Sunday night is talent night in Zhangye. From about 8 until 10, performers take the stage in front of a crowd of thousands to strut their stuff. Judges flash their scorecards, and audience members jostle among themselves for a better view. For that final touch of authenticity, there’s an emcee in a gold lamé jacket; but despite the fact we’re in China, no gong.
Introducing your host, CHUCK BARRIS!!!!
The Sunday night talent show is only one of the many fun (and free) activities that seem to take place every night in Zhangye’s bustling public square. On Friday night student performers from Hexi University were onstage, and Saturday seemed to have a rock concert (we were too tired to go out but could hear from our hotel). On one side of the square, there’s a drive-in movie sized TV screen, which was showing the World Cup while we were in town. Just opposite the TV screen, couples and friends play badminton; and across the street, old men fly their kites until well after dark. Everywhere there are people strolling, eating takeaway food and gossiping.
Zhangye’s public square
Then there were the performers. The show started out with some kids doing acrobatics and moved from there to singers and musicians.
An erhu player keeping her focus
The real highlights, however, were provided by the dancers. If you could think of something to dance with (besides a partner), these women were dancing with it.
The feather dancers tickled Brendan’s fancy
Fan dancers in their closing pose
The fabric on the dancers’ sleeves extends more than two metres
Although we couldn’t get close enough to see the scorecards, of course we had our favourites. The saxman playing “Rivers of Babylon” may not have been the most original of the bunch, but maybe because we’re far from home ourselves, he struck a special note for us.
“. . . how can we sing King Alfa song in a straaaaaange land?” (original Melodians’ lyric, adapted from Psalm 137:1)
Emma & Brendan
What a delight to read your entries – on your behalf, to see it all coming true and being so much what you wanted; and on ours, to re-see China through new eyes. In both the pics and the stories there has been so much that resonates deeply, not just as ‘real China’ but also as ‘our China’!! Actual places at times, but more especially events like the Zhangye talent show, your presentaton at the university, the beer buyers on the motorbike, and that wonderful intercultural moment of Mr Hou offering a meal and bed in a safe and welcoming home early in the piece. That must have been really precious and it came across that way.
A couple of basic Qs: Lots about water, but what do you eat and how do you stop fading away to a shadow – Emma especially! How often are you sleeping out now? How long is taking to walk the 25 ks (on average)?
And we’d say, ditch the schedule – there’s no snow, so no reason to hurry home.
Best from Torrey and me,
Jane
Hey guys,
we’re following the blogs, interviews and goss with great interest; and course the colourful and cultural festivals and talent shows are very interesting. Is there any chance you can update your next blog with some stats to appeal to the boys. Looking at the comment above you can also add:
Distance covered, altitude, vertical climb, stair count (I assume you are counting the amount of stairs on the great wall?), temperature (day/night), price of a bowl of noodles in the local shop, etc.
Hope you’re well … speak soon.
Love
George and Emma
George Nicholas wrote:
Hey mate,
Are you just acting as a setup man, or is that a serious question? We\’re working on a trip log full of excruciatingly boring stats, day by day, including distance, altitude, climb, temps, etc. Lotta work though so probably won\’t be up for a few days, maybe even a week.
Number of stairs we can do off the top of our heads: zero (it\’s a mud wall right now). Once we get to the brick section Emma promises to count each one.
Price of a bowl of noodles (way bigger than Emma or I can eat, but probably just right for you): about 2 kuai (33 cents).
Hi Em an Brendan
We are very much enjoying the website and hearing you on the radio we feel that we now know celebraties.
I love reading about the trip and try to imagine myself doing the same trip the way you have written it makes us feel we are there I would love to be walking with you, although I am sure I would not be as brave as you. All the best from Ellen Garry and Kyrie
Hey Brenda and Emma – just spent a happy hour reading your blog – it’s great. I particularly liked reading about dunhuang as I am hoping to visit there on the way home from Xinjiang next month. Am flying out to Kasghar via Urumqi tomorrow and will think of you as I look down from the clouds. Really liked the poem by the way. Best of luck and cheers Madeleine. John sends love (he is heading north to Harbin)
I had a boring day so I knew reading your blog would cheer me. China is so beautiful in places and the people seem friendly. I can’t believe how great your photos are. What kind of camera do you have? Emma give the camera to Brendan so you can be in some of the pictures too! What aspect of the trip so far has been the biggest surprise?
Kaitlin has a friend that just returned from a two week trip to Australia. She loved it. As for the Pepper family we are heading to the Florida beach!
Much Love
Sherie
Hey Brendan:
I enjoyed the colorful pictures from the talent show. If you could have captured some sound to post on the site, it would have enhanced the experience.
Are you encountering different varieties of music along your journey?
-Mike-
So many of your photos are spectacular , that we have to wonder whether or not you are thinking of having a
photographic exhibition of your top 50 or so…
well done…I guess that you have to be in the right place at the right time and your placing and timing is spot on…
Can we expect to see any video footage too?
love from the damp Southern Highlands and Bailey too…
Emma and Brendan,
I am so happy to see how well you are doing on the wall…and you are really having one great adventure out there! Just came back from Australia and can you believe it I was sick most of the time there….air must be so clean for my polluted lungs from Beijing.
Your photos are great….must be sooooo good to be there.
Take care always.
Iam surprised you guys have succumbed to a karaoke night … or are you just keeping that a secret???