Harbin Ice Festival & more

I don't always post twice a month, but when I do you know it's because there have been more than two noteworthy events. But seriously! The winter has been fairly mellow, even so I've managed a few different excursions around town and in Harbin as well.

But before that, here are a few extra photos of the Christmas party from Elaine's camera.

Vickey with the big SpongeBob

Elaine with the sickliest of poses!

Kelly chillin with Nate

Kurtis was a pretty, pretty good Santa

This one isn't from Christmas, but it might be the most epic class photo we've had yet.

A few days after New Years, the school had a little party for the teachers and it was actually pretty sweet. We went to a spa on the outskirts of Xincun for a relaxing day of swimming and soaking in a bunch of different hot pools. There were five or six different types of saunas ranging from "Steam Room" to "Smog Room," I imagine it was a translating error, or at least I hope so.

After that we headed to a banquet room and had a dinner party, and the Chinese teachers love to sing songs and play games so of course there was a ton of that.

The spread at our dinner table, not bad!

The Chinese teachers performing a dance/song

The next Monday I bundled up and prepared to brave a -5 degree evening in Harbin, why would I do that you ask? The simple answer is the Harbin Snow and Ice Festival, and I'll let the pictures speak for themselves! (All buildings are made of out bricks of ice, with different colored lights within).

Panoramic View at Dusk

It was coooooooooold, but so awesome and worth it!

Full Moon

The Entrance

Pretty Epic

Took a ride on a Yak, like the shameless tourist I am...

They even threw in some slides for good measure!

Night and Day!

Other than that, the Yixi "fog" still rolls in from time to time...

Nice day eh?

And we finally got our first snow, unfortunately it was nothing more than a dusting.

First "Snow"

Chinese New Year is on Monday the 23rd and the town is already illuminated with red lanterns and other colorful decorations.

Yixi Main Square

In case you aren't up to date on the Chinese calender, this will be the year of the Dragon! For all you 1988 homies, it must be a sign of a good year to come.

Year of the Dragon!

And if that wasn't enough, tomorrow I'm heading to the Philippines and meeting up with Meaghan in Manila. We are planning to travel up to the Banaue rice terraces and then take a trip over to the island of Palawan to relax on the beach, hopefully all goes as planned!

Happy Chinese New Year! Set off some fireworks for the year of the Dragon!