Beijing 2008

[The Queen]

...an excellent weapon in the war for world domination. Kill your enemy via addiction and medical bills.

[Drunk Monk]

From Where There's Smoke....
The Fighting Smoking Pipe of Kungfu
By Gene Ching
http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine...rticle=235

Two out of three Chiense men become smokers by 25 and it is estimated that 100 million (or almost one third) of the men below the age of 29 will die from it

I published that. It must be true.

[Drunk Monk]

Sichuan, China. That's where we're holding it. The week of 4th of July. Ever try to plan a party in China? That's what I'll be doing for the next six months. I said I'd never be part of leading a tour to China again, not after the last one that ended in our van crashing into a tree. That almost cost CF his nose.

DOOM played a major role in our 10th Anniversary Gala Benefit. I wish I could offer you a similar deal for this. It's going to be a martial arts tour obviously, so it might not hold that much interest for anyone but CF and LCF. There's some tourism, then there's a tournament, and a lot of martial arts stuff. We're discussing an add-on to Bejing, or to Shaolin, or to Wudang, but this is mostly going to be about Emei Mountain. But I can surely get a better price for you all, if you're interested. This is, of course, assuming I don't completely lose it before July. And that's looking very likely at this rate.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Aren't you the one that's referring to himself in th third person.

Will we get to go shopping? Is Jet Li going to be there?

[Drunk Monk]

...but at least I'm still coherent. I think I may soon be incoherent. That's not good for a writer. Tell me when I'm incoherent. Speaking in thirds is still coherent.

We will invite Jet Li, Jackie Chan, et.al. just like we invited them to the 10th. Of course, we'd extend every courtesy to them, and then some. But so far, their price tag has been way too high or they simply weren't available. Still, I got my fingers crossed. There's so many freakin wildcards in the mix on this one. We've got three of the nine duans on our cover (there are only 12 - this is the topmost rank in PRC), a host of top Shaolin monks, including the Abbot, the head priest of Wudang, the top wushu champs - there's been an astounding amount of talent on our cover. We invite all our cover masters. It'll be a huge amount of face for masters to perform on our banquet stage. If our politics have been cool, and I think we've been solid with PRC, they'll come. Master Ren mentioned this to Lou Reed and Jon Miller, and they're interested. They said they'd even stoop to flying business class. hock:

It's going to be a martial trip, obviously. We're still working out the tour, but we're thinking a few days in Beijing to see the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, etc, two days to see Leshan and Emei, an option day (train, tourism or academic symposium), and two days of tournament, then home. The week of 4th of July (every one has a holiday and Al Qaeda will been nuking the U.S. anyway). We're working on a sparring tournament ala MMA for a Sunday night fight. And of course, we have a big banquet one night. $2500 out of SFO is what we're working on now.

Greg, if you want to go with me, this might be an interesting opportunity. There'll be a ton to shoot. Have you ever shot sports? It's going to be a freakin' insane trip, and I'll be putting out fires left and right, so I won't have that much time for you personally, but we'd get you there and back again safely...hopefully. It may be a lot of hardcore hiking - I haven't been there so I don't know for sure, but it is a freakin' holy mountain, and you usually have to hike those. Travelling with martial artists can be challenging - they're all in good shape, or they're high-maintainence poseurs. Don't expect to get any rest - I'll probably be up for the entire trip.

But Leshan. I want to see Leshan. That's a serious pilgrimage.
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attracti...statue.htm
I must begin my preparations now.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

That's why they make video cameras.

It depends on the work schedule, of course. . ..

I was with Ken (yes that ken) and he mentioned the whole Brotherhood should get together for this. HA!

And as I am not a martial artist and my physical conditioning can only be termed poor, I think the best response is bring it on. Mama didn't raise no pussy's

[Drunk Monk]

Well, Ken will bail. Isn't that why we blackballed him centuries ago? As for Greg, I can't emphasize enough that this will be a challenging trip, not for the faint of heart. My boss and I were just talking this morning about the non-Chinese from our office that might go and if they'll survive. Seriously. I'm beginning to wonder if I'll survive.

I'll put out details as soon as more are nailed down.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Arduous? Struggle? Survive? Are we going on Fear Factor or are we taking a trip to China? Yes, it's a third World Superpower. Yes, my chinese is limited to "potsticker". But seriously. Do we have to carry the plane to China? Are we pushing the bus up to the Buddha?

I'm not going to be sparring. I'm going to be hanging in the periphery with the cameras. That's usually the hardest part for me, carrying all my equipment. I don't travel technologically light.

As long as there is rice at the meals, I'll be okay.


(Famous Last Words. Isn't this how Deliverance started?)

[Drunk Monk]

'91 was great.
'95 was better.
'96 I had to go straight from the plane at SFO to a wheelchair to an emergency room.
'97 was India, Singapore, Thailand & Indonesia. It was my greatest trip so far.
'98 ended in a van crash up against a tree.
'99 I had to flee Shaolin in the early morning because my ride to Wudang had got chased out of town.
'01 half of our crew were rerouted to Canada where they remained 'in transit' for another solid week. They were trying to return to NYC right after 9/11.
'04 was the SARS outbreak. I came back with strep. Scared the shit out of me.

What will '07 bring?
me mt021 china

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

The Queen said I could go. Who's with me?

China
:ANAL:
DM

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Sorry, lads, but if I go to China, it will be to talk biddness with some manufacturers in Shanghai, not hike in the back of beyond with nothing but deep-fried scorpions for food and hot and cold running cholera for desert.

I'll just go on record as saying that DM, CF, LCF and G.jr. are all much tougher than I am for spending time in China.

Good luck and make sure your affairs are all in order.

-ZY

[Drunk Monk]

I'm trying to visualize that. I'm trying to imagine PPFY's slow burn as he copes with those slimy smarmy chicoms and the realization that their 'yes, yes' answers and dead fish handshakes mean nothing whatsoever. :x

The contract was supposed to have been signed by the powers that be at Emei before Feb 1st. They claim there was some mix up, or they never received them, or they sent them back signed. It's not clear yet. Very typical and I advised my boss (as did her husband, my big boss) to pull out. No contract by appointed date = no deal. Can't mess around with the chicoms. They play hardball, always. My boss hasn't done that. Today, the bosses leave for Anaheim for our first big TCEC tournament, where they plan to formally announce the tour. If a formal announcement is made and our company fully commits to it, I'll start another thread and we can discuss this further. If not, well, can go back to thinking about Beijing.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

I already have the domain name registered for the website.

[lady_cranefly]

But--pandas?

[Drunk Monk]

2003 was the SARS episode. 2004 was fine.
3 out of 8 ain't that bad, is it?