The Forbidden City

Our friend Eric made the comment the other day that you only seem to be able to accomplish one or two tasks per day in Beijing. Despite our efforts to explore the city's many temples, parks and other attractions, we're finding this to be true. The city is so large - and the traffic so dense - that it takes a lot of time to get anywhere. What looks like an inch on the map can take an hour to walk (or an hour sitting in a taxi in traffic.) What we've managed to see has been wonderful, however. The other morning, we travelled from the uber-modern neighborhood where our hotel is located to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City - two sites that are side-by-side, but showcase the dramatic political and social changes in China over the last century. The Forbidden City was the heart of Beijing during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (until the early 1900s), and Tiananmen Square, a huge, flat expanse of concrete, was built by Mao in the 1950s on the former site of Chinese Imperial buildings.

We started at the south gate of Tiananmen and walked the length of it to get to the Forbidden City. Like everywhere we've been in Beijing, it was packed with people - many of whom were in line to visit Mao's mausoleum and catch a quick glimpse of the preserved Chairman in his glass case. We passed on that. At the north end of the square, after passing under a gate featuring a looming picture of Mao, we entered into the Forbidden City, a walled complex of restored temples, palaces and courtyards. The City is surrounded by a moat, and after our tour, we crossed the street to a park and climbed a huge hill to get a view of the Forbidden City from above. The hill was made with the dirt removed to make the moat.

Despite not having a clue how to read Chinese, we're finding Beijing relatively easy to negotiate walking and by subway. (And thanks to Eric, and the friendly hotel staff, who have given directions to taxi drivers on our behalf.) We are getting a kick out of some of the signs we've encountered (like the sign that seems to say "no exploding cars", or the "no bugles" sign. My favorite was a sign by a suspension bride at the Great Wall that warned that people "suffering from unconsciousness are not admitted".)

Exploring Beijing & The Great Wall

The Paralympics have wrapped up and we will spend the next week exploring Beijing - with a side trip or two to sites like the Great Wall. Yesterday we went with some of Bruce's paralympic colleagues on a wonderful "tour" to the Wall, driving about 3 hours outside Beijing, and hiking a beautiful 10km section with both restored and unrestored parts. "Tour" is in quotes because our poor tour guide, a very sweet woman in her 20s was apparently called up at the last minute by her company to lead us, but didn't seem to know that she was getting herself into a 3-4 hour walk - much of which was uphill on uneven ground. She was consistently about 1/2 hour behind us and too exhausted to give us information about the Wall. Nevertheless, it was a spectacular day. Today, Bruce and I wandered through the area around our hotel, which is in the city's Central Business District. Many of the skyscrapers in the area are brand spanking new and very architecturally interesting. We ended up at a beautiful park in the embassy area. Tomorrow, we'll hopefully hook up with our friend, Eric, who is living here.

A Day in the life

So, I have been asked what a Doctor does at a major games.......well the answer is hopefully nothing! It is a well known fact that therapists will be flogged, dawn to dusk with tape, coverage, treatment, massage etc. We Docs hopefully do coverage, a bit of diagnosis, a bit of clinic time in which nobody comes, and a lot of "corridor consults" where the second we try to leave the clinic/room/village we get grabbed for an opinion on something, or an assessment of something (would love to find the hidden GPS that the docs seem to have that notifies people when we are in the biggest hurry!). What is not known is that rather than being assigned to one team, and fitting with one team's schedule, at the para games we Docs float and try to get courtside at as many event as we can. Each evening the three docs priorize which sport might be "higher risk" for injury and deploy ourselves accordingly. This leads to a ton of hurry up and then wait/sit and a ton of flitting around to various venues. All goes well for everybody if we are just spectators most of the day. That is why I have so many pictures to post.....we take up other activities. Richard the CMO and I take pictures (often with the best seats in the house). The third doc Linda, just laughs. We have also had the huge advantage in Beijing of most of the venues being on the Olympic Green area very close to the Village. We also have the advantage of a fleet of bikes left behind from the Canadian Olympic Team. So today I woke at 7:30 after a late night meeting, saw some athletes in the clinic until 8:30, whipped on bike to the Birds Nest for the re-re-race of the Womens Wheelchair 5000m at 9, then flipped back and forth between the Water Cube and Birds Nest for the rest of the morning (at one point caught the 9:50 swimming race at the Cube, the 10:00 wheelchair race in the stadium, then was back at the pool in time for the 10:12 swim!). Got very good at dodging the thousands of people in the plaza between venues as I screamed across on a bike with poor brakes. Also got the advantage of being able to ride the bike right into the stadium...not sure how I managed that one but it was a lot of fun!. Was back at the Village for lunch and a clinic until I went to wheelchair rugby for 3pm, then back here for a 7-10pm clinic in which I saw few, and an after clinic hours rush in which I saw more......it does not seem to matter what time we run clinics we always see more out of clinic hours! Have had a great evening watching Canadians succeed in the pool (another sweep by the girls I affectionately call the "cleaning ladies"), and on the Track (way to go Chantal and Dianne!) while chatting and getting comentary by the athletes in the clinic. I now sit at near midnight thinking I better wrap this up as it all starts again in a few hours.

