#the picture of me on the left is from my second lunar new year festival last sunday

[killerandhealerqueen]

新年快乐!🐉

Happy Chinese New Year!🐉

Wishing you a prosperous year of the Dragon! 🐉

[skellebonez]

Could you do number 46. They have amnesia? With Monkie King and MK If you’re still doing the request/prompts

You didn't say who had to have amnesia, anon. Spoilers for episodes up to S2E6 inside.

They have amnesia?

"How is this even possible?" MK asked softly, not wanting to be heard but knowing that Wukong’s superior hearing would pick up most of what he was saying. Though given how distracted he was...

"It shouldn't be!" Tang exclaimed equally as quiet, watching his hero with a mix of curiosity and dismay. "He's the Monkey King, nothing should be able to hurt him like this."

"Maybe he wasn't hurt," Mei offered, watching Wukong herself as Pigsy held up another photograph and only recieved a confused look in response. "Maybe it's magic. He can be affected by magic that isn't directly hurting him, right? Even if it takes something big to hurt him physically a spell or curse could still something."

"That is a possibility..." Tang muttered under his breathe. He ran his hand through his hair, sighing as Pigsy seemed to exhaust photographs and illustrations to show the Monkey King. Sandy stood beside them both, Mo curled up in Wukong’s arms instead of his usual place on the big guy's shoulder, and said something in hushed tones that made the Monkey King's ears pull back. "There are no shortages of either that could cause memory loss, hopefully for us temporarily so. And he didn't seem injured in any way when we found him outside the shop... though he shouldn't even be here, he was on vacation! Wouldn't he have told you he was coming back?"

"Maybe..." MK started slowly, watching as Pigsy held up a group of photos and Wukong pointed to one of them excitedly. "But he's been acting... weird since he left anyway. Like he was distracted. I kinda just tried not to worry about it but..." He trailed off, jumping as a loud snap was heard and then wishing he had the staff out in his hands to wrap them around it instead of the mop he just snapped in two. "... crap..."

"You're worried," Mei said softly, laying her hand on her best friend's shoulder. "I am too, even though I may not know the Monkey King that well. But once we find out exactly how much he remembers we can find a way to help him."

"Yeah, about that," Pigsy's voice broke through their conversation as he made his way over. The chef looked perturbed. "So we went through all your pictures MK. He remembers going on the journey, though the details of it are lost, and he knows Mount Huaguo like the back of his hand. But he doesn't remember like 99% of the journey, can't remember any of his monkeys, can't remember us, can't even remember that he's the Monkey King or what that title means." He sighed, pinching the bridge of his snout for a second before continuing. "What he does remember clearly is that he lives alone on an island and that it's the modern day, he went on some big journey he barely recalls... and that he knows MK and that MK is important."

"What?" MK looked away from where he had glanced over to Wukong, staring at Pigsy in disbelief. "Wait, you're telling me I'm the only person he remembers!?"

"Barely!" Pigsy elaborated with another sigh. "Kid, whatever happened to him really messed up his memories. He knows your name and face and that you're important. He kind of remembers training you. But that is it. He doesn't recognize anyone else. And I don't know him that good, but he doesn't seem to be acting like his normal self either."

This was bad. There was no other way to put it. And they needed to figure something out fast.

"MK?" Wukong said suddenly, having wandered up to the group. He still had Mo in his arms, the cat looking up at him in concern. "Is everything alright, Bud?"

It most certainly was not.

~

"This is my house?" Wukong asked softly, one of the first things he had said since MK and he had arrived back on Mount Huaguo. Getting him home was easy enough, one of the few things he remembered was where he lived after all, but he seemed confused regardless. Perhaps he didn't remember the mountain as much as Pigsy thought he did. "It's... cozy!" He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "When your boss told me I was a king I kind of worried that... well, I don't know why, I was just worried for some reason. Weird."

Weird didn't even begin to cover it.

Pigsy wasn't lying when he said that Wukong hadn't been acting like his normal self. Instead of the loud and boisterous and kind of, admittedly, self important Monkey King MK expected, Wukong was oddly subdued. Maybe it was the amnesia making him weary, but he was acting so much like he had for just the shortest moments at the Lunar New Year festival (both before the fireworks had cheered him up and after the fight with the Spider Queen) that MK was starting to wonder...

"I really do live alone except for my monkeys, huh?" Wukong said softly, one of the aforementioned monkeys looking at him in their own concern.

When he saw them face to face he seemed to recall at least a bit. That he cared for them in some capacity both as an actual caregiver and as "I guess a King is right" as Wukong put it. But while he knew each one on the island by name before he couldn't recall a single one now. But MK remembered that the little one that followed them inside was called Yue, partly because he had been the one to help name her.

Knowing that Wukong likely didn't remember that day, let alone how important it had been to him to include his student in this endeavor, made MK's chest hurt.

"Yeah, it's, uh... yeah," MK attempted to confirm, coming off as awkward as he felt internally. Everything about this was awkward. But MK could not, and would not, leave his mentor while he could only barely recall how to navigate his own home island. "So... we didn't exactly get that much to eat at Pigsy's... you hungry?"

~

The two ate in moderate silence. MK didn't want to force Wukong to feel awkward by asking him about topics he couldn't remember (the last few confused and then apologetic smiles made him feel too bad to try again). He managed to find something, at least, however small it was.

Wukong seemed to remember little bits and pieces about himself. Not everything, obviously, but he remembered some important things. He knew he was immortal and invincible. He knew that he was very very old. He knew he was technically not a regular demon monkey but a stone monkey born out of a... well, a stone. And he remembered his dietary preferences.

This last one was news to MK, who had never actually seen him eat more than peaches and peach chips and food made from his own hair (which was not something he was looking forward to trying again). But it made fashioning something for them to eat easier. Something simple, rice for both of them with fresh peaches (he had so many of these things in his fridge and MK did not know how they lasted without spoiling, but he did not ask) for his mentor and rice with some tofu and green onions for MK (simple, but with seasoning and sauce that for some reason had his own initials on it tasty, he had to remember to ask about that... after).

It was... kind of nice, the situation aside.

"... am I your... absentee dad?"

And there that went right out the window and right into the volcanic inferno of the flaming mountains!

MK nearly choked on his rice, barely managing to chug a glass of water before managing out a "HWUH?" in his mentor's direction.

"I-I'm sorry!" Wukong stuttered out, the uncertainty in his voice sounding wrong. "I just... I thought... there's stuff in here with your name on it but there isn't a place for you to stay, the second room is just storage, so I thought..." He trailed off, biting his lip before sighing. "You told me you were my student. But that... it's doesn't feel right. It doesn't feel wrong but it feels... sorry."

Taking a moment to breathe in deeply, MK steeled himself.

"No, don't apologize," he started, setting his bowl to the side and staying quiet for a moment. "No, you're not... my dad. But I noticed those things too. I've never really been inside your house all that much, only a couple times before you left and only twice since. You don't..." He paused, trying to find the right words to express himself. "I guess I'm just realizing there's a lot of things you don't tell me."

"... it'd be kind of awkward if I just ruined some kind of big thing I was gonna tell you when I got back," Wukong said through another bite of a peach.

"Yeah, I doubt you were gonna tell me you'e adopting me," MK laughed out awkwardly... but that awkwardness lingered long after the conversation moved on to how much of the stuff in the house he remembered.

~

MK woke up in a sleeping bag in a room that didn't belong to him. He was confused at first, sitting up quickly and looking around before realizing that he was just in Wukong's house. On the floor of Wukong's bedroom, actually. The Monkey King had insisted that he could not sleep on the couch, comfortable as it looked, and they looked around in his storage room for any alternative until they found this.

It was comfortable enough. But not so comfortable he slept through what had woken him.

It sounded like crying.

Not loud, not enough to wake most people. But MK was already highly stressed from the situation and had developed much better hearing since obtaining the Monkey King Powers (how he had thought he needed to learn super hearing that one time he did not know now that he thought about it). So he picked up on the soft sniffs and whimpers and shakey breathes and now he would not be going back to sleep until he figured out what was up.

"Monkey King? You sure there isn-" MK froze as he turned to his mentor's bed, only to find it empty.

Well. Shit...

That probably answered that question.

MK wasted no time in jumping to his feet rushing out of the room and toward the crying before freezing in the door way to he living room.

Monkey King was sitting on the floor, TV on and VR set still strapped to his head.

"Oh... no..." MK muttered softly, making his way inside to stand behind Wukong. "Hey... Monkey King? What are you doing?"

Wukong flinched, he'd never seen him do that before, and gripped his controller tighter. He heard it creak worryingly under his grip.

"I... I saw this game earlier," he started slowly, and MK didn't need him to explain which one it was. The case, familiar to him now, was sitting in plain sight on the floor before them. "I dunno, it just... it felt important. And I couldn't sleep so I decided to go through some more of my stuff and... and..." He took in a shakey breathe, putting the controller down and taking the VR headset off. "I... it was weird looking at myself. Listening to myself tell me what do to. But it felt familar. So I kept playing and..."

MK put a hand on his mentor's shoulder and looked at the screen. He'd made it to the in game store, the temple. There Tripitaka, Tang Sanzang, resided to give the player passive abilities. "How long have you been playing?"

"An hour maybe?" Wukong offered, wiping the tears from his face. "I made it to Zhu Ganglie but I. I couldn't. I didn't want to... MK, I feel like I should remember these people. I can't look at them without feeling... sad. Guilty? I can't help but feel like I did something wrong to them?"

And MK's chest hurt once again, knowing that somewhere deep down in Wukong he hadn't completely forgotten his companions from his journey centuries ago. He should have pieced it together when he played. The art, the dialogue, the placement of the monk... he'd never seen the game on store shelves before either, never even heard of it.

But Sun Wukong had played this game for 10,000 hours.

"They're, uh... They're the people who were on your journey with you," MK started as he sat on the floor by his mentor. "You haven't gotten to Sha Wujing, but he's there too. So was Bai Long Ma. I could... tell you about them? I don't know all the stories by heart like Tang does, but I can try."

"You don't have to do that," Wukong said much more assuredly and firm than before. "If I did something that made me feel like this that should be my own burden to bear, not yours."

"Yeah... but I want to help you anyway."

The two sat in silence for a moment before Wukong stood and made his way into the kitchen. He returned a moment later with a small bowl of peaches and a wrapped pack of pears (once again with MK's initials on it). He sat on the couch, gesturing for his student to join him before he spoke.

"I appreciate the offer, I do... but I'll be able to learn that on my own before my memories return," Wukong said, biting into one of his peaches with a sad smile. "You said Tang, the guy from the noodle shop, knows them. I can ask him tomorrow... well, later today. But as I said before, that isn't your burden to bear. And I don't want to put that on you. And even though I remember you the most out of everything it feels like I don't know you as much as I should. So, if neither of us is going to sleep again any time soon... tell me about MK?"

"... When I moved into the apartment above Pigsy’s I took on MK as a nickname."

Wukong looked up in confusion for a moment before his eyes widened and he put all his focus on his student with a soft smile. "OK..."

The two talked for only roughly another hour, Sun Wukong listening to MK tell him anything he felt comfortable telling him. When he woke up he was back in the sleeping bag, the soft snores of the Monkey King resounding above him.

As he laid awake, the small monkey Yue having made her way inside to sleep on his chest making a good excuse to not get up, he wanted to mull over everything he had learned. He'd learned more about his mentor in the 6 waking hours they spent together in his home than he had his entire apprenticeship, and the same went the other way.

MK wondered just why Sun Wukong hid all this from him so far. For so long. And he knew now he couldn't have possibly been on vacation. Not when it resulted in this. The Monkey King had been hiding so much from him and it clearly wasn't limited to what he was doing behind his back.

But right now Sun Wukong trusted MK, him coming back with him to Mount Huaguo was evidence enough of that. And MK trusted him as he was now... but didn't know how much of Sun Wukong from the past to trust anymore. He needed to get his mentor's memories back. And he needed to get answers.

Sun Wukong slept on, oblivious to the conflict in his student's head.

[soliloquyepistolary]

In the dream, you appeared as a dog and you said to me ‘please don’t abandon me’. You said to you me were like a pet dog waiting all day for it’s owner to get home. I’m waiting for you to come back. Come back to me. 

