Scenes
What are some social scenes you like in your neck of the woods? I've noticed that while places may differ in ambiance – most of the conversations are universally the same...
In Jordan there are coffee houses populated by (only) men, smoking their water pipes and sipping on dark cardamom laced espressos and bitter-sweet teas. They read newspapers or talk in low voices, occasionally stabbing the heavy air with a dangerous finger.
In Vietnam, the bia hoi places sprawl onto the sidewalks as motorbikes dance and scream – and the men drink cheap piss-colored beers and finger clams, peanuts, eggs and chicken bits as their faces turn pink. Raucous – the din at these places are tempestuous and free-wheeling.
In Thailand, the bars occupy a large chunk of an alleyway disguised as a street, and pretty persuasive girls are on call, some for drinks – some for short-term fun. The beer is good, but you're not a player unless you start buying shots.
In China, real men hang around noodle shops -- leave those ritzy bars to the young yuppie punks.
The Sunday brunch scene in the Upper West Side, the afternoon barbecues in Texas, the lounge scene in London, the rum affairs in Havana, the sidewalk cafes in Paris, the Eurotrash clubs in Madrid --
and here in Istanbul, teahouses and coffee gardens jostle for space under blue-lit sultan palaces – a violinist waltz through the crowd who are slapping down dominoes and backgammon pieces; and on the corner, a trumpeter echoes a mournful march while a couple stroll down a leafy avenue with an ice cream cone in hand...
What are some social scenes you like in your neck of the woods? I've noticed that while places may differ in ambiance – most of the conversations are universally the same: Did you see that goal? What a young rookie – he'll learn his lesson the hard way. Can you believe those two got married? America — [shakes head] I'm too tired for this... The wife? Let's not talk about that, shall we?
Hey Josh got the card. Thanks! I'm just settling into Irvine, so I'll have to catch up on your blog later.
Have a safe journey
Posted by: kyle | September 15, 2006 at 11:36 AM
The social scene at the Hong Kong Jockey Club on race day: the expats, milling around the side of the track, beers and hotdogs in hand (a little bit of Lan Kwai Fong – the expat bar area of HK – transplanted mid-week to the racecourse); the local men, gripping their newspapers, studying the stats and the horses, placing their bets and following their favourites intently from the stands. Stand around and drink beer? Nuh-uh... this is serious business.
Posted by: blowingbubbles | September 15, 2006 at 10:13 PM