Little Cozy Corner

So what’s life like with Bush in town for APEC? Only one word comes to mind - headache!! [Pengsan is the other.]

Sydney is currently plagued with heavily armed police officers and really obscene security fences placed for security purposes in the CBD. It’s so ugly that the police are now forcing tourist to delete any photos taken of the fence. Haiyola….is that even possible?? Of course not! I personally would make the effort to take a picture of the fence to remind me of the obscenity the government put Sydney through mainly because of George Bush. Him and his security issues…bah!

Needless to say with all that tight security everywhere in the CBD, crazy traffic and delays are happening in all directions. It’s times like these that I am thankful that I need not go into the city on a daily basis for work!

If you’re wondering how it was like when Bush arrived in Sydney, lemme tell ya….he arrived on Wednesday, 5/9/2007 [if I'm not mistaken] at about 10pm after a surprised visit to Iraq on the way here. Along with him, he brought an entourage of at least 250 security personnel, three 747 planes and three jumbo planes which contained his fleet of cars. The next day as he made his way to a meeting with Oz’s PM, John Howard, there was a fleet of 36 cars and vans, as well as 25 motors to escort him to the meeting which was merely 100m away from his hotel. The stretch of vehicles was longer than the distance to the meeting place. And after the meeting, Bush decided to walk back to the hotel which spurred multiple snipers stationed on rooftops.

Later that day, Howard and Bush had lunch on a cruise down Sydney Harbour and I need not tell you the number of escort boats that sped along side as well as helicopters filled with armed personnel circling the airspace. And to chill out, Bush decided to go biking in the evening and well, helicopters were again noted with more security cars following behind him on the road. It’s just crazy!!

To add to the frenzy, there were protesters who are against APEC everywhere which makes security even tighter. So far I think it’s been a peaceful protest but who knows what will happen since some of the protesters have been charged in court. And today, 11 people from The Chaser managed to make their way through 2 security checks by posing as the Canadian entourage and one even dressed up as Osama but it wasn’t long before the police caught on to them. Last I heard they have been booked and charged. I think they got 6 month of jailtime. They were barely a few meters away from Bush’s hotel!! Good on them, I say….lol

With all this hoo-haa, I was just thinking what it must be like to be Bush. On one hand, you’ve got practically the whole world looking out for you [they are paid to do so] but on the other hand, you must feel so insecure to go anywhere on your own. I think it would drive me nuts to live such a ’sheltered’ life and be so afraid of getting assasinated coz I bet there are just so many people out there  who are just waiting to gun him down. That, is just my humble opinon la…still, I don’t think I’m really that far off, right?

Ps. When China’s President Hu arrived from Perth the same day, I have to add that it was very low key with just a bunch of supporters at the airport to greet him - what a vast difference!! Seeing is believing….

Pps. Did I mention that security body checks were being done on all persons as well as thorough vehicles inspections on all that pass through certain security check points? It’s just simply crazy la….

Can’t wait till the climax of APEC which is the dinner tonight when they unveil the Oz APEC uniform - it is said to be truly Aussie….I have a strange feeling that it might be that khaki suit that Steve Irwin is always in!