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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

Technical Issues

Damn. Killed my phone last night. Stupid thing has a password protection program that kills the machine if you screw it up 5 times. Guess who screwed it up? Whatever. The phone still works, but email capacity is SOL. Onward upward.

Today's agenda: Beach volleyball in the AM and then more wrestling in the afternoon. I'll report later.

The pictures are from a Taoist Temple that Chase dragged us to yesterday. Not on the tourist route and a very cool site that was spared by the Cultural Revolution. The name of the place translates roughly as "The Dharma of the Sea Temple." In the foothills west of Beijing and a very relaxing, peaceful location. Not typical China.

If you need to send me a note, use my AOL email: scole39036@aol.com.

Sport Goofy

Sorry been a few days. Violent taxi cab rides, too much TsingTao, and finally vicious Olympic Sport. Ithink this is why we came.

OK. Yesterday. Light years ago. First Olympic event-lightweight boxing. Good stuff. Crazy crowd, great fights, and a good American beat down. Notice the Picture of me w/ Ty Williams-Featherweight 55kg. Killed an Italian and a nice kid.

Second series is out at the kayak/canoe park. Waaaaaay out of town and a long, confusing cab ride. Screaming yelling. Sr and I walking away and letting Newie deal... Usual antics. Very cool. The American screwed he pooch by missing a gate on his last gate.

Today we kicked the day off at \the Pealr Mkt. Any knock off you want. Lots of yelling and screaming. Loved it!

Women's softball. Note Jennie Finch the tall Amazon hottie who has been in Sport Illustrated. Kicked the shit out of Venezuela 11-0. No hitter. Very nice. This afternoon wrestling. Meddle events-60kg. All Russians and other countries that end in IAN. Fun. Going back for more.

Just got back from a bar where I pimped tix for beach volleyball, judo, and more wrestling. Should be a good today tomorrow...

Hmmmmm, no real insights. Color commentary in AM.

Higher Gear

Hey running out the door... Katy says she is not seeing this updated. Will you send me a note on the site that you are seeing this updated through today? Some of you call her and help her.

Pics and notes tonite.

Battle of Beijing

Quick post. Gotta run soon. Yesterday was one for the books... I quote Jimmy Buffett, "My head hurts, my feet stink, and I don't love Jesus." Well, not that bad. Had to start the day w/ the remnants of bad gin in my head and showing up at Newie and Myrle Ann's church. Gotta pay to play as they say. I'm Presbyterian, so I know I'm in the hole anyway...

Moving on... time to Scalp. Hmmmm, can't even get near the stadiums. OK move on. Ahh, the Germans said to go to the swim cube. Hop in cab. Find a cell phone on the floor from a previous westerner on the floor. Cabbie snatches the phone and screams it is his. Newie goes off.... Screaming, cussing, and finally rolling out of the cab. Ahhhhhh, this is getting fun now. 100 spectators. All of a sudden LOTS of cops. Where you from... Uhhhhhh, Canada? We separate and gave the phone to the cops. We're out of here. Canada is dead. Long live Canada. By the way, the crowd LOVED us and were against the cabbie. I told you the Bossarts are good in brawl.

Rain started dumping buckets. Ducked into various buses and then found a new hotel and got some tix. Ahh, the gods chuckle. We even ran into a guy selling more at a bar later that night at face to westerners.

New day here. Boxing this afternoon and kayaking. We got a line on more tix. We're cool.