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Published: August 29th 2008
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The Closing Ceremony was, to quote a friend, one big mess in an oval. I am not sure what was going on down there, but it was something like watching a gymnastics competition in the National Indoor Stadium, only without the talent: hectic chaos, too much going on, not quite sure where to look. Best to relax and focus eyes on the many cute athletes gathering below... ahhh.....
It was lovely, but odd indeed. And what was with David Beckham's 3-minute appearance? Did he really fly all the way to Beijing to kick a ball? I mean, he is a gorgeous human being, and we are always happy to see him, but that teetered on the edge of ridiculous.
Not that I am complaining. I was thrilled to be inside that night. I was giddy to be sitting there amongst my colleagues, buzzing on an empty stomach and two beers quickly slammed (in uniform!) before going in, and absolutely astounded by the energy and excitement that filled the Nest. If only I could properly convey the feeling in the air when the Chinese National Anthem played. Tens of thousands of spectators sang along, their voices filled the air, chills
ran up and down my arms, moved to tears as I looked around and saw the tears on the faces of my local colleagues and friends. The pride of the Chinese people during these Games was palpable throughout, and well-deserved. The country had its moment to shine, and shine it did. These Games may go down in history as the most impressive, the most remarkable yet. It was an amazing feat, pulled off with near-perfection and without a hitch. All in all, China put on one hell of a show that will be difficult, if not impossible, for any city to ever outdo. And maybe it was during that moment at the closing ceremony, when the National Anthem played, that it really hit me: I was a part of the amazing history that unfolded here. This is an experience I will cherish forever, and the memories of these past few weeks will certainly last a lifetime.
The highlight of this last week in Beijing was finally having an opportunity to visit the Great Wall. What an unbelievable experience. It's true what they say - no matter how many pictures you see of this astonishing architectural display, being there, seeing
it up close and personal, WALKING along it, is an experience that cannot be described. What was meant to be a half-day trip turned into a full day's fabulous adventure of getting scammed, making friends, hiking, sweating, playing, laughing, zip-lining, eating... then sleeping all the way home.
This was easily the hardest hike I have ever done in my life, but I would not have changed anything about that day. The best part was the company. I found myself hiking the Wall with a motley crue of travelers, a cast of characters that even the greatest novelist could not have dreamt up: Christina, the Greek goddess with whom I worked all summer; Paul, the adorable football-loving Canadian kid dressed in neon; Sumi, the young Cuban expat dancer forever hooked onto Paul's arm; Michael, the outrageous Chinese, English and Ebonics-speaking student from Hunan Province who reveres Chairman Mao and photography, and has spent way too much time in Los Angeles; and Lucky, sweet little Lucky, Michael's English student and charge, a gentle angel-faced kid from Hunan Province on the verge of spreading his wings to fly.
Four of us, sans Michael and Lucky, started out on the public bus
980 out of Beijing's Dongzhimen long-distance station at around 7:30am, headed to Simatai. I chose this section of the wall for its relatively anonymity: untouched, unpreserved, non-touristy, off the beaten path and considered to be an incredibly difficult three-hour hike with a zip-line bonus at the end (it didn't disappoint!). After about an hour ride, we got scammed by some sketchy woman (who had actually followed us on board in Beijing) into getting off the bus all too early, at the wrong stop, and insisted that our only choice to continue on was to take a private car the next 2 hours journey to the Wall.
I am not THAT stupid...
So we found a hotel, got better information, got back on the next 980 bus and continued on. Oh, so grumpy.
But the grumpiness quickly faded, because fate delivered us Michael and Lucky on this next bus ride, two travelers from Hunan Province who were also on their way to the Wall and equally confused about the journey to take. Next thing we know we are at the end of the bus line, lost once again, looking for the next bus, giving up and getting into
a private car for a very decent price, all six of us heading up to the Wall, bonding and laughing as Michael shared with us and the video camera his best version of East L.A. street-speak.
We decided to start in Jinshanling and end in Simatai with the zipline cruise over the lake, and it was the best three hours of torture ever, worth every step and every ounce of pain along the way. Some of the steepest climbs I have ever seen and conquered, sheer drops on either side, crumbling walls and staircases threatening to give way at any moment, legs aching and shaking, sunburned skin... exhausted, exhilarated. Truly incredible, and absolutely breathtaking. The entire day was nonstop amazing fun, and by the time we returned home close to 8:00pm (half-day trip?!) all 6 of us had become great friends.
The stuff that memories are made of.
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