I wanna be just like you. I figure, all I need is a lobotomy, and some tights.
Friday night saw Alanowski’s introduction to the world of Korean nightclubs, the end result was pleasurable although eye opening at times.
We had headed out for a few Friday night beers to a regular haunt down town in Cheonan. I had met an army guy called Ben a couple of weeks ago and he called to see if I was out. I met up with him and a few of the teachers and had a couple of home brews. We moved on to Zed Rock (a live music club, pictures of the band are on the photo page) where we met some more of the regulars. The decision was then made to try and go to a club; apparently this was an experience that one should not miss so I tagged along. We walked up to Sizi Club and were told in no uncertain terms that we were not allowed in “anneyo weguk” (no foreigners) was said over and over. This turns out to be a load of crap as the three guys I was with have all been in there before but the bouncer had made up his mind so there is nothing you can do about it (some things are the same the world over).
After a short spell of attempted and failed persuasion, which had included calling Korean friends to speak to the bouncer and befriending Koreans as they were in the queue, we left to get a taxi elsewhere. The club idea was in our heads now and was completely ‘unflushable’. We got in a taxi and headed to ‘Holiday Night Club’.
Arriving at a neon covered building that would have looked right at home in Vegas; we marched in and were greeted by around 20 door and waiting staff and shown to our table. There are some strange rules here and you have to pay for your table, for about fifteen quid we got the table, four beers, and a great big plate of mixed fruit. A few beers later we’re on the dance floor and everything is going great. Those who have seen me dance have likened it to an epileptic fit; others have said I don’t so much dance as spasm non-rhythmically. The great thing about it was that Koreans have no rhythm!!! I was for the first time in my life, not the worst dancer there. Strutting my stuff to some crazy music was all going fine than back to the table for some refreshments.
I should describe the music more fully: as we arrived there was some sort of boy band thing on, guys all wearing matching outfits with choreographed dances. Next up was some sort of dance number with this girl and two blokes, more akin to ‘live sex show’ than dancing but it was all good. After that there were a few more strange things on, a guy dressed as a bull getting naked, and some group that all wore big masks throughout their songs, and then finally a string of DJ’s that would play about 30seconds of each track then move on without even attempting to mix and just shouting something I couldn’t understand.
As we were sitting and trying to recuperate we saw some girls getting dragged from their tables by the waiting staff and taken over to men at different tables. This turns out to be the way of such places; a guy pays the staff a tip and gets them to bring a selected girl over. As is the tradition here, you should never decline a present so the girls are obliged to stay for one drink before they may leave. Seemed a bit like legal pimping to me, but the girls didn’t seem to mind…… too much.
Home time was late as we headed back into town to get some food (a lot of restaurants are open 24/7) and a night cap then home to bed for a much needed rest.
This was my first experience of a Korean club, it won’t be my last. It has certainly made a lasting impression on me, I don’t know why I was surprised – everything is so different here.
As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn’t help thinking about those nights in the Palace in Aberdeen and wondering how a club like that would fare over here. Unfortunately I fell asleep before the answer came to me so I guess we’ll never know.
We had headed out for a few Friday night beers to a regular haunt down town in Cheonan. I had met an army guy called Ben a couple of weeks ago and he called to see if I was out. I met up with him and a few of the teachers and had a couple of home brews. We moved on to Zed Rock (a live music club, pictures of the band are on the photo page) where we met some more of the regulars. The decision was then made to try and go to a club; apparently this was an experience that one should not miss so I tagged along. We walked up to Sizi Club and were told in no uncertain terms that we were not allowed in “anneyo weguk” (no foreigners) was said over and over. This turns out to be a load of crap as the three guys I was with have all been in there before but the bouncer had made up his mind so there is nothing you can do about it (some things are the same the world over).
After a short spell of attempted and failed persuasion, which had included calling Korean friends to speak to the bouncer and befriending Koreans as they were in the queue, we left to get a taxi elsewhere. The club idea was in our heads now and was completely ‘unflushable’. We got in a taxi and headed to ‘Holiday Night Club’.
Arriving at a neon covered building that would have looked right at home in Vegas; we marched in and were greeted by around 20 door and waiting staff and shown to our table. There are some strange rules here and you have to pay for your table, for about fifteen quid we got the table, four beers, and a great big plate of mixed fruit. A few beers later we’re on the dance floor and everything is going great. Those who have seen me dance have likened it to an epileptic fit; others have said I don’t so much dance as spasm non-rhythmically. The great thing about it was that Koreans have no rhythm!!! I was for the first time in my life, not the worst dancer there. Strutting my stuff to some crazy music was all going fine than back to the table for some refreshments.
I should describe the music more fully: as we arrived there was some sort of boy band thing on, guys all wearing matching outfits with choreographed dances. Next up was some sort of dance number with this girl and two blokes, more akin to ‘live sex show’ than dancing but it was all good. After that there were a few more strange things on, a guy dressed as a bull getting naked, and some group that all wore big masks throughout their songs, and then finally a string of DJ’s that would play about 30seconds of each track then move on without even attempting to mix and just shouting something I couldn’t understand.
As we were sitting and trying to recuperate we saw some girls getting dragged from their tables by the waiting staff and taken over to men at different tables. This turns out to be the way of such places; a guy pays the staff a tip and gets them to bring a selected girl over. As is the tradition here, you should never decline a present so the girls are obliged to stay for one drink before they may leave. Seemed a bit like legal pimping to me, but the girls didn’t seem to mind…… too much.
Home time was late as we headed back into town to get some food (a lot of restaurants are open 24/7) and a night cap then home to bed for a much needed rest.
This was my first experience of a Korean club, it won’t be my last. It has certainly made a lasting impression on me, I don’t know why I was surprised – everything is so different here.
As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn’t help thinking about those nights in the Palace in Aberdeen and wondering how a club like that would fare over here. Unfortunately I fell asleep before the answer came to me so I guess we’ll never know.
posted by Alanowski @ 11:49 am
1 Comments:
I'm sure that rumours will be flying all over the place with Harris's miraculous recovery from not a clue to getting it right!. Seems a bit sketchy to me, but I'm going to allow it. If we start calling each other cheats, we'll be no better than the French.
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