More from the World Games

We've had our event now. It was an amazing competition on spectacular walls.

Disappointingly, we both didn't climb as well as we would have liked. But, we did make it here and have really enjoyed climbing with the best climbers in the world. Carlie finished 9th in Lead and 11th in Speed. I finished 10th.

The finals were spectacular. The lead event was won by Japanese climber Sachi Amna in the Men's and Maya Vidmar from Slovenia in the Women's.

Sachi Amna

Maya Vidmar

The rest of the Games was a lot of fun for us too. With our climbing finished we could go and watch other sports. We saw the Aussie parachutists in action. They won bronze!

We also got to cheer on the Aussie Ultimate Frisbee team as they won a bronze medal in the main stadium.

And, we watched some amazing Acrobatic Gymnasts.

It's been an amazing experience. I can't wait to see you all on Tuesday. Enjoy the rest of your holiday.

The World Games Begins!

Hi Wentworth Falls,

I hope you're all having a great holiday. I'm sure it's cold over there still, but here in Taiwan it's 33 degrees. Really hot!

Carlie and I arrived in Taiwan and went to the Opening Ceremony on Thursday. It was amazing! Just like the Olympic Opening Ceremony with performances in the giant stadium, followed by the athletes walking in. Because Australia starts with A, we were the second team to enter. The noise was crazy, 50 000 people cheering in the stands! We walked with the other Australian athletes from many different sports, including Flying Disc (Ultimate Frisbee), Water Skiing, Air Sports (Parachuting), Sumo Wrestling, and Orienteering.

Waiting to enter the stadium at the Opening Ceremony

All the countries lined up in the stadium.

Carlie and I with some of the other Aussies.

After all the athletes entered and some speeches were made, there was a big concert and a massive fireworks show. It was an amazing experience.

Fireworks at the Opening Ceremony

Yesterday we went to watch some Sumo Wrestling. They are very big and strong people! We also heard news that an Australian has won our first medal! A silver medal in the Women's Orienteering. In Orienteering you have to race around a course finding your way with a map and compass. Like climbing, your have to use your brain and be amazingly fit.

Sumo Wrestling action!

Soon, we're heading out to the climbing for our first event, the speed climbing. My wife Carlie is competing so I'll be cheering her on. Go Australia!

The World Games

This July holidays, my wife and I are off to Taiwan for The World Games.

The World Games is a massive event, involving over 30 sports, including climbing! You can find out more about The World Games here:

http://www.worldgames-iwga.org/

and about the Taiwan World Games here:

http://www.worldgames2009.tw/wg2009/eng/index.php

I'll put some information on the blog for you to look at over the holidays.

Day 10 - A Buddhist Temple

The 2 main religions in China are Taoism and Buddhism. It's estimated that between 50% to 80% of Chinese people are Buddhist and that about 30% are Taoist. Many people consider themselves both.

This temple, the Jing'an Temple is in the middle of the city and is an amazing sight. The gold lions standing on a pole outside are the first indication you get of the temple's magnificence.

As you enter, the normal smells of smog and car exhaust is replaced by the fragrance of incense burning, the noise of the traffic is left behind and you can wander the buildings, taking in their splendour.

Our hotel room overlooks a school. You can see their playground in this picture. As you can see there's no grass, but there is a running track and basketball courts. On the left side you can see 6 sets of parallel bars which are used for gymnastics. No wonder the Chinese do so well at gymnastics at the Olympics!

This was our last full day in China. See you all on Monday!

Mr LeBreton

Day 9 - Tea, Trees and Towers

The Yuyuan Gardens are a big traditional Chinese garden in the middle of the old part of Shanghai. All the buildings in this area are the traditional style, it feels like you've walked into a Kung Fu movie!

We saw a man preparing tea leaves. It's different to the stuff that comes in teabags at home, it's green tea that is basically just the fresh leaves that have been worked in a bowl for a while.

This is what the leaves look like to start with:

This is the leaves being prepared:

They then put the leaves into a drink bottle add boiling water and sip it all day.

The Yuyaun Gardens are beautiful and took us a few hours to find our way through.

Water helps to create a feeling of peace and tranqility.

Chinese Gardens are created to create lots of different areas and views. It's very hard to keep you sense of direction as there are hidden paths and areas everywhere.

It was very uplifting and peaceful place, right in the middle of a huge city.

We then went to the second highest buiding in Shanghai, the Jin Mao Tower and went up to the observation Deck on the 88th floor. That's 341 metres above the ground! Two things are obvious from up there. Shanghai is very big and very smoggy.

Day 8 - Shanghai Zoo

Posing for the camera!

Shanghai Zoo is very pretty, there's lots of open grass areas and plenty of animals to see including the famous Pandas!

I always like looking at the monkeys, it reminds me of being at school!

After looking at all the animals we finished with a ride on a wild dragon rollercoaster!

Day 7 - Shopping

The markets in Shanghai are crazy! They are huge and the whole time you're being hassled by people to buy things. When you do see something you like you have to bargain with the shop-keeper. Usually you pay less than half the first price they asked!

We went to The Bund in the evening which is the riverside area in the centre of town. It's beautiful watching all the lights come on the skyscrapers. Some of the buildings are used as massive advertising signs at night, like giant movie screens.