Beijing High-Rises

Travis Sherwin/Orlando

Beijing is a city of high-rise buildings. Twenty-plus stories is very common. The elevator companies have got to be making a killing.

Directly across from my hotel are five identical apartment buildings. I’ve walked by them many times. Either no one lives there, or they must be so happy there that they never leave, because I’ve never seen anyone go through the doors.

Apartments

To the left, is this office tower. Again, twenty-plus stories. The building is closed because it is directly across from the Bird’s Nest. There must be hundreds of people enjoying their Olympic vacation.

Office Tower

To the right, another office tower. Again, closed. I wonder if the companies that lease space there get reimbursed for the business they are losing. Likely, not.

Office Building

The Chinese people say it’s their duty to help make these Olympic Games a success. There are many volunteers doing everything from directing traffic to picking up trash.

Volunteers

Here’s a view of the outside of the boxing venue. All the people dressed in blue are volunteers. If you’re ever lost, or can’t find the restroom, the folks in blue are your best friends.

-Travis

Awesome Sights

Travis Sherwin/Orlando

There are many interesting sights here in Beijing, the following will be hard for me to forget.

Scattered around the Olympic Green, home to the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube, are giant big screen TVs that are always on and aways showing Olympic images. Sometimes the screens show programs promoting the games, other times they show highlights.

These are the largest big screens I’ve ever seen. This picture is taken from two very long blocks away. The screens are four stories tall and mounted more than 20 stories from the ground!

Big Screens!

The next picture is the first Beijing gold medal I’ve seen in person. Ricky Berens swam the third leg of the men’s 4×200 relay. The team smoked the field and became the first ever to break the seven-minute mark in that event.

Ricky Berens

The last picture I have for you is another shot of the stunning Bird’s Nest. I took this last night.

Bird

Pictures, video and live shots do not do this venue justice. It is truly one of the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen.

-Travis

How They Did It

Travis Sherwin/Orlando

I caught an interesting show on Chinese TV last night when I returned to my hotel room. Obviously, the whole show was in Chinese, but this is what I able to surmise from the program.

It was a studio show where audience members asked the organizers of the Opening Ceremony, “How did you do that?”

Chinese Television

This guy wanted to know how they moved those Chinese characters up and down in waves.

The boxes

The next thing you know, 10 to 12 of those boxes appeared on stage and performed. There were people inside them!

The light guys

Next, the “Green Man Group” showed how they pulled off their portion of the show.

An interesting thing about the CCTV, no commercials! I guess there’s no need to make money when you’re owned by the government.

Rain!

Smog/Fog Update: It’s raining! Maybe that will help clear the skies.

-Travis

Parade of Nations

Travis Sherwin/Orlando

Tonight, during the Opening Ceremony, you will see more than 200 countries represented in the Parade of Nations.

Our workspace is decorated with many, many flags.

To help you get warmed up for the big event, I’ve put together a little flag quiz. How well do you know the national flags?

Flag 1

This one is easy.

Flag 2

 This one is, too, if you’re an Olympic fan.

Flag 3

Not Australia!

Flag 4

Super easy.

Flag 5

If you get this one, you’re an expert!

Flag 6

You know this one.

Flag 7

Another gimme for an Olympic fan.

Flag 8

Another easy one.

Flag 9

You should you get this one.

Flag 10

Been there, know this flag.

Flag 11

Many flags are red and white… Can you get this one?

Flag 12

I had a tough time with this one.

Flag 13

I put this one in to help your average.

Answers:

Flag 1: China. As host nation they will march last.

Flag 2: Italy. Host of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.

Flag 3: New Zealand. I incorrectly identified this as Australia earlier.

Flag 4: Canada.

Flag 5: Cyprus. I had to look this one up!

Flag 6: Germany.

Flag 7: Greece. They always march first.

Flag 8: Israel.

Flag 9: Japan.

Flag 10: Panama. Great vacation spot!

Flag 11: Poland.

Flag 12: South Africa. I had to look this one up, too!

Flag 13: United Kingdom.

-Travis

China’s Big Day

Travis Sherwin/Orlando

Tonight is China’s big night. Unfortunately, the skies have not cleared. Here’s the latest on the smog/fog watch:

(My camera’s still on U.S. time so the dates are off by a day.)

Wednesday

Thursday

Today

The skies haven’t bothered the Chinese people much. They’re already soaking up the Olympic spirit, and the Opening Ceremony is still 10 hours away.

Crowd gathers

10 hours to go

Today is also considered a very lucky day for the Chinese people. There are reports of more than 400,000 people getting married.

-Travis

Traveling with 200 teenagers…

200 kids from the Central Valley are in China as members of the Beijing Olympic Orchestra. Deirdre Fitzpatrick talks with one of the chaperones about the experience.