Bowling in China

Last night I got off of work around 9:30 pm, another 13 hour day at the office, and met up with some friends.  I met Dean (St. Louis), Audrey (Australia), Maarten (Europe), Christina, and John (Canada).  We met up at the Chinese People's Palace, where most of them were staying and decided to explore the hotel.  In the basement we were greeted by 3 or 4 mid aged Chinese girls who showed us the entertainment areas of the CPP.  They had a Kareokee Room/Night Club, a bowling alley, a billiards hall and private rooms for Kareokee and movie viewing. We decided that were hungry and would come back after getting a drink and a bite to eat. When we returned, we were literally the only people in the basement entertainment area.  We bowled two games, the first of which I almost won.....Dean beat me despite a valiant effort to come from behind.  It was a nice relaxing post work evening for us all.  

 

Max's Birthday, Chinese Reflexology, and Destination

I am doing my best to keep everyone updated, but it is getting a bit difficult.  We are working very long days as the Olympics draw nearer, and it will only get worse.  We are however making time for fun as well and two nights ago we celebrated our friend Max’s 21st birthday in style.  Max works full time for the company and has been in Beijing for about a year. He speaks the language fluently and has been a great friend and guide.  Before going out I managed to have time for a traditional Chinese reflexology massage.  They soaked my feet in Hot water and tea and sea salt while massaging my back and neck.  Then they moved onto my feet and I was just in heaven.  The spa was called Long Island and it was 120 RMB for a 90 minute massage….approximatly $20 US. After the massage I felt like I was walking on clouds.  I then headed out to meet up with Max and Matt and David.  We gathered together for a hibachi style dinner, all you could eat and drink for 150 RMB.  After stuffing ourselves we moved on to the Sanlitun bar district, an area where a lot of the local university students gather for cheap drinks and socializing in the streets.  You can actually bargain with the street vendors for the price of a large beer.  We were able to get 24 oz. Asai beers for 5 rmb each, which is less than $1 US.   We met up with several others from the company who had been at another coworker’s birthday celebration.  Max, David, Joey, John, Sam and Jonathon all decided that we should visit Destination at least once while being in Beijing.  Destination is Beijings only gentleman’s club, and rumor has it that  the club will be closed during the Olympic games due to Chinese government regulations. 

The excitement is building, guests are beginning to arrive, and soon all eyes will be focused on Beijing as it plays host to 205 nations and over 10,000 athletes.  The 2008 Summer Olympic Games promises to be the largest to date as China announces its presence to the rest of the world.     

Ghost Street and Temple of Heaven

After a long twelve hour day of training, Max, Matt, David and I went to Ghost Street, an area of Beijing that has cheap late-night Chinese food. We ordered a lot of food to share.....a large bowl of Hot and Sour Shrimp Soup, spicy cucumbers, hot buns, steamed rice, egg rolls, sweet and sour pork, Cashew Chicken, and some large beers. The food of course was delicious and we were stuffed afterwards.This morning we had to be up for a huge staff photo at the Temple of Heaven. We have a staff of 900 local and international workers. The picture turned out really well. Our uniforms are either bright red or baby blue and we were lined up on the steps of the temple. I will post some pics when I get the chance.

 Today, was the first day since I have been ere that we saw clear blue skies. The temperature was also wonderful, mid 80's fahrenheit. We milled around the Temple for a while and then boarded buses back to work. It was great to get out of the office for at least a morning.The temple of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings situated in southeastern urban Beijing, in Xuanwu District. The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. It is regarded as a Taoist temple, although Chinese Heaven worship, especially by the reigning monarch of the day, pre-dates Taoism. On this Saturday morning, because it was the weekend and also a beautiful day, the park was filled with local chinese who were dancing, playing games and socializing.

At this point I have been in Beijing for nearly two weeks. I thought at first I would get a little homesick, but I have had bonded with several friends. Since I have been here I have made so many great people. Matt, and Dean are from St. Louis, David is from Chicago, Trevor, John, Julia and Leslie are from Vancouver, David and Sam are from Utah, and Max is from New Jersey but has lived here for almost a year. I am loving the international flavor and having the chance to meet people from all over the globe.
6 DAYS UNTIL THE OLYMPIC OPENING CEREMONIES.....the excitement is building.

Puttin on the Ritz

Today was officially moving day from the Ritz Carlton to the Beijing International Hotel.  The new hotel is not nearly as nice as the Ritz but it is more centrally located, near Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City and also much closer to the office.   I have been logging very long hours in preparation for the games.  But, this week we met our hosts and hostesses who are all local university students who have gone through and academy and learned the english language.   It is so neat to see the students because they truly represent the 2008 games.   The slogan is "One World, One Dream"  and for these kids they are realizing their dreams.  Some of them have never been inside of a hotel, or been to something as grandiose as the Olympics.  They are all so proud of their country.  They escorted us to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City which I was happy to finally see.  Pictured below are all 21 of our host/hostesses.  Along with me in front of Tiananmen Square. 

Upon meeting the kids we took them on a venue tour of all of the Olympic venues.  THe favorites were definitely the Birdsnest "National Olympic Stadium" where the Opening Ceremonies will be held and the Cube, the National Aquatics Center. Today, we took the kids to the airport to go over their duties.  In doing so we took the Subway which I have to say is extremely clean and efficient, especially compared to Chicago.  They are packed however, and you have to force your way on and off.  The personal bubble that westerners are accustomed to having does not exist here. 

