Final post

As closing ceremonies are today, this is likely my last post. Yesterday was my first day off and it was spectacular. As the village and venue is so gigantic I never really had an interest to do any exploring. Today I watched the 100m final that I really wished I was in but it was also therapeutic. Everyone in that race ran much faster today, in less than ideal conditions than I ran on my best day in the best conditions.

After the event, I booked it out of the stadium and to my American Friends condo where we then went to the “Market”. Think of a 5 story office building converted to a mall. The outside looked like a regular building, but unlike a mall that could have 10 large stores on each floor, there were 400 - 10ft x 10ft kiosks. Once inside, you realize each store nothing more than 3 walls and 3 obnoxious sales people. After a closer look, the walls were not walls, but rather stacks of product covered in a thick canvas like a tent. The walkway is no more than 3 feet wide and with stores on both sides it allows people to yell in your ear and literally grab you and pull you in

In this place you could find everything and nothing all at the same time. There was mainly popular and normally expensive clothing makes Like Dolce & Gabanna or Armani. I assume it’s easier to put a fake label on a regular pair of jeans compared to trying to recreate a digital camera. I was told that because everything is made in china now, the fake one is not any worse than the reall ones.

The price is the most fun part of the process but get’s exhausting very quickly. There is a system based on insults that is embraced by both the seller and the buyer. For example I bought a few real 100% silk scarves. The price started at 300 Yuan which is about 50 bucks Canadian. The sales person says “this is best price for you, very good price just you”. I then say 50Yuan which is about 10 bucks, and I do it with a huge smile on my face. She comes back and says “can’t do it, real silk, good price for you, ok 200 Yuan. I come back with a counter offer of 40. I ended up with 2 scarves and a nice bag for 45 which it’s still likely that I got a good deal and she still made some money.

As I wondered around I ended up in the watch section. I tried on a “real” Omega watch that confused me. I know that watches costing $5,000 have amazing craftsmanship. Although 1/100th of the price it looked the part and was even an automatic winding, which can’t be all that cheap to make. On my way out, I was approached by a guy with a bag saying wannabuyrolex….. I didn’t want to pull my wallet out but I wish I had because that watch looked cool regardless of it being a fake, and for 10 bucks Canadian it only has to last a month to get my monies worth.

After my shopping experience we went for authentic Tibetan cuisine and a show. I don’t know much about Tibet, but apparently they eat a lot of Yak. We had 6 different plate of food and 5 included Yak to some degree. We had steak, roast, soup, dips, and some other stuff. At one point, I looked at the bean dip and it was very strange to eat the food and especially the dip because there appeared to be a swastika design in it. It was explained that they use that symbol for good luck and the Nazi’s adopted it for their logo.

The dancing and show was amazing and lots of fun. We cabbed it back to the village and tomorrow are closing Ceremonies followed by 2 days of hanging out before I come home.

Closing Cerimonies were amazing and I’m really glad I went. In the past the event is over by 9pm and then everyone looks for the after party. I always stress over looking for the right people and spending half the night searching.

This time the after party was actually in the village and it was spectacular. It started with a already good party for Canada and the Aussie’s and sooner than later everyone else came. It was a great time and I can’t think of a better way to leave here. I think we closed it down around 4am and if you ask me, i'll tell you all the things I can't post.......

I’m arriving back in Winnipeg on September 19th at 7:08 and hope I can connect with everyone then.

I’m actually coming home with not injuries, with clean clothes which is always nice because stinky shirts can ruin a bag and makes those airport dogs gag.. I don’t think I’ve lost anything but seem to now have 2 full bags regardless of arriving with one.

Bye for now.