Asia Update #28 - Back in Seoul

In the last message, I ended by talking about Korea being in a cold spell. Well, we got some tropical moisture to add to that cold, and that means another dump of snow. This is the third 'record' snowfall for the year (I was away for one of them). Seems that Korea is colder and wetter this winter than it has been in many years. Perfect time for me to come to Korea for a year, eh?

In the last snow update, I talked about how the motorcycle couriers run around with their feet out for support when driving on snow. Made an effort to get some shots of these guys in this snow. The one above was interesting - after I took this shot, I turned around to see if I could get a better picture of him as he was driving away. I ended up not taken a second picture because it turns out the feet out to the side method doesn't really work - he fell. He was Ok and got back up and drove away. I was going to help him lift the bike up, but the rest of the traffic barely swerved to get around him, making it decidedly unsafe to be in the road.

I forgot to mention before - the airlines in Japan have taken a very strict policy on knives on the plane and I got caught. I have carried a multi-tool with me in my computer bag for years. Along with the pliers, screwdrivers, bottle opener (probably the only tool I've used on it), and the other standard tools, there is a small knife blade. Maybe a good inch in length. The scanner at Tokyo detected this knife and they made me check it in as luggage. I head back to Tokyo again next week. Be another shot for the Japanese scanners to try to detect my multi-tool.

Asia Update #27 - Heidelberg

I visited another castle this week. But it sure doesn't look Asian. Check out the picture below…

It doesn't look Asian because it is German. My company bought a company in Heidelberg and our company president called a meeting here. So, off I went for a week of bier and brats. Actually, I arrived here from San Francisco, and returned directly from there to Korea. This makes the first time I will have flown around the world. Kind of cool, except when you realize that it is just another 11 hour flight.

In visiting the castle, I was a little surprised at the shape it is in. I've gotten used to visiting all sorts of restored castles and palaces, yet this one was more in ruins than restored. People say that the shape it is in helps add to its romanticism, but that didn't really do anything for me. Then again, I also think a Victorian house is just an old house.

I did get some good shots, and there was much amazing architecture and history to both the castle and the town. Above is a shot of one of the main buildings from the castle's courtyard.

Speaking of the town, here is another picture of Heidelberg (one of those spliced together panorama shots). This one was taken from the castle and shows the valley and town. Cute little town.

I did get to go out on the Autobahn. One of my counterparts in Germany let me take his 6 series BMW out. I opened it up and got it above 200 kilometers per hour for a while (over 125 mph). Felt nice to know I could do this and not worry about getting a speeding ticket. Just as I am getting into it and thinking that I am going so fast, my coworker calmly asks why I didn't want to go any faster. Sure pulled me down a few notches.

Being in Germany has made me realize the lack of English in Korea. Getting around in Germany was not a problem at all - ask most anyone on the street something in English and they will be able to answer you. There even was an Irish pub (had to get my Guinness fix) where it seemed the people running it didn't even speak German. In Korea, the norm at restaurants and such (where you'd expect a better chance of finding someone who speaks English) is that you won't find someone who speaks English. A buddy of mine who has been traveling Asia for about 3 years says that Korea has some of the least English proficiency of anywhere in Asia. Now I find out about this…

Some news. I've been based out of Asia for over 6 months now, so it is time to start considering when I return to the States. Likely be some time early this summer, though with the way business has been for us, you never know. We are changing so fast through acquiring companies that I could be back earlier or later based on company needs - only time will tell.

Well, that is still a few months off. In the short term, I have to deal with returning to Korea where they are in the midst of a Siberian cold spell. Reports have high temperatures hovering right about freezing. Much lower than both Germany and San Francisco. Just a little bit of weather shock for me.

Asia Update #26 - Business Clubs

Karaoke is definitely a big thing throughout much of Asia. I had never done it in the US but now have done it as part of business entertaining in Japan, Korea, and China. The basics are the same in all three, with some minor differences. Definitely much different than what I expected karaoke to be like in the States. In the US, I figured it was a bar where you could get up on stage and sing your heart out in front of anyone who was there. This style may exist here, but that isn't what businessmen seem to use for their entertaining…

You (and when I say you, it is generally guys only - sexual equality is a bit further behind in Asia than in Europe or the US) start by walking into the Karaoke bar/business club and then a hostess takes you to your room. Usually the room is private, but sometimes it is semi-private - there may be a few small groups scattered around the room. At this time, the area you will sit in is empty and has much more couch space than you need.

Your group spreads out on the couch and then some girls join you (generally 1 per guy in your group). How you end up with a particular girl next to you varies some between the different countries I've done it in - China and Korea had a line up of girls where you select one who stays with you the whole time you are there. Japan had girls who joined you and every once in a while the girl there would change (shift changes, or something like that). The girls are generally very pretty, and have the job of keeping your glass full (as the girl in the picture below is doing), making conversation with you (not always easy with me, given that few speak English, except in Tokyo where our customers seem to like to go to clubs with foreign girls), looking pretty, and otherwise keeping you happy. 

No, the girls are not prostitutes (at least most aren't - the one I was with in Beijing made it obvious that she was available after the karaoke session was over should I desire the chance to make some personal music with her). And there are variations in how much physical contact is allowed, from the girl sitting a few centimeters from you to her just about sitting on you.

 Next step is for drinks to be ordered and served. Drinks are ordered by the bottle, and are generally the type that require some sort of mixing (whiskey and water, etc.). If businessmen go to the same club a lot, they will have a bottle marked with their name waiting for them. They order a bottle once and then work from that as they entertain. What is left is put in storage until the next time they come back. That is if they don't finish it - these guys sure are heavy drinkers.

After drink are served, and often some finger snacks, the singing begins. Books are passed around which list the songs available. You choose a song, it is entered, and then you watch a monitor with the words on it and sing these along with the music. Asians seem to like love songs, and sing enough (whether at karaoke bars or other gatherings) such that they are pretty good. I haven't had another American in the room with me yet at one of these to see if it is just me who is bad at this, or Americans in general.

In Japan and China, the singing is done right from where you sit at the couch (as above). In Korea, you stood up at a microphone and sang (with your karaoke girl standing next to you arm in arm).

For all this, you generally pay a charge for the room, pay for the drinks (yours and the girls), and pay a tip for the girls. Japan is the most expensive at about $200 a person for 4 hours in a private room and a karaoke girl for each guest, Korea runs about $125 a person, and China was about $65 a person. Of course, there is much variation to this. It seems you can also go to bars where you pay less, but get less (less girls, less privacy, etc.).

I haven't figured out what the local women think of all of this. Asians generally get married relatively young (by mid to late 20's), so all of the businessmen I am with are married. I talked with one of the girls in the Korea office and she seemed to think that the men went out for drinks, but nothing more. Another girl knew of the business clubs, but seemed to think only slimy types of people went there (and of course, not her fiance). She called the business clubs the 'second round' and also talked about the 'third round' (what the girl in China was offering). I wasn't going to tell her, but I think that it is more than just the slimy people who go there, considering how many of these business clubs there are (seems to be more of them around than restaurants). Guess I am letting the cat out of the bag if she reads this update...

Given my American background, this type of entertaining definitely makes me feel a bit guilty. But the cultures here seem to accept it (and I've never seen anyone go for that third round, so they do seem to draw the line). And I am single, so not too much guilt as I enjoy experiencing this.