After the Olympics

Trip Start Feb 25, 2006
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Trip End Jun 24, 2009


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Where I stayed
Erica's Apartment
(Beijing hotels)

Flag of China  ,
Wednesday, August 27, 2008

What do I do now? Everyday for the past 2 weeks has only surrounded one thing... getting tickets and going to events. I feel a bit exhausted after all the events and all the partying that went along with the Olympics. I almost escaped Beijing without getting sick, but unfortunately, Gert and I decided to try a new restaurant on my last night in BJ. The restaurant looked alright, but the table next to us quickly reminded us that the Olympics were now officially over as he deeply reached into his chest, hocked up a lung cookie and spat it on the floor of the restaurant. A few hours later, I was doubled over in pain and had to change my flight once again. Thank God that JnJ booked us on fully changeable tickets up to 1 month. I've changed it 5 times now. The prospect of traveling from 530am to god knows when from Beijing to Singapore to KL with a bad stomach didn't much appeal to me.

If only China will keep up the image and the level of service that they have been portraying and providing throughout the Olympics in the coming weeks, months and years, they will truly be a world power to be reckoned with. These Olympic games have served to put the world on notice that the sleeping Dragon is no longer in a state of slumber, but alive and ready for anything. I heard some children singing Beijing's other motto, "We are Ready" in the subway. 3 days after the Olympics have ended, there is still a strong presence of volunteers helping the remaining tourists in town. The Olympic stores are packed with extra Fu Wa mascots. I guess they over estimated the cuteness of the little guys. The infrastructure is still in place. All that is left are the people and the mentality that they take away from these games. With people from every corner of China here for the games, I hope they will go home and spread the message to everyone else. Hopefully, the spitting, the horn honking that was banned during the Olympics doesn't come back. Maybe one day the signs asking everyone to queue politely and act in a civilized manner will no longer be necessary. I'm just afraid that with the spotlight no longer on China, that they will revert to the China of the last 59 years instead of the great civilization of China for the past 5000 previous years.

On a slightly different note. As I was looking for a legitimate massage to soothe my aching muscles, I came across an ad that made me laugh. This ad tried so hard to look legit, until you get to the services offered at the end. Needless to say, I didn't make the call. She wanted 200Y/hour. LOL

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