HARBIN

The cold bites through your skin; the soles of your feet feel a numbness that you have never felt before. Welcome to Harbin- a city located in Heilongjiang Province, Northeastern China. Not surprisingly, it is also known as “Ice City”. It is the most fascinating and amazing destination I have encountered. It is a unique city to visit but not for the faint-hearted. An average annual temperature of minus 35 degrees Celsius is considered “normal”.

The most famous attraction is the Annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival which is officially held in January every year and lasts for a month.  However, it usually starts earlier and lasts longer depending on the weather. There are two main exhibition areas; 1) Snow sculptures at Sun Island and 2) Ice and Snow World which features illuminated blocks of clear ice. I personally prefer the Ice and Snow World. Massive sculptures carved from huge blocks of ice by sculptors from all over the world are exhibited. According to our guide, the blocks are taken from the Songhua River. It is best to view the sculptures at night when it is illuminated with multi-colored lights. Absolutely breath –taking!. A very important tip, carry extra batteries for your camera as it will run out within a very short time due to the sub-zero temperature. 

Harbin is also known for its Russian influence and it is obvious as you travel around. The Saint Sofia Church is one such Russian legacy. However, it is now a museum located in the central district of Daoli. The bread is a “must-try” as it is absolutely delicious, even if you don’t like bread. I was told that it is an old Russian recipe. The city has many shopping malls in Daoli District with a wide range of goods. I was surprised to see a Wal-Mart in the city. There are also many fashionable high-end goods available.

Finally, an unusual attraction is winter swimming in Songhua River. Just watching the participants will send a chill up your spine. I can only imagine how it is like to take a dip in the freezing water. It was an amazing and unforgettable trip. Highly recommended.

THE EVOLUTION OF MUSIC

As a child during the early 60s I remember my father playing his records (vinyl) on his turntable connected to two very small speakers. He had a small collection of records and his favourites were Nana Mouskouri, The Tremeloes  and Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass just to name a few.

Fast forward 2012. Today, we store music in portable miniature devices in compressed format. Even the names of musicians I mentioned are unknown to many. We now listen to Rihanna, Katy Perry and Flo Rida. The rhythm, melody, harmony and even lyrics have morphed into more complex and synthesized sounds. The equipment has become more sophisticated and musicians are able to virtually record ‘perfect’ recordings. To some, music has lost its ‘natural’ sound. Listening equipment such as  Mp3 is portable and for home audio, an enthusiast is able to set-up a 6.1 channel sound system.

The music genre has multiplied over the decades. The genres have become so diverse that at times it is controversial and difficult to classify. Hip-hop and rap were unheard of during the 60s. Nevertheless, there are some elements of jazz and blues in it. There are less lyrics which we are able to mimic these days without practice due to the fast paced tempo and sometimes over-stressed pronunciation coupled with profanities.

There is a downside that comes with progress and advanced technology in the music industry. The most apparent being copyright infringement. Producers, musicians and even retailers face an uphill battle against this menace. Peer-to-peer file sharing is rampant and easily accessible thereby making it uncontrollable. One of the most famous copyright infringement cases involved Napster which was a file sharing site that allowed people to download music. Eventually, they had to shut down their site.

I wonder what music would sound like in the next generation. Will there be a new genre with elements of hip-hop and rap?. Will there be a new kind of format?. Whatever the outcome, I am sure music will stay alive and keep on growing. After all, ‘Without music life would be a mistake’- Nietzsche.