Harbin is cold. I'm cold. It's cold.

Friday January 27, 2012

Like a couple of strangers meeting for the first time let us talk about the weather.

Most of my family and friends are aware of my anxiety before this trip about landing in Manchuria in the middle of winter. Although I'm reasonably well travelled I had never visited temperatures of -30 to -20. I wasn't even sure what that would feel like.

Harbin folk madly buying ice cream to enjoy in -20 degrees. You can take them home without fear of melting! (The ice cream, not the people)

Fortunately there has been no wind over my first two days in Harbin so I've survived. It's still pretty chilly though! Some rambling and observations:

  • My friend Chris, who spent a couple of years in Canada recently, advised before the trip that I should wear anything necessary to stay warm and NOT BE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW I LOOK. I think he was calling me vain.
  • Frighteningly I had never heard of "neck warmers" until two weeks ago.
  • It is difficult to turn the pages of the Lonely Planet with ski gloves on. I felt like an elephant trying to dial a telephone. 
  • My own breath kept condensing and freezing onto my glasses. Definitely wear contact lenses for the rest of the China leg.
  • Everytime I have to go outside I'm dressed like I'm about to rob a bank. But the locals are audacious in their lack of headwear [Harbiners are tough: Exhibit A].
  • The air conditioning is on full blast in my apartment but the warmest the flat can reach is 19 degrees.  [Harbiners are tough: Exhibit B]
  • My thermal long johns don't fit under my tight jeans. It'll have to be the less flattering hiking trousers in China. I think Chris may have been right.
  • There are delicious yellow paddle pop ice creams on sale everywhere. And people are going nuts for them in -20 degrees.  [Harbiners are tough: Exhibit C]
  • Notwithstanding the harsh weather there are many tourists (albeit most of them domestic) here for the Ice Festival. Whoever thought of this idea that actually attracts people to Harbin in sub-Arctic temperatures is an absolute genius. 

So in conclusion: I've not died.

I will write later about what I came actually came to Harbin for - the Ice Festival and the Russian heritage. Stand by!

1 comment:

  1. I think the idea for the Ice Festival was raised by Ivan Reitman back in 1987. He *is* a genius!

    Glad to hear that you are still alive. You will hurt. You will get ice boogers. Your ear-tips may fall off. But, -30? Suck it up buttercup. When it gets to -40, call me.

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