Left Beijing, Leaving Harbin!

We've managed to find a really cheap internet cafe so we've come to write a little.

We're in Harbin at the moment (the place that had the big toxic waste spill last year) and in a few hours we're taking the overnight train to Jilin. The reason we're off to this remote little place is that from there we can take a day tour to a volcano and climb it!! Exciting. Then we're off to Dandong, really near the N. Korean border - we hope to take a boat and get a glimpse at that cut-off Communist state :)

We've had a good time in Harbin - its been super hot (not the cooler climes we were hoping for), but lovely. We arrived late on Wednesday night after a 12 hour train journey from Beijing. We got off the train and were immediately attacked by various touts trying to get us to stay in various hotels. We ended up following one woman to a stinky, dirty hole in the floor... not great. We continued walking along the road and we're grabbed by another lady - again, a stinky, hole in the floor. Finally another man arrived and got us to follow him inside - what did we find??? Oh yes, another stinky dirty hole - but this one was above ground! Bonus. We haggled and bargained our way to cheapness!!! Only Y100 for 3 nights... not bad. (that's about 6 pounds for 3 nights).

The room was fine, but the letcherous pervert who owned the building was less than desirable! The toilets I shall not even begin to explain! Lets just say that we are both now true backpackers saving every penny!!

In Harbin, we've done quite a few nice things - wandered down Zhongyang Dajie (famous street full of Russian architecture), eaten in a wonderful cheap dumpling restaurant (best dumplings we've tasted in China), seen the Japanese Germ Warefare base (full of interesting propaganda) and seen a lovely Russian-style Church thing.

Kate managed to have a little fall down (up the stairs ha ha!) and bruised her knee and pride rather badly! She had to hobble around for a few days... so cool.

MC