We are sincerely inviting our friends to run with us in the Lidingoloppet China.
Lidingoloppet is an annual Swedish cross country running race that takes place in Lidingo island situated 10km from the city center in Stockholm. The race is considered as the largest cross country running race in the world with its 30K track in tough terrain. Lidingoloppet has more than 40 year’s of history as the first race was held in 1965, and by that time Lidingoloppet attracted as many as 644 runners. Today, as many as 30 000 runners from 25 different countries line up at the starting line in Lidingo every autumn.
And now, it has come to China.
http://www.nordicways.com/english/index.php/category-573.html
What better excuse can you find to come visit us in Beijing than to test your physical limits? I think it would be enormously fun to train, in different parts of the world, for the same event, only to eventually convene at the same place and run like we have never run before.
Plus, Lidingoloppet China is happening around the midsommer period in the Swedish calendar, so all the more fun there will be!
2009-02-10
Less Is More.
The fireworks freeflow party finally ended with a loud bang. And a very very loud bang indeed.
Fire sparks liberated from fireworks set off at the top of a sparkling, newly built landmark building next to thy grande CCTV tower brought the former down into absolute ruins in mere 4 hours. Down feather beds, silk bed covers, the fine porcelain meant for diners, all ended up in black fumes. The building was meant to be another of Mandarin Oriental's luxurious hotel.
One fireman had been confirmed killed in his line of duty. What a shame! He lost his precious life because of the stupidity of some.
For 16 consecutive days, the Chinese people have been shooting fireworks in the sky non-stop. They did it even during day-time. No kidding, dude. So far, so good. Until last night, almost at the final hour, when allegedly illegal fireworks were set off at the top of this fine building that was the hard work and architectural fine art of internationally famous Rem Koolhaas. According to reports, these fireworks were much more powerful than the ones most civilians were using, and which actually required permit from the authorities before they are allowed to be set off.
So, that's the price to pay for trying to be what we Singaporeans would say hao lian, meaning "show off".
And to be candid, we are quite sick of the fireworks and the ever exploding hum in the background. This fireworks freeflow party had indeed outdone itself.
But, it's all over now. As in REALLY over. We believe that fireworks and all sorts that are even the slightest explosive will be banned within the 5th ring road of Beijing city next year. Good for us urbanites who can get some peace and not worry about our hair catching fire by mistakingly walking pass a fireworks party. Perhaps pity the ruralites who will most likely see an influx of fireworks-armed enthusiasts marching into their compound and set their skies, hopefully not their homes, on fire.
Fire sparks liberated from fireworks set off at the top of a sparkling, newly built landmark building next to thy grande CCTV tower brought the former down into absolute ruins in mere 4 hours. Down feather beds, silk bed covers, the fine porcelain meant for diners, all ended up in black fumes. The building was meant to be another of Mandarin Oriental's luxurious hotel.
One fireman had been confirmed killed in his line of duty. What a shame! He lost his precious life because of the stupidity of some.
For 16 consecutive days, the Chinese people have been shooting fireworks in the sky non-stop. They did it even during day-time. No kidding, dude. So far, so good. Until last night, almost at the final hour, when allegedly illegal fireworks were set off at the top of this fine building that was the hard work and architectural fine art of internationally famous Rem Koolhaas. According to reports, these fireworks were much more powerful than the ones most civilians were using, and which actually required permit from the authorities before they are allowed to be set off.
So, that's the price to pay for trying to be what we Singaporeans would say hao lian, meaning "show off".
And to be candid, we are quite sick of the fireworks and the ever exploding hum in the background. This fireworks freeflow party had indeed outdone itself.
But, it's all over now. As in REALLY over. We believe that fireworks and all sorts that are even the slightest explosive will be banned within the 5th ring road of Beijing city next year. Good for us urbanites who can get some peace and not worry about our hair catching fire by mistakingly walking pass a fireworks party. Perhaps pity the ruralites who will most likely see an influx of fireworks-armed enthusiasts marching into their compound and set their skies, hopefully not their homes, on fire.
2009-02-03
Hey! Pay what you eat for lah!
We went out with some people* for a meal someday at a non-particular restaurant (except that it's prices were particular).
As usual, Olof and I were pretty modest with our order, meaning we did not order the most expensive on the menu and only the amount that we are confident of finishing. Our company of acquaintances, on the other hand, ordered a fanciful variety of dishes for themselves as well as their little ones.
Fine. It is, after all, your personal taste preferences. In a free world, you should be able to eat what you like.
And indeed our company of acquaintances took that ideology quite literally, except that they thought they can eat for FREE too, or at least partially paid for by their honest, modest and hardworking counterparts.
Perfect. So we paid 20% more than what eventually ended up in our stomaches.
I wish I had the courage to tell them straight in the face, in my most Singaporean to-the-point manner, "Oooii! Pay for what you eat lah! Why are we splitting the bill equally when obviously you guys ordered more stuff than we did?!"
Am I being petty? Am I? Am I?
Are they feigning ignorance? Are they? Are they?
Now I know why one of the couple acquaintances on that day asked us out for dinner a few times.
They are the clever ones. At times of economic crisis, you just have to be innovative of how to maximise inflow to and minimise outflow from your purse.
*I thought twice before deciding not to reveal who these people are, since there is a chance they may chance upon this post. But then again, if they indeed chance upon this post, I believe they will be able to induce from the writings that I AM TALKING ABOUT THEM!*
As usual, Olof and I were pretty modest with our order, meaning we did not order the most expensive on the menu and only the amount that we are confident of finishing. Our company of acquaintances, on the other hand, ordered a fanciful variety of dishes for themselves as well as their little ones.
Fine. It is, after all, your personal taste preferences. In a free world, you should be able to eat what you like.
And indeed our company of acquaintances took that ideology quite literally, except that they thought they can eat for FREE too, or at least partially paid for by their honest, modest and hardworking counterparts.
Perfect. So we paid 20% more than what eventually ended up in our stomaches.
I wish I had the courage to tell them straight in the face, in my most Singaporean to-the-point manner, "Oooii! Pay for what you eat lah! Why are we splitting the bill equally when obviously you guys ordered more stuff than we did?!"
Am I being petty? Am I? Am I?
Are they feigning ignorance? Are they? Are they?
Now I know why one of the couple acquaintances on that day asked us out for dinner a few times.
They are the clever ones. At times of economic crisis, you just have to be innovative of how to maximise inflow to and minimise outflow from your purse.
*I thought twice before deciding not to reveal who these people are, since there is a chance they may chance upon this post. But then again, if they indeed chance upon this post, I believe they will be able to induce from the writings that I AM TALKING ABOUT THEM!*
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