Empty Seats

Wow, I noticed that too. And, it seemed odd, because the empty seats were definitely in blocks. Amazing.

I am pretty sure China will never get another Olympics...at least not for a few generations to come. I'm surprised they even wanted this one; I mean, it's kind of hard to keep all your secrets when the world's eyes are upon you. The world is learning a lot of things about China this month that I am sure they didn't want us to know...

Thanks to the internet, more and more of the Chinese youngsters are now "solving mysteries".  Just hope they don't get into trouble of "revealing the nation's top secret".  Yes, as of the day before the opening it was a "National Secret" as to whom was going to light the torch. 

A few months ago I read in HK newspaper that hotels and restaurants are expecting large number of local travelers and a rise in business.  When it got closer to the opening day, reservations were a lot lower than expected.  Turned out out-of-state travellers were having difficulties obtaining the appropriate documents to go to Beijing.  Gov't was trying to discourage large groups running around in the capital city fearing some of them may be terrorists from Xinjiang (the Moslem province where several terrorist activities happened right before the olympics).  Now the Beijing local business is suffering because of that. 

A side note about Chinese people travelling within their own country - it was NOT easy.  Imagine you have to obtain document to take a trip from MA to CA.  Not to mention relocating.  They have to get "permission" to move from one province to another.