A Narrow Escape

Last week I attended an Intel offsite at the Shanghai International Bowling Resort. This offsite was a combination of aligning goals for 2007 and team building. As offsites go it was actually pretty good and we got a lot of "goaling" accomplished from 8:30 to 3:30.

Then it was time for team building. As some of you know, I have managed to avoid bowling for my entire life up to this point. I want to have "He never bowled" inscribed on my tombstone. So this was going to be tricky.

My team has gotten used to fact that I'm a vegetarian. That wacky American. But no bowling? Luckily the Shanghai International Bowling Resort has a badminton court next to the 5-lane alley and I was able to convince a co-worker to bring his spare battledore (that's the official translation of badminton racket into English from Chinese) and I spent a whole hour playing badminton with the guys and gals I work with.

The streak continues!

Boy was my arm sore the next day.

Do vegans play badminton?

Photo of the Day

One of my photos was Photo of the Day at the The Shanghaiist.

japan videos

Here are all the Japan videos.

Boarding a Bullet Train

Riding the Bullet Train

Okuno-in Monks

Meiji Shrine 360

Kiyomizu Temple - Kyoto

Japan 2006 - Kyoto and Nara

Parts 4, 5, and 6 of the trip reports of Japan are over at http://meckleyearth.blogspot.com/.

All of the photos from Japan are on Flickr. Click here.

Preview of Kyoto and Nara:

Kyoto Imperial Palace Garden:


Himeji Castle


Nara: Temple Guardian:


Nara: Moon Viewing Fair procession

Japan 2006 - Part 3 - Tokyo - Asakusa to Shinjuku

Part 3 of the Japan trip is now up on meckleychina.

Here's a preview.

Tourists taking a modern rickshaw to see the sites in Asakusa district

Shinjuku at night.


The famous Japanese vending machines.