19.5.13 - Underpants, Karaoke and Double-entendres

Welcome to the first post-guy tai blog entry! I plan to make these a little longer, but still no more than 400 words and I shall try not to waffle.

This one focuses on my trip to Beijing on day one of the Consular job. The FCO writes briefs to London in a distinctive style – 4-line punchy intro; 1-page facts, figures and dispassionate narrative; then commentary. So to practice, this whole blog will be in the style of the second basket…

Underpants

Upon arrival in Beijing, the author made his way from the MTR station to his hotel via the pictured building.

This building is known locally as the ‘underpants’ building. The ressemblance is not self-evident, and thus the reasons for this nickname remain are unclear. It is the HQ of China’s state run television network. The network is called China Central Television. Or CCTV.

Karaoke

The author gleaned a great deal on the different approaches to doing karaoke on mainland China.

In the UK, karaoke is typically carried out by groups that are (deliberately) heavily influenced by alcohol; the group will sing many songs all together; most of the singers will take on songs they are incapable of singing; and the quality is (knowingly) poor.

In mainland China, karaoke is undertaken earlier in the evening. Most participants will only have had one or two drinks, and some none at all. Drunkenness at karaoke is not frowned upon, rather unheard of. Dedicated participants attend karaoke bars on Sunday mornings in order to rehearse. Singers usually, though not always, sing alone and with significant seriousness. Others will listen intently, and applaud if they approve. The catalogue of songs is unfamiliar to a western audience, e.g. no Frank Sinatra or Beatles, but several 1970s Chinese state propaganda songs. The author’s poor singing, after a long search through the catalogue, baffled his audience.

Double entendre souvenirs

At the airport, the usual souvenirs one finds in such terminals were apparent – sweets, alcohol, cultural trinkets and clothing. The airport had branched out into more western-style clothing souvenirs that constitute, on a plain background, “I [heart-shape] [place name]”. Well-known examples include “I [heart] LA” for Los Angeles; “I [heart] NY” for New York.

The author noted that Beijing airport had aimed to enter this trend. This is modelled below. It appeared to have been sold without irony.