Hello there. It's been a while, hasn't it? I'll spare you my excuses for not blogging in four months, as blogging about not blogging is rather redundant, wouldn't you agree? Instead, let's just focus on the reason for my writing resumption: VOLUME.
A while ago some flashing blue, red and green lights appeared on a tree-covered hill a few miles away from our house. For some time we pondered as to what was up there: a restaurant? a hotel? a private home occupied by someone who likes living in a flashing house? Then, one lovely, quiet, still, calm and peaceful night, our curiosity was killed, and our eardrums took a good beating too: the lights belong to a karaoke bar. Now don't get me wrong, I love a good karaoke session, especially here in Batam where renting a karaoke booth is one of only a handful of 'things to go and do' with your mates. However, the flashing blue lights on the hill don't belong to cute little reasonably soundproofed karaoke booths. Oh no. This place is LOUD. And it remains loud and largely out of tune, three nights a week. If I'm awake at 3am, it's not because I have an 8 week old baby, it's because there's a karaoke party going on miles away from my home.
When I go to the cinema in Batam - another one of the small selection of 'things to go and do', I have to put my fingers in my ears during the previews and ads before the film starts because the volume is turned up so ridiculously high. So far every foreigner I've been to the cinema with here has done the same, but I haven't seen an Indonesian do so. They just don't notice. This makes me feel like the fussy foreigner making a big deal out of nothing.
A lovely wedding tradition in Indonesia is to throw the wedding reception in your home. Since most houses here are very small, and most wedding guest lists are very not small, this means that the party spills out onto the street, often with mini-marquees set up over rows upon rows of plastic chairs to accommodate the well-wishers. Of course, no half-decent wedding shindig would be complete without a bit of music. Unfortunately, a bit of music all too often translates as a singer and/or band 'supported' by a massive sound-system loud enough to fill a large concert hall. It makes any attempt at small talk with fellow guests near to impossible, and renders the abilities of the performers irrelevant, as the music is so loud it's impossible to actually make sense of what's coming out of the mic.
Performing in public is popular here. Shopping malls are often the venue of choice, with a large stage set in the center of the high-ceilinged building. Naturally, a large building with high ceilings requires a very high volume so that everybody in the entire mall can hear every muffled word being shouted/sung/screamed from the stage. Often it's not just the volume that's the problem, it's the sound balance. I recently watched my husband perform in a competition with his band (he was awarded best drummer btw!) and I set my own criteria for judging the competition: 1) Can I understand a single word being sung? (I often mistakenly thought the song was Indonesian when in fact it was English!) and 2) Are my fingers in my ears?
I would never have guessed that Indonesia would be this loud. Does this happen in other places too? Perhaps it's an Asian phenomenon? Are there stupidly loud events where you're from or where you live too?
A while ago some flashing blue, red and green lights appeared on a tree-covered hill a few miles away from our house. For some time we pondered as to what was up there: a restaurant? a hotel? a private home occupied by someone who likes living in a flashing house? Then, one lovely, quiet, still, calm and peaceful night, our curiosity was killed, and our eardrums took a good beating too: the lights belong to a karaoke bar. Now don't get me wrong, I love a good karaoke session, especially here in Batam where renting a karaoke booth is one of only a handful of 'things to go and do' with your mates. However, the flashing blue lights on the hill don't belong to cute little reasonably soundproofed karaoke booths. Oh no. This place is LOUD. And it remains loud and largely out of tune, three nights a week. If I'm awake at 3am, it's not because I have an 8 week old baby, it's because there's a karaoke party going on miles away from my home.
When I go to the cinema in Batam - another one of the small selection of 'things to go and do', I have to put my fingers in my ears during the previews and ads before the film starts because the volume is turned up so ridiculously high. So far every foreigner I've been to the cinema with here has done the same, but I haven't seen an Indonesian do so. They just don't notice. This makes me feel like the fussy foreigner making a big deal out of nothing.
A lovely wedding tradition in Indonesia is to throw the wedding reception in your home. Since most houses here are very small, and most wedding guest lists are very not small, this means that the party spills out onto the street, often with mini-marquees set up over rows upon rows of plastic chairs to accommodate the well-wishers. Of course, no half-decent wedding shindig would be complete without a bit of music. Unfortunately, a bit of music all too often translates as a singer and/or band 'supported' by a massive sound-system loud enough to fill a large concert hall. It makes any attempt at small talk with fellow guests near to impossible, and renders the abilities of the performers irrelevant, as the music is so loud it's impossible to actually make sense of what's coming out of the mic.
Performing in public is popular here. Shopping malls are often the venue of choice, with a large stage set in the center of the high-ceilinged building. Naturally, a large building with high ceilings requires a very high volume so that everybody in the entire mall can hear every muffled word being shouted/sung/screamed from the stage. Often it's not just the volume that's the problem, it's the sound balance. I recently watched my husband perform in a competition with his band (he was awarded best drummer btw!) and I set my own criteria for judging the competition: 1) Can I understand a single word being sung? (I often mistakenly thought the song was Indonesian when in fact it was English!) and 2) Are my fingers in my ears?
I would never have guessed that Indonesia would be this loud. Does this happen in other places too? Perhaps it's an Asian phenomenon? Are there stupidly loud events where you're from or where you live too?
Laura, I literally read this entire post with my hand over my mouth to stifle the giggles. I love your criteria for judging the competition - so funny - and miss your fabulous sense of humor so much. Also, I had no idea your baby had arrived until I saw a picture on facebook earlier today. Congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the positive feedback Megan! Looking on the funny side of things is what gets me through most days in this weird and wondrous place.
DeleteAnd yep, the little one is here, although she is rapidly become anything but little!