Beijing (Hard Hat Required)

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FLIGHT TIME TO DATE: 18.5HRS

As I stand looking out through a wall of glass at what can only be discribed as a colossus of an airport terminal, the largest in the world our guidebook reliably informs us, I am not sure whether to be dissapointed at what I see. The pilots description of less than an hour ago of clear skies and 34 degree heat seems to be anything but. Fog has clearly settled in since he last made his announcement on route from Hong Kong. Then I silently say "Good" to myself....looking forward to the break from the stiffling humidity thats greeted me for the past few days. we turn from the baggage carousel and head for the nearest exit. But to my dismay, the doors open and I am again hit by that familair blanket of sweltering heat.

But wait.....there is something else this time....a strange smell.....like an old bus has just passed by with black smoke bellowing from its rear....I wait for it to pass...but it doesn't....and then it dawns on me...thats not fog....THATS SMOG!

Welcome to Beijing!!

.....But don't worry lads I hear they are putting great measures in place for the olympics in order to reduce the levels of smog in the city. Oh yes, everthing is going to be in smashing form for Beijing 2009.

Everyhting is falling into place nicely. I hear they are building a train route from the (new) airport to the city, We paid a visit to the olympic stadium (we had to walk the last miles or so but the subway is stretching ever closer) and fear not, I hear that they will have the final tracks laid on the system out the final stretch anyday now... And well, as for the Olympics stadium, the birdsnest itself...well ain't that going to be a site to behold when they get it done...Oh yes boys come back next spring and this is going to be a mighty little city altogether. And who ever had any doubts about giving the Olympics to china!! :-)

It was a little disappointing for us however because as there was soo much work going on out there that instead of seeing all the facilities that the olympics would be held in, all we got to see was the "Forbidden Village" and the "Great Fence of China"! ;-) Prey they don't hold the high jump over that...nobody will ever get over!

And its not just the Olympic stuff thats been built.....the whole place is a building site at the moment....(and they don't require safepass....Shopping centres, shopping streets, motorways, Hotels are being polished off everywhere. There have people working 24/7 round here to try and get things finished....its a bit mad to be honest...and I think it would be prettly hard to get everything done in 12 months...can you imagine if the olympics were to start in 3 weeks??

Okay time has run out on me but I will be back again tomorrow or the day after with some more thrilling (and less hard...kinda) insights into the China trip!

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Photos

17 Arch Bridge, Summer Palace
part of the summer palace....thats not smog (for a change) by the way!

The Great Walk of China
try look apast the legs!!

Welcome to a bright and sunny Beijing
Its up there...somewhere...I Swear!!!

Comments

[cathriona!]

hey
hey aidan just said id leav a comment that wev read da blogz and enjoyed them! lov da pictures aswel! xx