Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremony

Beijing Olympics finally came to an end with an amazing closing ceremony. The fireworks were stunning but I think the closing ceremony wasn't as spectacular as the opening ceremony. After 16 glorious days of an amazing journey into Beijing, we say goodbye to another year’s Olympics. China also won the greatest number of gold medals(51) and the United States came second with 31 gold medals. England will be hosting the next Olympics in 2012. It is going to be interesting to see how London manages the opening ceremony. It may be the end of this sport phenomena but nothing could dampen the athletes' spirit who will definitely be prepared for the next Olympics in London.

Pictures of the closing ceremony

Olympics Medal count

OLYMPICS Opening Ceremony Singing Scandal

It was disheartening to read about how Lin Miaoke (girl on the right) was lip-synching 'Ode to the Motherland' during the Olympics opening ceremony. The whole lip syncing issue has sparked a public outcry. It's a shame the face wasn't put to the voice.

Yang Peiyi (girl on the left) is a child with a beautiful voice in every sense of the word. In the first place, she should have been up there singing that song for real and getting the glory and recognition that she deserves. The individuals responsible for this are not being very good role models. It seems they are encouraging everyone that it's okay to be fake.

It is an awful statement that Yang Peiyi is not pretty enough and has some crooked teeth to represent her country. It must be so hurtful to her pride and self-esteem but amazingly, she’s taking it positively. The promoters of the Olympics got it wrong. China should be proud of this cute little girl's amazing talent and not put up a deceptive show.

Damages have been done to both the girls. What's been done cannot be undone! The target should not be the children but rather the organisers who make this senseless decision. China should put this right and allow Yang Peiyi to perform at some stage during the closing olympics. Otherwise we'll never forget that China is a FAKE !!!!!

The P8wer of 8

Today marks a special day as it is the day of the triple eights 08.08.08. The last time it took place was a century ago. This is the only chance in our lifetime to see through 08.08.08. Why so much fuss over the particular number? The Chinese are especially fond of the number 8 because it is associated with prosperity. It goes without saying that the world has gone mad with 8s today.

Today is special in another way as it's the opening day of the much awaited Beijing Olympics. It's undeniable fact that China has been hit by disasters through out the year and that many are hoping a successful Olympics will break this trend.

China's National Stadium, a.k.a the Bird's Nest, is the venue of the opening ceremony today (Photo:Xinhua)

Yao Ming will carry the host nation's flag at the ceremony

8 W8nders - No number dominates like 8 which can be found everywhere

Celebrate the 8 with Super 8® rooms for $8.88!

A phone of the future

88 Minutes-The Movie

Have a memorable 08.08.08!

All Eyes on Olympics 2008

08.08.2008

The Olympics is approaching and excitement is in the air. All athletes from around the world will gather for this awesome event, the Beijing Olympics 2008. This year's theme slogan is: “One World, One Dream”, truly reflects the essence and universal values of the Olympic spirit - Unity, Friendship, Progress, Harmony, Participation and Dream. I just can’t believe another 4 years have passed by. As you grow older the years start to really go by quickly.

If you are among those that are lucky enough to be attending the Olympic Games in Beijing, you are most likely excited, but maybe a bit stressed out as well. After all, there are a lot of stuffs to arrange and prepare for the upcoming Olympic Games. It should be a spectacular event to watch though. I have always enjoyed watching the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympics. I plan to watch quite a bit of the games - but at home in the evening with my family. Some of my personal favorites include the diving, tennis, swimming events, badminton, gymnastics, and the track and field races.

If you happen to be in Hong Kong next month or so, you can check out the amazing Lego Sports City at Grand Century Place between now and August 31, 2008. The whole lego sport city includes the famous Bird’s Nest, Swimming Cube and Olympic Village. Further information is available at the HKLUG blog (Hong Kong LEGO User Group).

Be sure to explore all the options available to you before choosing your preferred method of getting from place to place and enjoy your Olympic experience!

And for those wanting a wider view of Beijing, check out my related posts:

Day 2: Temple of heaven

Day 3: Great Wall Of China

Day 3: Summer Palace

Day 4: Forbidden City

Shanghai REN Building

The REN building in Shanghai. Certainly spectacular - just like the Bird's Nest Stadium for the upcoming Olympics in Beijing .

The REN Building is a proposal for a hotel, sports and conference center for the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai . The building is conceived as two buildings merging into one.

The first building, emerging from the water, is devoted to the activities of the body, and houses the sports and water culture center. The building becomes the Chinese sign for 'The People', and a recognizable landmark for the World Expo in China.

