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Cultural Evenings
May. 17th, 2007 06:55 pmWorked until about 7ish last night then actually walked back to the hotel, the humidity had dropped to something less steam room like and it was quite pleasant. Not that it really saved anything, the taxi fare to the hotel is under $2.
We then went to a rather upscale Japanese Bar/Restaurant for drinks and some rather pleasant food. After that, one of the sales team here wanted to introduce me to one of his clients and he made some phone calls. The taxi delivered us to a non-descript section of shopping street where a valet was standing in a doorway. This led into a rather plush private Karoke club.
I've heard lots of stories about these places in the East and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. It might be regional, but certainly in some of these the western visitor is expected to take the hostess home at the end of the evening! There were comfortable lounges, lots of scotch, hostesses, and singing. It was all rather innocent actually. The most exciting activity which the hostesses indulged in was playing a version of "liar dice" with the guests. The forfit for losing was yet more of a rather nice 10 year old single malt, served into your glass from individual measures.
Quite a lot of business was discussed and actually some interesting contacts were made. Although there is something disturbing about meeting a 35 year Chinese Stanford grad who runs a multi-million dollar company and flies his own jet...
A fascinating evening and one which has left me with a remarkably clear head. I'm also told I'm very good at dice, although frankly, the rules make Fizzbang or Johny go, go go go go look easy.
And no, I won't tell which songs I murdered mercilessly.
We then went to a rather upscale Japanese Bar/Restaurant for drinks and some rather pleasant food. After that, one of the sales team here wanted to introduce me to one of his clients and he made some phone calls. The taxi delivered us to a non-descript section of shopping street where a valet was standing in a doorway. This led into a rather plush private Karoke club.
I've heard lots of stories about these places in the East and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. It might be regional, but certainly in some of these the western visitor is expected to take the hostess home at the end of the evening! There were comfortable lounges, lots of scotch, hostesses, and singing. It was all rather innocent actually. The most exciting activity which the hostesses indulged in was playing a version of "liar dice" with the guests. The forfit for losing was yet more of a rather nice 10 year old single malt, served into your glass from individual measures.
Quite a lot of business was discussed and actually some interesting contacts were made. Although there is something disturbing about meeting a 35 year Chinese Stanford grad who runs a multi-million dollar company and flies his own jet...
A fascinating evening and one which has left me with a remarkably clear head. I'm also told I'm very good at dice, although frankly, the rules make Fizzbang or Johny go, go go go go look easy.
And no, I won't tell which songs I murdered mercilessly.
