Day 0
I think this is the first time we took a red eye flight with 3 kids... Luckily, the two boys are taken care of by relatives. Still shag... Caylene's first red eye flight - I have to say she cooperated. She slept before boarding and slept through taking off. Just that she wasn't feeling well, her cough keeps waking her up. And thus, I didn't get to sleep much too.
We flew from Singapore to Beijing then layover 2 hours then to Harbin. It was quite rush, no time to chill and walk around. We arrived at 10plus. Feeling lethargic because of the almost 12 hours traveling time...
Day 1 Harbin
Lunch at a happiness year restaurant. The dumplings have many flavours and quite yummy. Then head off to St. Sophia Cathedral Church that has caught fire before hence is closed but the building becomes an attraction in Harbin leaving behind some burnt marks.
We walk quite a distance to Sun island to see the waterfall. It was a total waste of time, the waterfall was not spectacular at all. However, the ride on the electric car was nice with cool breeze.
The best part of the day would be the sun island indoor ice sculpture exhibition that cost rmb298 per person and that includes the rental of winter jacket and boots. Initially, Caylene had so much fun walking around in the jacket, but after staying for longer, she starts to feel too cold. Very grumpy and crying super hard inside. They have a few slides and snow maker in there that the kids had so much fun. The cold inside was no joke man.
Before dinner, we had some free and easy at central street. Not really fantastic, some stalls outside selling snacks and there are a few shopping malls.
Dinner at 大当家 near Crowne Plaza hotel that we are staying. The food was not bad too. Just that their portion are really big. It has been an extremely tiring day.
Hotel is Crowne Plaza. Hotel was quite decent. Comfortable big bed but no bath tub.
Day 2 Harbin to 五大连池
Breakfast spread was good. The interior of the St. Nicholas church is beautiful. A more interesting place would be the Volga Manor. Drinking vodka from ice cup is cool. The cup will slowly melt and the drink is always cold. it comes with a small snack, while taking video for their experience, Caylen ate all my ham. I am left with plain bread and tomatoes.
Head off for lunch at 小笨鸡 quite near the attraction that we went. The food was quite good. After lunch travel about 5hrs to 五大连池. Sit until butt pain. Finally reached the dinner place but the food is awful. Head to Hot Spring Leisure City International Hotel. The hotel is average but rated 5 star locally. The bed is hard but there is a bath tub.
Day 3 五大连池 to 加格达奇
Breakfast was bad. Super crowded and food is not replenished fast enough. I find that the Longmen stone village is very interesting. Somehow I am fascinated by the volcanos. Walked a long trail baby wearing Caylene wasn't easy especially when i didn't have much for bf. The sun was scorching hot, there will be a cool breeze when there is wind. The rocks are everywhere, it is said that when the volcano erupts, the rocks flew everywhere and can hit a huge distance. We went up slope to a higher ground and the view was nice... I kind of like it. There are also snakes spotted among the rocks.
Lunch at 王毛驴豆腐店 was great. They have very nice tofu and but the place is warm. With no fan/Aircon and sun shinning bright on top of us. Weird things that my kids do. This time is Ceyan. There was a fountain at the restaurant, he was helping to carry his gu po bag. Then he was curious if it is real water (cos there wasn't any current or movement of the water), he used her bag to try and conclude that that is real water.
We also went to 北药泉 that resemble our hot spring in Singapore. Just that the spring water is icy cold. It doesn't taste good. And went to 二龙眼泉 to get some 泉水. Said that used the water to clean eyes to get better vision. Just joined in the fun. Nothing special.
Another 5hrs travel time to 加格达奇. The ride was draining. I didn't take any break throughout because Caylene was sleeping on me. And after she wakes up, she is still sticking to me. I have to entertain her and Caylen throughout. I felt so tired without any other help.
Dinner was quite good but I forgot what is the name of restaurant. This is the first time Ceyan tried beer too and obviously he didn't like it.
Daxinanling Jinma Palace was good. Better than the previous hotel. The room is big with comfortable bed (though abit small) and bath tub for the boys to play.
Day 4 加格达奇 to Mohe
Breakfast was almost the same as the previous. Nothing much suitable for us. First stop is at Bei Shan park. The forest was quite nice. But it was raining heavily hence we didn't walk very far.
Long bus ride to Mohe. Split into 2, first trip to go for lunch at Tahe, the food quite ok. The bus ride about 3hrs. After lunch continue traveling north to Mohe for about 4hrs.
