Exercise

Part of my reason for getting up so early this morning was to see the exercisers. Now this isn't a bunch of old people in a park in CHina doing tai chi, this is EVERYONE.

Kids sprinting along the water's edge, groups of people (mostly older) moving in unison to tinny old tape recorders barking out orders. SOme groups were doing their exercises with sticks, while others had live leaders.

Badminton nets are set up and people play, but some just play on the beach without a net. A few people were een playing a quick game of soccer. Then of course there are the joggers and wal;kers doing their thing on the road or along the the shore. And of course some people out for a swim.

The greatest thing though is the warmups. These are basically whatever moves you feel like, and for some people are the entirety of the exercise. Wiggle your hips, lift your arms, stretch your legs (with a 90 degree bend at the knee of course, but why should that matter?) It's all very fun to watch.

This goes on until the sun comes up and then most of the people head home to get ready for their day, a few keep going (or arrive) to do their thing, but by the time I walked back to my hotel the formerly fairly empty streets were rocking with all sorts of vehicles.

It was funny to see a whit guy in his pink shorts out at around 630, but while at home he'd be early, here he was exercising at the tail end of things.

People are skinnier over here...sure. Diet is surely a part of this, but the fact that sooo many people get up every morning to get some exercise in must play a roll as well. It was very good to see the kids out sprinting. If there're any fat kids reading this GET OFF YOUR LAZY ASS and SPRINT ALONG THE BEACH or something.