On the road to our hotel, we noticed at least 8 different tracks within a few kilometers of each other. We soon returned to this expansive Go-Kart District to take a few laps. The tracks and cars appeared similar to those at fun centers in the US, but had never been to one in the states that required the drivers to wear helmets. As with the dorky bathing caps, we initially thought it was just another of the local head wear hangups, but knowing the local driving styles and looking at the disheveled chain-smoking Go-Kart wranglers, we should have realized the helmets were more functional than cultural.
We had been brought up to not smash into each other on the track and that even touching cars in some places would result in immediate ejection. Right from the green light, it was apparent that this was a no holds barred Road Warrior environment. The battle was on and it was so much fun. In our first race, Carolyn opted to ride double with Paul, and late in the race at a particularly tight chicane, I was behind them with a crazy driver in between us. The middle car clipped Paul as he went into the back end of the turn and spun him sideways serving them up for me (barreling full speed) to T-bone them full force. And we hit pretty hard. Not sure if Carolyn would have been diagnosed with whiplash, but check out the marks that her seat belt left on her neck and torso. Pobrecita.
Needless to say, she stayed out of the cars for a while, but Paul and I were loving it. We were slapping paint race after race, but Paul's cars kept having mechanical issues. I was behind him at one point and a huge chunk of chain came flying out of the back of his car and barely missed it. I put him into the barricades a couple times but have to give him credit for not only driving far better by the end of the weekend, but for taking no crap from me or anyone and battling his brains out. We both have rashes and bruises, and after one particularly violent race, we came into the pits together and the wranglers were laughing so hard at us. Great time. Made me recall the great Go-Kart wars at Cannon Beach in 1999 between Team Muller v the Independientes of Leland/Linde/Imbrogulio. Those were some great races (won by the Independientes in a still disputed result). I would love to get together again at these tracks and settle things once and for all
As part of the hotel package, they served up buffet dinners. Not great as you would expect, but they did have a couple of interesting menu options.
The surface of a baby calf is usually better on a knock off handbag, but wasn't too bad
Let me tell you that collecting enough chicken emissions to feed a hotel's worth of guests is no easy task.
The beach at Kenting was nice and sandy. The water was super calm, which allowed us to sample their sea kayaks and Hobie cat. The calm and warm water was also perfect for relaxing soaks in the ocean. Bathing caps are not required in the ocean, yet I'd say the other bathers were wearing them 50% of the time. Still do not understand the point of those things and and will endeavor to lead a rebellion against them, but do not see how a popular uprising is possible if the populace is so brainwashed into wearing them even when they are not required. I got into the swimming pool without one one afternoon and from the looks of disgust from the other bathers, I might has well not even been wearing a bathing suit.
The Chinese were still goofy as ever at the beach. A trait we noticed a lot more this trip is that it seems their sole purpose for going to the sand at all is to take pictures of each other and then scamper right back inside. The pose that they ALL did was where the subjects would jump in the air while the picture was taken. By the end of day three, we felt the need to take one of our own.
Not so secretly...we found it kinda fun to take a picture in this style. Here we are at the Go-Kart track
And now it is the only pose we can make...here we are at the rest stop on the way home.
Try it for yourself and tell me it's not awesome.
Something that I've always found odd, and is the norm here as well, is the fact that nearly all of the t-shirts have phrases and words exclusively in English. This seems to be true across the globe...I've looked for shirts with sayings in French, Spanish and now in Chinese, and they just do not seem to exist. Betty suggested that this might be something for me to start here as a business and I threw out as a first pressing a t-shirt with Chinese characters that said "Got Tofu". She said that wouldn't be a good idea as 'Tofu' was a euphemism for a female body part. We all giggled but we guessed the wrong body part. Betty later explained that 'Tofu' referred to breasts ("all-white and squishy"). When I think of breasts, euphemisms for them should be plural (i.e. melons in the US...mosquito bites seem apt here) and tofu doesn't really translate well into plural. Naturally, we thought tofu was another body part based on some of the street food offerings we've sampled.
There were a couple of "coming of age" moments with the kids this weekend. Paul confided to me (keep it quiet) that he recently learned how to fart without making a sound. And Carolyn learned that it was not only OK to pee in the ocean, but that it a lot of fun. Am so proud of both of them and will admit that I teared up a bit learning of their personal discoveries.
Quick follow-up...in the last posting, I wondered why the Chinese kids seemed to wear glasses in higher percentages than US kids, and apparently, there are studies out there than document that it is due to the increased amount off schoolwork they are required to perform at earlier ages. Time will tell if that's a good thing.
OK, how many times I have to tell you not to believe Betty??!! Tofu, is really referring the the pale soft skin of Asian female body, not particularly implying the breast.....
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