In the dream, I showed up to work and XA was there. I remember looking at the roster in a previous dream I’d had and had seen us rostered on at night at the same time, I thought it odd to have two pharmacists on at the same time. But when I saw him I realised I would be his student. Weird how you look at someone’s picture for 2 seconds and they appear in your dream. This is not a dream about inferiority, it is about how your focus on someone calls them to appear in your reality. But more than that, where you focus is not determined by you. The subject is seemingly given, not consciously done.

In the dream, I was at the fair with my sister and we were looking at a stall that sold pizzas. I could see the pizza toppings on the table top, arranged as if there was a large pizza base underneath it. There was cheese and basil leaves. I didn’t see any source though. I could see in the case stand where there were small pizza bases stacked up on top of each other. It looked delicious and I wanted to purchase one. I heard a man tell another customer that they’d run out of the big pizza bases. The stall seems to sell pizza by what constitutes as  toppings for one large pizza, not per individual smaller ones. I think I told my sister, just get two of the smaller ones. We would split the toppings of one big pizza into two smaller ones. One soul in two bodes. 

The fair looked like the Vietnamese lunar new year street festivals in Victoria St, Richmond. We saw CH and went to her house which was very close by, I think it was above one of the shops on the street. We were talking, I don’t know what. Suddenly I said that I was very thirsty and I was going to go back to the street and get a drink, perhaps at the stall or something. But CH’s smiled a knowing smile and gestured me somewhere to her house. She got a cup (I think it looked like one of those recyclable coffee cups) from the top of a brown cupboard and gave it to me. It was ice cold it must have contained a frozen drink. She said my mum left it here from many hours earlier because she knew I would ask. I was shocked, how did she know I was going to be here and be thirsty? Why was the drink still ice cold? I had this feeling in my heart that everything is happening exactly as it’s supposed to, in absolute perfect timing, and I don’t need to worry about anything. Later on reflection of this dream, I realise that I before I went to sleep I asked ‘If the TD is happening in December, then in which month is the V recall occurring? I know that I already know, I simply wish to be conscious of it now’. I believe this dream is the answer to my question. It is better if there is an element of surprise and wonder, it will make for a more fun experience. The ‘cup’ (event) has already been placed where it needs to be placed, you are just catching up to it now. There is no time. It will be refreshing.

Meditating increases dream recall. Realise that you do not want to finish the game merely because you are tired and bored as much as because you felt pain and jealousy and do not wish to feel it anymore. You felt hurt and betrayed. You felt abandoned. It confused you when you had believed yourself so detached, so you ran away and detached yourself for real. You do not believe that he loves you. You do not trust his love for you. You have never believed anyone who says that they love you. You do not think love is real. What you are doing is a protective mechanism. Victim vs protector. The protector places physical distance between you, so you can no longer feel hurt. The victim places mental and emotional distance and conjures stories that validate all your thoughts and feelings. Even as you do this, can you feel that your heart burns? Can you feel despite it all, what the heart wants... the truth of the matter?

[thehiccunzelnetwork]

Making Harmony

Riley Corona couldn’t believe what her manager had said. “What?!”

   Tina sighed. “Now Riley, I know it sounds odd, but think of it as an opportunity.”

   “I’m a pop singer, he does hip hop.”

   “And?” Tina responded, raising a brow.

   “It’s dirty! Have you heard his most recent song?” Riley grimaced at the mere thought of the offensive lyrics.

   “I’ve heard it. I’ve also heard he was bound by contract to sing it and he wants to change his image. Another reason he wants to perform with you.” Tina defended.

   Riley frowned. “Fine, I’ll do it.”

   “Riley, things aren’t always what they appear to be. Just because he sings what he sings doesn’t mean he means it.” Tina left Riley with that thought and a growing fear of the catastrophe that was bound to happen.

   “Get jazzy on me.” Hiccup finished, silently thanking God it was the last performance of the tour for his latest forced song. “Thank you Arendale, good night!” And with that sentiment, he walked off stage.

   Gabe quickly came up to him. “Gobber, tell me you have good news.”

   “Hiccup, Riley Corona agreed to do the duet with you for the Burgess Music Festival.”

   Hiccup smiled. “Good. Hopefully this will be just the push to get people to see I’m not some sort of pervert.”

   “We can only hope.” Gobber nodded, “Now go back to your hotel, get some sleep.”

   Hiccup complied, his notebook of songs in hand, maybe they’d finally let him sing what he wanted to.

Riley sat in the labels plane, looking over the snow of Burgess, Canada. She’d be landing soon. And then she’d meet the man himself. Hiccup Haddock. She grimaced as his song invaded her ears again, quickly switching the station. She smiled as she heard her friend Merida, or “Red” , sing new song.

   She hummed along, not even minding the cussing. Pretty pretty please, don’t you ever ever feel, like your less than, fucking perfect. To me. The pilot announced their landing and Riley sighed. “Well, let’s get this over with.”

Hiccup sat in the small sitting room for Lunar Records. Jack, his friend from the boy band The Guardians, had agreed to get him a meeting with Manny Lunar, one of the larger music producers. The man smiled amicably as Hiccup spoke of his ideas and even had some of his recordings for his newer songs.

   Manny smiled as he listened. Don’t get too close, it’s dark inside. It’s where my demons hide. It’s where my demons hide. “I must say, I can see why Berk Records wanted you so badly. Your music is certainly inspired.”

“Thank you sir. And so you know, my contract with Berk Records is almost up to end.” Hiccup smiled, hoping the older man understood what he was trying to say.

Manny smiled. “Well, you certainly have made a career for yourself and you’re an admirable artist. And personally, I like this stuff more than that awful music they were having you sing before.” Hiccup nodded.

   Manny frowned in thought before extending his hand. “Well, I’ll cut you a deal young man. Impress me at the Burgess Music Festival and as soon as your deal with Berk ends, you’ll have one waiting here for you.”

   Hiccup shook the man’s hand. “Thank you sir. You won’t regret it.”

   “I’m sure I won’t. Now I’d suggest you go and meet your duet partner.”

Riley sat on one of the large plush couches in the recording studio for Lunar Records. Apparently Hiccup Haddock had a meeting with Manny Lunar. She was beginning to get nervous, a mental picture of her partner forming. He seemed nice during the interviews but it could all be a lie. He could walk into the room and immediately be dirty and suggestive with her. Her head was swimming with ideas of escape when the door creaked and Hiccup stepped in.

She hadn’t known what she’d been expecting, but he wasn’t it. He wore a simple button up green shirt, a black blazer over it and some jeans. He looked… approachable. She eased up and was surprised to see he offered her a lopsided smile. “Um, I’m Hiccup, although I’m guessing you already knew that.”

   He extended his hand. She took it, shaking it gently. “So, Riley, um… We’re singing together.”

   “It would appear so.” Riley offered, still confused as to why he was so… normal. He even seemed nervous. “So we’ve got to come up with a song to duet, we could either use either one of ours or write a new one.”

Hiccup looked up. “You mean, you were your own songs?”

   “You don’t? Riley asked, extremely confused.

   Hiccup frowned. "I’m just the face for the songs they write. None of my songs get past them. Why do you think I sing all that kind of music?”

   “I-I just assumed…” Riley dropped off, seeming unable to continue.

   “That I wrote them?” Hiccup seemed scandalized at the idea.

   “I write mine and I just… I assumed that was how it worked.”

   Hiccup sighed and frowned. Well, that’s not the way it works for me. I came in with a list of songs when they first got me and they basically put mine through the shredder and handed me songs to learn.“

   Riley frowned at the sheer honesty in his voice. Lunar Records always listened to her suggestions as an artist. When she had a song, they listened and if it was good, the let her record it. If it wasn’t, they found ways Riley agreed with to improve on it. She couldn’t imagine a reality where they’d trample her ideas and give her a song to sing. They chose her to begin with because of her love for making music and her artistry.

   She held out a hand. "Can I see that notebook?” Hiccup nodded, handing it over.

   Riley began flipping through the pages, surprised to find songs unlike anything she’d seen before. “You wrote these?”

Hiccup nodded, blushing slightly. Riley smiled. “I think this is the beginning of an amazing career. But I think I have an idea to make this performance better.”

   “How?” Hiccup asked. Riley smiled and picked up her pen.

   “You’ll see.”

Hiccup heard the crowd cheering, waiting for him. He was shaking. He was about to sing his own music in front of a crowd of thousands. He was about to openly slap Berk Records in the face by doing his own music rather than the stuff they gave him. And he was about to duet with Riley Corona under the watch of Manny Lunar, which could very well make or break his chances at Lunar Records. Riley sidled up to him, all dressed up for her song. She gave his arm a squeeze for reassurance. “You’ll do great out there. They’ll love your song, trust me. And even if you lose the people who love the rap, you’ll get all my fans given your songs are amazing and they’ll especially love the song we made together.”

   Hiccup nodded, noticing it was Riley’s turn. She started to leave before pecking his cheek and going to the stage. “Hello Burgess! Can I just say something?” The crowds cheered as she began. Nice to meet you, where you been? I could show you incredible things.

   The song gave Hiccup a chance to calm down and before he knew it, he heard the final words to Riley’s song. And I’ll write your name. Hiccup walked past Riley as she walked off the stage, noticing everyone’s eyes were on him. He remembered he wasn’t in his usual hip hop attire.

   He gulped and began. When the days are cold and the cards all fold. When the saints we see are all made of gold. When your dreams all fail and the nicest we hail are the worst of all. And the blood runs stale.

   Hiccup was surprised to see that people were listening, interested in his new music. I wanna hide the truth. I wanna shelter you. But with the beast inside, there’s nowhere we can hide. No matter what we breed, we still are made of greed. This is my kingdoms come. This is my kingdom come.

Hiccup continued, growing more and more emboldened as everyone really seemed to like his music. His music. He smiled as he sang out the last few words. It’s where my demons hide. It’s where my demons hide! The crowd cheered and Hiccup walked backstage, promptly being tackled by Riley.

   “I told you they’d love it. I heard tons of people telling Manny to sign you up with Lunar Records!”

   Hiccup smiled. “It’s not over yet. There’s still one last song we have to sing.” Riley nodded and the duo walked to the backstage, getting ready to perform.

Riley smiled as she thought of Hiccup, glad to know he was getting to live his dream without anyone controlling him. She heard the crowds scream both their names eagerly as she started.

   All those days, watching from the windows. All those years, outside looking in. All that time, never really knowing just how blind I’d been. Hiccup joined in. Now I’m here, blinking in the starlight. Now I’m here, suddenly I see. Standing here, it’s all so clear, I’m where I’m meant to be.

   They looked at each other before continuing together. And at last I see the light. And it’s like the fog has lifted. And at last I see the light. And it’s like, the sky is new. And it’s warm and real and bright, and the world has somehow shifted. All at once, everything looks different, now that I see you. Riley blushed at how close they were before they moved apart for the second half.

   Hiccup continued. All those years, chasing down a daydream. All those years, living in a blur. All that time never truly seeing things, the way they were. Now she’s here, shining in the starlight. Now she’s here, suddenly I know, if she’s here, it’s crystal clear, I’m where I’m meant to go.

   They rejoined, Hiccup even grabbing her hand as they sang together. And at last I see the light, and it’s like the fog has lifted. And at last I see the light. And it’s like the sky is new. And it’s warm and real and bright, and the world has somehow shifted. The song slowed down, Hiccup noticing Riley had a stray hair and tucking it behind her ear. All at once, everything is different, now that I see you.

   Riley blushed at Hiccups gesture, noticing his cheeks were red as well. Which meant he was nervous too. Now that I… Their faces were a hairs width from each other and Riley honestly wanted to close the distance.

   See you. They finished together, staying close. They only pulled apart when the crowd cheered like crazy. Both walked off the stage, Riley daring to grab Hiccups hand.

   “I-I need to tell you something.” She confessed.

   Hiccup smirked. “I think I have an idea of what you’re about to say.” Riley playfully slapped his arm, but leaned up as he leaned down. Their lips once again so close.

   “Haddock!” An angry voice came. Hiccup groaned.

