Today is my last day in China!
But, I feel obligated to share my fantastic karaoke experience from two nights ago!
My time in China flew by and I was concerned that I may not be able to experience the one thing that I promised Liz I would do.....go to REAL Chinese karaoke.
Fate had it's way. On Monday night the store team that I have been working with took me out to a final dinner. I had one more real Chinese dinner in me. The dinner did not disappoint! Everything from raw meets for appetizers to the standards: pig intestines, fish served with the head and tail in the bowl, chicken elbows, squid, the whole deal! I have never been a picky eater, which has helped me here every day. I am in China, I want to experience China. I am quite certain that in my time here I have eaten things that I don't want to know, and I will probably never eat any of them again. I figured it was the least I could do for my team here!
The meal ended and I was about to go home.
Not so fast!! It's karaoke time! Game on!
I will try to paint this picture as best as words can:
Chinese karaoke and American karaoke are two completely different things. In America, you go to a bar and there is a microphone and one or two people sing to the crowd....usually people that can somewhat hold a tune (at least early in the night). The whole concept is different in China. Karaoke is a lifestyle!
My experience started by getting into an elevator and going to the seventh floor of a big office building. We entered the karaoke "establishment" and it looked like an office. Several halls with what seemed to be offices down the hallways. We were led to one of these offices and it turned out to be a private room for our group. Unlike the US, karaoke is a private thing between you and your group...not in front of an entire bar full of people.
I walk into the room and scope it out. Standard living room size, one corner has a big L-shaped couch with a huge coffee table type table in front of it. Next to the couch in the other corner is a bar table with eight stools next to it. In the front corner of the room is one bar stool type chair with a screen in front of it...incase you want to go solo. In the front of the room is a flat panel tv on the wall where the lyrics come up. Next to the couch is a very modern touch screen computer system where you select the song. The whole scene is completed with multiple hand-held microphones strategically located throughout the room.
Shortly after we arrive, someone has picked a song (in Chinese of course) and several people are singing, with no shame. It was on.
I sat down on the couch to observe this situation. Before I know it, there are several cups full of bar dice on the table. Hmmm. I guess we are going to play some dice. Then come the drinks. I see a waiter walk in with a try full of about 35 cans of Chinese beer. Ohhh, I see where this is going. Mind you, there are max 12 people in this room, half of whom are not touching a drink.
Long story short, some people sing, the rest of the people play drinking games with dice. I was later informed that karaoke was less about singing and more about getting drunk!
Did I mention that almost every male in China smokes cheap cigarettes excessively, everywhere? This small room was not option. Five minutes in, there was a thick, nasty, smokey haze throughout the room. This is China.
Of course I learned the games (I was not given an option). It was a good time.
Before I knew it, someone gave me the microphone and the whole room was staring at me in anticipation. I have to be honest, this was the first time I ever actually sang at karaoke. I come to learn that there are a few English songs on there just for the occasion. Paul McCartney would have been proud of my rendition of "Hey Jude". That I can say for sure!
All in all, it was quite an amazing experience! One I am grateful for, and will remember forever!
If you are ever in China, do not hesitate.
PS....I picked up the bill. 12 people singing for two hours and 35 cans of beer: 345RMB ~$50!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Yesterday Was a Good Day!
I spend most of my days in China waking up, going to work, coming home late, and going online to do email or whatever. The job requires a lot of time, and that time is rewarding. Every once in a while, I find time to experience the finer things in China. Yesterday was one of those days!
It began at work, like most days do. Worked a half day and then took off to experience, of all things, the Chinese Ice Hockey League!
It turns out that the company was somehow sponsoring the team so we (my roommate and I) got some free tickets. I had to see this! I love to watch hockey, so I couldn't go wrong!
