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!*
2009-01-31
Skiing and networking
Hi,
Skiing in Beijing, is it possible? So far we have had no snow at all this winter.
I was invited to join a potential business partner from China Mobile for a day trip to Nanshan Ski Resort, only one hour's drive away from Beijing. It's all man-made snow, but they had more slopes than I had expected, and of all kinds.
It was 11 years since last time I went skiing in the Swedish mountains... Luckily, it didn't take long before I got into it again. It was a good warm-up in case I would go skiing in the real mountains some day.
Cheers, Olof
Skiing in Beijing, is it possible? So far we have had no snow at all this winter.
I was invited to join a potential business partner from China Mobile for a day trip to Nanshan Ski Resort, only one hour's drive away from Beijing. It's all man-made snow, but they had more slopes than I had expected, and of all kinds.
It was 11 years since last time I went skiing in the Swedish mountains... Luckily, it didn't take long before I got into it again. It was a good warm-up in case I would go skiing in the real mountains some day.
Cheers, Olof
2009-01-26
Moooooo....
We quietly ushered in Year of Ox last night with a simple (but not very tasty) meal at a Persian restaurant, but our many neighbours decidedly took fun to the streets and lighted up Beijing's skies with fireworks. We then cruised around the city in the car observing fireworks and firecrackers, starting from early evening. At midnight, back in our apartment on the 11th floor, we looked at the most amazing fireworks sky we have ever seen...
2009-01-16
Company 10th Year Party
And I was there... It was pretty evident that food wasn't fantastic, but for those of you who know the company that I worked for, it was considered a spread. My colleagues and I had lots of "children" boozes - Yan Jing Beer at 3.6% alchohol concentration. 3.6%! That's why children's beer.
But we got high anyway, on quirky performances and on the fact that I won something at the lucky draw! Yiippee! I hope, though, I am not using up my last ditch of good luck before the Year of Ox rushes in.
2008-12-31
1224
Nej, this is not a fanciful play of numbers like Wong Kar-wai's 2046 movie. This is the name of a threadmill running competition that is going on at the gym chain that we frequent.
Without a doubt, it is a marketing gimmick of a sport brand that is introducing its NEW running shoes, whose model number runs by the name of the competition, and is purported to give better BALANCE to you when you run. *I hope you have already guessed the name of the brand*.
So, the gist of the competition is to stretch your cardio limit on the threadmill, by measuring how far you can run within 12 minute 24 seconds. There will be ONE winner each from the male and female categories, who then get sponsorships to fly off to Seoul to participate in a real marathon.
Yes, you might have guessed it already. Olof and I took part in the competition. I ran 2230meters, and he ran 2980meters. *We pray for bad weather, so that little people will venture to the gym. If anybody should go to the gym, we pray for more Chinese-illiterate foreigners, because the competition promoter speaks no English. Ha!* Only THEN, we probably stand any chances of winning.
BUT, for two packs of nearly 30-year-old bones, I think we did not bad. Events as such really adds fun to training in the gym, especially in a city like Beijing, where outdoors sports are not very possible.
AND, kudos to us for not getting any muscle aches the next day.
Without a doubt, it is a marketing gimmick of a sport brand that is introducing its NEW running shoes, whose model number runs by the name of the competition, and is purported to give better BALANCE to you when you run. *I hope you have already guessed the name of the brand*.
So, the gist of the competition is to stretch your cardio limit on the threadmill, by measuring how far you can run within 12 minute 24 seconds. There will be ONE winner each from the male and female categories, who then get sponsorships to fly off to Seoul to participate in a real marathon.
Yes, you might have guessed it already. Olof and I took part in the competition. I ran 2230meters, and he ran 2980meters. *We pray for bad weather, so that little people will venture to the gym. If anybody should go to the gym, we pray for more Chinese-illiterate foreigners, because the competition promoter speaks no English. Ha!* Only THEN, we probably stand any chances of winning.
BUT, for two packs of nearly 30-year-old bones, I think we did not bad. Events as such really adds fun to training in the gym, especially in a city like Beijing, where outdoors sports are not very possible.
AND, kudos to us for not getting any muscle aches the next day.
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