   “Can’t you see I’m occupied at the moment?” Riley turned to see Mr. Black, the boss of Berk Records. “Haddock, it says quite clearly in Section 7, Subparagraph B, line 6 of your contract with us that you have to sing what we give you to sing. And last I checked, the song you were bound by contract to sing at this concert was Talk Dirty to Me, not that load of rubbish you sang up on stage.”

   Hiccup smirked, putting an arm around Riley’s waist. “Mr. Black, I’m not seeing a problem here.”

   “The problem is that you broke your contract. And according to your deal with our record company, breaking your contract results in direct termination of your employment with us. Meaning you are out of a job, Haddock. Good luck finding someone to produce the rubbish you call music.”

   “He already has.” Manny Lunar interrupted. “In fact, I offered him a job a few days ago, but he declined given he wanted to let your contract with him end before joining us. He could’ve embarrassed your company by joining mine, but he saved you the public scandal. Now, if you’ll go Pitch, I can begin to discuss a contract with my newest artist, Hiccup Haddock.”

   Pitch glowered but admitted defeat, walking away. Manny smiled at Hiccup and Riley. “Actually, come to think of it, I have a previous engagement. Hiccup, what do you say we meet tomorrow to discuss the contract. 10 o'clock?”

   “10 o'clock.” Hiccup agreed. Manny gave the duo a knowing smile and walked off.

   “So, what do you think the paparazzi will think when they see Riley Corona with Hiccup Haddock?”

   Hiccup groaned. “Oh, I can see it now, the tabloids, the monitoring of every detail of our relationship.”

   “Relationship?” Riley blushed.

   “If we were about to kiss back there, and I’m guessing we were, I’d suspect we’d be getting together sooner or later.” Hiccup admitted.

   Riley smiled and leaned up, quickly kissing him. She smiled at the blush she earned. “Come on, I know a great coffee place near here. And what do you say to making a scene when we leave? Give them something to write about?”

   Hiccup smiled before wrapping an arm around Riley’s shoulder. “Let’s do it.”

[crazedlunatik]

Note: All of the photos are in a slide show at the bottom.

This year Michelle and I planned to go back to her hometown. We would take Ba (what we call her dad and the name for dad in Chinese) and Carter. I was not excited about the trip but I told her I would go if she wanted me to. Michele began looking for train tickets and was telling me we’d be on the train for 22 hours and I was not happy but again I said I’d go if she wanted me to. She went back to looking and I wondered when and if we were going. She said no more about it so I just kept wondering.

On January 22nd we had a half-day of school. Our break for Chinese New year had started. I finally asked if we were going to her hometown and when. Michelle had found tickets going but all the tickets coming back in time for us to get back to work had sold out. So we could go but we couldn’t get back, which meant we couldn’t go. I was feeling both relieved and feeling a little bad. I know CNY is a time for the family to be together and that made me feel bad for Michelle, Ba, and the rest of the family. I also know that I did not want to be on a train for 22 hours so I felt glad for me.

We started talking about things to do during the break. I was pretty insistent on going to the Lantern Show at OCT Harbour. We decided we would do that on Thursday, January 23rd. We also talked about Fairy Lake and our beach house in Huizhou. We were feeling like we could really do anything. The city was already pretty quiet, it gets that way during Chinese New Year. Most people don’t actually come from Shenzhen and they were headed home to be with family. People were still here and some of the shops were open but it was considerably quieter.

Now, we had been hearing about a new virus already but we weren’t paying much attention. Nothing had really been happening that seemed alarming. I mean, just google the flu infection and death rates if you want to see our perspective. So we were a little surprised when we woke up and heard Wuhan was being locked down. We still weren’t worried and honestly, we weren’t alone. I noticed that more people were wearing face masks but people always wear face masks in China. It is a normal sight that you get used to. Still, I noticed more people in them than normal. It wasn’t everyone though and my photos from the Lantern Festival can show you that. It was a marvelous day of wandering around and a splendid night at the always fun Lantern festival. They make the various lanterns new every year and it is pretty amazing.

We woke up on Friday to announced closures. Museums, theme parks, and the Lantern Festival were shut down. We were very glad we had gone to the Lantern Festival the night before. People began talking about wearing masks on WeChat. On Saturday, we dug out our masks.

A lot of people have talked about the food supply. There were a few days that fresh vegetables and meat were sold out. Canned and boxed goods began to disappear. It was a little scary but you need to realize that this was the start of Chinese New Year. Most people are off and no deliveries are made, shops that stay open estimate what they will need and then they make do. This isn’t usually a huge deal because people aren’t rushing out to stockpile food but with the canceling of events and celebrations, people were.

Then our school announced that we would delay our face to face school start and would be giving online lessons. A lot of my co-workers started making plans to leave. Some were leaving to get away from the coronavirus, others were leaving for some fun location, and others were worried that the virus would end up making it hard to leave China. Michelle and I talked about leaving. We both wanted to and didn’t want to. I want to explain our thinking.

Reasons to go:

It’s a little scary hearing about a virus 24/7 and being in the country that it originates from. A lot of other people were leaving. We thought we could go somewhere fun and relaxing. Maybe it would feel safer.

Reasons to stay:

We were still going out and about. There is food here. The streets were empty. I felt like running online classes would be easier from home. Most importantly I was terrified of my fellow travelers. I think people are good most of the time but people + fear makes them not so great. I was worried I would travel with an infected person. Michelle and I can wear a mask but Carter won’t wear one, even for a picture opportunity (we’ve tried). Not only that but he really isn’t old enough to wear one. They warn that there is a risk of suffocation. Also, how do we feed an always hungry baby without removing the damn thing anyway? That was really the main reason we stayed, Carter. I just could not justify taking a trip with hundreds of people that could put him at risk. At home, we could better control his exposure to people. I know people with small children that left. I am not saying it couldn’t be done and I am not thinking they made a mistake. They made their decision and it differed from ours. I have found that I feel safest at home with my family. Traveling is fine for limited trips but all the wording implied that it could be indeterminate (and so far it is exactly that… an indeterminate return to normal). For now, my home is right here in Shenzhen.

Since we made that decision, masks became mandatory. At about the time the mask supply was all sold out. We are still waiting for new masks to hit the shelves. This was complicated because people that make masks were off for the Chinese New Year. In fact, Chinese New Year was extended by the government to try and get a handle on the virus before everybody went back to work. We are still in the process of people coming back to Shenzhen and things are still mostly closed.

Hong Kong began closing itself off from Shenzhen, a little at a time. They are now closed to us unless we want a 14-day mandatory quarantine. Airlines are canceling flights to China and Hong Kong on a regular basis. We are pretty much stuck in Shenzhen until this ends.

Our school went from a February 17th return to the school building to a March 2nd return (estimated). Believe me when I say I am hoping there are no more delays. Online school is hard to pull off when your students are 6 and 7. You need to give them meaningful work but not too much of it because they are not independent. A lot of my parents do not speak English and helping is a real challenge. What this all means is that I am doing 3 times the work then I would if I was sitting in my classroom.

Now let’s talk about the virus a bit.

The Ncov-2019 virus had impeccable timing. Striking at Lunar New Year, commonly known as Chinese New Year in a lot of the world. The biggest holiday in China. It is very very important here. It is the one time of year that nearly everyone gets a nice long break from work. It’s a time to be with family and celebrate together. It’s a time for the constantly working nation of China to relax.

You may not know that a lot of people don’t get to see their family at any other time of year. For some people, this includes their children. They go to the city to work and send everything home to their parents. Those parents care for their grandchildren. Think about that…. it’s an important time of year.

It’s called the largest human migration, China’s population moves. People head home for the most part. A few spend this time traveling away from China but that is not normal. Keep that in mind when you hear about the quarantines of cities and large populations. Some people didn’t get to go home because of the crisis. A whole year of not seeing their families or children. Some people went home and now can’t go back to work. They travel to the cities so they can make enough money to live on. Chinese people work hard and this was their break time.

Michelle told me that when they closed down Wuhan a lot of people escaped before it happened. I thought about it for a second. Thinking kinda negative thoughts but then I thought ‘what would I have wanted to do?’ I would have wanted to grab my family and leave. I would have been very tempted to run, the very thing thousands of people did. I am not downplaying that this action might have helped the virus spread. I am just saying I can understand it. People regardless of where they come from react in certain ways when they are afraid. People running? Seems like a flight or fight type of response to me. Would you want to be stuck in a city with 30,000 confirmed cases?

I have been hearing all kinds of rumors about the virus and all kinds of awful things about China and Chinese people online. I have lived here for 5 years and I have a soft spot for Cina. I married a wonderful Chinese woman and we have an awesome sone together. When I married her, I married into her family. I have a lot of friends that are Chinese. I have great Chinese co-workers that have helped me all through my 5-year journey. And don’t forget all of my wonderful students that have been mostly Chinese. Just like everywhere there are some people who aren’t great but that is always the exception. The government is…. well I think I will not be throwing rocks (have you seen my glass house?). Most of my experiences here have been good and my life has definitely improved because I moved here. I say this to let you know that you need to leave the hurtful memes and articles filled with unverifiable rumors off your social media. Notice that I am not asking. I am expecting you to be a better person. Right now what the Chinese people need are positive thoughts and support from the international community. Be the voice you would want to hear if you were in a similar situation.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Stay healthy and Safe,

Michael.

Chinese New Year and a Virus Note: All of the photos are in a slide show at the bottom. This year Michelle and I planned to go back to her hometown.

[marketingadvisorvietnam]

LGBT troupes set Saigon stages alight with cabaret-bingo shows

Marketing Advisor đã viết bài trên http://www.ticvietnam.vn/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-13/

LGBT troupes set Saigon stages alight with cabaret-bingo shows

A popular cultural entertainment event presented by LGBT people mocks social evils often, but it is not officially recognized.

A group of gay and transwomen are making up, but this is not your typical drag queen show. Their cabaret act incorporates a form of bingo, which is popular in this country.

The members of Huong Nam loto troupe are in a room on the second floor at Kasa Café, District 10, HCMC, immersed in their usual weekly pre-show routines. 

Some focus on drawing precise brush lines on their cheeks, others rehearse while putting on foundation, and there is non-stop banter. They are all gay men or transwomen, and they pitch their deep voices higher and their body language is overtly feminine. 

The two oldest performers, Nga (mirror in hand, left) and Phung (to her left) are getting dolled up for the show and so is a young performer sitting on stage. He will be the only one going up on stage with a pixie cut.  

Bingo or loto, as it is called in Vietnam, is especially popular in the southern countryside.

The Huong Nam troupe chooses a different theme for every show. Before the performance, they sell to the audience a paper with a jumble of bingo numbers for VND10,000 or $0.43 each. The performers then sing songs based on the theme of that day’s show – acoustic or ballad night, for instance – interspersed with the bingo numbers.

The audience listens attentively to the lyrics and crosses out the numbers the performers call out. The person with the winning number is called to the stage and given a gift. The process is then repeated.

In France, the game is known as le lotto (or loto). In Germany, this game (called tombola) was used in the 19th century as an educational tool to teach children math, spelling and even history.

Loto originated in the 16th century as the Italian game of bingo, which then spread to England, France and other parts of Europe in the 18th century. It came to Vietnam with the French in the 19th century. Those were also its heydays, especially in the southwestern provinces, when everyone played it during the Lunar New Year festival.

SuSu, leader of the Huong Nam troupe, told VnExpress International: “Bingo or loto performances initially involved just traditional music. They would play traditional instruments like the drum and flute. Today, modern music has been added.”

In southwestern rural areas, troupes would simply find a vacant spot and set up a loto stage and perform. City-based troupes like Huong Nam (meaning Scent of the South) mainly perform in cafés, public fairs or stadiums.

The amount of work and creativity that goes into each show is enormous since it is hard enough to engage the audience with just the performance. Putting random numbers into the music is much harder.

Back in the ‘green room,’ the artists make fun of each other’s attractive and not-so-attractive features, but also empower each other. The camaraderie and affection are palpable.

Rising millennial

“Slim” Little Tu, as everyone in the troupe endearingly calls the chubby 20-year-old, is the youngest performer in the group. Tu has been in loto for two years. But he already boasts an impressive CV: he played a supporting role in “TransViet Laugh”, a stars-only version of Vinh Long Television’s popular comedy reality show and has been on “Ganh Hat Ngan Hoa”, Vietnam’s first ever TV loto show.