I got home and changed and jumped in a taxi to go meet up with my roommate. 20 minutes into the taxi ride, almost to my destination, I realized that I had forgot the tickets at home. Oh yeah. Called my buddy, made him translate to the taxi driver that I had to go back, and went all the way back home. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, but our timing was way too close originally. We didn't even know how long it would take us to get to the rink. Went back home, ran up and got the tickets, and jumped back in the taxi again. Needless to say, that was quite the taxi charge.
Finally met up with my roommate and then we were off. Shanghai has nine subway lines that all kind of start in the heart of the city and go out from there to the deep, deep parts of the city (Shanghai is huge). We took a taxi to the subway station for line nine. Once we got to the platform, it was clear that where line nine goes is very local, there were a ton of people waiting and Rich and I were the only non Chinese. We took line nine to the second last stop (45 minutes away from the center of Shanghai) which is neighborhood called Songjiang. This area is know for colleges. Shanghai is crazy with urban planning and this is no exception. It is a huge place away from everything full of colleges. The colleges then share resources and all is good. Good chance if you are going to university in Shanghai, it is in Songjiang.
Songjiang is the sight of the SUS International Ice Hockey Arena. We arrived near the beginning of the second period of a dramatic clash between the China Sharks and some other team from Korea (I can't read Chinese...or Korean for the matter). Everything reminded me of high school level hockey, from the crowd of a couple hundred people to the quality of hockey being played. I initially thought this was going to be a team of washed up pros from North America, but I was wrong. There were some washed up white guys, but mostly Asians. I guess you must have to really love the game to be a washed up North American player playing here!
Beyond the poor, but hilarious quality of hockey, I had some other observations:
-China apparently doesn't believe in concession stands. All I wanted was a drink and a snack. Thank God someone finally brought in a shopping cart of assorted random junk and sold it like a flea market. It worked.
-The music selection during down times was phenominal. It was pretty clear that they were playing tracks from about four CD's. The most used CD was absolutely Motley Crues greatest hits. I counted seven different Crue songs. Apparently, they love Motley Crue here....though this is the first I have heard it. I am also quite sure that at one point, the loudspeaker was playing the theme song from the game "California Games" for the 8-bit Nintendo system, circa 1989. I was quite interested by this, which then made me think of how cool that game was. There is nothing better than 8-bit hackey sack....hit the bird for extra points.
-Zamboni, what is that?
-International rules means automatic icing. I hate that.
The game was tied when we arrived, but at the end, it was a sad 3-0 shutout. Poor China Sharks. That ellusive 4th win is taking some time; 25 games and counting. Maybe they will get vengence today, I will have to let you know!
Got back on the subway for the 45 minute trek back to the mainland. Our plan on the way back was to take the subway the entire way home. This consisted of about an hour and a half and included three or four line transfers. That trip would have cost me about 8RMB ($1.25). The plan was all set and now it was about execution.
We were halfway done with the first train ride and an announcement came on over the train speaker, only in Chinese of course. Ten minutes later, same announcement. We get to the stop right before our transfer point. We are ready to get off on the next stop and begin the rest of our journey. Next thing we know, the lights on the train turn off. I guess that Chinese announcement said that the train wasn't going to our last stop. So much for the plan.
We got out and went up to the road to catch a cab. By the way, it has been cold here the last few days, so standing around outside waiting for a cab wasn't much fun. (Don't worry, it will be 60 degrees tomorrow...hahaha) We eventually caught a cab back towards home. The driver was actually a woman, which in NYC is rare to find, here I didn't think even existed. She was great.
We then decided to go get foot messages. Yes, feet, get your mind out of the gutter. Though there are many message options, some legal in the US, some not, I choose to stick with the simple $12 hour long foot message. I am going to miss this! It was good. The girl started pointing at the callasses on my feet asking if I wanted here to remove them for an extra $3. Sure, why not. She left and some random guy came in to remove them. As if I care. This guy had my feet cleaned up and good to go in five minutes, no sweat!
