Goodbye Beijing

It's been a wonderful 1 and a half months here in Beijing, China. But, as all good things must come to an end, so does this trip. I have some of the most fondest memories here, took about 1529 picutures, and also visited a ton of places.

I came here on June 29, via CA982. The first few weeks, were spent with my Grandmother, as my parents would come on July 25 because they only get 3 weeks of vacation. My grandmother and I, spent the first few weeks buying clothes, and curtains. We went out to dinner on a daily basis, often with my relatives, or her friends. We also went to Beihai Park to drive boats.

June 19 is a day I will never forget. The grand opening of the first Apple Store in China, the Sanlitun Apple Store. What a day that was; liveblogging from my iPhone, standing in line for almost 4 hours, and meeting some truely wonderful people there.

July 25 is the day my parents came. Once they came, we went to a lot of places as my grandmother is too old to travel too much around Beijing, which takes 3 hours to go from the North end to the South end. We started out by going to the Temple of Heaven, and Wangfujing Street, where the Olympic Flagship Store is. We also went to Chaoyang Park, where you can take a boat and go all around the park. Chaoyang Park is also the site of the Beach Volleyball competitions.

The next day, we went to Tianamen Square, and looked around. The Monday to follow, we went to Henan to visit relatives. That is really a true flavor of China. Beijing is all comercialized, but out in the Country, that is where you see true China.

1 week later, we were back in Beijing. After going to the National Center for the Performing Arts, I was able to go to an Opening Ceremony Rehersal. Though I thought the rehersal wasn't that impressive, the actual one was extremely good, except for the fact that some fireworks weren't real, and the little girl in the red dress was actually just mouthing the words as the song was prerecorded by someone else before hand.

After the games started, I went to see a tennis match, followed by soccer and athletics at the National Stadium. These final days have been spent busily packing, last minute preparations, setting up my grandaunt's mac and transferring 3+ gigabytes of photos to my iPod.

Once back in the USA, I will have to catch up on all the things I have missed, do my summer homework, and then create a photobook from the tons of photos I took in China.

CA981 is my flight number, you can track it from the Flight View website.

This is my last post in China. See you back in the states soon.

Beijing Welcomes You

That is one of the most annoying songs EVER.

Today, I went to see a Tennis event in the Olympic Green. Pretty suspenseful if you ask me. But, worth it. Tomorrow is Soccer, and the 15th is Track at the National Stadium. Then on the 17th, I go back to the USA. I don't know how I feel. My family and some of my friends are here, but all my really best friends and people who I have come to known and like, are in the United States. My grandmother isn't coming back till the end of this year, but I have tons of souveniors.

I would also like to wish Preston and his family good luck in the next few days. It should all be fine!

Eric

P.S. Here is the Olympic Flame, that brings peace to the world and light to everyone, even in the most saddest times.

You and Me

An awesome song from the Opening Ceremony, You and Me, or, 我和你 (Wo he ni).


Those who want the .mp3 file thingy, I found it on a website: You and Me

Eric

Opening Ceremony Rehersal

Yesterday, I attended the Beijing 2008, Olympic Games, Opening Ceremony Rehersal. I was not impressed. I will write exactally what happened when I have the time.

Henan: The Story

Sorry I couldn't come up with a better title. So anyways, these past few days have been a real ball! I got to go fishing and I caught 3 fish although I did cheat a little (it was a fish pound thingy). I also got to go to my uncles paper factory (he is in charge of it) and I took tons of pics. Yesterday, I went to this really beautiful mountain wheie I went swimming, then had dinner there. The air quality here is A LOT better than the air quality in Beijing. Tomorrow, I am taking a 8:02 AM train to Beijing. It is one of the new fast trains, ones that go 350 km/h. This way, it will only take 3 hours, instead of the usual 8.

When I get back to Beijing, there will only be a few days till the Opening ceremony (8/8/08 8:08:08 PM). My grand-aunt has gotten one ticket to the FINAL Opening Ceremony REHERSAL on 8/5/08, so it is almost like the real thing. Too bad I didn't bring my camcorder. However, I will take TONS of pictures. Netherless, I hope you read my twitter blog thingy in the next few weeks, as I will be mainly posting via that in the next few weeks.

Also, to celebrate National Watermelon Month, have a watermelon:

Hernan and Olympics

Today, I went back to Wanfujing and got some more olympic stuff. The next week or so, I will be in
Hernan (Prounounced: He-nan). So I won't have computer access. Just e-mail me and then I will get back to you when I get back!

Eric!!

Sanlitun, Wanfujing, and Boating

Today, my dad and I went to a lot of places. (heh. cheesy) Anyways, we went to Sanlitun because my dad wanted to see the apple store. Video chatted with Preston there, who pointed out that poeple were looking at me and him. Next, we took a bus to Chaoyang Park where we went boating!

In China, anyone is allowed to drive a boat! So, I got to drive it. (And Hale, even if you can't drive a boat, too bad. I always win. ( : ) Anyways, taht took up a good 1 and a half hours. Next, off to Wanfujing Road.

Wanfujing Road, is a GIANT marketplace with TONS of malls at least 3 times the size of the Stamford Town Center. I got a ton of Olympic things (their flagship store is there) and also got a case for my iPhone.

Meanwhile, I am making a list of who to give souveniors to. Tell me if you want me to add you in case I didn't. Just leave a message in the comments.

Olympic Stuff

If anyone wants to know, these are the events I will be attending:

August 15: Athletics-National Stadium (Birds Nest) 9:00 A.M. Sector A, Tier 3, Aisle 504, Row 10, Seats 8-11; 100 RMB

August 12: Tennis-Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Center 10:30 A.M. Gate 5, Section 210, Row 30, Seats 20-21; 200 RMB

Yesterday and Today

Yesterday night, as you should know (if you have been reading my blog), I went to this show that featured 12 acts, that included hoop jumping, and some other cool acts. It was extremely good. My Great-Grandaunt, invited my grandmother and I to there. On the way back, we took the Beijing Subway, which involved a security check (they're really becoming serious about this now). 

Today, I went to my GrandAunt's house, and then we went to this buffet that cost 200 RMB per person. It had a lot of choices that looked good, but tasted horrible. Tonight, I am going to go the the Olympic Green, and hopefully, the lights will be on.

I will be posting photos as soon as Preston gets MobileMe web galleries set up.

Olympic Green At Night

Not much of a site, as the lights aren't on tonight. But, this is the Olympic Green at 10 P.M.

What I've Been Up To The Past Two Days.

7/5/08

I went with some of my relatives on a relatively private tour of the Olympic Green. We took the car to the Main Press Center (MPC), where we went on a private tour (along with several other families) of the main press workrooms, the AP workrooms, along with a tour of the hotel in the MPC.  We also got to see the main conference room, where they will hold all the announcements, etc. The hotel, is owned by the Bei Chen Group, whose president let us go on the private tour. We went all the way to the top of the hotel, the 16th floor, where we were able to see the National Aquatics Center (Water Cube) and also the National Stadium (Birds Nest). After that, we were treated to a 12-course lunch at the hotel's restaurant, where the food, was, horrible, yet expensive. Just to tell you guys, I got to see all this stuff, before the general public gets to see it. I'll be posting pics as soon as I get a good web hoster. 

7/6/08

I got new glasses today, along with a ton of food. I also sent out 6 postcards that should arrive in the next 10-15 days, but it should be earlier. 

7/7/08

Today, I got a new violin. Thats pretty much all I did today.  ):