Night Life (Shoniin Amidral)

UB is a cosmopolitan city where residents are familiar with a variety of European and American holidays and celebrations. Thus, the last weekend in October featured both a Halloween party at a local nightclub (see photo above), and a celebration of Oktoberfest at the Brau Haus restaurant. At the Brau Haus, there were two types of German beer on draft (brand not specified), and the Mongolian wait staff were outfitted in authentic-looking lederhosen and German hats. The crowd politely clapped when the staff attempted German line dancing, but they went wild for the local band that followed. The lead singer, sporting baggy leather pants and long, permed hair, enhanced his "cool guy" image by smoking a cigarette during several songs. When he stopped singing to take drags, the crowd enthusiastically filled in the vocals. Perhaps heeding the adage to always leave the crowd wanting more, the band played for exactly 30 minutes and then swiftly departed in a blur of leather and cigarette smoke. After the band was a quiz contest, followed by another contest that I can't really explain, and then bingo. Who knew that bingo is a German game? But who cares: It was great practice for learning my Mongolian numbers.