A quick 'only in China' moment

Today while out running, listening to music and about as zoned out as you can be on a busy Chinese street - not very - a raucous noise violently overthrew the mp3 in my earphones. I came up on a stage set up on the sidewalk with big balloons, a big, blowup arch and huge speakers with a guy singing his heart out to some pop song. The base was blaring but sounded wildly syncopated, until I realized that next door, 10 meters further down the streat was another state with balloons, arch, singer and speakers playing a different song. Shaking my head in disbelief I caught sight of a third setup like this across the street from these two, doing basically the same thing.

What was going on was the grand opening, or beginning of a sale, at three large home electronics stores. Yes, they were selling fridges, air-conditioning and television sets. No, they were not coordinated, they just decided that this sunday was a good a day as any to attract a crowd, and what better way to do that than balloons and booming pop music.

Just wanted to share that colorful moment because so many just turn right into 'only in china' memories without getting told.