Advertisement
Published: March 23rd 2009
Edit Blog Post
I thought today would be dull. I had nothing planned but to climb Lotus Mountain in the park. I hoped to reach to top at dusk so I could get some pics of the city while it was still light enough to see the buildings, but dark enough for their lights to be turned on.
The weather today was miserable. It was overcast all day. There was absolutely no wind, and I am sure the humidity was close to 100. I don’t think the temperature was all that hot, maybe 85 or so, but it was the kind of day where you get wet walking across the street. Muggy, I believe is the scientific term.
From my door, up the mountain and back is about a 3.5 hour trip, so I left at 15:00. I decided to take pics of the flowers in bloom on the way up. I made it to the park and then to the road up the mountain. I had walked up the road maybe 20 minutes when the phone rang. It was the Zhengs asking me if I wanted to accompany them to a music show.
In the park on Sundays there are
live bands all day. There are usually 3 or 4 going at any one time. They play Chinese and western rock, folk music on traditional instruments, dance music, etc., etc. There is something for everyone. I could hear at least a couple of bands playing in the distance. I assumed the Zhengs wanted to hear one they liked and invited me to come along. It didn’t take much to convince me to abort my climb. I was already wet from head to toe. So I agreed. As often happens, I misunderstood what I was in for.
They told me to meet them at a certain park gate. I was there in a few minutes. Shortly thereafter the Zhengs walked up. It was just Sea and her kids. Vivian’s husband was off celebrating the birth of a friend’s first child.
After hellos, Edison flagged a cab and we got in. I was confused. I had no idea where we were going. After a 30 minute ride we were dropped off downtown at Party World. To my horror, it was a karaoke place.
It was a large, multi-storey brand new building. We walked into the lobby. It looked like
a fancy hotel with granite floors, marble stairs, wooden walls and a fancy Reception area. Everything was well lighted, spotless, and new.
Edison went to the counter and was given a ticket. We went to the elevator and up to the fifth floor. There was another desk there and an attendant. Edison gave him the ticket and we were escorted to a room. We passed a good looking buffet on the way.
The room had a large U shaped leather sofa that would seat at least 8 very comfortably. Within the U was a large, heavy table. There was a large TV monitor and several control panels set in the walls. There were oil paintings and lighted curio boxes on the walls. We were set.
Vivian went out to the buffet and brought back 3 trays of food while Edison fooled with the play list. Sea put covers on the microphone heads. In a few minutes the fun began.
I have been to many karaoke parties. Way too many, in fact. But in my years of suffering through this “entertainment,” I have never heard a group of people who sang worse than the Zhengs. Between the
3 of them they could not carry a note. And what they lacked in talent they made up for in volume. They sang singly and in duos. They left the volume of the singers' voices on the karaoke machine up so sometimes there were three voices warbling. It’s no wonder they came alone except for an unwitting stranger. I am sure no one who had heard them would go again.
It is lucky for them there were no songs in English. I have almost no singing abilities, but the Zhengs had even less talent. I could have embarrassed them with my skills.
Sea went out and brought back more food. It was free with the room (or maybe the room was free with the food). I volunteered to buy a six pack of beer (the only way it was sold), but when Sea saw the price of 52 yuan (about $8.00 USD), she firmly vetoed it. 52 yuan was a rip-off price.
I was afraid to ask how long they had rented the room. I suffered in silence, although I did enjoy the buffet. I was a good sport and applauded occasionally. After nearly 3 hours an
attendant poked her head in the door and said it was time to start wrapping things up. She presented the bill for 256. yuan (about $35.00 USD). Sea paid, and after a few last minute songs, we left. Including the taxi rides, the evening came to a little over 300 yuan. Not a bad price for so much fun.
We walked a few blocks toward the taxi stand. On the way we passed a group of several dozen people planting flowers. I have taken many pictures of the beautiful flowers that always seem to be in bloom around the town. Well, it turns out that at night crews go out and plant thousands of flowers in public spaces. They only work at night. A good policy in my opinion, and one that should be applied to other endeavors, such as road repair.
Finally we made it back to our neighborhood. Vivian invited everyone up to her place for some tea. I declined and ran home. My ears are still ringing.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.177s; Tpl: 0.052s; cc: 9; qc: 46; dbt: 0.0444s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb