Eric's Beijing Diary

Mr. Crocodile. That's what he calls himself. He is a local biker, just as friendly as the day is long.

When I am traveling through small towns in Western China, I will often walk up to a motorcyclist and show him on a map where I want to go. This doesn't work very well if you are with a group, but traveling alone as a single person, it's pretty easy. The fee is almost always 3 yuan. Well, last year, I was in Beihai one day, and a motorcyclist approached me. That is not the norm. Usually, you see these guys sitting on their bikes watching the day go by. They don't say much unless you approach them. But Mr. Crocodile speaks pretty good English, and he offered to be my "wings." I kept his card, and it has come in handy, because I can give him a call on my cell phone, and he will take me pretty much anywhere in the area. His card says, "Jesus Loves You, and I love you, too." Really nice guy.