Camera Obscura Blog: All
A Little Trouble In Big China
18 October 2010
18 October 2010
“Well, good luck to youse in India!”, shouted Noel. He had driven our gear to Glasgow airport and we were unloading.
“Thanks, we'll try and bring some medals back, haha”, shouted back some of the Scottish badminton team.
“No, I meant wi your accommodation!”
Pretty exciting trip we just had ourselves there. 3 nights in Beijing, literally 3 nights, I felt like a businessman, but not a very good one. I can't be bothered ironing shirts for a start. I imagine businessmen ironing lots in hotel rooms.
Watched a cracker on the way over, Jacques Audiard's 'Un Prophete', which was amazing even on one of those crappy airplane tele chairs AND and the wifey in front had reclined to the max even though she was only about 4ft high. It was out the same time as 'White Ribbon' and I forgot to check it out at the cinema. Anyway, China!
We had arrived on the morning of October 1st, national Day. A big national knees-up to celebrate big Mao and the lads proclaiming the PRC in 1949. A year eventful for also producing Lionel Ritchie (20th June), John (the good..)...Belushi (4th Feb.) and Maurice Gibb (22nd Dec), what a year!
Consequently the city was pure rammed, as they say over there. We had a meal and then visited Tiananmen Square - it was hard to see this massive square even when standing in the middle of it because of the terrible “fog”. People wanted pictures of us and not because we play in Camera Obscura, some asked and others didn't. An orchestra played in the square, people were throwing furry-looking things that lit up when they fell and for a while we lost Kenny! After finding the Kenny we finished the evening in a bar that seemed to be decorated completely in empty cigarette packs.
It wasn't all smog, squares and missing guitarists of course, we were in China to work. If you've never experienced a sound check at 10.30 in the morning then you're doing okay, don't change a thing.
We were playing as part of the “Modern Sky” Festival with the Big Pink, Blonde Redhead, Free Energy and Bert Anderson from The Suedes. The gig was fun, thanks to all the kids who watched us, and we had some drinks and then some of us went out after and had some drinks again. There was a 7-11 near the hotel, where I got a cup of noodles (not an actual Pot Noodle, Nigel, there's a difference) that seemed to have bits of dried meat in it and at least 4 packets of 'taste'. Felt right at the time.
On our day off we ventured to the Summer Palace, which was built circa 1750 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and started life as the Garden of Clear Ripples. The palace is dominated by Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake and is quite simply stunning. In case the view isn't enough for you, in the car park outside you can get one of those waving hand Mao watches for 50p and the Chinese equivalent of a “See You Jimmy” hat! Dancer! I think Gav may have bought one......
“Thanks, we'll try and bring some medals back, haha”, shouted back some of the Scottish badminton team.
“No, I meant wi your accommodation!”
Pretty exciting trip we just had ourselves there. 3 nights in Beijing, literally 3 nights, I felt like a businessman, but not a very good one. I can't be bothered ironing shirts for a start. I imagine businessmen ironing lots in hotel rooms.
Watched a cracker on the way over, Jacques Audiard's 'Un Prophete', which was amazing even on one of those crappy airplane tele chairs AND and the wifey in front had reclined to the max even though she was only about 4ft high. It was out the same time as 'White Ribbon' and I forgot to check it out at the cinema. Anyway, China!
We had arrived on the morning of October 1st, national Day. A big national knees-up to celebrate big Mao and the lads proclaiming the PRC in 1949. A year eventful for also producing Lionel Ritchie (20th June), John (the good..)...Belushi (4th Feb.) and Maurice Gibb (22nd Dec), what a year!
Consequently the city was pure rammed, as they say over there. We had a meal and then visited Tiananmen Square - it was hard to see this massive square even when standing in the middle of it because of the terrible “fog”. People wanted pictures of us and not because we play in Camera Obscura, some asked and others didn't. An orchestra played in the square, people were throwing furry-looking things that lit up when they fell and for a while we lost Kenny! After finding the Kenny we finished the evening in a bar that seemed to be decorated completely in empty cigarette packs.
It wasn't all smog, squares and missing guitarists of course, we were in China to work. If you've never experienced a sound check at 10.30 in the morning then you're doing okay, don't change a thing.
We were playing as part of the “Modern Sky” Festival with the Big Pink, Blonde Redhead, Free Energy and Bert Anderson from The Suedes. The gig was fun, thanks to all the kids who watched us, and we had some drinks and then some of us went out after and had some drinks again. There was a 7-11 near the hotel, where I got a cup of noodles (not an actual Pot Noodle, Nigel, there's a difference) that seemed to have bits of dried meat in it and at least 4 packets of 'taste'. Felt right at the time.
On our day off we ventured to the Summer Palace, which was built circa 1750 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and started life as the Garden of Clear Ripples. The palace is dominated by Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake and is quite simply stunning. In case the view isn't enough for you, in the car park outside you can get one of those waving hand Mao watches for 50p and the Chinese equivalent of a “See You Jimmy” hat! Dancer! I think Gav may have bought one......