Describing himself as “peculiarly unattractive,” Little Tu says other intriguing things too.

“My parents have come to see me perform a couple of times. My mom is very proud of me. One time she posted a picture of me dressed up as a woman on Facebook with the caption ‘My dear son’.” He wondered with a giggle how people reacted to that post.

As he spoke, the banter continued.

“Do I look like a girl now?” he asked after the last brush of powder.

“You look like a girl even without makeup,” the makeup artist responded.

When asked about his romantic interest, he said: “I go with my emotions. It doesn’t really matter if it’s a boy or girl.”

Yumi, 27, has been a loto artist for seven years. She came to Saigon from An Giang Province in the Mekong Delta five months ago.

“I came across loto by chance; there was a loto group near my house,” she said.

“I have artistic blood in me, so I accompanied the group. At first I was just a ticket seller, but one day they were short of performers and asked me to audition. My interest in loto began then.”

She also sells stuff on social media for some extra income.

Like any struggling artist, she was unable to make ends meet at first. She used to get paid VND60,000 (less than $3) for a night’s performance. She makes VND500,000-600,000 ($21.40 – $25.70) now.

“When I was learning how to do this, I had to go to an Internet café and download music on my phone to learn the songs. I didn’t have easy access to the Internet.”

Yumi’s parents were not happy with her decision at first. For a change in Vietnam, she is referring to her job rather than gender or sexual orientation: “My mother wanted me to have a steady job like teaching. But then once they saw I’m destined to be a loto performer, they approved and encouraged me.”

Revered senior loto artists

While the youngest artist is relaxed about the show coming up, the two oldest performers are not. They are meticulously rehearsing their lines, improvising, accompanied by the guitarist. They debate when to hit a high note and when to stress the lyrics, and jot down the changes on crib sheets.

Nga is one of them.

With a background in reformed theater (cai luong), she has been a performing artist for 30 years, and doing loto for over 20. She was swept off her feet by a group of male loto artists playing the song lang, a percussion instrument used in traditional music.

That was the moment that marked her switch to loto from traditional folk music.

She says: “I first performed loto in Tay Ninh city [in the southwestern]. And then I went all the way to the north and back to perform.

“There was a hiatus after a while when loto performances with traditional music was not as popular and it fizzled out. Then troupes formed by young people brought life back to the loto scene and people started to be curious about it again. One of them is Huong Nam. They invited me to join, and here I am.”

Nga and Phung, the other senior, were first invited to be guest performers, but they decided to stay after taking a great liking to the group members.

Nga continues: “I was planning to be a guest performer, but then I began to adore the Huong Nam loto artists and their stories and how they are dedicated to the craft and willing to listen and learn from their seniors.”

Nga’s family – parents and other relatives – attends her shows when they can.

“Because I’m like this, I can’t have a family of my own,” she says, gesturing at herself with her eyes. She identifies herself as a woman without revealing her sexual orientation.

In all her years in the business Nga has thought the biggest challenge as a loto artist is getting recognition and respect, especially from officials.

The art of loto is received positively by audiences and often employed as a tool to ridicule social evils. However, it has not been officially recognized for several reasons, including possibly its LGBT links.

The late Professor Tran Van Khe once said: “Loto is not purely entertainment but also meets the demand for cultural enjoyment of the Vietnamese, thereby contributing to transmitting and preserving proverbs, idioms, folk songs which are considered cultural heritages and preventing them from dying out.”

Khe, a revered icon on the musical landscape, was a musicologist and an honorary member of UNESCO’s International Music Council.

Trans or not

Linh Anh (sitting, right) is fully supported by her partner.

“My family knew I was a girl. They encouraged me to be true to myself. When I was 18, my mom asked whether I wanted to get a wife.

It was clearly a rhetorical question because her mother already knew the answer. “I want to BE a wife, I told her.”

When she is not singing Loto on stage, Linh Anh is a student at the HCMC Dance School majoring in choreography and gives dance lessons to kids in elementary and middle schools.

The 27-years-old hugely admires transpeople who have undergone surgery, some of whom are her fellow performers in Huong Nam. 

Boi Nhi (sitting, left) is a favorite performer of Huong Nam troupe. When she is not busy with loto, Nhi also works as a freelance actress and health consultant at My Home Clinic, an LGBTQI-friendly clinic.

At an LGBT event hosted by the U.S. Consulate General in August, she said that hormones used by transgender individuals are not regulated in Vietnam. “Transgenders like me who use these hormones are not protected by law,” Nhi said. Homosexuals who want to become transgenders often look up to those who have already had sex reassignment surgery and seek their advice on hormone use, the actress said.

“We have no idea what these pills contain. Because the Ministry of Health does not inspect and supervise these hormone pills, we as transgenders have to resort to advice from successfully transgendered people for medical advice and support so that we can eventually find ourselves just like they did,” Nhi said.

“I seriously cannot go through what they went through. But I’m a woman anyway, so I don’t feel the need to have surgery. Besides, I like to transform myself and make others eager to see my transformation. If I have surgery, I won’t have that ability,” Linh Anh added.

Unlike many other 20s-something artists, she cannot sing modern music. “I am trained in cai luong (reformed theater), so I try to do contemporary dance to cai luong music.”

After everyone puts on their best dress and completes their rehearsal, they go backstage. Yumi prays to the tutelary gods of the arts before every show, a spiritual practice that is believed to sustain the artists during their performance.

Individual performers walk out to the stage and bow to and wave at the audience gracefully as the host introduces each of them as if it were a pageant. The audience greets them with raucous cheers.

Yumi and some of the others sell loto tickets to the audience, walking down the aisles between chairs, running into many obvious regulars.

About a decade ago loto tickets were only VND1,000-2,000 each. At Kasa café, a ticket is VND10,000  ($0.43) and there are people who buy many tickets.

The show begins.

In the art’s heydays, Loto artists performed around the clock across the country. They dived into the heat of melodies and chants to the cheers of the audience, mostly farmers and children.

In a modern show, the audience members are from all walks of life and of all age groups. Every five minutes or so there is resounding laughter as the artists make a joke amidst a song or stage a comedy skit.

A kid in the audience, eyes wide, asks loudly: “Why are those men wearing dresses? It’s so weird!”

His father admonishes him: “Don’t say that. They are women.” 

Story by Sen 

Photos by Thanh Nguyen

window._io_config=window._io_config||;window._io_config["0.2.0"]=window._io_config["0.2.0"]||[];window._io_config["0.2.0"].push(page_url:"https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-3838606.html",page_url_canonical:"https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-3838606.html",page_title:"LGBT troupes set Saigon stages alight with cabaret-bingo shows ",page_type:"article",page_language:"en",article_authors:[],article_categories:["Travel & Life"],article_subcategories:["Travel & Life"],article_type:"longread",article_word_count:"101",article_publication_date:"Fri, 21 Dec 18 04:12:00 +0000");(function(d,s,id)var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(d.getElementById(id))return;js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="http://connect.facebook.net/vi_VN/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.0";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);(document,'script','facebook-jssdk'));window._io_config=window._io_config||;window._io_config["0.2.0"]=window._io_config["0.2.0"]||[];window._io_config["0.2.0"].push(page_url:"https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-3838606.html",page_url_canonical:"https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-3838606.html",page_title:"LGBT troupes set Saigon stages alight with cabaret-bingo shows ",page_type:"article",page_language:"en",article_authors:[],article_categories:["Travel & Life"],article_subcategories:["Travel & Life"],article_type:"longread",article_word_count:"101",article_publication_date:"Fri, 21 Dec 18 04:12:00 +0000");(function(d,s,id)var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(d.getElementById(id))return;js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="http://connect.facebook.net/vi_VN/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.0";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);(document,'script','facebook-jssdk'));

[toddlergirldresspatterns-blog]

Last time of the holiday

     The winter vacation is coming to an end so soon, I feel that the time is short, and I haven’t played enough, so that the last few days of the winter vacation should have been closed. The result is to play here non-stop, play there, catch the tail of the winter vacation, It’s easy to play for a few days, of course, because the winter vacation has already been completed ahead of schedule. [Shandong Art Museum Exhibition] One week before the start of the school year, when my grandmother asked me where I wanted to go, I said, "Go to the Shandong Art Museum. I haven’t been there for a long time." So I had breakfast, our family. Going out together. When I came, I really didn’t know what activities were in the Spring Festival of the Shandong Art Museum. I came to know that there is a exhibition of famous Chinese contemporary painters from Shandong Province, “Dan Qing Lun’s New Year’s Going Home”, as soon as you walk into the hall of the museum, you can see When I arrived at a large red fire showboard that occupied the wall of the hall, I immediately felt the atmosphere of the Chinese New Year.

The exhibition "Danqing Lunar New Year's Going Home" is said to have invited 36 famous artists from Shandong Province to contribute to their hometown fathers. It shows the brilliant achievements of Shandong-based artists, deepens the blood and family relationship of Qilu art world, highlights the cultural heritage of Confucius and Mencius, and adds luster to the hometown's new year.

When I walked through the progress hall that day, I picked up the digital camera and watched it. The pictures I took were naturally my favorite. This exhibition was really good, especially those with a rustic style, which is very traditional. In the children's painting exhibition area, I took the camera and kept shooting until the adults called me over and over again, and I left there.

[Tangding Qianfoshan] Before the winter vacation, that is, after the end of the final exam, Grandpa took me to Qianfoshan. When I went to climb the mountain, I obviously felt a word "tired". I was tired and tired, physical strength. Not as good as before, it seems that it is not good to not exercise!

During the winter vacation, in order to exercise, Grandpa and Dad took me to climb the Fohui Mountain. From the site of the Kaifo Temple in the Great Buddha Head to the summit of Buddha Hui, the mountain road was far away, but the physical strength seemed to have recovered a lot. . During the Spring Festival, my grandfather and grandmother went to the Qianfoshan New Year Prayer Meeting, but there was no mountain climbing.

Seeing that my weight is constantly increasing during the holidays, I also want to climb more mountains and activities. On the day before the opening of the journal (February 9th), I proposed to my grandfather to go to Qianfo Mountain to climb the mountain. Grandpa Saying that I have to climb to the top, I am happy to say: "Okay!".

That day, the innocence was good, the blue sky and white clouds, the sun was shining. After sleeping for a nap, I went to Qianfoshan with my grandfather. We walked along Panshan Road to Lishan Temple on the mountainside. After a short break and a tour, we climbed the mountain along the stone road. The tourists continued to climb all the way. Although it was difficult to climb upwards, the pace did not stop. The summit of Foshan. Standing on the top of the mountain, overlooking the distance, the weather is clear, the smog is not present, and the entire spring city is at the moment.

I have never walked through the newly built wooden plank road on Qianfo Mountain. My grandfather specially led me to go from start to finish. The plank road is built on the mountain. It is located in the south of the mountaintop. It is wide and flat. There is a handrail on the side of the plank road. I am afraid of heights. It is also very calm. From the boardwalk to the stone steps to the halfway up the mountain, the downhill mountain road went down to the "Miller's seated Buddha Square", I played a variety of baby carriages for a while until the sky darkened, only to leave the square, park, reluctantly Car home.

[Science and Technology Museum Experiences Technology Charm] The day before the start of the school, taking the last rest day, I asked my grandfather to take me to the Shandong Science and Technology Museum to play. I used to go to the Science and Technology Museum several times a year ago. Now I have more time to study and less time to play. So I have fewer and fewer times to go to the Science and Technology Museum. I still like to go to the Science and Technology Museum in my heart, where I can play. Can experience, you can learn a lot of knowledge.

At 9:30 in the morning, when we arrived at the Science and Technology Museum, there were already many children visiting the museum. The "Aerospace Simulation Launch, Operation, and Return Demonstration" desk in the lobby on the first floor was working. The front desk was filled with children and accompanied. Parents.

