Chinese New Years Eve: TVB ain't in Kowloon, Genious. Fotos
We woke up this morning around 1100AM when the hosts showed up. Well, we got ready and out of bed at 11AM. We were up late goofing around last nite so we were tired. When we were completely out of bed, more host kids showed up. They started passing out the Hon Hing Lion Dance uniforms for us to wear. Great! Shiny green pants, super tight white shirt, used shoes, and calf wraps. Victor brushed his teeth and not a minute later he was smoking again. I wanted to smack him. We fooled around some more and then packed up the truck with tons of lion dance equipment.
We headed out. I sat in the prison seats by the window. After 20 minutes, I knew the girl from last night had no idea where TVB was at. It sure wasn't in Kowloon. After another 30 minutes of driving to an area of HK that looked barren save for some big industrial complexes, we arrived. It was 200pm. We unloaded and placed everything in the green room and then we sat around and had lunch.
When they said we would head to TVB at 2pm and practice Lion Dance n stuff, I thought they meant "practice" not sit around while all the other groups do show practice. We sat around the green room and in the TV Studio watching other groups do their routines. There were the hosts of the show on the other side, some dancers doing Red Streamers, and a bunch of little girls dressed as Chickens (year of the Cock) doing a horrific dance. I swear, the things that parents make their children do in the name of "cuteness" is downright abusive. This is universal, not just China. Around 3:45pm, I was fed up. I am bolting. I was planning to leave at 5pm to catch the 8pm ferry for sure, but I couldn't just do nothing for another 75 minutes. There was no where to do Hong Quan on my own. This way I can practice at home for tomorrow and get more sleep. I caught the subway and spent 30 minutes on it. I got to the ferry terminal a little bit before 5pm. I was able to get a ticket for the 530 ferry. Sweet. I snagged some gyoza and chicken skewers and headed out.
I called Amy while i was on the ferry to find out if Nick had arrived yet. I always was curious about the status of the trip, whether they have all the spots filled or not. Nick hadn't shown up yet, but the Agency called Amy today to let her know that they will pay for my 5AM taxi to Shiqi to leave on the bus to head to the Guangdong airport. Damn, that is early. However, Amy didnt ask about openings. Oh well. I can deal if Nick doesn't go, its not a big deal. It would just be nice to have someone who speaks english. We can check the openings tomorrow. Amy mentioned that John was back in town and he was over at the Big House having BBQ with Jolene and Moses and her. Sweet. Maybe they will be there when I get back. I still will practice for tomorrow. I hope I don't screw up the forms, I want to make all the chinese folk gasp with surprise at my superiority. ;-) Crap! I forgot to call and harass the CASE people. Oh well. I will do it on the 10th.
I arrived in Zhongshan about 7pm. I didnt mention this last time, but they completed work on the Zhongshan Ferry Port. Its super nice now. Its very friendly and pleasing to the eye...no more bleak communist design. The shuttle bus to Xiaolan doesn't leave till 8pm, so I started writing out this journal entry. As I started writing I was next to the TV in the waiting hall. There was this big festival going on in some Chinese city. The news people were able to corner a white guy and have him say some things on TV. He just said the normal crap about how its a cool thing to see and a good experience, etc etc etc. I have done that about 3 times already. Dude! Where is this festival taking place? Why can't I be there? That was the whole point of going to HK. I thought it being Chinese New Year and HK with one of the top lion troops in town, this would have been a giant event where we would go practice and meet tons of other people like a big seminar. Thats what I expected and hoped. My dreams were shattered. China tends to do that...they excel in destroying hopes and dreams. *couch* Cultural Revolution *cough*
Oh well, it wasn't a total loss. I bonded with some of the troop wunderkinden and met some new people. I am now 1 degree of seperation from Jackie Chan and many famous HK people. :D
As I am writing this on the curb waiting for the bus to leave, I hear fireworks out in the distance. Cool. One of the shuttle drivers is amazed at my handwriting. He said he doesn't understand but that it looks beautiful. Did I laugh, no. I am polite. The shuttle took off at 8pm.
I got back to the Big House about 840pm. We made really good time. I gave John a hug..."Brothers don't shake hands...brothers got to hug!" The BBQ they all made was fantastic. I told them about HK and told them about Shunde tomorrow and our performance. They were excited so I had Jolene call up Guo Sifu and she asked them if there was room for them on the bus, he said sure. So I told them to be there at 8am, none of this Foshan time (i said 8AM, they didnt show until 1pm). They were like, coolio.
We watched Hellraiser IV: Bloodlines. It wasn't that good. They kill Pinhead...YOU CAN'T KILL PINHEAD!
I checked my email. Guess what I got...and email from CASE saying that my iPod was ready on the 7th. SOB!!!!!!! What is wrong with these 'tards?! they need to communicate with each other. I mean, they did do what they would say, email and prolly call when it was ready, but I called a few hours earlier on the 7th and they said it would be back until the 14th. Ugh! Just another reminder to me and all you out there who aren't in China or its special governing areas, don't trust anything they say and constantly ask them questions about things that involve your time and your money. Otherwise, they won't do it.
So I sent an email back telling them off in a way. Now I have to go back again, I will do it saturday, the day I have off before I leave for Kunming. I got Lion Dance performances for the next 3 days.
I watched Kung Fu Hustle with Jolene and John and we chilled. I chatted with my bro before I went to bed. He auditioned for a reality show over the weekend that would follow the band INXS in search of a new front man to replace the old front man who accidentally committed suicide while trying to do some sexual asphixiation thing with a rope around his neck. He didnt get any call backs, but if INXS wants to succeed with quality, they should. He doubts he will be on TV or be recapped on the show. One of his friends performed "Baby Got Back" so he might make it on TV just for the hilariousness of the performance. My bro did an original, so did Don. While chatting with my bro, i realized falling asleep tonite will suck. Every five minutes, some chinese guy lights off "pou jo" or "bian pou" those huge wrappings of red fireworks that sound like a machine gun and last for about 30 seconds and leave tons of read paper all over the place. They are super loud and annoying. I got sick of them the 3rd day I was in China. And of course, they are so loud and cause enuff vibration that all the surrounding cars' alarms are set off. Great. Let's see what happens.
Well, time for bed. I practiced some Hong Quan before bed. Good nite.