HeidiBeierle.com
“Michael Yang experiences shinnage while traveling by motorcycle”
February 13, 2026
Written By Heidi Beierle
In his memoir, Coming Alive on the Ride: A Memoir of Motorcycle Travel, Self-Discovery, and Korean Heritage, Michael Yang weaves together his motorcycle adventures with his immigrant story and entrepreneurial adventures in Silicon Valley from the 1980s to the early 2000s.
I spoke with Michael to learn more about motorcycle touring and understand how this form of travel offers a unique slow travel experience.
I love the Korean concept, shinnage (shin-nah-geh), that you introduce in your book. It feels similar to the slow travel invitation of savoring the moment. What is shinnage?
Shinnage is an emotional state of bliss and enthusiasm. It’s a positive, alive feeling when all your attention is focused on one activity. It has the quality of child’s delight. When we play, that’s shinnage, and we can experience it individually and with other people.
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