On the Road Again

Should you ever find yourself in a place that has massage therapy offered by strictly blind practitioners I suggest you get yourself a massage. I have heard many of the reviews from my travel companions on the reflexology and tuina here in Nanjing ranging from great, to not very relaxing to therapeutic (meaning somewhat painful at times but good). I confess to be pretty picky about my massage but when I found the blind massage center, curiosity overrode picky, and on my last night here in Nanjing I got a massage from a blind guy. In many places massage and acupuncture are typical careers for the blind and I can assure you after today that they are very well suited for their work. One thing to note, pointing at something to ask for it has limited usefulness when asking someone who is blind. However, the women at the front desk, was able to help us, with limited struggle, and I vowed for the 800th time to improve my Chinese. Within minutes we were face down with visually acute hands on our necks. Just like we wanted. Within the hour every joint was massaged, stretched and adjusted in some way. I agree, that it could have been more relaxing as I went with one of my travel companions and our massage therapists chatted back and forth with each other (this is not atypical in China). As long as someone is rubbing my neck I don’t care.

Having made it through four weeks of internship in China we have expanded our experience and greatly increased our patient contacts. Having the opportunity to see Chinese Medicine exclusively and in combination with other modalities. I think we are all very grateful to observe such experienced, kind, caring and thoughtful practitioners.

Tomorrow we depart from our hotel away from home in Nanjing and head to Su Zhou which is famous for urban gardens, waterways and silk. Then we are off to Shanghai where the school part of the trip comes to an end and I head up to Beijing.

Driving in Nanjing

Rules of the road, at least as far as I can tell.

Right of Way

If you are moving you have the “right of way,” if you are not you don’t.  This seems to be true for cars, buses, vans, bikes, mopeds and pedestrians.  As a pedestrian consider the weight and speed of the others who are moving before you assert YOUR “right of way.”

Lines on the road are suggestive, “loosely” suggestive for traffic going either way.

The horn is a multi-purpose tool which can be used in place of a turn signal, and as a personal locating device, it can also be used when you want to move, you want someone else to move, or if you feel someone is too close.

If you have missed your turn you can drive backwards to make your turn but proceed with caution.

There are no helmet laws the only people who consistently wear helmets are the police and they look like storm trooper helmets.

Seat belts seem to be optional the vehicle you are riding in may or may not have both ends of the seat belt available.

I have been told that driving/riding in India, Egypt or Thailand can be much worse.  It is possible that I am slightly sensitive about this, but in the future I will be sure to bring gifts for my regular drivers.  Additionally, I haven’t noticed too many heavily dented cars.  This gives me hope.