Singing Park

Part of GuiLin's history revolves heavily around singing.  I don't
know the whole story, but from my understanding in older times, people
would discuss important topics through song.  The song had a preset
rhythm , and you would discuss your topic, rhyming where appropriate.
Whoever could best express their argument through song was the victor
of the discussion.  The story goes that a farmers daughter was able to
out sing (debate) all of the cities wise men, and win respect and
honor for her and her family.  This woman and her story are very
famous in Southern China.  I'm sure I'm not getting this exactly
correct, but I think the gist is pretty close.  So our final stop for
the first day in Guilin, was a park dedicated to this story and
practice.  It was very cool to get to see the local traditions of this
Chinese people group, including a traditional wedding ceremony that
involves dancing on tables.  Not unlike a local redneck wedding.  They
end the night with a special performance/play in a large theater.

We were the only westerners!

Kamala and I could not understand all the words, but the play
basically tells the story of this famous singer, and her love
interest.  At the end, they both sing a romantic duet to each other.
We are not sure exactly the meaning, but the words sounded remarkably
like "shut your face".  So Kamala and I are in the back of this
theater holding in laughter while the two love birds tell each other
to "shut your face" in melody.  After the show, we head outside for
the next event.  A crowd starts gathering off to the side, and we go
over to check it out.  It's a cock fight.

Even though Kamala and I claim to be Carolina fans, there was
no way we were going to stick around for a cock fight. 
So we headed over to the side and met up
with some friends.  This is also where we ran into evil Mickey. 

Evil Mickey is a costumed man/woman that looks remarkably like Disney's
Mickey, but with more of an alcoholic demeanor.  So evil Mickey
wonders over to Kamala and I and starts putting his/her hands around
us for a picture.  We think, oh this will be great for the blog… we
were right.  After the photo, Mickey opens up his belly button zipper
and starts pointing inside.  Mickey wanted money for those photos… and
you had to stick it in his belly button.  It felt wrong… very wrong.
We paid Mickey his money, and he left us alone.  Just in time for the
huge traditional bonfire to start. 

The bonfire ends with a massive conga line and a foot-stomping dance.
No kidding, they have a dance where 5 or 6 people hold hands and try to
stomp the crap out of each others feet.  Overall, this park was probably the
highlight of the day… minus the creepy Mickey.

-JASON