Dumplings

Yesterday we arrived in China. We were met by Eric our guide and a driver and taken to the Shangri La Hotel in Harbin. We were met by Jessica one of the many hotel staff who asked if we were staying long and what had brought us to Harbin? Well you know the answer to that! Jessica was highly delighted and rushed away to get a small bunch of roses that she presented to me with great grace. A good start I think

Harbin is famous for its ice sculptures in the winter. Google it, there are some amazing pics.

There are very few Western visitors here so Eric who normally worked in the office of his travel company had to be our guide as he is the only one who can speak English.

In this part of North East China only Grandpa and those following him stop here!

Eric first took us to have lunch. Dumplings of course. Dumplings to you too you may be saying but these are what everyone eats for a quick lunch and that was what Eric said we should have.

My allergy to ginger became a bit of a nuisance but we soon got round it and the plates of dumplings started to arrive on our table.

We were eating with Eric and the driver in a separate dining room in the restaurant and this seems to be the norm here.

The dumplings were fine, the beer was fine but the dumpling soup was not so good. It is simply the water the dumplings are cooked in and is served in a kettle similar to one you might find in a village hall at home. Not keen really

We went then to a pedestrianised area of Harbin and walked for a log distance down to the river and along the river for about an hour and a half.

Back to the hotel which is very grand. Supper and then we set up the laptop to do the blog.