sure if I wanted to invest in a pair knowing they'd probably ensure I broke a collar bone in the future. But they were certainly interesting to study and attempt. I guess it's only a matter of time before we see kids 'heel skating' around the country. ;)
posted by Adventure Seeker | 8:34 PM
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