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Ice.

Blocks of Ice. Piled high. Filled with fluorescents. Designed with slides. This is one fantastic playground! I don’t think I’ve had so much fun running around hand-made ice-structures in my life (granted I don’t know if I’ve ever run around hand-made ice-structures before). This was great and every slide was a blast. Solo, standing, belly first, down sides that were chest high or slides that came down from four stories up. The end was always the same; full boar into a pile of light fluffy powder. If you were lucky your face would be covered and you’d get a good laugh from everyone around as you brushed it off and ran back up the stairs. Though you were cold, bone chilled, you teeth hurt it was so cold, there was never a moment without a smile and a laugh and a let’s do it again!

Thank you Harbin!

Why is it that I now have a bold distaste for Italians?

I’ve had some great experiences in their country, met neat individuals outside of it, and then you meet some obnoxious fools and it ruins your whole perspective. Disrespectful of the people, the animals, and the general rules for life, I don’t think they were ever told to not tease their pets. Perhaps they’ll never learn. Perhaps next time there won’t be such a substantial cage around their dumb-dumb brains.

VIDEO MISSING :(

Even though they’re still in a cage where they’re gawked and taunted – albeit a really big cage – it was somewhat assuring to see China providing for these fascinating animals. Separated into types, each cage was a couple acres in size, enough that our bus could drive about in each one for roughly five-minutes. Within, the tigers banded together and sat, sans-purpose watching the busses drive by and waiting for the food-jeep to arrive. Every once in a while one would stand up and walk about, putting on a little show for the local and foreign passengers of the tour.

Maybe one day the Ligers will organize and hop the fences that hold them captive so they too may have a look at the other attractions of Harbin.

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With -16’C temperatures in Harbin, China we needed to load on the cold weather layers. Discussion turned bet, bet turned hilarity, hilarity makes good video, good video makes for beers all around.

watch for Dan..

Cold.

I suppose growing up in Southern California and then moving to Arid Arizona, ice, snow, and cold weather in general is quite a striking environmental condition. The novelty ranks with such greats as bacon on ice cream and getting a job. Through out our stay in Harbin, this naiveté helped to make the weekend stay significantly brighter in my mind and experiences. Even though a step outside wreaked havoc on your nose, the warm blood rushing to my face for large smiles and laughter made up for it all.

Snow – it’s still a funny thing.