Quick Review

Hey. As I keep mentioning we are staying w/ The Bossart's (Newell, Merle Ann, Russ). Old Coleman family friends. Most people in the NW know this band of vicious gypsies. They are ex-pats in Beijing who run a consulting business in China (read Black Market) for the last 12 years. Anyway they tolerate us and they are good in a low-level street fight. Newie is an old Kidder broker and if you have any questions about his past-ask Katy or Doug Adams.

We are staying at Russ's place as he seems to be the firgure head of the family this week. His older brother, Chase, just showed up from India, where he's been for 6 weeks. He brought his girlfriend, Elizabeth along. All sleeping here...

Relaxation is for pussies.

The Usual.

Hey. You know the drill. No Olympics today. We are doing the tourist thang... We expect to start going to events manana.

So we actually watched the Opening Ceremonies last night from Russ's apartment as we could see the National Stadium (Bird's Nest) and the stretch of road that leads from there to the Forbidden City. Chinese TV coverage, but we could see all the fireworks across the city and leading to the event. What they didn't show was all the crazy fireworks ALL over the city after and during the ceremonies. Great spot-28floors up up, so amazing views.

OK Monkeys-Tienanmen today and then into The Forbidden City. Again-WOW. Huge. Older than anything we got-well not as old as Gary Frye. You've seen these pics before, but suck it commoners. The thing that continues to amaze is the scope of size. CHINA. Collective will. Amazing-hard to explain.

Tomorrow Olympics. Blood sport. Mano a mano. Country vs country. Beer. Ahh...relaxtion!!!!!

Ughh boring notes.

OK.

Run Around

OK. Opening ceremonies. Think we'll take the subway down to the Olympic Green. Pretty cool system, but no-one knows how it works as it is brand new.

Oh and once you get off the subway, they don't allow anyone to go near the Olympics w/out a ticket. Note: there is chip in the ticket that must match your ID in the The Big Red Machine's data base or nada. Oh, did I mention it is still 97 degrees and humid. Blah blah.


SO screw it lets go to the Llama Temple-OOPS... the government said all sites (Tianamen, Forbidden City, etc) are closed for the Opening Ceremonies. Oh and make it a national holiday.

Come on lets chow and drink beer. That trumps all here... Food rules.

Whatever. Let's go rent some bikes. That took two hours of Red tape (Meryle Ann again stuck it to them), but we are no longer bike virgins in Beijing. Holy Christ on a Popsicle stick. Just pedal forward and don't die. Seems to be easy so far... The key is to always move forward and don't make any sudden moves, oh and don't look backwards. Crazy buses know you don't want to hit dumb white boys.


By the way, don't think people in Beijing aren't enthusiastic as shit about this city. They're in The Big Show and they know it... Everyone is proud of this city and they damn well should be. "No" doesn't seem to be in the Chinese mind-set these days. Move on brother, cause this freight train is just starting to roll and the brakes suck.



Above pics are us trying to get to the National Stadium (Birdcage) w/ no luck. We'll be able to get on to the green later and scalp out little hearts out. Other pics are us riding through the Hutongs (old neighborhoods that are being bulldozed ASAP for The Future, manifest Destiny, etc.).

We're off to some sports bar w/ 60 screens. Word is that the Guv may have shut it down for "National Security." They're also supposed to be shooting fireworks down a 5mile stretch of road by where we're staying.

I'm just along for the ride. And beer.

Stay cool.

More Great Wall Pics

Note Sam Sr's private fanner...

Don't lose your ticket in China

Long day... Took a cab/driver (Uncle Wong)-arranged by the Bossart's for a 3 hour car trip outside the city. Beautiful countryside and the second Beijing drops away, not a car in sight.

So the Sim MA Tai site is amazing. Gotta take a ski-lift up, which is better than trooping up in the 95 plus heat and that still only gets you about 3/4 of the way there...

Then you buy another ticket for the funicular. great word, by the way...

Oh and read the sign you drunks and imbeciles:

And then hike some more, pick up some hangers-on, and WOW there you are. These guys don't build anything small:

I'll post a few more later. Oh and don't lose your ticket on the hike down like Sr did... The chick won't let you back on the tram and then Uncle Wong (formerly of the People's Republic of China's Elite Snow Leopard Division-they make the Mossad look like girl scouts) will make a scene and then you have a fair amount of screaming in Mandarin.

Overall, a good day. Off to eat something.

I think the air is just fine, but I'm from LA...

Dumb Americans Arrive!

What day is it? Wednesday, Thursday, Friday?? Jesus, I have no idea where we are... I'll attempt to begin to download pictures soon...

OK. 2 hour drive from Seattle to Bellingham. Picked up by Sam and Bob Waunch in his Piper Super Cub-1 hour flight to Vancouver. Thank god Bob was sober. 9 hours to Narita. Not too bad. Narita sucks, by the way... Nobody knows what is going on. Welcome to the Orient. 3/4 hours to Beijing-arrived around 10pm. No problems. Holy Christ, what an airport. Welcome to Red China-BOW DOWN. These guys are on their way. Made it through customs-had an interesting 15minute conversation w/ Mr. Hot Fuzz that I was actually the guy on my passport pic.

Newie and Merle Ann were there to stick us in a cab to Russ's place. NOTE-cabbies like backing up on the highway for giggles. Whatever. Merle Ann almost punched the guy for stiffing her $.75. Love her.

Fried. Saw Russ. Began to fade. Shared a nice twin bed w/ Sam Sr. Sexy. Jesus. Got coffee now-been told to move to tea soon. Excellent.

Off to the great wall. Sim Ma Tai section. Supposed to be cool. On our own for the 3 hour trip outside the city. I'll let you know. We'll see. Call the authorities if you hear nothing for a few days.

Tomorrow we whore for tickets.

Oh congrats to Team UBS for another stellar softball season. 2nd place again. Selah.

Drop me a line.