Beijing Olympics: Are You Going?
Feb 17th, 2008, 02:52 PM
#41
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Norman17130:
I'm not sure about Sydney, but I know that rooms did open up in Athens. A couple that we know just showed up in Athens and got a room that day. It wasn't the nicest place, but acceptable they said. I think that they got the room through some booth at the Athens airport.
That being said, there's no way in telling if rooms are going to open up or not. The wife of one of my husband's employees is from Beijing and she said that there are hundreds of hotels in Beijing that are not listed on the major internet tour pages. The most extensive 'other than the major chain hotels' lists that I have seen are on hostels.com and travelchinaguide.com Maybe you can email these hotels directly as it gets closer to the Games...
I know that this doesn't help much, but if I hear of anything I can let you know....
TracyLynn
I'm not sure about Sydney, but I know that rooms did open up in Athens. A couple that we know just showed up in Athens and got a room that day. It wasn't the nicest place, but acceptable they said. I think that they got the room through some booth at the Athens airport.
That being said, there's no way in telling if rooms are going to open up or not. The wife of one of my husband's employees is from Beijing and she said that there are hundreds of hotels in Beijing that are not listed on the major internet tour pages. The most extensive 'other than the major chain hotels' lists that I have seen are on hostels.com and travelchinaguide.com Maybe you can email these hotels directly as it gets closer to the Games...
I know that this doesn't help much, but if I hear of anything I can let you know....
TracyLynn
Feb 24th, 2008, 08:45 AM
#44
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Norman17130:
There is a terrific reply to your question by PeterN_H in a thread I started with a question about China Southern Airlines. Just click on my name and the thread should come up in the left menu. "China Southern Airline- any experiences" is the topic.
There is a terrific reply to your question by PeterN_H in a thread I started with a question about China Southern Airlines. Just click on my name and the thread should come up in the left menu. "China Southern Airline- any experiences" is the topic.
Mar 16th, 2008, 09:12 PM
#45
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Hi. My husband will be in Beijing for work all of August. My 2 kids and I were able to get freq. flyer seats to Beijing from 8/2-8/16. We'd like to see some events but missed out on tix sales. Anyone have info about the prospects of more tix becoming available? (I registered for the CoSport e-mail ticket alerts.)
Mar 20th, 2008, 03:27 AM
#46
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Clearly all you potential visitors either don't know about or don't care about what's going on in Tibet. Or you know about it and think it's perfectly OK.
It would be intesting to know into which category you fall.
Don't know.
Don't care.
Aware of situation but,hey, it's just another far-off land and it's there for me.
Which is it?
It would be intesting to know into which category you fall.
Don't know.
Don't care.
Aware of situation but,hey, it's just another far-off land and it's there for me.
Which is it?
Mar 20th, 2008, 05:36 AM
#47
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There are some who wish to visit China, show their presence, act as guests, but nevertheless voice or otherwise show their disapproval of the situtation in Tibet. Do not be the first to cast stones.
Mar 20th, 2008, 02:17 PM
#48
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Afterall - you said on another thread you would like to visit Yemen. I looked this up for you:
"The human rights situation of Yemen has been subject to criticism in the past, but in recent years has seen significant improvement, with the government signing several international human rights treaties, and even appointing a woman, Dr. Wahiba Fara’a, to the role of Minister of the State of Human Rights.[11] However, many problems persist alongside allegations that these reforms have not been fully implemented and that abuses still run rampant, especially in the areas of women's rights, freedom of the press, torture and police brutality. (Wikpedia)
"The human rights situation of Yemen has been subject to criticism in the past, but in recent years has seen significant improvement, with the government signing several international human rights treaties, and even appointing a woman, Dr. Wahiba Fara’a, to the role of Minister of the State of Human Rights.[11] However, many problems persist alongside allegations that these reforms have not been fully implemented and that abuses still run rampant, especially in the areas of women's rights, freedom of the press, torture and police brutality. (Wikpedia)
Mar 20th, 2008, 11:09 PM
#49
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Colduphere - exactly.
I would like to visit Yemen ONE DAY, just as I would like to visit Burma ONE DAY.
But I haven't, and won't just yet.
I do think the games should be boycotted - as I said before they should never have been awarded to China in the first place.
If those of you who are going don't stop to consider what your going implies, that's your problem not mine.
your conscience - not mine.
