Dinner on the Town
I should let everyone know I also got out of the "hotel" for dinner last night. There seems to be a tradition among the management to get a night "on the town" (that is my term - they didn't call it that) once a week. This event coincided with the absence of the owner and managing director from the "hotel".
Decca Furniture is owned by a Mr. Tsung with Mr. Liu as the managing director. They, like most management, live in Hong Kong, and visit the plant weekly to work. For Mr. Tsung it is usually for two days. For Mr. Liu three days per week. And most other managers arrive on Monday and work until 1 PM on Saturday. But more about work later, let's get back to dinner.
With Mr. Tsung and Mr. Liu out, there were only four of us for dinner, Tony - the Operations Manager, Mrs. Wong - the controller, Vicky - the manager of the finishing department, and myself. So we all piled into Tony's van and set out from the industrial compound and drove into Dalingshan - really just a couple of blocks away.
This town of Dalingshan is one of about 30 towns within the city of Dongguan. Dongguan has about 8 million people, with up to 6 million being residents that probably consider home elsewhere. I was told of this phenomenon over dinner and am still trying to comprehend, but it stems from so many coming here to work, as in the managers from Hong Kong; and including the plant workers who reside in dormitories, but call home elsewhere; to many Hong Kong residents that come to Dongguan on weekends for "vacation", since it is so much cheaper than Hong Kong.
And back to dinner, it was like so many traditional Chinese dinners. A table with a "lazy susan" where plate after plate of food was placed. Soup and rice bowls served individually. Chinese tea, of course. But at least there was beer included on this night.
We ate at the King's Hotel. It was described as a three-star establishment, and was very big and pleasant. We opted for a private dining room (which there were many), since a large party was expected shortly after our arrival in a section of the main dining room. And on departure, it sounded like it was a good choice, since they were obviously in good spirits, and very loud.
Typical beef on the bone, chicken, and vegetables were good. The shrimp in the shell (with the head), was very hard to eat. I just haven't mastered eating meat from shells or off bones while holding with chopsticks. Amazing how my associates can do it.
At least at this meal we didn't have chicken wings. Just think of trying to eat buffalo wings with chop sticks.
They even treated me to a pork bbq dish. Not exactly Lexington style. More like a cross section of the outer meat of the pig, including the skin. Still pretty delectable.
But I think I'm gonna loose some weight.
posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 10:53 AM
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