The second building emerging from land, is devoted to the spirit and enlightment, and houses the conference center and meeting facilities. The two buildings meet in a 1000 room hotel, a building for living.

This building is going to be a real wonder, even more iconic than Shanghai's Pearl Tower or Grand Hyatt.

China was going through a string of bad luck recently. Being the host of the 2008 Olympics, it was thought this year was the year to shine but it proved otherwise. As Beijing Olympics is starting next month, already there are some stories of controversies, such as whether political leaders should boycott the opening ceremonies and athletes failing drug tests. Only time will tell whether China will pass this very delicate test.

China Earthquake Buries 900 students

Almost 900 students have been buried by collapsed buildings during an earthquake in south-western China, state media reports. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck in Sichuan Province on Monday afternoon, raised immediate concerns that the death toll could rapidly rise. The earthquake's toll, in human life and damage to infrastructure, is still largely unknown.

The massive quake was felt as far away as Bangkok, Thailand, more than 2,000 miles from its epicenter in the Sichuan Province.

The massive and massively controversial Three Gorges Dam project was apparently not damaged by the quake, according to early government reports. Still unknown is whether the largest water diversion project the world has ever seen helped to trigger the earthquake. Tremors stemming from the project have been one of many long-standing environmental concerns.

The earthquake comes less than three months before the start of the Beijing Summer Olympics, when China hopes to use to showcase its rise in the world.

Click for additional earthquake information and shake maps from the USGS

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Dazu craving stones

We spent one day at Dazu craving stones. There were many potholes on the roads along the way to this countryside town, but our brave bus driver was not daunted and sped along, resulting in many huge bounces and bumps. However, it was great to visit the Dazu Carvings to get a chance to catch a glimpse of the traditional Chinese art. Some sculptures were small, some were huge; some were brightly painted and tell religious, moral and historical stories. The masterpieces were captivating. Highlights included the niches depicting heaven and hell and a golden Buddha with over 1,000 hands carved into the cliff-face, all painted in gold.

We returned back to city at about 11pm and we ventured out into the streets of Chongqing in search of a good massage. I enjoyed a two hour accupressure massage with one hour dedicated to my feet and another hour dedicated to the whole rest of me. It was a great relaxant after an exhausting day. Next stop and final destination..............Xiamen.

stone carvings of Buddha, Dazu Grottoes

remarkable sculptures

the greenery surrounding the carvings



A thousand-hand Guanyin Bodhisattva statue

Chongqing-The Mountain City

Taking the train to Chongqing was definitely a long ride. It was the usual overcrowded hustle and bustle of the china folks. Hundreds of people were flocking all over the station, rushing to get into the train first. I don't understand though, as we all have numbered seats. The Chinese just feel the need to rush around. It's their mentality to be the first in every situation. I noticed that most locals carried huge packages full of only god knows.

We arrived early morning and jumped in a taxi to our hotel. Couldn't wait to get to J.W. Marriot hotel for a well deserved shower. We didn't have much sleep in the train so, we actually had some rest at the hotel before the commencement of our shopping activities. Later, we strolled along the streets and came across some traditional chinese dancing going on in a square and watched for a while. There were several little backstreet markets around town. Here you had the opportunity to purchase very fresh (still alive and moving) fish and eels which were placed in buckets, frogs, chickens and ducks which were butchered then and there if you wished. Prostitutes could be found at almost every turn, bravely plying their trade on five-foot ways and street corners. I had to confess they were young and voluptuous. I wouldn't say my hubby didn't enjoy what he saw. But too much of a good thing is a bad thing. There's a price to pay if you mess around and bring back sexually transmitted disease as a souveneir.

Anyway, the reason we were in Chongqing was to visit the Dazu Craving stone. To be continued......

Chongqing's super high rise apartments and overpowering structures

Chongqing skyline at night

In the evening, you can see beautiful sunsets here

Rooftop Terrace of a hotel

Day 7- Terracotta warriors, Xian

There's not much activities on Day 5 & Day 6 as my hubby has some unfinished assignments to complete. After days of walking tirelessly in Beijing, I need to perk up my energy level. I actually had plenty of time to rest at the hotel but I didn't sleep the whole time. Infact, I enjoy strolling around the city searching for souveniers and lingering over my cuppa at one of the many streetside cafes. My vacation to Beijing is something I'll cherish for years to come.

As this was our 1st train journey within China we didnt really know what to expect. Hubby and I arrived in Xian at 7 a.m., after 12 hours on a sleeper train from Beijing. It is a bit of a walk to the 3 huge pits that house the terracotta warriors and there are many vendors along the way. The vastness of the tomb and the attention to detail is simply amazing. There is a lot of ground to cover and the main pit ,No. 1, is the largest and most popular. There is approximately 6000 warriors, all facing East, in battle formation, towards the Emperor Qin's tomb, which is 2000 years old. All warriors are ranked and dressed accordingly. Each warrior has a different and unique appearance, no two are exactly the same. What we saw in the museum is only a fraction of the army; many, many more figures remain buried. The Chinese have not decided how to excavate the emperor's tomb because the ground contains very high levels of mercury. Although picture taking is strictly forbidden, we were lucky to be visiting on a day when the Chinese guard was oblivious to tourists using digital still cameras.

Then it was time to catch another overnight train (17 hours this time) to Chongqing. We would have all liked to stay longer in Xian, it was a great place to just wander around in.

The major excavation pit (Pit 1)

Horses ready for battle

Every piece carefully put together

Pit 3

Restored for exhibition

Many of the figures have been restored but are missing heads.


Restored for exhibition (Pit 2)

Day 3: Summer Palace

The main structures on Longevity Hill

Kunming Lake

A bronze statue in front of the gate of the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity

The summer palace is really a residence befitting an Emperor or Empress. This huge summer residence - complete with palace, lake, islands, pavilions, marble boat and other sights. Mainly consists of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake which serve as the scenery browsing area. It makes for a nice scenic walk, offering great views of trees, water and a contrast between the red of the buildings and the green foliage. You could spend a longer time here if you the have time too. You can take a sheltered outdoor walk of more than 1/2 mile under a "long corridor" with thousands of paintings. Be prepared to walk a lot in this park.

Day 3: Great Wall Of China

Needless to say, no trip to Beijing is complete without a trip to the great wall. The Great Wall is truly awesome. It is much bigger than I had ever imagined. There are 3 sections of the wall that are open to the public. The most famous stretch of Great Wall is at a place called Badaling. Access to the wall is extremely easy here and safer for visitors to climb to the Great Wall . To visit all of the Walls is impossible and obviously hubby and I only climb a tiny part of it. Looking at crowds of all walks of life, you can't stop thinking that no matter how high or long the walls are, on the long run they can't separate people.

The steps are rather steep , uneven and quite narrow at some points. And do not underestimate the effort needed on some parts of the wall. Challenging but quite exhausting though. Honestly, the climb down is pretty scarier than the climb up, as all of a sudden you can view just how steep the wall is, but thankfully there are handles on the side to help yourself down.

There are many stories, true or legend, about the workers who lost their lives during the building of the wall, and whose bodies were buried under sections of the wall itself. So sad, huh?

For those who are going independently, the easiest route is by taking the 919 bus (green and white) from Deshengmen Long Distance Bus station. The bus ride takes approximately 1 hr 30mins to Badaling. It is very regular. After walking the wall I returned to where the bus had arrived and easily got another one back to the city. Anyway, enough talk...just go see it for yourself!!! Embrace Great Wall of China!

Practical information
Badaling: 70 km from Beijing, open every day 6.30am-8pm, 45 yuans.
Mutianyu: 100 km from Beijing, open every day, 7am-8pm, 35 yuans.
Simatai: 110 km from Beijing, open every day, 8am-5pm, 35 yuans.

Day 2: Temple of heaven

Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

Built in the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Temple of Heaven is the center of prayer, traditional ceremonies and sacrificial rites. The air is so fresh, the long wide marble road, can make you think about how powerful the emperor was. Visitors are only allowed to peek into the hall, but it is enough for one to be amazed at the level of craftmanship. You could easily spend all day here like many local Chinese seem to do. The area is big, so do acquaint yourself with the map and plan what route to take to see all that you want to see. Some buildings are being renovated for the Beijing Olympics, but the rest is well worth the visit.

The detail is just splendid in its external appearance

The circular wooden structure is wholly made of wood without the use of a single nail or cement.

Getting around in Beijing couldn't be any easier. The Beijing subway is the quickest and cheapest way to get around the city with low level pollution. Subway trains arrived every few minutes, however carriages are always crowded. Tickets cost only 2 yuan, regardless of destination. The route signs are bilingual and useful maps showing station exits are located in every platform.

You can take Subway Line 2 and get off at the Chongwenmen station, then take a taxi for 10 yuan.