Then it was time for dinner. I wanted steak. Rich had just the place, Lawrey's Steakhouse. Lawrey's in the company that makes the seasoning salts (you know Lawrey's Seasoning Salt). They have some steakhouses in the US. I found out yesterday that they have one here too, in a place called Xintiandi. This is the hippest bar and restaurant scene in Shanghai. It is kind of a combination of the kind of bar and restaurants as Manhattan and a scene like Long Beach where you walk around to everything. The prices were just as comparable to NYC unfortunately! I had a great steak. Their specialty is prime rib. They bring a big portable oven/grill type thing to your table and you tell them what cut and what tempurature you want. They carve it for you right in front of you. Great restaurant, great food, worth the money.
After dinner we decided to head out to some of the bars to have some dessert, if you will.
Like most busy bars in Shanghai, the first two bars had classic Phillipino cover bands. They are all the same, two to three female singers and on male playing the keyboards in the backround. We stuck around there for a bit and we ended up in our final destination, a cool bar with a live rock band. This was one of a kind. They were Phillopino as well but they had a full band. Two lead singers who were women. One guy with long 80's hair playing the drums. One normal looking buy playing second guitar and keyboards. And then the centerpiece, the lead guitarist and the bassist were a drop dead Phillipino version of Cheech and Chong. It was great!
The band started by playing Pink Floyd (surprise, surprise). They were actually good....especially Cheech and Chong! After some time they began their specialty, Gun's N Roses! Amazing....obviously right down my alley. The guitars were dead on and one of the female lead singers had a drop dead Axle Rose scream. It was fantastic.
We spent a few hours there. Between the GNR cover band, the gold digger Chinese girls trying to score a white husband, and the high quality prostitutes trying to make a living, the bar was great.
Enough fun for one day. We then headed home and I slept like a champ!
My only regret is not bringing my camera! You all deserve pictures of the world class hockey and the rock band....sorry!!
It began at work, like most days do. Worked a half day and then took off to experience, of all things, the Chinese Ice Hockey League!
It turns out that the company was somehow sponsoring the team so we (my roommate and I) got some free tickets. I had to see this! I love to watch hockey, so I couldn't go wrong!
I got home and changed and jumped in a taxi to go meet up with my roommate. 20 minutes into the taxi ride, almost to my destination, I realized that I had forgot the tickets at home. Oh yeah. Called my buddy, made him translate to the taxi driver that I had to go back, and went all the way back home. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, but our timing was way too close originally. We didn't even know how long it would take us to get to the rink. Went back home, ran up and got the tickets, and jumped back in the taxi again. Needless to say, that was quite the taxi charge.
Finally met up with my roommate and then we were off. Shanghai has nine subway lines that all kind of start in the heart of the city and go out from there to the deep, deep parts of the city (Shanghai is huge). We took a taxi to the subway station for line nine. Once we got to the platform, it was clear that where line nine goes is very local, there were a ton of people waiting and Rich and I were the only non Chinese. We took line nine to the second last stop (45 minutes away from the center of Shanghai) which is neighborhood called Songjiang. This area is know for colleges. Shanghai is crazy with urban planning and this is no exception. It is a huge place away from everything full of colleges. The colleges then share resources and all is good. Good chance if you are going to university in Shanghai, it is in Songjiang.
Songjiang is the sight of the SUS International Ice Hockey Arena. We arrived near the beginning of the second period of a dramatic clash between the China Sharks and some other team from Korea (I can't read Chinese...or Korean for the matter). Everything reminded me of high school level hockey, from the crowd of a couple hundred people to the quality of hockey being played. I initially thought this was going to be a team of washed up pros from North America, but I was wrong. There were some washed up white guys, but mostly Asians. I guess you must have to really love the game to be a washed up North American player playing here!
Beyond the poor, but hilarious quality of hockey, I had some other observations:
-China apparently doesn't believe in concession stands. All I wanted was a drink and a snack. Thank God someone finally brought in a shopping cart of assorted random junk and sold it like a flea market. It worked.
