As mentioned yesterday, music does play a big part in the lives of Taiwanese. While it might not a passionate interest, it is a passive thing that is often used as an excuse for friends to get together. How can this happen? How can it be something that compels people to come together, but not be a passion. It's simple when that "music" is "karaoke!"
Pictured above is a KTV. KTVs are SUPER UBER AMAZINGLY SHOCKINGLY EXTREMELY popular places in Taiwan. I'm at a loss to even be able to think of something in the west that can compare. But read on and you'll see why we don't have anything that compares, because in the west for the most part there is no need for something like KTV.
KTVs are a place where people go for karaoke. Thankfully though it's not like those places in the west where it's in a large open space like a bar or restaurant and you are forced to listen to strangers sing. KTVs are actually pretty upscale places. They are full of many private rooms. These rooms have nice furniture and are nicely decorated. And of course each room is set up with a nice tv, sound system, some mics and karaoke.
Basically the idea is that you and some friends or coworkers, get together and get a private room to hang out and basically have a party. KTVs serve food and drinks to your room. So yes there is karaoke but really it's just a place where you can drink and laugh with friends and maybe sing some songs if you want.
The reason they are so popular is because they are pretty much the only place in Taiwan where friends can get together privately. Since most people live with their families, it is very rare for friends to go over to each other's houses, and it's even more rare to have parties at your home. So for birthdays and other celebrations, KTV is pretty much the only choice you have.
They serve a multitude of other functions as well. They can serve almost as a bar, as coworkers will sometimes go after work to unwind. They can serve as an after hours spot for friends to get together as most KTVs are 24 hours. Sometimes they are used as a make shift motel, as high school kids especially will take advantage of the privacy and cheap price.
Also depending on where you are, the KTV can be anything from a brothel to a prostitution house. One neighborhood I used to work in was notorious for having many *cough* KTVs *cough* and while i never went there myself, I heard stories from trustworthy first hand accounts. Stories that would make your soul cry.
Although my biggest memory from this time was just how pretty many of the prostitutes were. I don't think I'd ever seen a pretty prostitute in my life and here was a swarm of them. Then again that particular place was run by the most powerful organized crime in Taiwan, so I'm guessing the pay is pretty good. Or rather I'm hoping that it's the pay and not them just going out finding pretty ladies and forcing them to be prostitutes.
