August 9, 2008

Last night I hopped from a small-group event out in Sihui, where we watched the Olympic ceremonies on a big screen TV in an apartment, to Houhai, where a hundred people gathered on a rooftop with a gigantic screen, lots of food, chanting "zhong guo jia you!" as the Chinese team came out at last, and fireworks exploded in the distance. 

The opening ceremonies have been hailed with rave reviews. A was a breathtaking light and sound spectacle that in terms of technology, emotion, and sheer ambition, surpasses, by far, any show that I've seen. And the architecture helped- alot. Of all the things I've read online, ESPN, in fact, has a the best commentary. And the Times also has a great panorama.

August 8, 2008

All the streets are decorated.

The sun is still just a small circle in the sky.

Unusually quiet streets just hours before the opening ceremonies.

At a Houhai rooftop taking in the ceremonies with 50 others.

Fireworks after..

August 4, 2008: 4 days to go.

The air is back to hazy brown today.

In Ningbo with Li Hu and Steven Holl

At the site..

Visiting one of Ma Qingyun's projects.

Ma's Museum.

Zen Buddhist Temple near the hotel..

Steven tries out a monk's robe..

Beijing: final touches

At the Pecha Kucha about Green design

Santilun Village opens with a hovering Apple store

Although half the cars are off the road because of the odd-even license plate restrictions, one lane of traffic on each side is devoted only to Olympic vehicle traffic. 

Finally, a blue sky day! The view from my bedroom. You can see the western mountains in the distance.

A hutong that was demolished.

Olympic banners everywhere.

More signage.

Six days to go!

With my Aussie roommate Kiel.

24 days to go

With less than 24 days to go before the Olympics, it will be a good chance to rev-up the blog. In the meantime, if you want to catch up on what's been happening in Beijing, check out James Farrow's blog. He's a columnist for the Atlantic and his blog answers a lot of questions about the security crackdown, air quality, and general Olympic issues.

 

June 19-20:Naoshima and Tokyo

I stayed in more affordable housing: Mongolian pao tents.

SANAA's building from the boat.

Time lapse of Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo

June 18: Naoshima Island

Sejima's new Tourist Center at the port.

Ando's Benesse House- museum/hotel

Panorama of the view from Benesse House

June 17: Kyoto

At Katsura Imperial Palace, southwest Kyoto. Teahouses and villas around a lake which influenced German architect Bruno Taut.

Famous checkerboard wallcovering.

Golden Pavilion

Ryoan-ji- the most important rock garden in the world.

Inside the many noisy game rooms in Kyoto.

June 16: Kyoto


Kiyomizu-Dera


Near Nanzen-ji




Another glimpse of a geisha..

June 15: Osaka and Kyoto

Ando's Church of the Light in Ibariki. A United Church of about 75 members.


They also have a meal after service.


In Kyoto



An astounding acapella group sings beside the subway.




Spotted two geisha on their way to entertain guests.