MONKEY MADNESS

Yes, well, aren't we all keen. Amazing how an idea over dinner turns into one's homework for the evening! Please hang with us, no doubt the novelty will wear off, but let's see how we go!

We were lucky enough to go to Beijing for the last five days of the Olympics. Nannie came to HK to watch the Tiger-Bear and the Dragon-Ack (thanks Nannie!) and we headed off to Beijing.

We had a true smorgasboard of events. Volleyball (how does one hit the ball that hard and not break one's finger?), 10m Platform Diving (how does one hold that handstand and not break one's arms?), Beach Volleyball, (how does one's bathing suits stay where it's supposed to?), Soccer (how does a yellow card instantly heal a seemingly life-threating injury?), water polo (how does one play that and not drown?), track and field (how does one run that fast, jump that high? (sure the big pole helps), and how does one throw that far?) and table tennis (how does one possibly understand that table-tennis champions sell ice-creams, electrical goods and financial products (in China) better than TV stars?)

We had a wonderful time and were lucky enough to meet some medallists. Both of them are American, they received a gold and a bronze. (On the plus side, the bronze medallist was beaten by some Aussies!! Oi, Oi, Oi) The medallists were very nice and put up with us having our photo taken with them. The one above is of Jason Lezak, his GOLD medal and us. (For those of you who can't remember, Jason Lezak is the awesome American swimmer who swam the fasted split of all time (46.06) on the anchor leg of the mens 4 x 100m freestyle relay to give the Americans (and Michael Phelps) a gold medal...yes, he let us touch the medal.)

We also had the adventure of visiting the Great Wall. We went to a section of the wall somewhat less travelled (i.e. there were not many tourists there) at Mutianyu. If you are visiting Beijing it is worth going to. There are many segments of the wall closer to Beijing, but this is truly worth a visit. (It's about at 45 - 60 minute bus ride from Beijing.) Above is a photo of the section of the Wall we visited.

The thing I love about the Olympics is that somehow it makes us (yes, speaking for myself) an instant "expert" on anything that is televised. We were also lucky enough to see the Closing Ceremony. I think it looked better on TV, but to see 90, 000 people that involved as an audience was awesome!

OK, enough Monkey Madness for the moment: To borrow from the movie Madagascar - "If you have poop, throw it now!"