-The music selection during down times was phenominal. It was pretty clear that they were playing tracks from about four CD's. The most used CD was absolutely Motley Crues greatest hits. I counted seven different Crue songs. Apparently, they love Motley Crue here....though this is the first I have heard it. I am also quite sure that at one point, the loudspeaker was playing the theme song from the game "California Games" for the 8-bit Nintendo system, circa 1989. I was quite interested by this, which then made me think of how cool that game was. There is nothing better than 8-bit hackey sack....hit the bird for extra points.
-Zamboni, what is that?
-International rules means automatic icing. I hate that.
The game was tied when we arrived, but at the end, it was a sad 3-0 shutout. Poor China Sharks. That ellusive 4th win is taking some time; 25 games and counting. Maybe they will get vengence today, I will have to let you know!
Got back on the subway for the 45 minute trek back to the mainland. Our plan on the way back was to take the subway the entire way home. This consisted of about an hour and a half and included three or four line transfers. That trip would have cost me about 8RMB ($1.25). The plan was all set and now it was about execution.
We were halfway done with the first train ride and an announcement came on over the train speaker, only in Chinese of course. Ten minutes later, same announcement. We get to the stop right before our transfer point. We are ready to get off on the next stop and begin the rest of our journey. Next thing we know, the lights on the train turn off. I guess that Chinese announcement said that the train wasn't going to our last stop. So much for the plan.
We got out and went up to the road to catch a cab. By the way, it has been cold here the last few days, so standing around outside waiting for a cab wasn't much fun. (Don't worry, it will be 60 degrees tomorrow...hahaha) We eventually caught a cab back towards home. The driver was actually a woman, which in NYC is rare to find, here I didn't think even existed. She was great.
We then decided to go get foot messages. Yes, feet, get your mind out of the gutter. Though there are many message options, some legal in the US, some not, I choose to stick with the simple $12 hour long foot message. I am going to miss this! It was good. The girl started pointing at the callasses on my feet asking if I wanted here to remove them for an extra $3. Sure, why not. She left and some random guy came in to remove them. As if I care. This guy had my feet cleaned up and good to go in five minutes, no sweat!
Then it was time for dinner. I wanted steak. Rich had just the place, Lawrey's Steakhouse. Lawrey's in the company that makes the seasoning salts (you know Lawrey's Seasoning Salt). They have some steakhouses in the US. I found out yesterday that they have one here too, in a place called Xintiandi. This is the hippest bar and restaurant scene in Shanghai. It is kind of a combination of the kind of bar and restaurants as Manhattan and a scene like Long Beach where you walk around to everything. The prices were just as comparable to NYC unfortunately! I had a great steak. Their specialty is prime rib. They bring a big portable oven/grill type thing to your table and you tell them what cut and what tempurature you want. They carve it for you right in front of you. Great restaurant, great food, worth the money.
After dinner we decided to head out to some of the bars to have some dessert, if you will.
Like most busy bars in Shanghai, the first two bars had classic Phillipino cover bands. They are all the same, two to three female singers and on male playing the keyboards in the backround. We stuck around there for a bit and we ended up in our final destination, a cool bar with a live rock band. This was one of a kind. They were Phillopino as well but they had a full band. Two lead singers who were women. One guy with long 80's hair playing the drums. One normal looking buy playing second guitar and keyboards. And then the centerpiece, the lead guitarist and the bassist were a drop dead Phillipino version of Cheech and Chong. It was great!
The band started by playing Pink Floyd (surprise, surprise). They were actually good....especially Cheech and Chong! After some time they began their specialty, Gun's N Roses! Amazing....obviously right down my alley. The guitars were dead on and one of the female lead singers had a drop dead Axle Rose scream. It was fantastic.
We spent a few hours there. Between the GNR cover band, the gold digger Chinese girls trying to score a white husband, and the high quality prostitutes trying to make a living, the bar was great.
Enough fun for one day. We then headed home and I slept like a champ!
My only regret is not bringing my camera! You all deserve pictures of the world class hockey and the rock band....sorry!!
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