SA Footy

After a long days travel I have made it Beijing cant believe I am here after almost 2 years in the planning. I arrived about 3pm and got a great cab driver even called my hostel to get directions when he couldn’t find it. On the drive in the smog was really bad and couldn’t see much in the distance but once we hit the city it seamed to get a little better. After all the media talk about the pollution I was expecting it to be a lot worse then it is. There is a haze over the city but there is no bad smell to the air like I was expecting. Maybe its not that bad today as it has been raining most of the evening and a bit of lightning and thunder.

As you would expect there is real buzz in the city lots of family’s out and about even though it is wet. Tomorrow off to see some of the sight and collect my tickets.

Well done Tassie...obviously had success finding internet access too.

Look forward to hearing first hand accounts of some of the events.
Hope you guys have a fantastic time.

Regards
JAS

What events are you off to see Tassie ?

well my first full day in Beijing and the first train trip. Transport is very good from what I have experienced so fare subway is very clean and easy to use trains are very frequent and can get you to where ever you need to go. Station staff are plentiful and willing to help you with directions and even help you use the ticket machines. Picked up out ticket with out any hassle at all. Have tickets for 2 days at the rowing (semis and finals), canoeing, beach volleyball (girls semis), Basketball (men’s ¼ finals), Athletics, Swimming (10km girls open water), Men’s hockey (aus v gbr) and Football (women’s semi) also hoping to pick up a few other events while hear but nothing confirmed as yet.

Today also did the walk around Tiamiman Square not as big as I thought it was going to be they had some great garden art all Olympic related. Lots of Chinese family out in the city soaking up the Olympic atmosphere. As westerners we always attract plenty of stares and there only the ones that you spot looking at you. The kids are very cute and getting a smile from them is a great little treat.

Tomorrow is a full day trip out to the Great Wall.

hey Tassie - forgive my ignorance, but how much of the women's 10km open water swim will you be able to see? Do you go out on a boat?

Also, ggod to see that SA Footy has not made the list of banned internet sites in China!

Good to hear you got your tickets ok...sounds like you're getting to some great events. I watched the canoeing today and the venue looks great from a spectators point of view. Got the impression that the stands overlook the entire course.

Know what you mean about Tianimam Square...had the same thought when I saw Red Square for real...looks much bigger on tv. Hope you have a fab time visiting the Wall...be careful you don't let the rabbits in

Regards
JAS

Squawk wrote:hey Tassie - forgive my ignorance, but how much of the women's 10km open water swim will you be able to see? Do you go out on a boat?

Also, ggod to see that SA Footy has not made the list of banned internet sites in China!

It is held at the rowing venue so think the do a course in the lake and seating from what i can see will be the same as they are using for the rowing. Will let you know more after the event but from what the rowers have said the water isnt that clean.

I havent found any of the websites i use often are banned even full facebook but then i dont look at free tabet sites that often

The many colours of the water cube

Aussies in action

Aussie Basketball

Birds Nest

Beach volleyball.

Cant ad photos from China without Pandas

Fantastic photo's Tassie...thanks for sharing

I hadn't realised that the 'Cube' changed colours...was always plain blue when I saw it on tv...amazing.

Love the Panda...although I suspect they may not be quite as cute and cuddly as they look.

Thanks again and hope your trip is everything you guys hoped for and more.
Regards
JAS

Excellent pictures Tassie

In a way, photographs like that get you closer to the action than TV does, because photos gives the view from the spectator. Well done Tassie, because that's what those photos have done - virtual reality in snapshots. Those cubes look really impressive.

Beach volleyball looked like fun.

And pandas are awesome, can't wait for them to arrive at Adelaide Zoo.

smac wrote:Beach volleyball looked like fun.

And pandas are awesome, can't wait for them to arrive at Adelaide Zoo.

Had 2 days volunteer work at the panda sanctuary and breading centre working with a keeper and helping him with his day to day activates. Cleaning there indoor pens where they sleep and then hand feeding them. They are feed up to 6 times a day they eat bamboo shouts, carrots, apples and a bamboo bread they make that is bamboo fibre and vitamins to supplement there diets. They are all hand feed and I got to do this for 3 pandas one of them is a good chance to be coming to Adelaide his name is Wang Wang he is a 3 year old male. I had a quiet word with him and if he comes to Adelaide he will be a crows supporter! It was an amazing experience and very glad I did it even if we did have to stay in a 1 star hotel for a few nights.

Great photos mate, really enjoyed those!

Tassie Blues wrote:

smac wrote:Beach volleyball looked like fun.

And pandas are awesome, can't wait for them to arrive at Adelaide Zoo.

Had 2 days volunteer work at the panda sanctuary and breading centre working with a keeper and helping him with his day to day activates. Cleaning there indoor pens where they sleep and then hand feeding them. They are feed up to 6 times a day they eat bamboo shouts, carrots, apples and a bamboo bread they make that is bamboo fibre and vitamins to supplement there diets. They are all hand feed and I got to do this for 3 pandas one of them is a good chance to be coming to Adelaide his name is Wang Wang he is a 3 year old male. I had a quiet word with him and if he comes to Adelaide he will be a crows supporter! It was an amazing experience and very glad I did it even if we did have to stay in a 1 star hotel for a few nights.

Very jealous, that's a once in a lifetime experience. I was emailed some photos from a panda sanctuary recently, showing them all after an earthquake, hiding and climbing to get away from it. Magnificent photos, the most amazing looking animals on this planet (IMO, of course).