Day 2 & 3 Slow Wireless

Very nice Thai curry at Namaste. But why the chips?

China v Japan

Match of the competition so far. So full of drama. China all over Japan and ahead after 1 period, but Japan dominating second outshooting opponent 21-3. Right back in it they got two tips in from blue line shots to take a 2-1 lead, but the first line of China are so good and Rui Sun decided the game belonged to her in the third period. China came back and led but Japan somehow levelled in the dying moments to force overtime....sudden death, but with the most influential Chinese defenceman, Qi off the ice injured and Sun in the penalty box we had 4 on 3 in OT. Tomoko Sakagami got a puck close in and there was only one thing she could do to score, find top corner from the angle, which she did. 4-3 Japan. Just watched the highlights back. I sound very excited on the commentary.

Day 3

Unusual items at the breakfast buffet of the Astana International Hotel:
1. Broccoli
2. Chicken
3. Beets
4. And making its first appearance at any dining facility after three days, fresh bread

Days two three four etc

If my laptop had not blown up and blogger.com wasn't do difficult to get into in Kazakhstan I would have posted some pictures of Almaty weirdness and ice hockey...but my laptop blew up and the media centre here is sort of strange.

But. This is a really good competition and the locals are loving it. So you can't get a good coffee and unless you eat chips you will starve but when you are watching Japan go to back to back overtime games you know this is real. Pictures when I can but for now we have Kazakhstan coming from two goals down before beating Japan in a penaly shoot out and then taking China to ot and winning in sudden death 4 to 3. China have two players called Sun and Qi who are just amazing. They kind of stand out because so many players are crap but they are proper. But through injury and penalty they missed ot and Japan did it. Great drama. Pics and more if I can get online.

Going to sit outdoors in freezing temperatures and watch Bandy tomorrow.

In a turnabout from usual advice my wife gave me some jet lag advice. Don't go to bed too early and drink vodka. God love her for that. And vodka is cheaper than Coca Cola so I gave it a go. Big success.

On the iPhone this is probably costing £££ in data so no time for a spell check so sorry about typos.

This was meant to be a placx for pics...some soon. Maybe from the mountains where I am heading on my day off.

S

Day 1 - Kazakhstan

I got my prediction of the opening game 100% right, score and everything: Japan 10 South Korea 0.

But first, how can BMI fly direct to Almaty? At least twelve of the passangers, including legendary failed ski jumper Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards, were headed the same place as me, the Asian Winter Games, and the flight was still really empty. How can that be viable for them? Still, having a whole row for each passenger made up for the food (bad) and the movies (on screens on the ceiling, not in the back of the seat)

The Social Network was the movie. But I didn't notice it had started and missed the opening scene, and given that the opening scene is probably pivotal, I think I will wait for the DVD. You know how I can't watch a movie if I miss the opening scene. Later someone said that the opening scene was amazing.

Also they showed some cartoons from CBBC. Amount of children on board: Zero.

On the plane they give you this:

At the airport, when you arrive, it gets stamped twice. If it's not stamped twice, we were told this morning "You will not be allowed to leave the country"
Mine is stamped twice.

Lunch was a cliche. Beetroot salad, 'Russian' soup. Meat, Potato and Cabbage. Ice Tea (not iced)

Japan skated all over Korea in the first game and stuffed them 10-0.

Then Kazakhstan played. I predticted a 12-0 win but was well wide of the mark. They beat North Korea 3-0. Really good game, really good atmosphere, North Korea not terrible. 

6 hours time difference from the UK. Body clock is messed up.

How to get to Almaty from Blackheath

Get the 108 bus to North Greenwich tube, Jubilee line to Baker St, Heathrow express from Paddington to Terminal 1. Pausing only to laugh at the Richard Keys headlines, get on the BMI direct flight to Almaty.

This might be the beginning and end of this Blog as I don't know if it will be possible to do it from Kazakhstan.

North Korea v South Korea

This should be an interesting game. I am only mentioning this to see if it is easy to post here from my phone.