Mohe Peak Yuezhiyue Hotel - room size decent. Bed acceptable but water pressure was super small and there is a awful smell in the toilet.
Dinner was 铁锅炖. A local specialty. 1 pot of goose, 1 pot of chicken feet and pork ribs, 1 pot of steam bun. It taste good and looks really interesting. The fire is burning with woods under the pot.
Went for a stroll at the Polaris Square Step. Climbed 157 steps to get to the top, the view was nice especially when the buildings light up. We were supposed to watch the light show there but apparently it didn't light up so we quickly head back to the hotel.
Day 5 北极村
Bf was bad again. Only ate bread and egg. Went straight to Beiji Village. Took the cruise that sail on the border of China and Russia. We managed to see the guard house of Russia. We also visited the 北极沙州公园. The 2.5km trail has many things in there. Nice view with some stones sculptures, plants and horses.
Zhongjing Hotel -the room was decent and the hotel is super quiet. Looks like a nursing home rather than hotel. The bed is hard and there isn't any Aircon. Located opposite the mountains which makes it cool and relaxing.
Didn't manage to catch the northern light because of the rain. But had some fun time at the waiting place where the tour guide has arranged. Ate some skewers and ktv session. When we arrived, there are some laser lights and they were all joking that we seen the aurora already. The worst part will be there is always no baby chair around. Difficult to eat with Caylene.
Day 6 北极村 to 根河
Breakfast was the worst so far. Don't even have bread. Only hard boil egg, veg and rice. We brought our own drink to make at the bf place.
After a long drive we finally arrived at Genhe. Went to Oroqen Reindeer Tribe at about 4pm. Walked about 1km to see the reindeer herd roaming around. Caylen got hit by the horn of the reindeer while feeding, no injury just shocked and dropped the whole bucket. The reindeer spit at hubby too. We saw Jack Neo at the same place too.
Tegarin Theme Hote is the best hotel so far, but that's because the tour guide secretly upgraded our room to the suite. Very nice and spacious room. But actually the normal room is quite ok too, decent and clean environment. Just that the toilet door is translucent. Not much privacy. We had a little gathering in our room before turning in.
Day 7 Genhe to Erguna / Manzhouli
Breakfast was nothing good again. Only swiss roll is quite nice. Head off to Erguna around 2hrs ride. Erguna Wetland Scenic Area has a nice view at the peak but we don't understand why is it called a wetland. 800m to the peak and down but there is another route to go that is 1.2km of steep steps. The boys wanted to try that route so we went with them. Regret big time... The steps are uneven and steep. Up and down all steps. Difficult to walk especially when I am baby wearing Caylene (10kg). Caylen noticed the slope and asked his nainai to take the slope instead of the stairs. Observant and caring boy.
Head off to steamboat lunch. There is a short circuit when we arrived. Hence delaying our time making the schedule haywired. The steamboat was average in my opinion.
Stopped by the grassland for Lele Cart experience (camel cart ride). It was fun to roam around the grassland. There are music and dance and the locals quickly approached us with the little lambs. 1 person for rmb10 to carry the lamb. There were so cute. After carrying them, we can also play and leash them around. It was really fun. Even Caylene had fun. She tries to get near the lambs but scared at the same time. Ceyan missed the lamb for the rest of the day.
Continue the long ride to 满洲里. Ceyan came up the coach to help me take over his sleeping sister so that I can take a break and go to the toilet. Sensible and responsible brother. He was so funny when people board the bus chatting, he will shhh... Everyone laughed. By the time we arrive the dinner place is already 8pm. Dinner at tall spinning tower, level 45. I didn't expect the Beef to be well done and so small. Though there are other food to be shared, the food is not very good and the turning makes one feel slightly dizzy too. It was really warm in there too. Horrible experience. And because when we arrived, the sky is dark already. We can't even enjoy the scenery and see the 3 countries border. Very disappointing.
After dinner was already almost 10pm. We quickly went to the doll area to take some night scenery photos and head back to the hotel. The Manzhouli Grand Hotel is quite nice. The bed slightly hard but big. Water pressure is shiok. Room is Russia themed. Below the hotel are the shopping streets with many shops. But it is too late for us to roam around. There are many drunkard around the streets too.
Day 8 Manzhouli to Hailar
Breakfast was slightly better today. We went to the town to take picture with the doll hotels and went up to the observation tower at level 47 to see the 3 countries (Mongolia, China and Russia). But nothing interesting.
