Thursday

 

China’s a funny place.

 

On Thursday night I met up with my good friend Jared and we went over to Sea World in Shekou. It’s a place near the ferry terminal that’s full of westerners, with everything that they need to survive away from home. Supermarkets and shops with western food at western prices. Check out Subway for delicious sandwiches and a pizza shop with food to die for. I picked up a jar of mustard and a can of black olives on the way to Tony’s house when I first arrived. Yummy!

 

 It was already evening, and we made our way to a bar called The Terrace. Sitting outside we could have been anywhere in the world. It seemed like I wasn’t even in China, and with a glass of beer costing 38 Yuan, that only reinforced my feeling. From our comfortable seats we looked out over a huge boat ‘docked’ at one end of the short main street. Only in the daytime would you discover that it’s in fact miles from the sea. It’s a mystery exactly how on earth it got there. I suspect aliens.

 

 

After a while, the band began to play. We went inside and took our seats in a stylish and modern bar – high-tech waitress with Dell PDAs (or whatever they are called) to take your order. How strange it was to hear the singer’s rendition of ‘Wo ai ni’ (I love you). Where else could you possibly be but in China. What was more interesting, however, was that it wasn’t a Chinese singer but an American guy singing the song. Who would believe it? In fact his Chinese was very good, and he sang it quite well, although I must admit that I have heard that song about a billion times since I came here so for me, maybe it’s just a tiny bit hackneyed.

 

 

The waitress was quite pretty but a little over-attentive, and finally after asking me for the third time if I wanted another beer, I snapped at her to stop bothering me. We didn’t stay for another beer.

 

On the way back to the hotel, we came across some street artists painting people’s faces on T-shirts as well as on paper. They were very good and so fast. I watched with just a hint of envy as they captured the essence of the sitters face with such ease and so few brush strokes. I have always wished that I could draw or paint. I have never got much further than the blackboard scribbles I sometimes use to illustrate a word’s meaning. I would like, however, to add that I am a Pictionary champion.