I have a hot water bottle shoved under my thermals

Becca's travel diary. HARBIN 2010

Well, what long 24 hours. Guess what, im bloody freezing! Currently I am writing on an ancient computer in a minging hostel lobby in Harbin, it is -28 Degrees outside, and I have a hot water bottle shoved under my thermals.

JOY.

It was quite the eventful trip (isn't it always with me ey?) After exiting the plane in Harbin, we were reunited with our rucksacks (hurrah!) We found a nice corner in the airport where me and Jess [my traveling compadre] could both spend several minutes swearing and sweating to get the damn things on our backs. (They each weigh 15K). A man with a sign was advertising the "Airport Shuttle Bus", and being that he was following us about very closely we decided to ignore him- then we went outside and were greeted with a massive airport shuttle bus waiting for us. (I guess we shouldn't have ignored him.) It was so much cheaper than a taxi which would've cost us 150Yuan- it was only 20Yuan. After a long hour, we arrived at where the travel guide told us to go. It was in the middle of nowhere. We were pretty much lost, and it was UNBEARABLY cold.. so we jumped in a taxi. He didn't have a bloody clue where to go. We told him the address and we went in frustrating circles for half an hour, only to find out that it wasn't even than far away in the first place. Jess was seething with anger whereas I just wanted a KFC.

Eventually, we found our hostel (after ringing up and asking the lady for directions, whom couldn't speak a word of English.) We arrived pretty annoyed, starving, and and dire need of a drink. From the outside our hostel looked promising- very cute and true to its name "Harbin Little Fir Hostel". Inside was a different matter. The first thing I noticed was the strong smell of Brussels Pate. Really strong- it would've made me hungry in any other circumstance except this place doesn't have a kitchen. "PROPER MINGING."

We arrived at 8pm ish, and yet the hostel lady looked rather pissed off like we'd interrupted her nap or something. Everything seemed just a bit dirty and unwelcoming. (The cupboard the size of Maverick's cage behind her with the label "canteen" didn't make me feel better.) We were showed to our room. OK, so it is big and has two beds: They are the only positives. My bed had hairs in it, as did the plugs in the sink, the wall has holes and the window pane was frozen with snow on the inside. Our toilet flush didn't work (and still doesn't) and the public loo's are the source of the Liver pate smell.

We ended the night by getting two warm beers from reception and some instant noodles, then at 10pm we went to bed. Apparently nothing is open in Harbin after 8pm except a shed-like restaurant down the road with sawdust on the floor, where the food was congealed into a hard paste: So we walked in then walked out. I have still not gotten over the fact that in -28 Degrees I cannot get a cold beer at my hostel. What the hell?? I had to stand it on the snow in my bedroom to cool down.

However, we have made ourselves "at home" and stayed happy. A hostel is a hostel- even though this one is a bit shite at least it is warm and we both have hot water bottles!! This is an adventure after all. :D

Today was better! We both woke up starving, but otherwise ready to go. We wrapped up like fatties with our layers and braved the cold. We began by taking the unbelievably cheap public bus (1 Yuan=10p) for a 90 minute journey to Harbin city center. The ride was horrible, and freezing but we got to the gorgeous St. Sofia's Church. Here, we saw the Harbin Art+Architecture exhibit, and also the Harbin Church Choir. Loved it! Everyone assumed we were Russian, and kept muttering in Chinese about it. (e.g "oh look they're Russian,- Ah typical Russian girls). So I kept correcting them- in Chinese that I was, in fact English Thank You Very Much. O how they stared! hah.
We were the only foreigners around, and we had quite the audience photographing our every move. Everything in Harbin is very Russian looking which is why is has the nickname "Littke Moscow." We were the only white people so naturally they expected us to be Russian.
Afterwards, we went to a famous market in a huge city-wide underground bomb shelter. Pretty cool. Then on the evening, we went to the Disney Ice Sculpture exhibit in a huge park. We are seeing the BIG exhibit tomorrow, but the Disney one was pretty fantastic! Jess wasn't too impressed but I was walking around the park happily singing along with the music, taking photos of all the characters and riding the Ice-slides in the "glorious" -28 Degree night. I cannot convey how cold I was...

Now im off to bed, I just ate a KFC [FINALLY!]. Tomorrow daytime we are visiting the Siberian Tiger Park, the Jewish Mosque , and tomorrow evening the BIG Ice Festival. We have to cross a frozen river on Ice-Skates or a Go-Kart to get there so wish us luck.

Love you all tons! Update you again soon, love Bex xxx