After watching the satellite return to the earth, my grandfather and I went straight to the fourth floor of the Science and Technology Museum by electric escalator. Unfortunately, the fourth floor of the Science and Technology Museum is being opened, not open yet. My favorite "rolling ball" and "excavator" can't play. We had to return to the third and second floor exhibition halls of the Science and Technology Museum. The children on the third floor of the "Civil Airliner Simulated Cockpit" and "Motor Vehicle Simulated Cockpit" have already arranged a long queue. I chose to give up, and in front of the other stands in the two exhibition halls, one by one. Exhibition and hands-on operation. Although not very happy, but also play a lot of fun. Just played until 11 o'clock noon, before leaving the Science and Technology Museum.

[hananagrams-blog]

Happy New Year!

As it is technically Lunar New Year’s Day today, I thought I would turn over a new leaf and tackle this blog promise I made to so many of you before I left (and over and over again since). 

I’ve now been in Vietnam for just over a week, the whole of it so far in Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon. It’s consistently 90 degrees and humid. I packed for spending time in a conservative culture and was shocked to find most of the clothes worn here wouldn’t look out of place in a resort in Florida or the Mediterranean, so one of my first tasks was finding a clothes market nearby. I have never been so thrilled to put on a pair of shorts!

It’s been a bit of a slow week. Compared to my whirlwind tour of Japan earlier this month, this chunk feels almost lethargic. Part of that is due to the fact that my plan at the moment is still to stay in Vietnam for the three month duration of my visa, part is due to the limited nature of tourist things to do in this city (compared to a place like Kyoto, for example), part is staying in the backpacker district where nightlife is the bigger draw, but probably the largest part is that I’m here during Tet- the New Years celebration.

It’s funny- I’ve asked almost everyone I’ve come across, Westerner and Vietnamese alike, what the actual dates are for the holiday and what happens in HCMC on the days themselves, and no one seems to have a clear picture. Some places closed last week and will remain closed until the second week of February, others just closed yesterday and will be open Feb 1, and still others seem like they won’t close at all. Some people say Ho Chi Minh is awash in flower festivals and locals offering you rice wine, and others say it becomes a ghost town. So far, my experience has led me to think both- some areas of the city look completely deserted, but the park near Ho Chi Minh Square boasts several blocks of beautiful flower and light designs all in honor of the Year of the Rooster. Two nights ago I convinced some friends from a nearby hostel to come with me, two Danish girls named Julie and Emily and one Frenchman named Michael, and as soon as we arrived Emily exclaimed, “So this is where all the Vietnamese went!” It’s true- the park was filled with thousands of Vietnamese, dressed to the nines and taking selfies in front of ornate flower arrangements.

Other activities so far in Vietnam: I’ve visited the Gustav Eiffel-designed post office, the Notre Dame look-alike cathedral, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, History Museum, and War Remnants Museum (that was a difficult one), the Jade Emperor Pagoda, the Cu Chi Tunnels (as it turns out I have some mild claustrophobia) and the famous central market; I’ve swum in a rooftop pool/bar where I first stayed; gone out with a mix of Vietnamese, Swedes, Danes, Dutch, Americans, Canadians, French, British, Australians, Scottish, Swiss, Austrians and Kiwis (most of whom took the opportunity to ask WHAT is going on in American politics these days, to which I can only respond with a heartfelt and honest “I don’t know, and I’m so sorry”); ridden several motorbikes; eaten an array of incredible Vietnamese food (and some that was less so- I could have done without the block of cooked blood in soup a few days ago); finished a silly amount of books; watched a lot of Australian Open tennis (my Australian bunkmate asked “Oh... is it 2009 again?” when told who is playing in the finals this weekend), walked the streets of HCMC, marveled at all the backpackers; fallen in love with a smoothie place in an alley; learned not to be afraid of getting hit by motorbikes while crossing the street (the only way to exist here); began research into Work Aways elsewhere in Vietnam for the upcoming weeks; connected with the friend and former roommate of my uncle’s nephew and his friends (who cooked an incredible Italian meal for New Years Eve last night and then took me to my first HCMC club); made tentative plans to travel to Mui Ne in early February; considered buying a motorbike (still undecided there); and finally, FINALLY, wrote a blog post.

Phew! More to come- interspersed with Japan highlights, which I have not forgotten.

[touristguidebuzz]

China’s Citizens Are Celebrating Lunar New Year By Traveling Abroad

Instead of celebrating the Lunar New Year in China, many Chinese are traveling to other destinations during the holiday. Those include Kyoto, Japan, pictured here. Pedro Szekely / Flickr

Skift Take: As Chinese New Year travel continues to grow, are destinations all over the world doing enough to capture a slice of that market? Some like Japan, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates appear to be going out of their way to welcome visitors, but there may be opportunities for others.

— Hannah Sampson

Shi Ying won’t be making the traditional pilgrimage back to Shanghai to celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday with her extended family. Instead, they’re all going to Japan for shopping and sightseeing.

That new custom lets her family bypass the mobs, clogged roads and subways, lousy customer services — and boredom — that can mark holidays at home. During the past few celebrations, Shi and her relatives left China for Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the U.S.

“The last thing my parents want for the Chinese New Year is a cheerless holiday with the three of us staying home in Shanghai,” said Shi, 30, who works for a non-governmental organization in Beijing. “Going overseas during the Spring Festival costs about the same as going to some domestic tourist spots.”

The essence of China’s seven-day holiday, also called Spring Festival, is morphing as rising incomes and an expanding network of international flights prompt more people to go abroad — the equivalent of Americans choosing Bermuda over the Midwest for Thanksgiving. Outbound travel for the holiday break is expected to top a record 6 million passengers, with airlines hauling near-full loads to Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia.

“Chinese New Year is a major international peak for the Chinese airlines,” said Steve Saxon, a Shanghai-based partner at consultant McKinsey & Co. “For many, this is one of the only two opportunities to take a long holiday during the year.”

‘Swim in Money’

The Spring Festival shuts down the world’s second-biggest economy for a week as hundreds of millions of factory and office workers leave their adopted homes in Shenzhen or Beijing to reconnect with their ancestral ones, often on the opposite side of the country. Thousands more expatriates return.

This year’s celebration, from Jan. 27 through Feb. 2, will see the biggest mass migration of people on Earth. More than 414 million Chinese will ride in planes and trains — as if everyone in the European Union was on the move.

About 58.3 million people are expected to fly, representing a 10 percent increase from last year, according to estimates by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Chinese airlines generate about 20 percent of their revenue during this period, Saxon said.

Chinese will travel to 174 destinations outside mainland China for an average of 9.2 days during the holiday period, according to online travel service Ctrip.com International Ltd.

“Any airline should be able to swim in money during a Chinese traveling holiday,” said Will Horton, a Hong Kong-based analyst at CAPA Centre for Aviation.

GDP Growth

Fueling those excursions is an economy growing annually by at least 6.7 percent since 1990, giving people more money to spend. Disposable income for urban households rose 165 percent from 2006 to 2015, reaching about 31,195 yuan ($4,551), according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics.

Instead of going back to her hometown in the northeast China forest, Xi Chunhui is going to Macau, Singapore and Hong Kong for 11 days with a friend.

“The Spring Festival celebration is the same old thing every year at home,” said Xi, 27, an editor for an internet portal in Beijing. “I don’t think me not being there with them will kill the mood.”

Going sightseeing abroad also is a consequence of the government’s generations-long policy restricting most families to one child, said Catherine Lim, a Singapore-based analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence. A more-affluent younger generation now wants to see the world, she said.

“When your entire family size shrinks, there really isn’t much to do” at home, Lim said. “They want to spend more money — particularly the younger generation — on experiencing new destinations rather than buying the biggest Hermes bag.”

China is the biggest source of overseas travelers in the world, with 128 million people spending $292 billion on their trips in 2015, according to the World Tourism Organization.

Discounts Ending

That’s been a boon to the nation’s airlines, with demand running so high that discounts are ending as many as 50 days before takeoff, according to Ctrip.com. The top-dollar tickets help carriers make up for the massive price cuts offered during slow seasons.

China Southern Airlines Co., Asia’s biggest carrier, added nearly 3,600 flights during this peak travel season — and expanded services to Australia and New Zealand, the Guangzhou-based airline said. Subsidiary Xiamen Airlines Co. is adding more than 100 flights to Southeast Asia destinations such as Bali and the Maldives, said Hu Nan, a manager for international business.

China Eastern Airlines Corp., based in Shanghai, added 400 flights starting this month mostly to connect second-tier cities with Okinawa, Japan; Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand; and Cebu, Philippines.

“All the airlines in China, not just us, are throwing in all resources to brace for the Chinese New Year travel,” Hu said. “There is no slack there.”

Easier Visas

On the destination sides, Japan, Australia and even Israel are rolling out the welcome mats for Chinese tourists by offering multiple-year, multiple-entry visas to Chinese passport holders. The United Arab Emirates is going a step further by offering visas upon arrival, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.

Chinese visitors to Japan jumped 28 percent last year to 6.4 million — the most from any country, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

When they arrived, they spent 1.47 trillion yen ($12.8 billion), according to the separate Japan Tourism Agency. Chinese perceive Japanese electronics, luxury items and consumer goods like cosmetics and toothpaste to be of better quality than those made at home.

Shi’s family will fly to Japan on Jan. 27 for a seven-day trip in Kyoto and Tokyo. Besides the tourist attractions, they plan some serious shopping — for cosmetics, clothes, rice cookers and high-technology toilet seats.

“My parents really get a kick out of traveling during the Chinese New Year,” she said. “Let’s hope I can cap my spending for the whole trip at 80,000 yuan.”

— With assistance from Kyunghee Park, Chris Cooper, and Lee Miller

©2017 Bloomberg L.P.

This article was written by Bloomberg News from Bloomberg and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.

[skellebonez]

What about prompt #3 with the Macaque/Tang pairing? That one art is getting me REALLY curious about what their potential dynamic would be like

I had an idea a long while ago about what could happen to Macaque after episode 9, and I have my Deadpool-seque immortality HC for him as well, so I’m combining those ideas and setting this between episodes 9-10 since we don’t know how long MK was training with Wukong after their fight. This is also very different from how I would write them if they met outside of this very specific circumstance.

Warning: vague descriptions of his injuries, descriptions of his healing abilities, mentions of emotional manipulation in canon (none to Tang himself so you don't have to worry about that here).

I’ve been waiting to get to know you from the moment I first saw you.

There were worse positions that Six-Eared Macaque could have landed himself in, especially after his fight with Sun Wukong’s successor, so all things considered... the immortal monkey was incredibly lucky at the moment.

He was in a very soft bed, firm enough to not give too much when he moved but laid on top of extra plush bedding now that he wasn’t bleeding as much as he had been it was much more comfortable. Half of his body was still coated in bandages, though they were more makeshift casts wrapped around items to keep his limbs still than anything else at this point.

Only his right arm and head had managed to make it out mostly unscathed, both fully healed by now. This meant he wasn’t completely unable to entertain himself, a thing called an “e-reader” held in his hand. And as the door to the house he was in opened he thought about his luck.

There was no way this man didn’t know who he was when he found Macaque. Even if the Kid managed to be taken in, apparently his tale hadn’t been completely lost. This house, what little he saw of it when dragged inside and through the halls, was filled with books and art of the Journey. Not everywhere, but just enough to be noticeable. And the recognition on the man’s face when he found him, laying in the rain soaked ground and covered in blood and mud and looking like death itself was instantaneous.

And yet, despite that... and despite the pictures of the Monkey Kid himself he saw on the walls...

“Macaque, you’re awake,” the man spoke, voice still soft and tentative but with a layer of genuine relief and excitement under it. His name was Tang. “I hope you’re feeling as well as you could be.”

Macaque took note of the fact that he didn’t say “better” or just “well” as he lowered the e-reader, bring pulled from the genre known as science-fiction. “As well as he could be”. He seemed mindful of both his condition and his abilities at all times.

“I suppose you could say that,” He said evenly, watching as Tang prepared some kind of medicine for him. He never bothered asking what it was, just some kind of pills and ointment that numbed him enough to make the pain manageable. “I take it nothing happened today.”

It felt odd. Talking like this. He hadn’t just talked to someone in centuries, not really. But what was there to lie about here? Tang knew that he had manipulated the Kid, he said as much to him when he woke. Tang knew of his history, knew who he was and was apparently angry that he hadn’t elaborated on the fact he could have been the same Macaque from the story and not another one (given the story greatly exaggerated his death... or, well, exaggerated that he had stayed dead).

