Olympic Countdown: 365 Days To Go
I am soooo disappointed. I went to Tiananmen Square today only to be shooed away by the merciless long arms of the law.
This is the spectacular countdown celebration that I missed. While these lucky people got the chance to be seated properly, thousands around the area were banned even to get a glimpse of the fireworks.
Three subway stops were closed to the public: Tiananmen East, Tiananment West and Qianmen stops. That means people have to walk two or three kilometers from the nearest stop going to the Tiananmen area. But, the infamous Square was off limits to the thousands of spectators who diligently, religiously and patiently (impatiently in my case) wait for whatever comes.
Hundreds wait and sweat in hell slash subway.
In other words, we were all clueless. I thought there was going to be a parade before the ceremony starts but hell, I've seen the sunset, bought and used up three bottles of mineral water, argued with the smelly guy beside me, sat on a crowded bench and waded around through sea of stinky nenderthals but nothing happened.
Viewing sunset from Tiananmen West.
Time dragged too slow and everyone was fuddled why they're there in the first place. As darkness get's deeper, the more people flocked to the area as if a whole Kingdom of Ants came to get a bite of what's to see and hear.
These are the losers. Yeah, that includes me! Che!
Everyone went home not only disappointed but tired and fucked up.
This Olympics stuff makes me sick. I have no idea if I can endure the pressure of waiting, craning necks, walking long distance, smelling poisonous stench, taking crowded subways, holding on super sardined buses and controlling pent-up emotions until next year.
That's the fireworks blazing the sky at a far distance where I sat.
We all know, Olympics Games is just for a show. Beijing 2008, especially.
August 8, 2008 at 8:08:08 pm, the show begins.
See you here and let's share the polluted air.