RECAP DAY ONE 04.08.08 Monday
I am finally at the Beijing Olympics! Woo hoo! 
I’ve been looking forward to it, and it is just starting to sink in that it is happening!
I arrived yesterday in Beijing. Took the Singapore Airlines A380 plane here, to the new Beijing Airport that was built just to accommodate the Olympics. The flight was comfy enough and I happen to be on the same flight as the USA swim team as well as the Canadian team. Most of them were TALL, tall and athletic. And they were all carrying USA Swimming Speedo sponsored backpacks/luggages. But no, I didn’t see “Superfish Phelps”, which is what they call USA’s fastest swimmer. But I think I did see Dara Torres on board the plane when she came to speak to the lady that I ended up sitting with in the same row, she is the oldest American swimmer to qualify for the Olympics, hats off to her!
I received a warm welcome in every sense of the word upon arrival! There were life-size mascots waiting to greet arrivals at the terminal, and volunteers litter the walkway to say hello and greet you on your way in. After getting out of the airport, the warm humid air hits you immediately. I was drenched in perspiration, and I figured I should get used to it cos it will be a common occurrence. Its a good thing I packed light cottony clothes.
Beijing Olympics mascots greet you upon arrival
Getting to the Media village where I will be staying was easy enough, the transport system that was set up for this purpose is quite comprehensive, and the journey took a little more than 45 mins on the free transport. I am in the Green Homeland (North Star) Media Village which is in the North from the center of Beijing. In the village, there are 16 blocks of apartments which can fit 6000 (!!!) accredited journos. I am in D3, and the nice uncle in charge of the building is very friendly. Again, almost everyone here is friendly and will greet you with a hello, there are even volunteers wearing a “Welcome” sash to open the doors for you to each building.
After settling into my room, I made my way to the MPC on the shuttle provided. The MPC (main press center) is big big big. In it also lies a gym, massage room, convenience store, souvenir shop, pharmacy, Macdonald’s (which was dinner last night by the way) and even a rooftop bar. Indeed impressive. Also I collected my media pack! I’ve received two goodie bags so far, one that they place in your room, and this backpack for all media. Personally I liked the mascot key ring that they gave, Beijing 2008 sunnies, the mascot brolly (which is going to my mum) and the Johnson & Johnson care packs.
Finally, I embarked on the quest to get me some internet access in this mammoth building. Which brings me to my only gripe here thus far, there was no internet access freely accessible, anyone wanting to have access will have to purchase either a WLAN package or a broadband card. I choose the latter, was told by volunteer lady at counter that it is faster and more stable. Having limited cash I was hoping to use my corporate Amex, but alas! It is a VISA sponsored olympics and therefore within the MPC, only VISA was accepted. So there goes a US$500 bucks bill on my own VISA card! Ah well.
But finally – I was sorted! Got me my local mobile and internet access! Called it a night close to 10pm and had takeaway from Mac’s. Yes I promised to venture to better dinner options in the coming days.
DAY TWO 05.08.08 Tuesday
The plan was to have breakfast, collect my dubbing machine and then get to a workroom to work on the emails. And am proud to say, it went according to plan!
Breakfast started a little late, got carried away watching Memoirs of a Geisha on HBO. We have quite a good selection of channels on the TV in the room! But thank goodness there are designated restaurants that serve breakfast till 2pm. hehe! Had a scone and a coffee.
I decided to explore the public transport system today, so I got directions from the transport help desk to tell me how to get there. So I had to take the subway Line 1 to Chongwenmen station and then change to Bus 673 to get to my destination, which was at BeiFengWo Lu. Subway was 2 yuan, and the bus cost me 1 yuan. Very affordable! I should get myself a “YiKaTong” which is like our EZ Link with stored value. I’ve not found the place that sells it yet tho. That goes on the to-do list.
The subway or DiTie, same like what we call it in Singapore, was clean and air-conditioned. The bus however, was a different experience. It was packed and when I boarded the bus, I was right at the door. The conductor was a young girl, but she was firm and fierce when people refuse to move. She quickly ordered them into place. “Move one step in, you, move that bag, people in the front move in, move aside if you are not getting down.” Yes, she has got it down pat. The Chinese are quite vocal when moving around the bus, they would ask if you are getting down, if not “huan” change positions so they can move closer to the door to alight. I liked the protocol, although the bus was really very crowded, there was no space to move an inch. Not very comfortable to be pouring sweat and standing for 30 mins in position.
On the Subway (Di Tie)
In the bus
Anyway I walked to the road I was suppose to be going, but realised that I was at BeifengWo Lu, but I was suppose to be at BeiFengWo Zhong Lu. Yes, lesson learnt that one word can make or break an address. Luckily enough, the guy I was suppose to meet was just in the area and he picked me up to go to Panasonic. There I collected my machine, and saw how a chinese office worked. With the heavy load, I took a cab back which costs about 70 yuan. The cab driver was told by my host that he was making his contribution to the Olympics by sending me safely back to the media village. Yes, that’s the impression I get from almost all the Chinese here, they are all doing their best to contribute to the biggest event they are hosting.
I’m writing this in the media workroom that is in the Media Village. The room is open 24 hrs now till the end of the games, it was pretty quiet when i got here around 5 plus in the late evening. Now there are a quite a few journos here. Hokay, I am calling it a night and probably find something to munch. Till tomorrow then, the plan so far is to pop by the bureau, meet the suppliers and then back to MPC.
