This morning after checking the local market we rapidly headed North towards Harbin and the Amur River basin. Torrential rain all day and massive pot holes in the road made our progression fairly slow. This part of the country looks very industrial with an old look of a 70’s communist town as you imagine it from our Western perspective. People here are much taller than in other parts of the country (Russian influence!), are louder when they talk, their dishes are massive and they are not so excited to see foreigners although you still have the occasional Helloooo!
After locating the river and speaking to the locals we rapidly understood that no living creatures could be found in these local black rivers as they are so heavily polluted. So trying to waste no time we went further North trying to find better waters. On the road we found local fishermen in a village called “the seven families” who had already sold out their topmouth gudgeon for the day (highly prized here, I am not sure why) but that they will get some for us tomorrow morning (let’s wait and see). We need a sample from here as the local temperatures in the winter regularly plunge to -40 oC and goes up to +30oC in the summer. It would be interesting to see how the fish have adapted to these extreme temperatures.
Something, I haven’t mentioned so far in the blog (although it fills up quite a lot of our discussion, like old soldiers comparing their wounds) is the state of public toilets in China! You have some really wicked ones with a ditch over which you squat and separated by small walls. When you enter, you have to hyperventilate as the foul smell attacks the back of your throat and from time to time you have the pleasure of seeing a head poking over the wall and saying hellooo!
Tonight, we are all exhausted, a mixture of the driving, the drop in temperature (fit is the first time we have worn our jumpers) and disappointment with our fish collection. We can see that time is running out and we are all anxious to make sure we complete our collection and make this expedition and overall success.
Finally, we had all a deep thought for our friend and colleague Bernd after the football last night (we know the feeling) and say to Rafa and all online Spaniards "Hola" and good luck for the final!
It is midnight here and tomorrow we wake up at 5.30 so straight to bed now and no bedtime story ;-)
Thursday, 8 July 2010
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Keep it up guys! I'm sure you will manage to find some fish soon. It must be frustrating not to catch anything after all that travel. With all this frustration it's easy to forget what an adventure you are on. I realise this now only after I'm back. At the time it feels often too sureal. So make most of your time and stay positive. As to the football, well I blame the bloody octopus! No seriously Spain deserves to be in the final they are techically by far the best team. I think Germany played the most exciting football of the tournament, but of course we all know that this has never won a competition!
ReplyDeleteBern, I am sorry for the german defeat(not really ;-D)
ReplyDeleteI think that Germany-Spain match was a good match, and really it could be the winner both.
Anyway, I hope that your fishing expedition will be successful, and your misfortunes will be only distant bad dreams.
Animo!!! (in spanish luck!!)