National Holiday

Meet the "Gang": From Nonie's right is Pat (American), Armen (Canadian/Abbottsford), Tom (Canadian/Edmonton), Milly (American), Takiya (Japanese), Will (British), Leah (American) and Brian (American). Missing are Meaghan (American), Eduardo (Italian), Roman (Italian), Irena (Russian) and Branson who was the Foreign Export MC for the evening. We are at the gala banquet to celebrate the National Holiday.

Nonie's new friend. While riding the ferry over to Sun Park we were asked to pose for pictures with a few of our fellow riders. This happens quite often. We are an oddity for many Chinese who have never met or talked with a foreigner. They need the picture to prove to their friends that they have met a foreigner. The folks we met on the ferry are probably on holiday from one of the neighbouring cities or villages where few if any foreigners are found. Haerbin is well visited by foreigners, especially Russians who come here to holiday and shop. We are quite often mistaken as Russian and greeted with a "Pryvet" or "Dosveydonya". Sometimes by other Russians.

Branson receiving a blessing from a vacationing monk. We ran into him while visiting Sun Island. He was thrilled to practise his English with us. This activity is quite common as well. With few foreigners around, the Chinese are ecstatic when they get a chance to practise with a native English speaker. We spent some time in conversation with him and as time passed were were surrounded by dozens of Chinese who were curious as to what was going on with the foreigners. Again, not an uncommon thing to happen.

The view from Sun Island. The skyline is dotted with many tall buildings. Single family housing is very rare in cities unless you are very wealthy or hold a high position in government. The apartments are are very efficient with no wasted space. Most have some form of balcony which is used for storage and/or for drying clothes. Washing machines are quite common now in homes but clothes dryers are very rare. They are very expensive and use too much energy. Something we might want to consider getting rid of. It does however make doing the laundry a challenge. I can just see the Strata Councils reaction with all sorts of laundry hanging in and off the balconies of our complex in Penticton.

Old and New China. While exploring the back room of a souvenir shope we came across this poster guy for old China. He was surrouned by old furniture and knicknacks. He chatted away to us in Chinese and was quite thrilled to pose for pictures with all of us. He is seen here sitting with what we think was his granddaughter.



Our holiday week ended with serious inflatible accident. Despite our warnings that the inflatable tower was ready to collapse, Tom continued to walk under the tower. He is fine but understandably skittish around these towers now. He will have to get over it as these inflatible thingies are ever where. The Chinese believe if one looks good, then hundreds will look a hundred times better. Not sure I agree.