Diary From Qingdao
August 23, 2006
Finn Sailor Zach Railey writes:
Well, I am literally on the other side of the world. This place is really different from back home in the USA. I have been fortunate enough to travel to many countries, but this one is by far the most interesting trip I have ever experienced. …
Two of the most interesting things since we have been here so far are the food and the taxi rides. We went to a few of the local restaurants and you actually pick out your food before they cook it. Literally!! If you are eating seafood you pick out the scallops or fish or shrimp from the tank, and you watch them get it for you. At first we couldn't figure it out, but after like the fifth place, we finally found out that you had to point at what you wanted and then sit at the table and wait for your food. It is cool and the food is amazing. It just takes a little bit to get used to the whole process.
The second thing is the taxi rides! DRIVING RULES DO NOT APPLY IN CHINA. Most of the time you end up going the wrong way on one way streets and crazy things like that.
Zach's sister, Laser Radial Sailor Paige Railey, agrees:
The taxi rides here are outrageous though. We just sit in the back and literally hang on. You can say that traffic lights, road rules and the lines on the roads do not exist! Everyone just laughs their fears away when we are in the car.