 The kids also are helping me with my CHinese.  Today I learned how to say I am hungry and tired.  Mostly because I was in fact hungry and tired.  Wo uh lu le lu...... WO= I  Uh lu= Hungry and Le Lu is tired.  

Living in Beijing

I have officially been in Beijing for over a week now, living and working,  just like I would have been in Chicago.  There are actually a lot of similarities in the sense that I am living in a sprawling metropolitan city.  Beijing is a city of 7.5 million people and is the second largest city in China, next to Shanghai. The municipality of Beijing borders the Hebei Province to the north, west, south, and for a small section in the east, and Tianjin Municipality to the southeast.  Like many other major metropolitan cities there is a subway system, bus system and taxi's.  During rush hour, the buses are packed, and the wait for the subway is almost an hour at times. We have been taking cabs across town every morning for work, generally our cab to split is 30 RMB, or approximately $7 US. Currently the city is gearing up for the Olympics, we are at 8 days and counting.  A few days ago we took a venue tour to examine all of the possible parking scenarios and the security check points, so that we can provide our guests with accurate timing. Watch for the Birdsnest and the Cube, they are two of the neatest architectural designs I have seen.  I am sure as a television viewer you will not miss it.  

Beijing is somewhat known for it's smog, and I must say it is as bad as advertised.   In the 8 days that I have been here I have yet to see a blue sky. The picture below was taken midday, this is not fog that lifts off, this is the smog. 

However, the chinese government has learned how to play weather man and induce rain, and after they do this the skies should be clear for the opening ceremonies.   I think they will be doing this two days prior to the kickoff.   

As for sight seeing, we have not had much time for that.  I have managed to take a few shots of places that I intend to see when I get the chance, but most of our sight seeing has come from inside of a cab or bus.  

Silk Market, Houhai, Hot Pot

It has been a few days since my last post but honestly it feels like it has been two weeks.  Time seems to go by very quickly but the days are beginning to blend into one another.   Between working the events and making time to go out and experience Beijing it is essentially a 21 or 22 hour day.   I have finally adjusted to the time change, gotten over my jet lag and am feeling right at home.   To me, Beijing feels like any other modern urban city. At least it had until we visited the Hutongs last night.  Max has been living in Beijing and working for Jet Set for a year and has essentially become our tour guide.  He took us to Houhai, a bar district.   While we were there we met two very inebriated Chinese men....they went by the names Fred and John.  We sat with them for a while and shared a few beers and also shared stories.  After that we went to the Tattoo Bar, which was run by a rastafari chinese guy who looked to be about 20 years old with dreads.  We shared music and drank beers 2 cups for 10 rmb.  We also had Hot Pot, a mongolian cusine which has a pot that contains boiling water. 
 You order raw meats and vegetables and then drop the meat into the boiling water, let it cook for a few minutes and then pull out with your chopsticks .   It was very delicious and inexpensive.  We tried raw lamb, and mushrooms, cabbage, potatoes, and a few other items.  

The night before Max took us to a college bar area, and where we purchased Tsing Tao on the street and saw a few fun bars....one of the street vendors was selling goat testicles....i will not try those.  After the street bars, we ended up at a Cantina where the bouncer decided that he wanted to challenge us all to an arm wrestling match.  He beat everyone except for Matt.  He was very humbled when Matt beat him.  

We also made it to the SIlk Street Market.  It is much like the markets in Mexico where you can bargain with anyone for clothing, shoes, watches, you name it.  I bought some knock off designer jeans, they are convincing and a pair of shoes for 200 RMB.....Matt however did not fare so well, he was a little overwhelmed and purchased so many things that he had to buy a suitcase to lug it home. 

I have to say, I am very excited that Matt is on this trip.  He is also from St. Louis and was also recommended by Dean.  Matt is literally like my brother.   We both played college baseball (he was a pitcher and i was a catcher), we listen to similar music, dress similarly and generally have the same tastes.  We are also both 27.   

I will try and keep you all updated more frequently.  It has started to get hectic with work.  As the games draw near we are putting in 12 and 13 hour days at least.  Currently I am working in transportation for a few corporate clients.  I cannot be anymore specific than that as I am not allowed to.   I could tell you but then I would have to kill you!!!!

A Night Out!

After a long day of training and settling in, David Baldwin invited some of his old friends from Torino, along with a few friends he met today out to dinner at a place called Purple Haze.  It was a great way to begin meeting all the new people who I have been introduced to .  It is kind of funny but when you work these events, everyone is very extroverted and the barriers come down very quickly because you know there is not a huge amount of time to really get to know one another. Needless to say tonight I met up with David (Chicago) , John (Toronto) , Trevor ( Vancouver), Julia ( Vancouver), Dave (DC Area), and Joey.  

The food was very tasty.  David has been working on his Chinese, since he has been in Beijing almost 2 months longer than most of us and he ordered for the table.  Spring Rolls, Cashew and Lemon Grass Salad, Sweet and Sour Pork, Yellow Chicken Curry, Vegetable Curry, Purple Haze Fried Rice, spicy vermicelli, beef, chicken and pork satay and a few others I cannot recall.  We also all ordered Tsing Tao, a chinese beer, to drink.   They even provided us with Purple Haze beer coolers for each beer.  

Following dinner all of the people staying at the Ritz, Dave, John, Julia and myself all returned via taxi.  The cab coming home only cost us 25 RM which is equal to around $3.50 total.  So we each paid approximately $1 for a cab ride.