July 25, 2007

Dalian (CHINA)

Clubbing VIP Style

This was my last week in Dalian, and I don't think it could have gone much better. My mornings were spent exercising with the hope that my body will be ready for the trials of life on the road, and my workdays have actually kept me occupied while I finish my 21 page research paper and corresponding presentation. The fact that research is keeping me occupied is no small feat as sitting at a desk working out engineering matters is hardly my ideal way to spend a day.

Every other day for the past couple of weeks I have been meeting two brothers from Guinea, Eddie and Schuster, and a Russianf named Alexei for pick-up football games. Over the course of playing and taking the piss after matches we have built a good friendship, and they talked me into coming out to sample Dalian's nightlife. I was somewhat apprehensive about coming along because clubs have never been my scene, but they told me not to worry because "Eddie and Schuster have a brother who is VIP."

That sold me.

We went out on Wednesday evening - ladies night - and started at the Shanri-La hotel's exclusive F1 club. I arrived before them, so I waited inside the million dollar lobby with live music, separate shops for Prada and Gucci, and enough money walking by to start a federal reserve. I didn't have to wait long as Alexei, Schuster, and a couple girls soon arrived. We were waived past security and went into the basement bar/club that featured a live Philippine band. There were three main performers - a short, chubby, gay guy and two stunningly attractive and scarcely dressed women - who were doing all singing and dancing on stage. Drinks were brought over on the house, and a constant stream of girls came over to say hello. Many of the girls were Russian, and despite Alexei introducing me to damn near all of them, they hardly gave me a glance or a hello. Alexei also took note of this and said many Russian girls are still childish in trying to act superior, and he only doubled his efforts in introducing me to people.

After a few hours at Shangri-La we decided to move on to a popular expat place called Dave's Bar. One of my American buddies, Gage, was camped out at the bar while his girlfriend (a bartender) spent more time hovering over him than she did handing out drinks. We didn't stay long as the bar scene wasn't up to their "standards", and after a few drinks we moved on to a sketchier night club that was overflowing with people, smoke, alcohol, and dance music. And as always, the group I was with knew everyone there.

My luck improved drastically at this club as people took the hint and involved me in everything. It wasn't long before Alexei found me a couple pretty Russian girls who were up for dancing and having a great time. We were all throwing down Jack and Cokes and Tsingtao beers on our "special tab". Life was great.

I met Alexei outside the club at 4am, and the girls I was with had to get back for their 8am Chinese lessons. Alexei promised I would have "better luck" next time (it wasn't hard to imagine what that meant), and he took me along with his girlfriend for meat on a stick. We each picked 15 different kinds and squatted atop 6 inch stools on the street while our food was cooked. It was a good way to sober up for the night, but God only knows what kind of meat I was actually eating.

By the time I reached my apartment the sun was already coming up, and I was passed out before I even took my shoes off. Being a couple hours late to "work" couldn't have been more worth it.

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