Finding Our Way into the Cold

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Now that we’ve made one trip, we’re eager to try another.

This is the one I’m most apprehensive about–Harbin. The natives have given us looks that say “Are you out of your mind?” when we mention going there.

We know it’s going to be cold there, and no matter what we wear we’ll probably be uncomfortable at least part of the time. We also know that the chances that we will pass this way again are slim. And an Ice Festival takes place where there’s, well, ice.

In the book that Shannon and Damon have made up for housesitters, they’ve listed a travel agency they use that’s located in a hotel near the subway station, but they’ve also included two websites to book travel in China.

The first one, www.elong.com, has a good English language version of the site, so we’re off and running. Once we’ve chosen our flights we call Autumn to see if she can take us to the airport and pick us up when we return. She’s good with the times we give her and we go ahead with the booking.

We need a hotel since we’re flying up Thursday and back Friday night. This website lists many, but we check our Frommer’s Guide for recommendations. Location is everything in a hotel and we don’t want to end on the edge of town miles from sightseeing, shops, and restaurants.

There are two moderately-priced hotels in the Daoli district of Harbin, the Holiday Inn and one called The Modern Hotel.

The Holiday Inn is familiar and not likely to be carved out of blocks of ice, so we attempt to book but there are no rooms available.

The Modern Hotel, according to our guidebook, is the only Jewish-built structure left from the days in the early 20th century when this area was home to a large Jewish population. But, we’re told, the hotel’s rooms don’t measure up to its history. However, the location, in the heart of the Daoli district, makes it a good choice, so we book it.

I love playing travel agent. So does my friend, Barb. At home I compare fares over a period of days or even weeks if I have enough advance notice, looking for the cheapest and best. Here I didn’t do much of that because I don’t have a basis for comparison. I did, however, choose a different flight time than we first selected because it saved us 300 RMB each.

Bernie and I like to think that we’re a little adventurous, but we always rely on a good guidebook. Landing in a strange city, and especially in a foreign country, and trying to wing it is a sure recipe for frustration and disappointment.

Besides, anticipation is part of the pleasure of travel. We borrow guidebooks from the library, even if they’re not current, and pore over them for weeks before we leave. Before long we have a list of must-dos, don’t-dos, and maybes. After perusing the library offerings, we decide which one to purchase. The most current guide will have information about currency, local transportation, where pickpockets hang out, and other useful information you may not have thought about. (Did you know, for instance, that that the Louvre is closed on Mondays, or that in China you never leave chopsticks stuck in the rice bowl? It’s like wishing death on your dining companions-think sharp objects jabbed into the heart. Instead, you place them either on the rest provided for them or on the side of your plate.)

Once we arrive and get set for our first forays, we locate the guidebook pages for that area, tear them out and carry them in our pocket.
So, another trip planned. Let’s get ready to execute.