Tang knew he was evil. Knew that he hurt someone he cared about. Knew that he would have been fine eventually if he left him outside, if in a great deal more pain. So why take him in? Why wash his wounds? Why dress them? Why feed him and give him things to entertain him through his bedridden days? Why talk to him, why ask him about the accuracy of the stories?

He was at first annoyed by all his questions but after a day he had given in and just talked and... and he never realized how much he missed just talking to someone. But he still didn’t know why.

He never built up anything to ask. Tang never explained. It lingered between them like a soft breeze, always there and threatening to grow strong. But not causing any disturbance, not yet.

“No, but there are rumors about something going on with the Demon Bull King...” Tang trailed off, genuine worry peppering his tone. It wasn’t as if Macaque was particularly interested or as if he could actually do anything with the state of his healing as it was... but something about that tone made something sink in his chest and he didn’t like that.

Tang was... different, from most humans he had met. Not entirely unique, he wasn’t that different from others, but still. It had been a long time since he met someone who would talk back to him and tell him to “shut up and let me help you”. Reprimand him, him, for trying to leave the bed before his bones reset. Who took his sass with an unbelieving raised eyebrow and a “yes, I totally buy that” and even had the gall to toss food like pieces of candy into his open mouth when Macaque went on an angry rant just because he could. He knew all about him already and he didn’t take any of his bullshit.

He hated to admit it... but he didn’t hate this human. Tang. He didn’t hate Tang.

Neither said anything as Tang handed him the pills, pain killers he called them, and water once Macaque put them in his mouth. Neither said anything as Tang tested the spots on his arms and legs where there were breaks, his ribs long since beating them both to healing, testing to see exactly where anything needed to be reset or rewrapped due to Macaque’s movements in his sleep.

It had been a long week and a half... Macaque almost didn’t want them to heal.

Healing meant he would have to...

“At the rate you’re going,” Tang started with a mirthful laugh, looking equal parts happy and sad. “You’ll be out of here by the end of the week.

Macaque said nothing, setting aside his water and scowling for a moment. He mulled the thought he just had in over in his mind before deciding that... if Tang had let him stay this long... he may as well say it. It wasn’t like it would change anything except whether or not he was happy when he left.

“What if I don’t want to?”

Tang’s head shot up from where he was inspecting his arm, face one of shock and confusion and... if Macaque looked deep enough into his eyes, he could swear he saw something akin to hope that he was being serious.

So he took a chance.

He lifted his good arm and placed his hand on the back of Tang’s head, pulling him closer slowly as he waited for him to fight back or say something. But Tang didn’t. He let the demon pull him closer and closer until his nose touched Macaque’s and Macaque stopped... and Tang moved forward and pressed their lips together.

Macaque knew then and there that he had made a mistake and both of them would hurt when he left the second a fire lit in his chest and his eyes closed and the kiss deepened.

The next day he finally asked Tang why he had given him a chance.

"I’ve been waiting to get to know you from the moment I first saw you."

(Tang was right. Macaque was ready to leave by the end of the week. So he did, in the midst of the chaos of the Demon Bull King taking everything over. Tang hadn’t come back one day and he watched the news from the house well outside the city. He stayed around outside, just long enough to watch Tang come home, watch him find an empty made bed, watched him grab the e-reader he had given Macaque and slam it into the wall and yell about how stupid he had had been to fall for the demon monkey. How he should have known he would leave.

Macaque left before he allowed himself to actually feel regret and comfort the man who had taken him in and helped him and made him feel something more than hatred and the rush of victory for the first time in centuries.

They both mourned a relationship they never had.

And maybe one day Tang came home to sweets and other gifts after the Lunar New Year Festival.

And maybe one day a dark furred monkey mistaken for Sun Wukong helped a certain Monkie Kid from the shadows because he remembered the sad look his father figure held when he watched him talk about him being hurt.

Maybe one day Macaque returned, angry and confused due to plans unable to be finished as he time after time remembered the human who helped him heal in more ways than physically over 2 weeks and that healing, while not enough to change him then, had lead to him second guessing his decisions for the months to come.

Maybe Macaque would ask for a second chance, gruff and hating every moment that he had to be nice to anyone else who wasn't Tang. But begrudgingly trying. For Tang and no one else.

Maybe.

Or maybe not.

Who am I to tell.)

[marketingadvisorvietnam]

LGBT troupes set Saigon stages alight with cabaret-bingo shows

Marketing Advisor đã viết bài trên http://www.ticvietnam.vn/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-2/

LGBT troupes set Saigon stages alight with cabaret-bingo shows

A popular cultural entertainment event presented by LGBT people mocks social evils often, but it is not officially recognized.

A group of gay and transwomen are making up, but this is not your typical drag queen show.

Their cabaret act incorporates a form of bingo, which is popular in this country.

The members of Huong Nam loto troupe are in a room on the second floor at Kasa Café, District 10, HCMC, immersed in their usual weekly pre-show routines. 

Some focus on drawing precise brush lines on their cheeks, others rehearse while putting on foundation, and there is non-stop banter. They are all gay men or transwomen, and they pitch their deep voices higher and their body language is overtly feminine. 

The two oldest performers, Nga (mirror in hand, left) and Phung (to her left) are getting dolled up for the show and so is a young performer sitting on stage. He will be the only one going up on stage with a pixie cut.  

Bingo or loto, as it is called in Vietnam, is especially popular in the southern countryside.

The Huong Nam troupe chooses a different theme for every show. Before the performance, they sell to the audience a paper with a jumble of bingo numbers for VND10,000 or $0.43 each. The performers then sing songs based on the theme of that day’s show – acoustic or ballad night, for instance – interspersed with the bingo numbers.

The audience listens attentively to the lyrics and crosses out the numbers the performers call out. The person with the winning number is called to the stage and given a gift. The process is then repeated.

In France, the game is known as le lotto (or loto). In Germany, this game (called tombola) was used in the 19th century as an educational tool to teach children math, spelling and even history.

Loto originated in the 16th century as the Italian game of bingo, which then spread to England, France and other parts of Europe in the 18th century. It came to Vietnam with the French in the 19th century. Those were also its heydays, especially in the southwestern provinces, when everyone played it during the Lunar New Year festival.

SuSu, leader of the Huong Nam troupe, told VnExpress International: “Bingo or loto performances initially involved just traditional music. They would play traditional instruments like the drum and flute. Today, modern music has been added.”

In southwestern rural areas, troupes would simply find a vacant spot and set up a loto stage and perform. City-based troupes like Huong Nam (meaning Scent of the South) mainly perform in cafés, public fairs or stadiums.

The amount of work and creativity that goes into each show is enormous since it is hard enough to engage the audience with just the performance. Putting random numbers into the music is much harder.

Back in the ‘green room,’ the artists make fun of each other’s attractive and not-so-attractive features, but also empower each other. The camaraderie and affection are palpable.

Rising millennial

“Slim” Little Tu, as everyone in the troupe endearingly calls the chubby 20-year-old, is the youngest performer in the group. Tu has been in loto for two years. But he already boasts an impressive CV: he played a supporting role in “TransViet Laugh”, a stars-only version of Vinh Long Television’s popular comedy reality show and has been on “Ganh Hat Ngan Hoa”, Vietnam’s first ever TV loto show.

Describing himself as “peculiarly unattractive,” Little Tu says other intriguing things too.

“My parents have come to see me perform a couple of times. My mom is very proud of me. One time she posted a picture of me dressed up as a woman on Facebook with the caption ‘My dear son’.” He wondered with a giggle how people reacted to that post.

As he spoke with VnExpress International, the banter continued.

“Do I look like a girl now?” he asked after the last brush of powder.

“You look like a girl even without makeup,” the makeup artist responded.

When VnExpress International asked about his romantic interest, he said: “I go with my emotions. It doesn’t really matter if it’s a boy or girl.”

Yumi, 27, has been a loto artist for seven years. She came to Saigon from An Giang Province in the Mekong Delta five months ago.

“I came across loto by chance; there was a loto group near my house,” she said.

“I have artistic blood in me, so I accompanied the group. At first I was just a ticket seller, but one day they were short of performers and asked me to audition. My interest in loto began then.”

She also sells stuff on social media for some extra income.

Like any struggling artist, she was unable to make ends meet at first. She used to get paid VND60,000 (less than $3) for a night’s performance. She makes VND500,000-600,000 ($21.40 – $25.70) now.

“When I was learning how to do this, I had to go to an Internet café and download music on my phone to learn the songs. I didn’t have easy access to the Internet.”

Yumi’s parents were not happy with her decision at first. For a change in Vietnam, she is referring to her job rather than gender or sexual orientation: “My mother wanted me to have a steady job like teaching. But then once they saw I’m destined to be a loto performer, they approved and encouraged me.”

Revered senior loto artists

While the youngest artist is relaxed about the show coming up, the two oldest performers are not. They are meticulously rehearsing their lines, improvising, accompanied by the guitarist. They debate when to hit a high note and when to stress the lyrics, and jot down the changes on crib sheets.

Nga, one of them, is getting dolled up for the show.

With a background in reformed theater (cai luong), she has been a performing artist for 30 years, and doing loto for over 20. She was swept off her feet by a group of male loto artists playing the song lang, a percussion instrument used in traditional music.

That was the moment that marked her switch to loto from traditional folk music.

She says: “I first performed loto in Tay Ninh city [in the southwestern]. And then I went all the way to the north and back to perform.

“There was a hiatus after a while when loto performances with traditional music was not as popular and it fizzled out. Then troupes formed by young people brought life back to the loto scene and people started to be curious about it again. One of them is Huong Nam. They invited me to join, and here I am.”

Nga and Phung, the other senior, were first invited to be guest performers, but they decided to stay after taking a great liking to the group members.

Nga continues: “I was planning to be a guest performer, but then I began to adore the Huong Nam loto artists and their stories and how they are dedicated to the craft and willing to listen and learn from their seniors.”

Nga’s family – parents and other relatives – attends her shows when they can.

“Because I’m like this, I can’t have a family of my own,” she says, gesturing at herself with her eyes. She identifies herself as a woman without revealing her sexual orientation.

In all her years in the business Nga has thought the biggest challenge as a loto artist is getting recognition and respect, especially from officials.

The art of loto is received positively by audiences and often employed as a tool to ridicule social evils. However, it has not been officially recognized for several reasons, including possibly its LGBT links.

The late Professor Tran Van Khe once said: “Loto is not purely entertainment but also meets the demand for cultural enjoyment of the Vietnamese, thereby contributing to transmitting and preserving proverbs, idioms, folk songs which are considered cultural heritages and preventing them from dying out.”

Khe, a revered icon on the musical landscape, was a musicologist and an honorary member of UNESCO’s International Music Council.

Trans or not

Linh Anh (sitting, right) is fully supported by her partner.

“My family knew I was a girl. They encouraged me to be true to myself. When I was 18, my mom asked whether I wanted to get a wife.

It was clearly a rhetorical question because her mother already knew the answer. “I want to BE a wife, I told her.”

When she is not singing Loto on stage, Linh Anh is a student at the HCMC Dance School majoring in choreography and gives dance lessons to kids in elementary and middle schools.

The 27-years-old hugely admires transpeople who have undergone surgery, some of whom are her fellow performers in Huong Nam. 

Boi Nhi (sitting, left) is a favorite performer of Huong Nam troupe. When she is not busy with loto, Nhi also works as a freelance actress and health consultant at My Home Clinic, an LGBTQI-friendly clinic.

At an LGBT event hosted by the U.S. Consulate General in August, she said that hormones used by transgender individuals are not regulated in Vietnam. “Transgenders like me who use these hormones are not protected by law,” Nhi said. Homosexuals who want to become transgenders often look up to those who have already had sex reassignment surgery and seek their advice on hormone use, the actress said.

“We have no idea what these pills contain. Because the Ministry of Health does not inspect and supervise these hormone pills, we as transgenders have to resort to advice from successfully transgendered people for medical advice and support so that we can eventually find ourselves just like they did,” Nhi said.