I would like to visit Yemen ONE DAY, just as I would like to visit Burma ONE DAY.
But I haven't, and won't just yet.
I do think the games should be boycotted - as I said before they should never have been awarded to China in the first place.
If those of you who are going don't stop to consider what your going implies, that's your problem not mine.
your conscience - not mine.
Mar 21st, 2008, 04:53 AM
#50
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Following your logic, one should avoid a nation that sanctions torture, runs clandestine and closed prisons, and spies upon its citizens and others without court warrants. Guess which nation that is...
Mar 21st, 2008, 07:19 PM
#51
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Actually I highly doubt from the tone of your post that you really want to know why people are contemplating a trip to Beijing given the current situation so I won't waste much energy on my reply. In the unlikely event you do care, you can rest assured that I am very aware of the political situation and very concerned. You can also be assured that every time I travel internationally with my kids we spend the months preceding the visit reading newspaper articles, and doing research on the country and its government, its history and its culture. We also discuss the fact that any trip we take has environmental, political and cultural ramifications. Hopefully now you will sleep better knowing that if I go to Beijing, it will be a considered decision.
Mar 23rd, 2008, 12:18 PM
#52
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Having been to one Olympic event before, (SLC 2002) it was my experience that some tickets become available (albeit at a higher price) and some housing becomes available as well. Figure skating is like gymnastics...extremely popular and hard to get original tickets for but if you REALLY want to see it, you are likely to find people selling their tickets right before the event. I would love to be able to attend the Beijing Olympics....I am so envious of those of you going. Have a great time and please report back.
Mar 28th, 2008, 02:02 AM
#54
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Hi, we are going to the olimpic and after much effort to find a travel agent with eveything we required we managed to find one, they have everything including tickets to events!!
if anyone is interested there web site is www.olympic-vacations.com
not too expensive either, good luck
if anyone is interested there web site is www.olympic-vacations.comnot too expensive either, good luck
Mar 28th, 2008, 08:17 AM
#55
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In respsonse to the OP, no.
It so happens that I don't have the funds to travel to China just now, but I would like to travel there one day to learn more of Chinese culture.
As far as the Beijing Olympics 2008, even if someone were to offer me free tickets and pay all expenses, out of respect for the great and long-lasting suffering of the Tibetan people, who have given me so much in terms of teachings, I would not honor the Chinese government by attending these events while Tibetans are oppressed to the point they are driven to tragic rebellion, and Tibetan monks and nuns are imprisoned and not free to practice their precious way of life, and while their places of worship are destroyed in the name of the Chinese government.
I will spend the time of the Olympics meditating on their daily plight as well as hoping and praying for their ultimate peaceful autonymy and dignity.
It so happens that I don't have the funds to travel to China just now, but I would like to travel there one day to learn more of Chinese culture.
As far as the Beijing Olympics 2008, even if someone were to offer me free tickets and pay all expenses, out of respect for the great and long-lasting suffering of the Tibetan people, who have given me so much in terms of teachings, I would not honor the Chinese government by attending these events while Tibetans are oppressed to the point they are driven to tragic rebellion, and Tibetan monks and nuns are imprisoned and not free to practice their precious way of life, and while their places of worship are destroyed in the name of the Chinese government.
I will spend the time of the Olympics meditating on their daily plight as well as hoping and praying for their ultimate peaceful autonymy and dignity.
Mar 28th, 2008, 08:24 AM
#56
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Interesting question. I am a huge sports fan (having attended 3 of the 4 Tennis Grand Slam events, the gold US Open and PGA, the World Series, Super Bowl, Stanley Cup playoffs, all three legs of the horseracing Triple Crown, NCAA tournament) and I have NO interest in attending the Olympics --- primarily because it features sports that I'm generally not that interested in. I never attend track & field events, swimming, equestrian, bicycyling, and aside from the hype and pageantry, I don't see the appeal of attending the Olympics (especially when I can bounce from event to event easily on TV).
Jul 18th, 2008, 11:11 AM
#57
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Never thought of going, never planned to go. <b>BUT</b> I will be in Hong Kong the first few days of the Olympics, and the equestrian events are being held there. I found that a couple of morning dressage events still have tickets. 8/9 and 8/10 6:30-10:30a. Only about US$15 each. Maybe I'll go afterall.
