Journal of Life (2006 - 2008): May 2008

I have no doubt Olympic Game is such a big event to the world. However, its torch relay simply isn't big enough to get my particular attention until ....until I find out the torch relay would actually pass by my residential area. Hey, not many people will get to see the Olympic Torch's flame passing by just in front of their house, right? Probably not even once in our life time. Thinking of this has made the event a special one now.

The 'Journey of Harmony' will be carried through 19 cities of the 5 continents around the globe. The HK Torch Relay took place on 2 May 2008. The Olympic flame will be carried by 120 torchbearers to places throughout the territory on HK Island, Kowloon and the New Territories to spread the Olympic spirit by running or by using various modes of transportation such as cars, dragon boat and launch.

Just a week before the big day, I saw those Olympic mascots were set up at two of the main entrances to my place.

Each of the Beijing Olympic mascots has a rhyming two-syllable name - a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan antelope and Nini is the Swallow.

The run began at 10.30am at Tsim Tsai Tsui, scheduled to reach Shatin around 12.30 noon. Knowing there would be too many people gathered along the road, we better be early if want to get a good spot. So, I took my mom out at around 11 am. A man was kind enough to give us a flag to wave with.

We could have just stand along this road side to see the torch bearer ran by. But since the pier where the flame would be transported by dragon boat is not too far away. I decided to walk a bit further from here.

The dragon boat that carried the torch would pass by this river.

Majority of the spectators are students, or elderly people. Working people who took a day off, like me, are not many.

The crowds had started to gather along the river that can see the dragon boat passed by.

Despite of the weather was not good, the mood of the spectators was very good. They raised the banners, shouted the slogans...i don't think we can feel that if we just sat at home and watched the live broadcast.

The torch would be carried to the Shatin Horse Racing Court after getting off the dragon boat.

Everything seems to be ready when we reached this pier at around 11.30am.

The journalists and reporters were all set too. And they had blocked the best view for us to see the historical interchanging moment between the torch bearers. Well, we groaned inside but couldn't complain about it, they got a job to carry out mah.

Amongst all the reporters, she is the most prettiest one. Anyway, I don't know her name nor which TV channel she represents. In view of her physical appearance, maybe she is going to be famous one day.

While we all were waiting patiently for the torch to arrive, out of a sudden, the crowds shoved and cheered. We thought the torch bearer had finally arrived...wait, this man-in-black and his torch was a fake one. Really want to throw spoilt eggs on him lah, haha...

We waited some more time, so did the dragon dance team.

Finally, we heard the crowds cheered very loudly from every direction. The torch had arrived the pier. The time was 1.15pm.

Not long later, we saw the dragon boat that carried the torch. The woman in white shirt is the torch bearer. I forgot her name, just remembered she represents HK swimming team. Should this stop's bearer is Andy Lau or Jacky Cheung, I think someone would jump into the river to swim with him.