hey kids... my last full day in beijing! last night was another mixed bag as we failed to get tickets for the Chinese National Team's basketball game during the World University Games. we ended up walking around Beijing University for a couple of hours just checking out the campus. it was totally neat to walk though a typical university campus but to be surrounded by buildings that were distinictively chinese. very cool indeed. we ended up getting tickets for a basketball game for tonight but for a pair of countries that we've never heard of-- it appears the Chinese and American games have been sold out months in advance.

we actually ended up catching a recorded version of last night's china game with canada after we had arrived home last night. although the chinese team has got some talent and a lot of size they are missing that killer instinct and at times some basketball fundementals. i should teach them that 'wedge your butt' move that i've mastered over the past 26 years....

anyways, today is my last day in beijing and my prime opportunity to pick up gifts and trinkets from china. i exchanged a little bit of money yesterday just in case i go overboard. i have to admit that i really haven't been spending much time looking around for gifts. so i have an excuse for all of you who are going to be pissed off with me when i come back with coins for you. =p hey, just think-- this log is a gift that keeps on giving!

yesterday i also had a meeting with the folks from webtix.cn.com.... they were working on a cool merge of city guide and ticketing for beijing and shanghai. sort of reminded me of someplace i used to work. then again-- they only had 2 phone agents and practically all of their tickets are sold on a COD basis. ticketing in china is definitely different...

alright that is the end of this log entry. time to go and fend off all of the silk pajama dealers and all of the little old ladies selling maps and "pissing boy ceramics". time to bargain hard for t-shirts and hats-- hopefully, i won't have to make any merchants cry over the haggling. until hong kong everyone....