A Bryson in China

I’m wearing down! Must be old age really getting to me. Because all the partying this bunch likes to do is wearing me down!

If you read about the recent Decca Celebration, you will remember there was birthday cake for Ms. Fung. Well, one birthday celebration is evidently not enough here. I keep accusing Ms. Fung of just continuing to celebrate every day. Anyway, we decided to honor Ms. Fung again on Tuesday night with another celebration.

So off we went in our new van that seats about 14. Of course, we had 15 and William had to sit on the console for being last. Very nice van though - real good for a group this size. Next thing I knew, we were passing right by my place and headed down the street, and pulled in a couple blocks away at the Ole´ corner, where I frequently shop for groceries and home goods (I’ll have to post some pics of the incredible supermarket there sometime). Finding our way to the seventh floor of the corner building, we entered into Dongguan Old Restaurant.

Soon the choice of red or white wine was offered. The plates started spinning with all kinds of great Cantonese dishes. And then the small sake style cups were passed out and filled with hot Chinese yellow wine. What a delicious treat! Sorta like sake, but with a different taste.

Of course, the wine glasses meant we could start toasts for Ms. Fung! (Like we hadn’t done enough of that at the Celebration.) “Gom bui!” Or “Dry the cup” in Cantonese! Here we go again! It was great. Ended with a special Chinese pizza that was more like a sesame covered desert bread. And then we were off to head home……..
WRONG! Passed right by my entrance again, and soon pulled up to the Touch Bar! Now we frequently pass the Touch Bar along bar row every night on the way home to work, and I always figured it was a “men’s bar” with a lot of scantily clad women. So I was more than a little surprised to find all of us heading into this place for Ms. Fung’s birthday! Okay, I admit, I would probably have already known what kind of bar it was, but I haven’t been exploring too many of these bars by myself! It was good to be with a crowd.

But more surprising about the place was the fact that we headed away from the noise of the front entry and made our way to a private room. I sure wasn’t expecting this: a nicely attired room with big wrap-around seating, large cocktail tables that lit up through the glass tops, and a large TV media center in the middle wall. Soon, I found us requesting a karaoke setup, and thus I then understood the layout of the room better.
Wouldn’t you know it, though? We couldn’t start singing until 11 PM. By now it was already 10. I knew then we would be here a while. So why not until 11? What a story: Seems the local government has been on a crackdown of these bars, and eliminated escorts, and limited singing until after 11 PM. Okay, I can understand the escorts, but singing? You got me.

Several of us made our way back to the bar for a look. What a place: beautiful room with three levels and huge wall of multiple dancing lights. And very loud music. Really pretty good place though. Several girls were sitting inside the bar. It was explained to me that they would be happy to talk to me, but it would cost me money just to talk with them! Back to the private room.

And the party had begun in earnest now. Whiskey was poured for all, and a huge game of dice ensued. Only the loser had to “Gom bui” or “bottoms up” their drink! What a scam for drinking! And it was being played in earnest! I think most folks lost whenever they got a little thirsty.

By midnight cake and champagne recognized Ms. Fung’s birthday officially…. Again! Maybe for the last time, but I also hear her real birthday is Friday, and that the last celebration was for here lunar Chinese birth date. How many celebrations do ya get?
Edmund and Tony started serenading with the karaoke. And everyone was soon into the singing. Even I found a deep enough song to join in one time.

By 1 PM we were finally headed out. I was sure glad my apartment was only about a block away! This was Tuesday night! How do I keep up with these folks!

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:02 PM Comments: 0