Training Log Archive: Nadim

Dhaka, Bangladesh. Baridhara. From Road No. 8 to United Nations Rd. then to the park trail along the lake, to Madini Ave., then around the lake on the path to Road No. 13 to Road No. 12, to United Nations Rd. to Road No. 8. I did he same basic loop that I've done each day here. It was a little warmer, still humid, and slightly busier with foot traffic. I actually saw another runner today; an eastern Asian who also had a backpack but who was moving at my pace just behind me as I was finishing.

Yesterday, the outing to see my Grandfather's grave went well. We also saw the Red Fort from the 1680's. We got to the area where my dad spent some time growing up but it had been built upon so much that my dad had a hard time recognizing anything. We did get there with the help of some people recognizing the name of the Lion Cinema that my grandfather and a partner used to own. It was sad seeing some of the people in the streets of this old part of town but there was also a small carnival giving pony rides. It was complete with playground like rides and a wooden 4 car ferris wheel that got to about 10 ft. high.

For today there was only some shopping (most shops still closed due to the holiday) and a visit to one of my dad's friends. This friend had gone off on an adventure with my dad and others that included going against parents wishes, false promises of an army officer career, and the whole group sneaking away and making their way 400 miles back on their own without any money. Their meeting was happy but the parting was sad for all.

Dhaka, Bangladesh. Baridhara. From Road No. 8 to United Nations Rd. then to the park trail along the lake, to Madini Ave., then around the lake on the path to Road No. 13 to Road No. 12, to United Nations Rd. to Road No. 8. My family and I arrived again late last night. There was activity on the streets as there was last time but when running this morning it was a different city. I perhaps saw one tenth of the people moving about today. It's a 3 day religious holiday weekend. Today we will try to see my Grandfather's grave and a place where my dad lived at. It's very humid outside.

Kowloon, China.  20:20, 2.2 miles.  From Prince Edward Station Rd. Lai Chi Kok Rd. to a city park on the left.  I went on a loop through the park, then returned. Lai Chi Kok had he widest sidewalks that I could find but I still had to do a lot of weaving and pausing to get through the crowds. I'm sure that my GPS could not track accurately with all of the tall buildings.  It felt good to get a run in again especially since it's going to be a travel day.  My stomach is still a bit sensitive.  

Kowloon, China.  We took a side trip to Lantou island near the airport today.  There we saw the Po Lin Monestary and the giant Tian Tian Buddha (largest seated, outdoor, and bronze buddha in the world) up on a mountain plateau. We took a 35 minute cable car ride on part of our trip to get there but a few others could be seen below hiking. It was all very picturesque but not so old. 

After an Indian meal, my sister, mom, and I went to Tsim Sha Tsui and watched the city light and laser show from a pier. The light show is a nightly musically coordinated extravaganza that stretches across the whole panorama.  A trip to Hong Kong island at Wan Chai followed on the famous and really well priced Star Ferry.  All the icons of eastern electronics seemed to have a big building here but the harbor view from the Sydney Opera House-like convention center drew my eye.  Eventually a lighted and red sailed Junk look-a-like crossed the waters to pause in front of the art museum and pier we watched the light show from. 

All of this only left time for another 45 sit-ups. 

Kowloon, China.  Today tuned out to be pretty fun.  We hopped a bus tour to the actual island of Hong Kong.  We first saw a small monastery, then rode the tram (actually a funicular) to the peak.  The tram is acclaimed to be the steepest in the world.  I think I've heard that before elsewhere but this time it felt like it.  For added fun, the ride paused a few times at the steepest places and I could feel the cable stretch.  

We also took a ride in the harbor to see the fishing boats.  There were no old Chinese junks to be seen; just some older looking boats with fisherman scraping by.  The fisherman are finding better jobs and aren't expected to exist in the harbor for long.  I did see a rowboat sized craft propelled in the traditional manner by a standing man pushing and pulling from side to side on a rudder-like piece of jointed wood that acts more like a fish tail.  

We drove around the beautiful island admiring the many tall buildings, cliffs, and beaches we also went to Stanley Market and had some time to checkout the many just bigger than stall sized shops. 

I'd been feeling better since eating things other than a standard greasy Chinese tourist meal.  I wanted to attempt a run before rush hour started but our delivered dinner took to long to arrive and it got dark.  I just managed another 45 sit-ups. 

Kowloon, China.  My initial impression upon arriving here was that it's the NJ of Hong Kong.  That's not an entirely fair comparison but it is just across the water from the more famed island.  Kowloon is actually part of the same Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China--2 systems, 1 country.  Mainlanders cannot easily come here and I had to go through Customs coming from Xian.  

My negative impression of Kowloon was built upon the whole family being tired, sick, and fussy, and the hotel that we ended up in.  My sister had arranged good hotels elsewhere but difficulties communicating with the travel agent and my dad independently telling the agent to keep the cost from being too high got us stuck in what I'd say is close to a dive.  I took an orientation walk outside of maybe half a mile.  It was interesting but my western suburban nose was offended.  The walk was during the evening rush hour and it was really slow to move about. The place was just so busy wiith people walking.  There are 7 million in the SAR.  Remarkably, the traffic worked better than in most of the other places we'd been to so far.  That's probably due to the British rule influence.  Pedestrian barriers keep people from crossing at corners, and bicycles are not allowed on the roads too.  The blocks all look similar (shop signs hanging from buildings at all different heights and sticking out way over the road) and with the odd angles it would be easy to get lost.  I went through an outdoor shopping area where just about everything one might get at a KMart was being sold. The sunshine probably didn't hit the ground much here or in other nearby areas and the areas reminded me of the imagery in Blade Runner.  

Our agent hadn't setup any organized touring for any of our Hong Kong stay. The area certainly didn't look like a place we could move my dad around in. As we debated options our trip hit a low point.  

I ordered a western-like meal of beef steak on a french roll, hoping in might be like a hamburger.  It was instead much like it was described, but also salty and chewy. That and my French fries are sometimes considered as a sort of sin for travelers by the locals here, but my stomach felt better immediately.  

For fun I watched a Jackie Chan flick that wasn't dubbed into bad English, then did 45 sit-ups.  

Event: QOC Patuxent
 

Xian, China.  Today started off with a trip to a factory where they make replica terra cotta warriors. These could be made in all sizes and even to look like the purchaser.  

Later we had a brief stop at a natural hot spring which was used by the emperor's family.  The area was also known for the 1936 incident--the place where Chiang Kai Shek, head of the Chinese National Party was caught by the communists in the civil war. A negotiation for cooperation kept him alive before he escaped to Formosa--later named Taiwan. 

After another jade factory visit with lunch we finally got to see the real terra cotta warriors.  The first pit we saw was the most impressive. Standing at attention and dressed as if in leather armor, there were also some full scale horses.  A full field house size hanger enclosed it. The soldiers in rows were intact but most toward the back were broken.  The archeologists had been working on reassembling some for years (the warriors were discovered by farmers digging a well).  The smaller pits had fewer but nicer examples including chariots.  At least one soldier had painted armor.  I had been really weak through all of this walking; a relapse in how sick I am.  I slept on the ride back to Xian and felt much better. 

The day of touring ended in the dark in the Muslim Quarter.  Silk road travelers established this community inside the city walls.  We were too late to checkout the Grand Mosque but we took a stroll up and down a few blocks of small well lit shops selling foods and other items.  My dad perked up at this  eagerly wanting to sample the various colorful dried dates and nuts. I suppose this reminded him of his childhood.  

By the time I returned to the hotel, I decided it was best to rest and not run. Instead I did 45 sit-ups in my hotel.