stampede

Yes, I had to be at Expo today to help out a friend with her MovingEcoForum conference. We were at Gate #3 at the Puxi side of the Expo ground by 8:30am. It was already hot! And I meant hot!!!! All the reflecting surface from the concrete ground with sun beaming down. No way to hide. People already sweating and smelly. We use the VIP access, faster but still have to wait for 30 odd minutes in line. Then we were subjected to airport-like security screen. X-ray all the bags, pull out your mobile phones, metal detector then a more "personal" metal detecting with a hand wand. O yeah, the full meal deal.

It was funny that never occurred to the organizers to install ceiling fans. The mist spraying from the ceiling was an afterthought after last week's heat wave topped over 45C. The spray was installed overnight.

By 10:30am, there was no line-up! Take a look at the last 2 pictures. Scary a person in sight.

When I came out at noon. There was no way I would like to bum around in the Puxi side of Expo. The reflective heat from the concrete ground was just too stifling. Basically you just bake!!! Plus, not like I have not seen enough of other countries during my travel.

While I was in the conference, I got China Mobile text messages about the status of line up and all. On average, 3 hours. That was on average, the Kingdom's stats reporting and you know how the stats reporting here is, with only an inflation of 3% (released today). Right, more like getting close to double digits. And some of the potential iron-wife clients want to bargain us down telling us that this Kingdom is cheap. What news do they listen to? F0 X? Really.