The next stop is the Hulunbuir Grassland. It was an amazing experience. The kids had so much fun. The drone videography is cool and the off road car ride was super exciting. Super bumpy but the kids were so happy. They told the driver to go bumpier because they love it. Hubby told the driver 他们小孩喜欢刺激. Then Caylen say ya 我很喜欢"吃鸡". Laugh die all of us. The driver go full speed and made the ride super bumpy towards the end.
At the grassland we also got the chance to put on the Mongolia costumes to take photos. The scenery and breeze are very nice.. we loved it. Unfortunately, they do not have Caylene's size. Else it will be so cute. Even Caylene had so much fun walking around the grass. She loves the weather and the breeze too.
After about 2-3hrs, we arrived at the grassland mongolian yurt. It was decent with good water pressure. Just that the toilet have a bit of smell and small. The bed is hard. Worst part is there is no double bed. 2hrs of rest time before dinner, we chose to fly kite on the grass and had so much laughter. Ceyan managed to fly the kite till the end of string. Caylen did try but I think the wind is too strong for him to hold the kite. He went to play with rocks. Caylene plucking grass and picking up rocks too.
Dinner in a yurt near the river. The boiled goat was quite good. The wind is so strong and cold after dinner. The kids went for swing and saw a herd of lamb. Its getting really cold by the river.
Day 9 Hailar to Qiqihar
Breakfast at a big glass yurt beside the river. Food was ok too. Went for some horse riding and grass slide before leaving the grassland. This is our first time riding the horse. 2km for 200rmb. It was quite a good experience. Ceyan tried it and he seems to love it too. Caylen is still afraid that the horse will run fast hence he did not attempt. Due to time constraints they only played 3x of the grass slide though we paid 100rmb for unlimited time.
Left the beautiful grassland and heading back to Qiqilar. Long long way.. by the time we arrive is already 7pm. Went to the 和平广场 for a short walk before heading for beef BBQ dinner. They said that Qiqilar is famous for the beef. But somehow I feel that the chicken and pork taste better. Felt that the beef was overcooked.
Finally checked in to the hotel at almost 10pm. Hemei International Hotel was good... Big room big and comfortable bed. Toilet was good too. But we have to leave early the next day. So far the earliest. 7.30am to leave the hotel already.
Day 10 Qiqihar to Daqing to Chang Chun
Breakfast variety was awesome but very rush. Didn't get to enjoy the wide spread. First stop Zhalong Nature Reserve, walked 2km watch the Red-Crowned Cranes being released, explore the reed wetlands. Nothing interesting. Walked so far just to see the cranes fly for less than 1min. Not worth going. Have to take the same route back.
Long bus journey to DaQing for Longfeng Wetland, Oil Pumpjack and Iron Man Wang Jinxi Memorial Hall. Nothing interesting. The oil pumpjack is closed on Wednesday. We only can take picture with the building. Kind of waste time.
Finally reached Changchun at 8plus, the streets are busier and more cars and shops. But unfortunately we do not get to explore the city because after dinner the shops are closing already. We need to leave early for the airport because our original flight got cancelled. We need to take another flight earlier to connect with Beijing to SG.
Jin An Hotel Changchun is decent but the previous hotel is still better and the best so far. The showerhead is fixed which makes it difficult to shower. We won't have breakfast at the hotel as we need to leave by 4.30am.
Day 11 Home sweet home
Breakfast on the bus. Tour guide is very nice bought some hot tea egg, porridge and milk for us. Transit for 5 hrs is no joke, bored and tiring. The food at transit is expensive too. Nothing much at Beijing airport except boutique.
Flight from Changchun to Beijing was quite smooth. Caylene slept before take off. And she was ok when landing. However, flight from Beijing back to Singapore is horrible. The turbulence was really bad throughout and made me feel insecure. She slept before take off again and for almost the entire flight. We were lucky that it was not a full flight. We got an extra seat for her to lie down.
We are finally home. This is kind of long trip and super tiring because of the distances from places to places. The time spent on coach is very long and I have to entertain Caylene throughout. Most of the time she doesn't want anyone else. Super glue big time, she is not even like that when we are in SG.
The people in the tour group are all very nice. Always being understanding that Caylene is young and grumpy. Got a auntie always chat with Caylen and took care of him like his grandmother. Whenever Caylen walked away, she will follow him make sure he is safe. Gave him food and attention.
