Thursday, August 21, 2008

Wrap Up

OK. OK. OK. I'll post pics later. All the remaining pics are stuck on Sr's computer, which I doubt he will ever be able to send to me...

Well, back in the land of socks and sandals...

So, 48 hours ago we wrapped up Shanghai w/ our final event-Nigeria vs Belgium. Great environment, however, not much of a game as the Nigerians stuck it to those silly chocolate eaters.

So now back home-Shanghai to Narita to Vancouver to single engine plane to Bellingham to car ride back to Seattle. Just got up after 10 hours of sleep. I have no idea where I am.

More pics to wrap up later. Any insights desired can be asked of me over various alcoholic beverages. Time to go back and stomp the stock market.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Shanghai Shuffle












OK. Out of Beijing and down south to Shanghai. Hotter, wetter, and smoggier than Beijing. This place is like the set of Blade Runner. Crazy ass buildings, huge electronic signs every where, and usual Asian chaos. Beautiful city-weird mix of European style along the river (The Bund) and modern Asia.

So got into town and crashed. I haven't slept on a bed the last eleven days, so I upgraded to a pull-out. Much nicer. Did the dazzling urbanite thang and then crashed for 12/13 hours.

Today we walked down to the National Shanghai Museum and quickly ran thru as we had a driver waiting to take us thru the city. Great spot. We did not appreciate it. So next was off for a tour of the city. First the Jade Temple, a working Buddhist Temple in the heart of the city. Lots of monks mixed w/ random tourists and lots of incense. Very cool. Next to the Bund. Hot, sweaty and a long stretch of brown water. Ehhhh. Nuf said. Finally we headed over to the antique mart, which is code for "Get in the Haole's Face and Try to Sell Him a Fake Rolex." Usual fun. Bought some crap for the Hoi-Poloi at home. Came home and hit the Bing Pea Jo (cold beer). Big meal and then crash.

Tomorrow is our final event-Soccer/football in the afternoon. Nigeria vs Belgium. Should be cool. Never seen a big-time football game. Sam Sr is a known soccer hooligan.

OK. Need to eat. In the mood for a bloody steak (shifting our views back West).

Next update may be back in Seattle...




Sunday, August 17, 2008

Tour de Beijing












Hey. Been running all around Beijing yesterday as we only had tickets for the evening track and field events.
We started off the day taking our bikes and going through all the old neighborhoods and busting into various homes. Old homes in the hutongs are built around a central square. Usually they continue to build into the squares as families expand. These are quickly disappearing in Beijing and China. Of course when you are with the Bossarts you just walk into random peoples' homes and hope it is not some Chinese Party member or a Serious opium dealer. Also allot of the people have these little friggin' Pekingese dogs that are vicious and have been spared the chopping block.

We ended our ride at one of the urban lakes at a local tea house. Did the whole tea ceremony thing, but, as usual,the heathen that I am had me drinking beers at the end.

We ended the afternoon by pedaling over to "Snack Street." A street lined w/ 200-odd food vendors. Everything you want-dumplings, noodles, any flavor beef, chicken, fruits, and of course the stuff you should be afraid of: scorpions, larvae, bugs, starfish, the usual. Note stupid pics of us eating scorpions and big beetles. Nice.




Ended the evening at the National Stadium (Bird's Nest). Saw the women's shot put medal (sexy ladies) and the men's 100m finals (Usain Bolt/Jamaica/ world record). Very cool evening and a good way to end Beijing.




Off to Shanghai...

Friday, August 15, 2008

Sunny Side Up, Sunny Side Down, Sunnyside All Ze' Way Around!!












Been a few days. Very humid here and rainy yesterday... Started off yesterday w/ Men's All-Around Gymnastics. Saw the Chinese guy win gold-Wang. Very cool. Place went friggin nuts.

Next up-back to the big boys of Greco-Roman wrestling. I've spent allot of time at the Glorious Workers Gymnasium. Newie decided to boo the Chinese guy when he lost the bronze medal round because he wouldn't shake hands w/ his opponent. Kinda weird and next thing I know Newie is going to get his ass kicked by the gymnasium (deservedly so). Luckily, I stood up and put the fear of god into the Red Machine...

Dinner was a traditional roast duck affair in a hutong (old neighborhoods-winding passages). Amazing stuff. Duck meat, duck hearts, duck feet, duck intestines, duck balls, etc. As usual-good.

Today we awoke to SUN the first time here... Could see the mountains (Fragrant Hills) for the first time. So next up-FIELD HOCKEY. I don't know anything about it, but watched the Netherlands beat the beejesus out of Canada. Great sport. Fun, fast, good chance to take out a knee-cap. Total approval.
Second, after the usual 12 course lunch, was Judo. Actually judo was somewhat lame. Only stuck around for an hour or so. Lots of grappling and very large women who have taught waaaaay too much Gym.

We hopped in a cab and went to the Pearl Market. Did some wheeling and dealing for fakes (got a sweet Omega Speedmaster for $40). They quote 1,000 RMB, you give 'em 100 RMB. Totally fun for a bunch of crap. Cash and BS is king. Makes make my market look like kid's play...

Manana...








Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Hot n' Sticky












All over the map these days and it is hot as hell. Humid too... They claim the air is better. Sure.




Started the day off at women's beach volleyball. Good stuff. Cheerleaders, crazy crowd, and few talented women. Good games: Georgia beat Russia on a smaller political front. China beat Finland (crowd goes nuts whenever China plays. They scream, "Jao Yo!" every couple seconds. Means approximately "GO GAS". I think it means bend over whitey). Fvinal match was Australia over Brazil. Please note my tasteful pictures of the players.
Second events were back to the boxing ring for more fights-essentially cruiser-weight. Not as fast as the featherweights. Ehh.

We've spent the rest of the afternoon watching heavier classes of greco-roman wrestling-medal rounds. Fun scene. Screaming, flag waiving, random acts of sodomy, etc. China got smoked in the 72kg round by a Hungarian. Scary good.

Back home to get the grime off. Leaving soon for another huge meal. Never ask what is served. Just eat.

Newie only chewed out one cabbie today.
Baseball tomorrow. Scalping more currently...