Wrapup of the last few days

Ya so I've been a little lazy with the updates,so sue me , I'm on vacation ;). Last few days I've really gotten comfortable with Beijing. I know the subway system pretty well. It's great because it loops around the city, so if you miss your station you could just sit on the train till it comes back around, of course it would probably take a couple of hours. I can also say a few phrases, like 'ni hao (hello)' or more importantly 'pijiu (beer).' I've also had the local delicacies like pork entrails, ox tongue, peking roast duck, and chicken heart. Ok, I didn't try the chicken heart. But I got close. Who knows what I'm actually eating though. Everything is pretty much mystery meat.

I've met a few people here that are pretty cool. I went to the Paralympics with this guy from Calgary, Canada, and a girl from New Zealand. We got tickets to Wheelchair Rugby , more accurately known as 'Murderball.' It's actually more a wheelchair version of soccer or basketball than rugby. But let me tell you, these guys are INTENSE. Especially the US Team. This one guy on the US Team (#9) has no hands, but he was easily the best player on the floor. I can't count how many times I saw him go full speed into a guy and knock him out of his wheelchair. The cruel (sort of funny though I have to admit) part is that the referee is apparently not allowed to help the fallen player. So for a few long seconds the guy is just sitting there tipped over in his wheelchair while a couple of able bodied guys from his team saunter over taking their time to tip him back right side up. Anyway, I watched about 8 hours of wheelchair rugby, and ended up watching the US beat Great Britain in the semi finals.

What else...I've been roaming the city. Went to Summer Palace today. It's basically a massive lake surrounded by palaces from the Jin Dynasty. The lake is probably 5 or 6 times the size of lake elizabeth in Fremont. In the winter the locals apparently go ice skating on it. I can't imagine it getting cold enough for all that water to turn to ice. I mean its mid Sept and its been over 90 degrees every day and humid as hell. But, the crazy Chinese probably wouldn't care if they lost a few people falling through the ice LOL. I also rented a bike the third day I was here. That was quite interesting. I didn't feel nervous at all about it actually. I'm used to splitting lanes with my motorcycle so I had no problems staying alive on the bike. I rode the bike to this tea house and had a tea ceremony. Then went to the Lama Temple and Confuscious temple. I got lost on the way there, but this woman going the opposite direction from me stopped and asked me in broken english if I was lost and "wheree doo u go"? The amazing part which totally humbled me was that she then told me to follow her, which I did for a couple of miles to the temple. People are so kind here it's amazing. I always sort of believed the stereotype that Chinese people were machine like, and they don't show much emotion. That couldn't be more wrong. People here are nicer in general than back at home I think. I don't know if they just treat foreigners well or what but regardless, some of the friendliest humans are here.

So, I've been in Beijing for 6 days now, and at this point I think I've seen everything there is to see. I have a flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong on the 23rd so I have to make it to Shanghai, but I sort of don't want to anymore because I've heard its just like Beijing except bigger and more modern. I'd rather see the countryside but trains take 12 or more hours depending on where you go (China is big.) So, I have to figure out my next destination tonight. My former co worker is flying in tomorrow afternoon so I may stay long enough to see him. Not sure yet. Anyway, that's the wrapup. I know I'm forgetting things, I'll try to fill in more once it comes back to me.

Here is a video of this famous food market where they sell chicken heart, fried scorpion, crickets, starfish, basically anything they see moving in front of their stands that's not human. Well actually I did eat this thing called "Preson". I think they just misspelled "Person", so who knows.
Edit, my camera died. So i'll have to upload the video later.