Weekend in Shenzhen: Ropes & Rhythm

Shenzhen carries an undercurrent of mischief... if you know where to look. Do you ever feel that life brings you to people you never expected to meet?

On this particular day, I tagged along with sub R to hunt for new projectors for film screenings in Mongkok and later slipped into KHK dungeon to clear the Halloween decorations. Somewhere between tasks, life handed Me one of its little surprises: I found Myself crossing paths with talented Shibari riggers from Shenzhen who were taking a private class from an Italian rigger who came to visit Hong Kong. I watched from afar while multitasking and once they wrapped up, curiosity got the better of Me. I walked over to say hello and inquire about the rope scene in China. We ended up bonding over dinner, with My imperfect yet charming Putonghua doing its best to keep up.

Soon enough on a Saturday, I wandered into a rope studio they recommended, a beautifully curated space hosting an intimate, closed-door play party. The owners had clearly poured their souls into building the new studio from scratch. I watched, learned and indulged in observing the proficiency of the riggers present. Naturally, no cameras were allowed.

One of the riggers reminded Me of My own style, the way I value human connection above aesthetics. There's something hypnotic about the sound of rope brushing skin, the soft pull, the moment just before surrender. While chatting with the co-owner and staff (with the help of a translation app), I picked up a new term that intrigued Me. Cultural nuances fascinate Me, especially how different societies express or approach alternative lifestyles.

"Four loves" in Chinese can refer to 四愛 (sì'ài), a form of internet slang describing a relationship dynamic where Women are dominant and men are submissive.

I found Myself in an unexpectedly engaging conversation with a cute gentleman. Sometimes, play feels like interacting with a K9 dog, not in any literal sense but in the way instinct, body language and energy allow two beings to understand each other without sharing the same spoken language. Thank you for the barbeque supper, My cravings were finally satisfied. (Mala hotpot sill eludes Me, unfortunately.)

(Part 2 coming up soon)