"Shanghaied"

I looked up the origin of that expression and apparently it started on the west coast of the United States some time in the middle of 19th century.  If you were "shanghaied", it meant that someone probably got you drunk, asked you to sign a piece of paper or forged your signature, and then you would eventually wake up out in the Pacific Ocean as part of a ships crew heading to Shanghai.

Well I don't remember getting drunk, and I'm pretty sure I didn't sign anything but somehow I still ended up here this morning....well actually this evening.



But probably with a little better accomodations than a 19th century sailboat

And, unlike those sailors of old I am here of my own free will, and happy to have the opportunity to experience one more new culture. I will actually be here for 12 days, but I can report that the Shanghai Hilton has a 25 meter pool and a full gym. I should be good!

My global travels also reminded me of this old riddle.  Maybe you know it.

A hunter leaves his base camp tracking a bear.  He follows the bear for 5 kms in a southerly direction.  The bear than heads east and he continues to track him for another 5 kms.  Again the bear changes direction and this time heads north.  After another 5 kms the hunter finally catches up to the bear and finds him ransacking the mans own campsite where he shoots the bear dead!  What colour was the bear?

If you don't get it, it may be because of our tendency to think in 2 dimensions.  I'll give you an example of this that made me feel pretty stupid.

If you look at a map you will see that Shanghai is almost exactly half way around the world from Toronto.  Because of this I was really curious to see if the airplane would fly east or west to get there.  Imagine my surprise when the airplane took off almost due north!! 

And there in lies also, the answer to the colour of the bear!

Get it?

No workout today other than 14 hours of jet airplane vibrations.

"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home."---James Michener

love

peter