Karaoke for the price of a cup of tea in Taishan

Those memes on Facebook are getting me down.

"Don't think about the future, it's bad karma", "Bacon is a dish best served", "Conservatives are so stupid they think spending money you don't have is bad" and so on appear on my newsfeed every day, forcing me into the murky shallows of my misguided soul.

Have I neglected my inner bacon-eating goddess?

Yesterday there was one that hit a nerve: "When did you last dance?"

Aaargh! I used to be fond of dancing, but never seem to put myself in a dance-worthy situation anymore. Even youth discos in the mainland can't persuade my feet to shuffle around in time to music as there simply isn't the space.

Then the world of Facebook memes tried to deliver the final blow to finish me off: "When did you last SING?" Aha! April this year.

I have written before about the beautiful, history-laden and fun town of Taishan, in Guangdong province, with its winding streets and intricately decorated buildings. But there is one aspect of Taishan's night (and day) life I have seen nowhere else: drop-in karaoke bars.