Boccia

First sport to cover is Boccia which involves mostly athletes with Cerebral Palsy. It is classified into those that can propel the ball themselves B1, B2 (mostly throwing, but a few us their feet), and those who need to use a ramp to propel the ball B3 (the athlete must be the one to release the ball and there are several different ways to do this, mostly involving poking the ball with an implement either strapped to their heads or in their mouths). There is also a B4 category involving Quads but I have not seen it. The ramp players need an assistant to set the ramp height, aim the ramp, place the ball and then steady the ramp. The assitant must keep their back to the playing surface and are not allowed to look at the playing surface at all or talk or communicate with the athlete. The focus and concentration of the athletes is among the most impressive I have ever seen, and the shots they are capable of are hard to imagine. Very facinating event to watch with most matches decided on the last ball.

Hi

By far the most photographed member of the Canadian team is Angus, a Rowers guide dog. Unlike most guide dogs Angus wears his character on his sleeve, and he is a great character. He has been a remarkable sport with all the noise, and people around. Though there are billions of people in China, there are aparently only 7 guide dogs. Combined with the fact that you are only allowed to have a dog less than 30lbs, and 16 inches tall, Angus is a huge hit. Where ever he goes press, athletes and locals line up to get their picture taken with him ....even in the medical clinics!. He and Victoria have been very tolerant, and are one of the reasons that I am having so much fun. I have to admit to occasionally stalking them to catch times when he is off harness so that I can get my dog fixes in! (sorry Bo!).

And were off.......

Hi

Very impressive opening ceremonies........Very well organized............Very efficient transport.........Very, Very, tired!

PS Walls of Water cube made of inflated plastic, like a giant beach ball...took some work to find out though!

Beijing.....getting close to tee off

Hi
Sorry for the delayed postings, things have been ramping up as we near game time. Having incredible experiences hopping around to the different venues. Have seen Judo (visually impaired), Tennis (Quad and Para), Boccia (Cerebral Palsy), Track (amputee and Wheelchairs), rowing (various), Cycling (various) and swimming (multiple levels of disability from Visual, through Amputee, to CP). Have not posted any pics as seems to be loading and internet issues. Have been trying to do pics first and have time to do them but not 5 times and failing..........not sure what is going on.
Tonight is opening ceremonies and you can realy feel things intensifiying, but in a very good way. The organizers continue to amaze with their efforts and thoughtfulness. Usually at opening ceremonies the athletes marshal 4-5 hours before the ceremony begins and are then in some holding area some where they can not see what is going on for the first several hours of the show, prior to marching out. For today we marshall out front of our rooms only 2.5 hours prior to the show, and then have been told that we will march in first, and then the show!!!....Awesome!.
Truly have never met people as interesting, and easy to get along with as this group of individuals. Watching them do there various activities I realy think "disabled" is the wrong term, but not sure what the correct term may be. Got to go for now, athletes are marshalling and cant wait to march in with this incredible group.

