Postcard from Haerbin

Hi Mum

So this is what Asians know of as the Northern Part of the Northern Hemisphere. THE LAST BASTION OF CIVILISATION BEFORE THE RUSSIAN BOARDER!!! But in the early Autumn the weather is still relatively tame compared to the minus 40 degrees you’d get here in the depth of winter. I'm kinda kicking myself for not choosing to come to the freezingest town in China during the Ice Sculpture festival, after all that's what Haerbin's really only known for. But otherwise it’s a pretty interesting town because of the huge Russian influence and history here. The main street is built by the Russians – including the beautiful cobble stones and quite a few nice churches with those onion domes. it’s quite unique and pretty, and you can get a shot of Vodka almost everywhere. There’s significantly more Caucasian faces here, and quite a few halal restaurants and a mosque, which I always find interesting. The food for example is quite unique – there's a special "Modern" ice cream, sold at the ground floor of the "Modern Hotel Building" which is a commercial group that specialises, aptly, in all kinds of frozen food, (My calculations is that every minute there are 10 blocks being eaten in my visual proximity.) and a funny East meets West nasty garlic Sausage that they churn off like there’s no tomorrow. But most amusing is definitely the Modern Ice Cream's arch rival - the one and only Fried Ice. But apart from those touristy things, a few Koreans (there’s a Consulate Office devoted solely to issuing visas to Korea) and a couple of Russian singers in the pubs where you can get potato fritters the place is well and truly Chinesed since they got rid of the ruskies and the culture revolution. But what they say about Northern Chinese women is true – they are incredibly big in height, chest measurement, personality, and alcohol tolerance. I’ve never seen Chinese women smoke and drink this much in my life, its quite eye opening and comforting really. Who can blame them when they produce one of the best beers in China? Ok, well, I’m heading back to the beer garden so spotchya later.

Love, WaWa

Photo Roll: Chinese People Doing Chinese Things in Haerbin

A group of middleaged men playing Chess; A lady outside a monestry doing water calligraphy; Our man in the tea shop demonstrating tea ceremony Chinese style