KTV with a Kraut and a Kiwi

Ah, the wonder that is KTV in China. I sure you haven't all heard my story of going to KTV on my first trips here, so let me just summarize that it's a bar where you go to sing Karaoke. A lot of the people who come over on business trips are taken out to a KTV bar by the sales team from the local suppliers. You get a room that has a TV for Karaoke and then they parade about 30 women into the room and you pick one to stay with you and make sure your beer glass is always full. Then at the end of the night, if you want the girl is yours to take home. At least that's what I was introduced to in Nanjing.

So, last night we went over to the bar in the ex-pat section and were talking to the waitress who's picture we put on earlier this week when two guys from the table ahead of us turned around and started talking to us. They were nice, a German and a New Zealander who have been here about 4 years each. They explained the area, how to say words, and then took us to a Scottish pub in a totally different section of Xiamen. Overly friendly for westerners, we wonder how long it will take us to change into that....

After the Scottish pub, which wasn't Scottish other then Asians in kilts, when we walked out and they suggested some of the more Chinese bars down the street. Sure, why not? Off we go to, yep you guessed it KTV...

These KTVs are different, think strip club. They're set up with a stage in the middle and people sitting at the bar around the stage and in tables all around the room. I mention what I know KTV to be and I'm told "Oh, that's Mandarin KTV, there's no nudity in Xiamen they're not as fun here." It's like a talent show where people buy lei's and flower baskets for the performers, which then then turn in for cash. The first group was a three girl singing group, then a single girl singing, the a guy playing a sax, then a girl in a little school girl outfit. "Looks like a stripper" I commented, and guess what? She ended getting as close to nekked on one could.... Then what could only be called a duet of Asian Elvis's, or are they Elvii?

Yeah, that's when we left. Time to go home, but we learnt some new bar areas and added to our United Nations of acquaintances. We've now got a Mexican, a Kraut, a Kiwi, two Puerto Ricans, two Malaysians, an Aussie, a Canuck, and a Yankee that we can call up to go out with....