Early Days 2

The games are now starting to ramp up and the quiet Village from these and the last pictures is a thing of the past. Most of the athletes are now in the village, so we are now a buzzing small city. One aspect of a para village that has just occurred to me is that in an able bodied village people do not vary in size a huge amount, and move around really at two speeds walking or running. A para village has a huge variation in size and an even greater variation in speeds from the very slow to the wheelies and bikes flying around. So basically what I am saying is that I am a bit of a hazard here. Also I have to watch the time, as sitting with a wheelchair team at a meal figuring you have lots of time to catch the bus because the whole team is with you can be a brutal mistake. Come time to head for the bus, they will drop you like you are going backwards then laugh as they wait on the bus as you struggle up late and sweating.
For those not aware, the village itself is also quite a spectacle. It is surrounded by an Olympic green, which is basically a large city park inside a walled patrolled fence. Within this fenced area there is a double fence with security gates surrounding the village itself. To get past the outer fence you have to have a pass, and you and your vehicle is searched. By searched we are not taking about chat and go, we are talking about get out of the car and go through an airport type security xray, while they take everything (including the spare tire!) out of the car and scan it as well. The car itself is attacked by ~6 people who pat down the seats, check door and engine compartments while others are crawling under the car searching for anything out of order (see picture). Along this outside fence at about 50 meter intervals are ~3ft square platforms with umbrellas and soldiers standing stock still on them –very creepy and must be boring!
To get past the double fence into the village proper you have to be in an official vehicle and have a village pass. We village people travel in special busses and whip past the first gate, get dropped off at the inner gate and wander through metal detectors and ID swipes into our new temporary home. All very efficient and quick, and thanks to the above efforts very secure. It has been noted that once inside there is little checking of passes, but yesterday on the way back from the pool I tucked my ID inside my shirt and did not make it 10 feet before someone literally materialized out of a bush and asked for my ID.
The Village itself is huge with a large residential area and a smaller common area. The residential area is ~4 large city blocks by 4 large city blocks of 9 story apartment building residences. Within the residence area are “super residence buildings” which are hang out areas with drinks (non alcoholic), TVs, internet and computers, and a video arcade. The common area contains a huge tent cafeteria, a huge fitness/pool area, an International zone of shops, church, stage, hundreds of flag poles, a wheelchair repair shop and a games area. So far the Mc Donalds in the cafeteria is closed (thank goodness). When the games are over the village will be converted into luxury apartment/condos and I have to say the whole area is very plush. Beautiful fountains, statues and flowers dot all of the common areas, making this the nicest games Village I have yet encountered.
The village is teaming with athletes all wearing their national colours, far too many of which are Red and White. Fortunately several of the articles in the Canada gear are distinctive (read ugly) enough to make us easy to spot from a long way away (rather beacon like really)….but that is a story for another day.

Beijing Early days

Hi
First few chaotic days are in full swing at the games. Had a relatively uneventful flight across the pond, not only direct from Vancouver but wangled a spot in the pointy part of the plane (with an upgrade certificate…and after physically restraining a character on my first flight from Kamloops…but that’s another story!). Slept so soundly in my little pod that was not aware that the planes entertainment system was down the whole flight! Beijing has been a delight of Green spaces and much bluer skies than expected. We have also been very pleasantly surprised with facilities here in Beijing after months of scepticism about how much attention and effort would be put in to the Para games after the worlds attention to the Olympics had turned off. This concern began to dissipate as we got off the plane, through security/customs, accredited and bags in hand after ~15min –impressive! Smiling, broken English speaking, helpful volunteers are everywhere. Manpower is not an issue, and they mostly tasked with one simple job which they will do if it kills them. One poor volunteer was tasked with keeping the group of Canadians from our flight together, and lead us to the bus –simple right? Unfortunately we had the sailors with us, who were not supposed to go the bus but to another flight to their venue in Xingdao a city to the North. This was not conveyed to the volunteer in question, and her English lexicon did not extend past “Hello, How are You? And Follow me Please”….not particularly helpful under the circumstances. The sailors who had an even less ability to communicate in the volunteers language than she in ours, but a knowledge of the situation, the airport, and where they needed to be….kept sneaking off in the “right direction”. To the volunteer’s credit, it took several such attempts before they managed to successfully detach themselves and head on their way….and our volunteer was never the same after that.
We were then in a bus, in the games lane, relabelled with the IPC logo, on empty streets watching literally thousands of Olympic Banners be switched to Paralympic ones –impressive efforts! (and the number of banners left means Hammer likely did not get to these streets….most will know who and why I am referring to this individual). The village itself is incredible! Huge, manicured and beautiful. Getting used to village life again, chaos, interesting sites and like with any large groups of people different behaviours. I was in a long line for coffee this morning when someone from a European country, that shall remain nameless but starts with a G, walked straight past the line and filled his cup. When we pointed out his behaviour, he remarked “I am only getting coffee”. …I guess he thought we were lined up to do something rude to the machine or something.
Pictures are taken on the walk from the residences to the cafeteria~5 minute walk but getting more crowded by the minute.