Edwin’s family owns a karaoke bar here in the Philippines and we had planned that at least one night we would go over there and hang out. Yesterday afternoon, Edwin called me and said that his Mom asked if I would be a judge for a Halloween Karaoke competition and some other activities that were going on last night. When he asked, I got really excited and was more than willing to do it…it actually takes me to my ship job, judging our Karaoke Superstar competition. When we arrived, the bar was pretty full already. Close to the bar, there was a “Reserved” sign on the table with 4 chairs waiting for me, Edwin, Joyce & Eddie. It wasn’t long after we plopped down that the Emcee introduced the judges. Needless to say, I was the only “foreigner” judge. Before the competition started, there were also dancers (probably about 9 or 10 ladies) that did a few numbers intermittently throughout the singing competition. This isn’t the best picture, but it gives you the idea.
All three of the judges stayed at their respective tables and the competition began. In total, there were seven singers and we listened to them all while I kept score on a white index card (making the numbers really really small so that I could go back and change them as my decision waivered back and fourth). While the competition was going on, we drank the Jack Daniels that I brought from the US for Edwin (he swears ours tastes better than here), ate tons of food that they kept bringing out to us and just had a really good time. (The food was an accident picture…but it gives you an idea!)
After the competition ended and we had a few more numbers that the dancers performed and then open mic began for anybody and everybody. Edwin told me I had to sing. This didn’t bother me since I do it on the ship all the time. The big problem was that I couldn’t find any of the songs I can somewhat sing and not sound like a dying cat. After looking through the book for 20 minutes or so, we let Joyce sing and Edwin and I went outside to the patio and chatted with his parents for awhile. They are SO nice and lots of fun. His Dad kept saying how tall I was (like I’ve mentioned before, I’m Amazonian here!) and we just chatted about how my vacation was going etc. Here’s the group!
Around 2:30AM, we left the bar and Joyce wanted to stop by and show me this Extreme Bingo place. I didn’t really have any clue what she meant – I was expecting a hall full of old women playing bingo with 20 cards in front of them and multiple daubers. Instead, this place looked like a Casino with tons of “slot machine” looking things all over the room, but instead of pulling a down a handle, it was automated bingo cards. Joyce played while we all watched and chatted for awhile and then we headed out. I made it back to my place about 4:30AM tired and ready for bed, but I was so happy to have had a good time out with friends!
All three of the judges stayed at their respective tables and the competition began. In total, there were seven singers and we listened to them all while I kept score on a white index card (making the numbers really really small so that I could go back and change them as my decision waivered back and fourth). While the competition was going on, we drank the Jack Daniels that I brought from the US for Edwin (he swears ours tastes better than here), ate tons of food that they kept bringing out to us and just had a really good time. (The food was an accident picture…but it gives you an idea!)
Around 2:30AM, we left the bar and Joyce wanted to stop by and show me this Extreme Bingo place. I didn’t really have any clue what she meant – I was expecting a hall full of old women playing bingo with 20 cards in front of them and multiple daubers. Instead, this place looked like a Casino with tons of “slot machine” looking things all over the room, but instead of pulling a down a handle, it was automated bingo cards. Joyce played while we all watched and chatted for awhile and then we headed out. I made it back to my place about 4:30AM tired and ready for bed, but I was so happy to have had a good time out with friends!
“You only live once, but if you live right, once is enough.”
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