Harbin, Heilongjiang, China (01/04/2012-01/06/2012)

For several years now, I had wanted to visit the Ice and Snow Festival in the frigid northern city of Harbin and I finally had the chance.  It happened to be a warmer than usual January at only -21C.  Harbin is also the closest I've yet been to Russia, a place that is definitely on my to-do list given my ancestry and so I caught myself doing things like drinking kvas, eating at Russian restaurants and admiring the old Russian sections of town.

The Siberian tiger park, and Polar World were also interesting visits.The Ice and Snow festival was breathtaking, especially at night.  The blocks are hauled from the frozen Songhua river that runs through the city and assembled over weeks into grandiose, and sometimes life-sized replicas of famous places, people and events. Children from a young age are taught to make ice lanterns (by filling emptied eggs with water then freezing them).

Despite the frigid cold, smoke-laden air, and rather bland taste of North-Eastern food (minus dumplings), I would highly recommend a visit - the very warm and kind people, interesting history, and natural scenery are added bonuses.