Harbin Part II

Some post conference sightseeing snaps...

The museum and tomb of a regional emporor...
(my professor knows his Chinese history, unlike me)

The burial mound of the Jing dynasty emporor

Central Street - pedestrianised and cobbled

St. Sofia Church - now a mini museum of the photographic history of Harbin.

Harbin: Conference

A university funded trip to Harbin for the International Geotechnical Symposium, starting off with a dinner in the revolving restaurant of Dragon Tower.

Conference and more importantly: conference cakes...

Fancy dinner in the evening to follow the days fun-filled presentations which invloved the Japanese contingent going up on stage to sing a song in Japanese, which was then followed by being forced onto stage by my very enthusiastic professor insisting (on account that he did pay for our registration fee) that Aziz and I sing songs from our respective countries in some lame attempt to entertain the conference attendees (some primative form of torture I believe).

University canteen food


Getting on and off the boat for the conference organised boat trip to SunIsland Park was rather precarious. At least the ducks had some thing amusing to watch...

Despite the river being rather murky and full of river traffic, it didnt stop a mass of people from swimming in it, infact there were crowds of people (mainly men in speedos) lining the banks ready for a dip in the river. There was even one guy in a little yellow pedalo happily paddling away while being buffeted by the wake of the huge boats zipping past.

Sunsetting over the river as we at our dinner...

Harbin Part I

View from my bedroom, sorry... 'suite' on the 29th floor...

SunIsland - where the Ice Festival usually takes place every winter

Despite it being the middle of summer (and it being damned hot) they do have a Ice Sculpture museum; a big freezer room where they have ice sculptures all year round: costs 80yuan to get in and 15yuan to rent the compulsary legwarmers, shoes and jackets that you need to not freeze once inside.

We also went to 'Polar World' which was, as I usually find aquariums and zoos, depressing. Animals in tiny confines being stared at by humans through panes of glass. On the otherhand much further north of the city there is a tiger reserve where you can drive through their cages and take photos of of tigers and ligers (lion-tiger hybrid). Every so often you would see a splattering of chicken feathers where a tasty chicken had been had.

Miaow?

Best of all, after the little bus excursion, they dropped you off on a caged pedestrian walkway where the majority of visitors took too banging on the cage and shouting at the (disinterested) tigers trying to get an interesting response. On the walkway there was an enterprising lady selling live chickens and bits of raw beef. The first of which could be thrown over the fence to feed the tigers, the second could be dangled on the end of some provided string presumably to do a bit of 'tigering'. I personally think 50yuan is a good price for a whole live chicken, but would be more tempted to take it home as a pet than watch it become a snack on moving legs...

For some added cuteness there were fluffy baby tigers to have photos taken with.

Applying for the ticket home

The lovely people/department of the Japanese Government who provide me with my scholarship to study here in Japan also kindly provide me with the air ticket to come here to be able to actually study here and one to go home when I have finished.

The criteria for the ticket to get here was simple enough. Although the Japanese academic year starts in April they actually allow students to enter twice a year, once with the main in take in April and again in October. As I was due to arrive for the start of the Autumn term in October 2006 the flight they arranged for me was in the first week of October on a weekday. I ended up arriving a few days into term and then was thrown straight into the enrollment process into Uni as well as the interesting procedures aliens have to go through to justify their legal existence in Japan.

Anyhoo, I'm now finally coming towards the end of the scholarship and today I had to apply for my ticket home. As it turns out the rules (Japanese LOVE rules) stipulate that I must choose a date for the return journey between the 20th and 30th of September. Which is interesting because the Univeristy of Tokyo has a regular habit of scheduling the postgraduate graduation ceremony on the 30th of September...which would make it difficult to attend and pick up that diploma. Luckily, for unknown reasons the ceremony has been recheduled for the 28th Sept this year. BUT there is still a chance that the date the government decides to send me back is before or on the graduation day. Which would be a pain. If only because I've already paid to rent some lovely fancy dress for the occasion.

The rules suggest that you dont arrange the flights for family members until you get confirmation of your flights. But I will just hope that they are nice and give me my first choice for returning home.....

The rules are as follows:

Rule for return ticket　by Monbukagakusho

●Return term: From 2009 September 20 to September 30.

In case you can not return during this term, you need the permission by Monbukagakusho before this application. (Graduation ceremony: September 28^th,2009)It is very strict rule.

●After you applied for this application, you can not change the date of your choice.

●In case you will continue your study or research work in the university of Japan, your application will be cancelled by Monbukagakusho. After your application for this return ticket, you must contact university staff immediately when you decide your plan.(except for Japan-Korean government program students)

●In case you will work in Japan, your application will be cancelled by Monbukagakusho. After your application for this return ticket, you must contact university staff immediately when you decide your plan.

●After your application, you must contact university staff immediately in any personal reason. if you do not return.

●You can not select the airline and departure time.

●The result of your application will be notified in the beginning of September 2009．After this result, it is better you book the ticket for your family.

帰国旅費申請者へ　 文部科学省ルール

●帰国日：200９年９月20日～９月30日 工学系修了式9月28日

この期間以外を希望する場合は、申請する前に、文部科学省からの許可が必要です。

●申請してから、帰国日は変更できない。

●日本の大学に進学する場合、帰国旅費は支給されない。辞退しなければいけない。

　　決まった時点で、すぐ申し出ること。（日韓プログラム生は除く）

●日本で就職する場合、帰国旅費は支給されない。辞退しなければいけない。

決まった時点で、すぐ申し出ること。

●申請してから帰国しない場合は、至急申し出ること。

●帰国する航空機会社、時間は指定できない。

●申請結果は、200９年月９上旬に知らされる。その時に変更はできない。家族がいる場合、予約結果の後

家族の分は予約すること。

Schedule

1. Application Deadline: Ask your department office in the end of July 2009. Ask the correct date at your local department office.
2. Ticket reservation: you will be notified in the beginning of September 2009.
3. Your confirmation
4. Your going to get ticket to Shinjuku Branch, The Travel Agency .

スケジュール

1. 2009年8月上旬：自分の専攻事務室へ申請する。
2. 2009年9月上旬：予約の結果が知らされる。
3. 予約確認する。
4. 新宿の支店へ、自分でチケットを取りに行く。（詳細は知らせます）