“I seriously cannot go through what they went through. But I’m a woman anyway, so I don’t feel the need to have surgery. Besides, I like to transform myself and make others eager to see my transformation. If I have surgery, I won’t have that ability,” Linh Anh added.

Unlike many other 20s-something artists, she cannot sing modern music. “I am trained in cai luong (reformed theater), so I try to do contemporary dance to cai luong music.”

After everyone puts on their best dress and completes their rehearsal, they go backstage. Yumi prays to the tutelary gods of the arts before every show, a spiritual practice that is believed to sustain the artists during their performance.

Individual performers walk out to the stage and bow to and wave at the audience gracefully as the host introduces each of them as if it were a pageant. The audience greets them with raucous cheers.

Yumi and some of the others sell loto tickets to the audience, walking down the aisles between chairs, running into many obvious regulars.

About a decade ago loto tickets were only VND1,000-2,000 each. At Kasa café, a ticket is VND10,000  ($0.43) and there are people who buy many tickets.

The show begins.

In the art’s heydays, Loto artists performed around the clock across the country. They dived into the heat of melodies and chants to the cheers of the audience, mostly farmers and children.

In a modern show, the audience members are from all walks of life and of all age groups. Every five minutes or so there is resounding laughter as the artists make a joke amidst a song or stage a comedy skit.

A kid in the audience, eyes wide, asks loudly: “Why are those men wearing dresses? It’s so weird!”

His father admonishes him: “Don’t say that. They are women.” 

Story by Sen 

Photos by Thanh Nguyen

window._io_config=window._io_config||;window._io_config["0.2.0"]=window._io_config["0.2.0"]||[];window._io_config["0.2.0"].push(page_url:"https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-3838606.html",page_url_canonical:"https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-3838606.html",page_title:"LGBT troupes set Saigon stages alight with cabaret-bingo shows ",page_type:"article",page_language:"en",article_authors:[],article_categories:["Travel & Life"],article_subcategories:["Travel & Life"],article_type:"longread",article_word_count:"101",article_publication_date:"Fri, 21 Dec 18 04:12:00 +0000");(function(d,s,id)var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(d.getElementById(id))return;js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="http://connect.facebook.net/vi_VN/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.0";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);(document,'script','facebook-jssdk'));window._io_config=window._io_config||;window._io_config["0.2.0"]=window._io_config["0.2.0"]||[];window._io_config["0.2.0"].push(page_url:"https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-3838606.html",page_url_canonical:"https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-3838606.html",page_title:"LGBT troupes set Saigon stages alight with cabaret-bingo shows ",page_type:"article",page_language:"en",article_authors:[],article_categories:["Travel & Life"],article_subcategories:["Travel & Life"],article_type:"longread",article_word_count:"101",article_publication_date:"Fri, 21 Dec 18 04:12:00 +0000");(function(d,s,id)var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(d.getElementById(id))return;js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="http://connect.facebook.net/vi_VN/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.0";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);(document,'script','facebook-jssdk'));

[marketingadvisorvietnam]

LGBT troupes set Saigon stages alight with cabaret-bingo shows

Marketing Advisor đã viết bài trên https://www.ticvietnam.vn/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows/

LGBT troupes set Saigon stages alight with cabaret-bingo shows

A popular cultural entertainment event presented by LGBT people mocks social evils often, but it is not officially recognized.

A group of gay and transmen are making up, but this is not your typical drag queen show.

Their cabaret act incorporates a form of bingo, which is popular in this country.

The members of Huong Nam loto troupe are in a room on the second floor at Kasa Café, District 10, HCMC, immersed in their usual weekly pre-show routines. 

Some focus on drawing precise brush lines on their cheeks, others rehearse while putting on foundation, and there is non-stop banter. They are all gay men or transwomen, and they pitch their deep voices higher and their body language is overtly feminine. 

The two oldest performers, Nga (mirror in hand, left) and Phung (to her left) are getting dolled up for the show and so is a young performer sitting on stage. He will be the only one going up on stage with a pixie cut.  

Bingo or loto, as it is called in Vietnam, is especially popular in the southern countryside.

The Huong Nam troupe chooses a different theme for every show. Before the performance, they sell to the audience a paper with a jumble of bingo numbers for VND10,000 or $0.43 each. The performers then sing songs based on the theme of that day’s show – acoustic or ballad night, for instance – interspersed with the bingo numbers.

The audience listens attentively to the lyrics and crosses out the numbers the performers call out. The person with the winning number is called to the stage and given a gift. The process is then repeated.

In France, the game is known as le lotto (or loto). In Germany, this game (called tombola) was used in the 19th century as an educational tool to teach children math, spelling and even history.

Loto originated in the 16th century as the Italian game of bingo, which then spread to England, France and other parts of Europe in the 18th century. It came to Vietnam with the French in the 19th century. Those were also its heydays, especially in the southwestern provinces, when everyone played it during the Lunar New Year festival.

SuSu, leader of the Huong Nam troupe, told VnExpress International: “Bingo or loto performances initially involved just traditional music. They would play traditional instruments like the drum and flute. Today, modern music has been added.”

In southwestern rural areas, troupes would simply find a vacant spot and set up a loto stage and perform. City-based troupes like Huong Nam (meaning Scent of the South) mainly perform in cafés, public fairs or stadiums.

The amount of work and creativity that goes into each show is enormous since it is hard enough to engage the audience with just the performance. Putting random numbers into the music is much harder.

Back in the ‘green room,’ the artists make fun of each other’s attractive and not-so-attractive features, but also empower each other. The camaraderie and affection are palpable.

Rising millennial

“Slim” Little Tu, as everyone in the troupe endearingly calls the chubby 20-year-old, is the youngest performer in the group. Tu has been in loto for two years. But he already boasts an impressive CV: he played a supporting role in “TransViet Laugh”, a stars-only version of Vinh Long Television’s popular comedy reality show and has been on “Ganh Hat Ngan Hoa”, Vietnam’s first ever TV loto show.

Describing himself as “peculiarly unattractive,” Little Tu says other intriguing things too.

“My parents have come to see me perform a couple of times. My mom is very proud of me. One time she posted a picture of me dressed up as a woman on Facebook with the caption ‘My dear son’.” He wondered with a giggle how people reacted to that post.

As he spoke with VnExpress International, the banter continued.

“Do I look like a girl now?” he asked after the last brush of powder.

“You look like a girl even without makeup,” the makeup artist responded.

When VnExpress International asked about his romantic interest, he said: “I go with my emotions. It doesn’t really matter if it’s a boy or girl.”

Yumi, 27, has been a loto artist for seven years. She came to Saigon from An Giang Province in the Mekong Delta five months ago.

“I came across loto by chance; there was a loto group near my house,” she said.

“I have artistic blood in me, so I accompanied the group. At first I was just a ticket seller, but one day they were short of performers and asked me to audition. My interest in loto began then.”

She also sells stuff on social media for some extra income.

Like any struggling artist, she was unable to make ends meet at first. She used to get paid VND60,000 (less than $3) for a night’s performance. She makes VND500,000-600,000 ($21.40 – $25.70) now.

“When I was learning how to do this, I had to go to an Internet café and download music on my phone to learn the songs. I didn’t have easy access to the Internet.”

Yumi’s parents were not happy with her decision at first. For a change in Vietnam, she is referring to her job rather than gender or sexual orientation: “My mother wanted me to have a steady job like teaching. But then once they saw I’m destined to be a loto performer, they approved and encouraged me.”

Revered senior loto artists

While the youngest artist is relaxed about the show coming up, the two oldest performers are not. They are meticulously rehearsing their lines, improvising, accompanied by the guitarist. They debate when to hit a high note and when to stress the lyrics, and jot down the changes on crib sheets.

Nga, one of them, is getting dolled up for the show.

With a background in reformed theater (cai luong), she has been a performing artist for 30 years, and doing loto for over 20. She was swept off her feet by a group of male loto artists playing the song lang, a percussion instrument used in traditional music.

That was the moment that marked her switch to loto from traditional folk music.

She says: “I first performed loto in Tay Ninh city [in the southwestern]. And then I went all the way to the north and back to perform.

“There was a hiatus after a while when loto performances with traditional music was not as popular and it fizzled out. Then troupes formed by young people brought life back to the loto scene and people started to be curious about it again. One of them is Huong Nam. They invited me to join, and here I am.”

Nga and Phung, the other senior, were first invited to be guest performers, but they decided to stay after taking a great liking to the group members.

Nga continues: “I was planning to be a guest performer, but then I began to adore the Huong Nam loto artists and their stories and how they are dedicated to the craft and willing to listen and learn from their seniors.”

Nga’s family – parents and other relatives – attends her shows when they can.

“Because I’m like this, I can’t have a family of my own,” she says, gesturing at herself with her eyes. She identifies herself as a woman without revealing her sexual orientation.

In all her years in the business Nga has thought the biggest challenge as a loto artist is getting recognition and respect, especially from officials.

The art of loto is received positively by audiences and often employed as a tool to ridicule social evils. However, it has not been officially recognized for several reasons, including possibly its LGBT links.

The late Professor Tran Van Khe once said: “Loto is not purely entertainment but also meets the demand for cultural enjoyment of the Vietnamese, thereby contributing to transmitting and preserving proverbs, idioms, folk songs which are considered cultural heritages and preventing them from dying out.”

Khe, a revered icon on the musical landscape, was a musicologist and an honorary member of UNESCO’s International Music Council.

Trans or not

Linh Anh (sitting, right) is fully supported by her partner.

“My family knew I was a girl. They encouraged me to be true to myself. When I was 18, my mom asked whether I wanted to get a wife.

It was clearly a rhetorical question because her mother already knew the answer. “I want to BE a wife, I told her.”

When she is not singing Loto on stage, Linh Anh is a student at the HCMC Dance School majoring in choreography and gives dance lessons to kids in elementary and middle schools.

The 27-years-old hugely admires transpeople who have undergone surgery, some of whom are her fellow performers in Huong Nam. 

Boi Nhi (sitting, left) is a favorite performer of Huong Nam troupe. When she is not busy with loto, Nhi also works as a freelance actress and health consultant at My Home Clinic, an LGBTQI-friendly clinic.

At an LGBT event hosted by the U.S. Consulate General in August, she said that hormones used by transgender individuals are not regulated in Vietnam. “Transgenders like me who use these hormones are not protected by law,” Nhi said. Homosexuals who want to become transgenders often look up to those who have already had sex reassignment surgery and seek their advice on hormone use, the actress said.

“We have no idea what these pills contain. Because the Ministry of Health does not inspect and supervise these hormone pills, we as transgenders have to resort to advice from successfully transgendered people for medical advice and support so that we can eventually find ourselves just like they did,” Nhi said.

“I seriously cannot go through what they went through. But I’m a woman anyway, so I don’t feel the need to have surgery. Besides, I like to transform myself and make others eager to see my transformation. If I have surgery, I won’t have that ability,” Linh Anh added.

Unlike many other 20s-something artists, she cannot sing modern music. “I am trained in cai luong (reformed theater), so I try to do contemporary dance to cai luong music.”

After everyone puts on their best dress and completes their rehearsal, they go backstage. Yumi prays to the tutelary gods of the arts before every show, a spiritual practice that is believed to sustain the artists during their performance.

Individual performers walk out to the stage and bow to and wave at the audience gracefully as the host introduces each of them as if it were a pageant. The audience greets them with raucous cheers.

Yumi and some of the others sell loto tickets to the audience, walking down the aisles between chairs, running into many obvious regulars.

About a decade ago loto tickets were only VND1,000-2,000 each. At Kasa café, a ticket is VND10,000  ($0.43) and there are people who buy many tickets.

The show begins.

In the art’s heydays, Loto artists performed around the clock across the country. They dived into the heat of melodies and chants to the cheers of the audience, mostly farmers and children.

In a modern show, the audience members are from all walks of life and of all age groups. Every five minutes or so there is resounding laughter as the artists make a joke amidst a song or stage a comedy skit.

A kid in the audience, eyes wide, asks loudly: “Why are those men wearing dresses? It’s so weird!”

His father admonishes him: “Don’t say that. They are women.” 

