Olympic Madness
By Thomas on November 2, 2007 | No Comments »
The opening ceremony for the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing is going to be spectacular – and absolutely perfect. I am completely sure of that! The Chinese leadership seems to be trying very hard to make this a showcase for the country’s economic development.
Beijing 2008 Olympics is everywhere – billboards, news, T-shirts, stickers, vases, flags, pillow cases and even toilet paper. Alright, I get it! Everyone is getting ready for the big event – sometimes against their will. Taxi drivers in Beijing are now forbidden to smoke in their vehicles and are instructed not to encourage their passengers to light up. During the Olympics, traffic in Beijing will be reduced and many power plants will be shut down to reduce air pollution. This, of course, is all great. But get this, the Chinese government even goes as far as to control the weather. Local rainmaking teams will be closely watching the skies. If storms approach the city, the clouds will be seeded with silver iodide to force rain fall outside of Beijing. Blue skies and dry athletes are guaranteed.
This may be your only chance to enjoy Beijing without much air pollution – except maybe the silver iodide particles clogging up your nostrils. But be warned! According to a Dutch tour guide we met in Tibet, hotel prices will skyrocket. A 20 $ room with a shabby bathroom will easily cost you 400 $ a night. Is it really worth staying in Beijing during the Olympics or is it worth considering taking the money and buying a flat-screen TV on which you can watch the games from your couch? Not a difficult decision for me.
Topics: China, Tibet | No Comments »
