Scooters

I remember first arriving and experiencing the streets of Fengyuan. I couldn't get enough of zipping around on my brand new bike, weaving through the chaos of cars, buses, scooters, pedestrians, and the occasional dog. At least for the first few weeks. Work soon picked up and the days got longer. The luster of bike rides quickly faded beneath the scorching sun. Besides, a bike didn't really allow me to venture anywhere beyond my immediate surroundings. I began to feel trapped...

About $230 proved my liberation. I bought a scooter - 125cc engine, paint peeling, definitely used. Having a scooter revitalized me! Midnight runs to 711, a hop over to the basketball courts, visits to friends, a refreshing drive into the mountains, convenience getting to church. It hasn't taken long to become an integral part of my daily life. Add to that the sheer rush of navigating traffic - probably best just to flow with it and keep your helmet fastened! Oh, and make sure to check out other people's helmets while you're at it.

Scooters are everywhere. Affordable, maintainable, and practical. It's not uncommon to see a family of three or even four cruising around on a single scooter. Small children either sit behind with arms clutched tightly around the parent, or stand between the driver and the handlebars. Scooters are incredibly convenient for squeezing through traffic. At red lights, as the line of cars quickly extends backwards, scooters sift through the cracks and seams and pool at the front of the intersection. Usually, before the light changes they take off.

A tunnel, inconspicuously burrowed beneath the railroad, connects two obscure side streets. Barely wide enough to admit two scooters, blink and you'll practically miss it. It's one of my favorite routes downtown! Stores of similar experiences await discovery in secreted nooks and alleys all over Fengyuan. Scooters render it all accessible. After spending a whole day confined to the school, I unwind by exploring. Getting lost has never been more therapeutic.

You have to live the experience to understand it. Video might be the next best thing! As a disclaimer, videoblogging is new to me. I apologize of any technical difficulties if you cannot view them.