Story by Sen 

Photos by Thanh Nguyen

window._io_config=window._io_config||;window._io_config["0.2.0"]=window._io_config["0.2.0"]||[];window._io_config["0.2.0"].push(page_url:"https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-3838606.html",page_url_canonical:"https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-3838606.html",page_title:"LGBT troupes set Saigon stages alight with cabaret-bingo shows ",page_type:"article",page_language:"en",article_authors:[],article_categories:["Travel & Life"],article_subcategories:["Travel & Life"],article_type:"longread",article_word_count:"101",article_publication_date:"Fri, 21 Dec 18 04:12:00 +0000");(function(d,s,id)var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(d.getElementById(id))return;js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="http://connect.facebook.net/vi_VN/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.0";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);(document,'script','facebook-jssdk'));window._io_config=window._io_config||;window._io_config["0.2.0"]=window._io_config["0.2.0"]||[];window._io_config["0.2.0"].push(page_url:"https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-3838606.html",page_url_canonical:"https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-3838606.html",page_title:"LGBT troupes set Saigon stages alight with cabaret-bingo shows ",page_type:"article",page_language:"en",article_authors:[],article_categories:["Travel & Life"],article_subcategories:["Travel & Life"],article_type:"longread",article_word_count:"101",article_publication_date:"Fri, 21 Dec 18 04:12:00 +0000");(function(d,s,id)var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(d.getElementById(id))return;js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="http://connect.facebook.net/vi_VN/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.0";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);(document,'script','facebook-jssdk'));

[marketingadvisorvietnam]

LGBT troupes set Saigon stages alight with cabaret-bingo shows

Marketing Advisor đã viết bài trên http://www.ticvietnam.vn/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows/

LGBT troupes set Saigon stages alight with cabaret-bingo shows

A popular cultural entertainment event presented by LGBT people mocks social evils often, but it is not officially recognized.

A group of gay and transmen are making up, but this is not your typical drag queen show.

Their cabaret act incorporates a form of bingo, which is popular in this country.

The members of Huong Nam loto troupe are in a room on the second floor at Kasa Café, District 10, HCMC, immersed in their usual weekly pre-show routines. 

Some focus on drawing precise brush lines on their cheeks, others rehearse while putting on foundation, and there is non-stop banter. They are all gay men or transwomen, and they pitch their deep voices higher and their body language is overtly feminine. 

The two oldest performers, Nga (mirror in hand, left) and Phung (to her left) are getting dolled up for the show and so is a young performer sitting on stage. He will be the only one going up on stage with a pixie cut.  

Bingo or loto, as it is called in Vietnam, is especially popular in the southern countryside.

The Huong Nam troupe chooses a different theme for every show. Before the performance, they sell to the audience a paper with a jumble of bingo numbers for VND10,000 or $0.43 each. The performers then sing songs based on the theme of that day’s show – acoustic or ballad night, for instance – interspersed with the bingo numbers.

The audience listens attentively to the lyrics and crosses out the numbers the performers call out. The person with the winning number is called to the stage and given a gift. The process is then repeated.

In France, the game is known as le lotto (or loto). In Germany, this game (called tombola) was used in the 19th century as an educational tool to teach children math, spelling and even history.

Loto originated in the 16th century as the Italian game of bingo, which then spread to England, France and other parts of Europe in the 18th century. It came to Vietnam with the French in the 19th century. Those were also its heydays, especially in the southwestern provinces, when everyone played it during the Lunar New Year festival.

SuSu, leader of the Huong Nam troupe, told VnExpress International: “Bingo or loto performances initially involved just traditional music. They would play traditional instruments like the drum and flute. Today, modern music has been added.”

In southwestern rural areas, troupes would simply find a vacant spot and set up a loto stage and perform. City-based troupes like Huong Nam (meaning Scent of the South) mainly perform in cafés, public fairs or stadiums.

The amount of work and creativity that goes into each show is enormous since it is hard enough to engage the audience with just the performance. Putting random numbers into the music is much harder.

Back in the ‘green room,’ the artists make fun of each other’s attractive and not-so-attractive features, but also empower each other. The camaraderie and affection are palpable.

Rising millennial

“Slim” Little Tu, as everyone in the troupe endearingly calls the chubby 20-year-old, is the youngest performer in the group. Tu has been in loto for two years. But he already boasts an impressive CV: he played a supporting role in “TransViet Laugh”, a stars-only version of Vinh Long Television’s popular comedy reality show and has been on “Ganh Hat Ngan Hoa”, Vietnam’s first ever TV loto show.

Describing himself as “peculiarly unattractive,” Little Tu says other intriguing things too.

“My parents have come to see me perform a couple of times. My mom is very proud of me. One time she posted a picture of me dressed up as a woman on Facebook with the caption ‘My dear son’.” He wondered with a giggle how people reacted to that post.

As he spoke with VnExpress International, the banter continued.

“Do I look like a girl now?” he asked after the last brush of powder.

“You look like a girl even without makeup,” the makeup artist responded.

When VnExpress International asked about his romantic interest, he said: “I go with my emotions. It doesn’t really matter if it’s a boy or girl.”

Yumi, 27, has been a loto artist for seven years. She came to Saigon from An Giang Province in the Mekong Delta five months ago.

“I came across loto by chance; there was a loto group near my house,” she said.

“I have artistic blood in me, so I accompanied the group. At first I was just a ticket seller, but one day they were short of performers and asked me to audition. My interest in loto began then.”

She also sells stuff on social media for some extra income.

Like any struggling artist, she was unable to make ends meet at first. She used to get paid VND60,000 (less than $3) for a night’s performance. She makes VND500,000-600,000 ($21.40 – $25.70) now.

“When I was learning how to do this, I had to go to an Internet café and download music on my phone to learn the songs. I didn’t have easy access to the Internet.”

Yumi’s parents were not happy with her decision at first. For a change in Vietnam, she is referring to her job rather than gender or sexual orientation: “My mother wanted me to have a steady job like teaching. But then once they saw I’m destined to be a loto performer, they approved and encouraged me.”

Revered senior loto artists

While the youngest artist is relaxed about the show coming up, the two oldest performers are not. They are meticulously rehearsing their lines, improvising, accompanied by the guitarist. They debate when to hit a high note and when to stress the lyrics, and jot down the changes on crib sheets.

Nga, one of them, is getting dolled up for the show.

With a background in reformed theater (cai luong), she has been a performing artist for 30 years, and doing loto for over 20. She was swept off her feet by a group of male loto artists playing the song lang, a percussion instrument used in traditional music.

That was the moment that marked her switch to loto from traditional folk music.

She says: “I first performed loto in Tay Ninh city [in the southwestern]. And then I went all the way to the north and back to perform.

“There was a hiatus after a while when loto performances with traditional music was not as popular and it fizzled out. Then troupes formed by young people brought life back to the loto scene and people started to be curious about it again. One of them is Huong Nam. They invited me to join, and here I am.”

Nga and Phung, the other senior, were first invited to be guest performers, but they decided to stay after taking a great liking to the group members.

Nga continues: “I was planning to be a guest performer, but then I began to adore the Huong Nam loto artists and their stories and how they are dedicated to the craft and willing to listen and learn from their seniors.”

Nga’s family – parents and other relatives – attends her shows when they can.

“Because I’m like this, I can’t have a family of my own,” she says, gesturing at herself with her eyes. She identifies herself as a woman without revealing her sexual orientation.

In all her years in the business Nga has thought the biggest challenge as a loto artist is getting recognition and respect, especially from officials.

The art of loto is received positively by audiences and often employed as a tool to ridicule social evils. However, it has not been officially recognized for several reasons, including possibly its LGBT links.

The late Professor Tran Van Khe once said: “Loto is not purely entertainment but also meets the demand for cultural enjoyment of the Vietnamese, thereby contributing to transmitting and preserving proverbs, idioms, folk songs which are considered cultural heritages and preventing them from dying out.”

Khe, a revered icon on the musical landscape, was a musicologist and an honorary member of UNESCO’s International Music Council.

Trans or not

Linh Anh (sitting, right) is fully supported by her partner.

“My family knew I was a girl. They encouraged me to be true to myself. When I was 18, my mom asked whether I wanted to get a wife.

It was clearly a rhetorical question because her mother already knew the answer. “I want to BE a wife, I told her.”

When she is not singing Loto on stage, Linh Anh is a student at the HCMC Dance School majoring in choreography and gives dance lessons to kids in elementary and middle schools.

The 27-years-old hugely admires transpeople who have undergone surgery, some of whom are her fellow performers in Huong Nam. 

Boi Nhi (sitting, left) is a favorite performer of Huong Nam troupe. When she is not busy with loto, Nhi also works as a freelance actress and health consultant at My Home Clinic, an LGBTQI-friendly clinic.

At an LGBT event hosted by the U.S. Consulate General in August, she said that hormones used by transgender individuals are not regulated in Vietnam. “Transgenders like me who use these hormones are not protected by law,” Nhi said. Homosexuals who want to become transgenders often look up to those who have already had sex reassignment surgery and seek their advice on hormone use, the actress said.

“We have no idea what these pills contain. Because the Ministry of Health does not inspect and supervise these hormone pills, we as transgenders have to resort to advice from successfully transgendered people for medical advice and support so that we can eventually find ourselves just like they did,” Nhi said.

“I seriously cannot go through what they went through. But I’m a woman anyway, so I don’t feel the need to have surgery. Besides, I like to transform myself and make others eager to see my transformation. If I have surgery, I won’t have that ability,” Linh Anh added.

Unlike many other 20s-something artists, she cannot sing modern music. “I am trained in cai luong (reformed theater), so I try to do contemporary dance to cai luong music.”

After everyone puts on their best dress and completes their rehearsal, they go backstage. Yumi prays to the tutelary gods of the arts before every show, a spiritual practice that is believed to sustain the artists during their performance.

Individual performers walk out to the stage and bow to and wave at the audience gracefully as the host introduces each of them as if it were a pageant. The audience greets them with raucous cheers.

Yumi and some of the others sell loto tickets to the audience, walking down the aisles between chairs, running into many obvious regulars.

About a decade ago loto tickets were only VND1,000-2,000 each. At Kasa café, a ticket is VND10,000  ($0.43) and there are people who buy many tickets.

The show begins.

In the art’s heydays, Loto artists performed around the clock across the country. They dived into the heat of melodies and chants to the cheers of the audience, mostly farmers and children.

In a modern show, the audience members are from all walks of life and of all age groups. Every five minutes or so there is resounding laughter as the artists make a joke amidst a song or stage a comedy skit.

A kid in the audience, eyes wide, asks loudly: “Why are those men wearing dresses? It’s so weird!”

His father admonishes him: “Don’t say that. They are women.” 

Story by Sen 

Photos by Thanh Nguyen

window._io_config=window._io_config||;window._io_config["0.2.0"]=window._io_config["0.2.0"]||[];window._io_config["0.2.0"].push(page_url:"https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-3838606.html",page_url_canonical:"https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-3838606.html",page_title:"LGBT troupes set Saigon stages alight with cabaret-bingo shows ",page_type:"article",page_language:"en",article_authors:[],article_categories:["Travel & Life"],article_subcategories:["Travel & Life"],article_type:"longread",article_word_count:"101",article_publication_date:"Fri, 21 Dec 18 04:12:00 +0000");(function(d,s,id)var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(d.getElementById(id))return;js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="http://connect.facebook.net/vi_VN/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.0";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);(document,'script','facebook-jssdk'));window._io_config=window._io_config||;window._io_config["0.2.0"]=window._io_config["0.2.0"]||[];window._io_config["0.2.0"].push(page_url:"https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-3838606.html",page_url_canonical:"https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/lgbt-troupes-set-saigon-stages-alight-with-cabaret-bingo-shows-3838606.html",page_title:"LGBT troupes set Saigon stages alight with cabaret-bingo shows ",page_type:"article",page_language:"en",article_authors:[],article_categories:["Travel & Life"],article_subcategories:["Travel & Life"],article_type:"longread",article_word_count:"101",article_publication_date:"Fri, 21 Dec 18 04:12:00 +0000");(function(d,s,id)var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(d.getElementById(id))return;js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="http://connect.facebook.net/vi_VN/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.0";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);(document,'script','facebook-jssdk'));