Sunday, August 10, 2008

Sweat, heat and some english conversation

Date: August 8, 2008
Location: Torch Relay
Time: 9:30 am

We had the amazing opportunity to experience the last leg of the torch relay in Beijing. My goodness, I had no idea that this process was similar to waiting at a Backstreet Boys concert (when they were famous). There were miles and miles of people just anxiously waiting for the last of the torch relay to come through. We arrived there at 9:30 am and it wasn't scheduled to come through till noon. So what did we do till then? Have some interesting conversations with Chinese citizens ready and willing to practice their English. Oh yeah, I also took some beautiful pictures of the Chinese people. Check them out!



Three hours in the 10000% humidity in China is not fun. By the time the torch actually came through, we all had so much sweat dripping in our eyes that we couldn't even keep them open. To add on to our dismay, the last leg of the torch ceremony was going to be done in a gated area and where we were at only had the torch in a car that speeded its way down the street. No torch but definitely a once in a lifetime experience. We were completely engulfed with the locals and it was quiet an experience.


After escaping the massive mess of people and chaos, we headed over to Choayang Park to view the opening ceremonies on the big screen with all the locals. How can I explain this place? It seems like a mix of Central Park and a rundown Disney World. There were scattered thrill rides spread all throughout the park, one was called Presto Chango and that was definitely was my favorite. It pretty much started out the fun of the day. The park itself was very peaceful with its big trees, random bodies of water and lots of elderly Asian couples playing table tennis. We passed the volleyball around for a few minutes and found out some saddening news: Due to the security risks, they were not going to show the opening ceremonies in the park.


In true fashion of adventure, my professor decided that we make the best of the situation and enjoy the show like the locals. So what do we do? Go to a bar. We arrived at the Black Sun Bar, a random hole in the wall bar somewhere near Choayang Park.


Let's talk about the opening ceremonies. WOW. I was completely floored by it. It was by far the most impressive of them all. I can't decide if I liked the drums and lights more or the actual lighting of the torch. Either way, it was easy to see why the Beijing Olympics was the most expensive so far. Other interesting things in the night is that the bar we went to was referred to as a "western' bar, meaning that they served western style food. So what did my group order? BEER and PIZZA. haha


Oh, and they also had Guinness..my FAVORITE beer :)






4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Daughter!

Gus and I were shocked to see ya brandishing a Guinness beer! You look great!

Just dont drink and drive...ok!

love you..;-) Dad

PS: E L E...haha!

Anonymous said...

hey kish,

well i just read your term paper of a blog and it sounds pretty beast over there... i plan on training for the 2012 olympics where im competing in all the events, yeah hasn't been done before but you know, i guess ill do it since i feel like it... i hear you arched a 8/10... thats pretty good i mean for a newbie... but us veterans usually hit 12/10, yeah offset fraction, thats how good i am...
well news over... im practicing with the varsity nowadays, its cause of my deli cut (as in nice, clean, precise, fresh, and meaty) routes and soft "catch everything" hands... im trying to make it for sure though.
and mens 400x1 free relay?!!?!?! greatest race finish? um like 63/47chance... well time to be hitting the ole dusty trail... ill comment later dont worry : )well be safe and watch your purse... and your life... and kids... darn kids... love you :)

Uni "Sweetness" Tapangan...

Anonymous said...

l.7y 78ujjjj. ggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg |||||||||||||||||hnfhnffff g'f;v |788hfy"

-Love Gus


(We put gus on the keyboard because we wanted to leave you a blog comment. :]] So yeah, thats what he came up with..)

Anonymous said...

hahaha ok so u had a drink and pizza! Almost a Pizza Queen Picnik China Style! But without me :( Im glad you ur Guinness tho. You should have taken a bath in it to cool u off!! hahaha