Remember the crack I made a while ago about being Gwyneth Paltrow for a day? It may have been more prescient than I realized.
The Chinese are avid tourists, but for the most part they can only afford to travel within China. So when I refer to hordes of tourists at the more popular destinations, I’m not just talking about Big Noses. There are plenty of little noses pressed against bus windows as well.
Today I biked into the parking lot of a shopping center, hoping to buy some bottled water. Before I could even dismount, two video cameras were pointed at me, capturing the moment for posterity. Why anybody brings a video camera to a shopping center parking lot is beyond me. Perhaps someone had informed the busload of Chinese that this was a good place to spot foreign cyclists.
The funny thing about the situation was how easily I slipped into this hammy television persona, which doesn’t come all that naturally to me. I think my brain was a little fizzy with endorphins, because only moments before a stiff tail wind had helped me hit 67.5kph (42mph), a new trip record.
Anyhow, without missing a beat, I leveled a gaze into the nearest lens, put on a toothy smile, and began fielding questions.
“Where are you from?”
“I’m from America — meiguo — and I’m biking through your beautiful country. Where are you from, Morley?”
“Nanjing.”
“Ah, how lovely. I look forward to visiting the east coast of this great nation…”
I continued interviewing one of the kids, who it turns out is soon headed to Wales for a year of university. I’d give anything to hear his accent when he returns.
While I was serving up this dish of hot cheese, tourists took turns standing next to me to get their pictures taken. Some of them flashed little peace signs.
I can get used to this. It sure beats hello.
