Jia you Zhong guo!

Friday, 4th July, 2008

6.30am Wake up. Earlier than planned. Anticipation in the blood.

6.31am Rub head. 36 degree weather and oven-esque room causing morning headaches.

6.32. Discover no laduzi (upset stomach). Relieved. Wipe sweat from head.

6.37am. Have shower.

6.39am Finish shower. Dry.

6.42am Continuing drying. Sweat unceasing.

6.45am Pack clothes for washing. And camera. Check battery. OK.

6.47am Double check camera packed.

7.00am Walk along TianTan West Road. It seems more people than usual.

7.05am Arrive at ChangAn South Road, busiest main road in Xian. Usual mishmash of vehicles completely absent. Streams of people heading north.

7.10am Pass countless street sellers selling Olympic memorabilia. One T-shirt reads 'China Refuelling!' (A rather too direct translation on 'Jia you Zhong guo' - 'Come on China!')

7.20am. Nearing the route. People everywhere. No cars (apart from black Audis with important people and their wives/mistresses in).

7.30am. Walk along route, looking for a good spot. Being the tallest person around definitely an advantage. Check watch. Surrounded by the red flag of China, and the white of the Olympic flag.

7.35am Look for grassy knolls. None spotted.

7.45am Film crowd scenes. Everyone in high spirits, excited, adorned with red hats, head-bands, etc. Decide to postpone Tibet-related practical jokes.

7.55am. Begin to tire. Wandering what they'll have in the canteen for lunch.

8.00am Various police vans, offical cars pass by. Extremely bored looking police officers line the inside of the route.

8.10am Anticipation rising. Chanting becomes more regular.

8.14am. Crowd surges forward! Somethings happening!!

8.15am False alarm. Crowd rolls back

8.20-21am Same as above

8.30am Something's happening! Crowd rolls forward. Necks strained. Voices raised. Flags waved.

8.31am 'Crowd warm-up truck drives past. 'Jiayou Zhongguo! Jiayou Zhongguo!'

8.32am The Samsung truck passes. 'Jia Samsung! Jiayou Samsung's New X4000 Hands free phone set with sat nav, mini-bar and rocket booster applications!' 'Jia you Olympic Corporate sponsors!'

8.33am Unknown 3rd truck passes by. Something resembling cheerleaders wafting around on the roof.

8.36am. Torch-bearers alight near-by coach. Wave to the crowd, and take their positions. Noise more consistent, flag-waving more in tune.

8.37am Significant increase in flag-waving seen in easterly direction.

8.38am 'Lai le!' 'Lai le!' 'It's here!' 'It's here'. Necks enter giraffe mode. Arms stretched high, clutching camera.

8.39am Through a forest of red and white, I can see a man with a un-torch like object running very slowly up the street, surrounded by what looks like swimming pool attendents, in blue and white T-shirts. Noise cacophanous!! Flag-waving feverish!!

8.40am JIA YOU ZHONG GUO! JIA YOU ZHONG GUO! Man runs short distance. I take wonky photos. Switch to film mode. Film wonkier-still film. JIA YOU ZHONG GUO!! JIA YOU ZHONG GUO!! Catch glimpse of world's most famous fire safety hazard.

8.41am Torch and flame disappear westwards amongst the red, white and forest of arms.

8.43am Noise subsides, flags sag. Come and gone.

8.44am Slightly unsure facial expressions all round. No-one is really sure what to do next.

8.47am Begin to head for the university. Streets full of people. Have photo taken with strangers. Admire undercover-style camera handiwork.

8.51am. Friend phones. "Where are you? I'll be there in a minute".


PS Check out the pun in '8.36am'. Unintentional.