The 22nd China Harbin International Beer Festival

Not a sip, not a penny out of pocket, just wandering and taking photos.

m.cmx.imhttps://his2nd.life/en/posts/dfeb1577.html
Hollis

Not a sip, not a penny out of pocket, just wandering and taking photos.

AI-generated summary

The blog post recounts the author's first experience attending the 22nd China Harbin International Beer Festival. Despite being a local, they had never visited the festival before. Initially apprehensive about the noise and potential drunkenness, the author ended up enjoying the event sober, excitedly taking photos of international models and other festivities. They experienced both excitement and regret, particularly about missing opportunities for photos and interactions. After attending the opening ceremony, which featured performances and fireworks, they found themselves tired and missed the chance to have a beer due to long queues. Their journey home involved a long walk and a costly cab ride, reflecting on the day's mixed emotions and missed opportunities. Despite feeling a bit down, the author considered the day a personal improvement in their social courage.


Well actually, I did cost a little by calling a cab on the way back home.

As a native of Harbin, I had never attended the famouse international beer festival before. So yesterday I planned to come to the Sun Island this weekend to take photos and have some drinks. I’m not a big fan of crowded and noisy places — once I went to the Strawberry Music Festival, the loud sound field there made my heartbeat follow the crazy sonic, which was really uncomfortable, and I don’t want to go to any music festivals anymore. There certainly will be loud musical acts on this beer festival, but also, there will be fireworks and drone show this evening. So, I’m in.

I had worried that I might have got drunk, laid down somewhere, and lost my camera tody. It turned out, instead of got drunk, I was taking photos all over the place, excitedly. Why was I so excited? Cuz I met some international ladies! They could be from Russia or somewhere. “你要唠这个我可就不困了啊!” At first, I was shooting models in shiny branded green dresses with fashionable feather hats, in front of the Harbin Brewery shed. Then came several international ladies to join us. This time I got a good positon with no one blocking my lense anymore. Aunties also eager to take photos with these ladies. I was shy after all! Asked the guy on my left to take a photo of me with the lady, but he was picking photos on his phone, didn’t hear me. I just didn’t have the heart to mention it again, thus missed the opportunity! After that I thoght, wasn’t I stupid?! I’ve got a camera with a flippable screen which allows me to take photos on my own! There was a chance in front of me and I didn’t appreciate it. If the God gave me another chance, I would be brave enough to ask for a photo together, even though we speak different languages. It sounds like a line from a movie or TV show, reminiscent of Big Little Lies, but that’s really what I was thinking.

The God had decided to indulge this silly guy again. It was international models wearing flesh-colored tights and gorgeous wings on the back, just like in the promotional pictures. This time I was (being surrounded by the crowd and forced to walk close to them) following them to shoot all the way. They also interacted with people, so I asked for photos together natually. They were all friendly. Ha, so far no regrets. I felt like this month would have been worth it.

It was almost the time for the opening ceremony and I ran to set up my tripod in front of the main stage. On my left there was a person talking to me. It was Ms.Luo! She was my teacher. The woman next to her seemed to be her mother. This was… unexpected at all. After the small talk, they went for a better place to watch the ceremony, I could never find them again. I was wondering if I could take a photo with her, because it was really a surprise that we met in this place. But I hesitated, and before I could ask, I couldn’t find her! The God has spoiled me enough. I asked for her number from my ex-roommate, but the signal was so bad we couldn’t hear each other, so she hung up. I texted her then. She stated that due to the poor signal, it would be hard enough for us to find each other, so why don’t I just enjoy the festival on my own. All right… I figured they might have left here. So that’s the pity of the day.

The opening ceremony began with some singing and dancing. Afterwards, the hosts introduced the newly constructed “Little Ice and Snow World” project this year, which allows visitors to get a glimpse of what Harbin looks like in winter, at this time. It was also announced that the (“Big”) Ice and Snow World had become a permanent project, which gives visitors different experiences in different seasons. There were congratulatory messages. Then, as I recall, it was the much anticipated Sun Honglei who came on. He chatted with the hosts about some topics that were already stipulated in the script, advertised Harbin Brewery, also expressed his blessing for Harbin, etc. Then there was the announcement that the Ice and Snow World had achieved Guinness World Records certification. I actually have learned these during the afternoon rehearsal. At that time, Sun Honglei was a shy girl, how time flies!

Next up was an exciting fireworks and drone show. On the left side of the field were the drones and on my side were the fireworks, both going on at the same time. I was so busy shooting that I blured some of the photos because of inapproprite shutter setting. But it’s better than nothing, and it’s always good to leave a record.

It was about eight o’clock in the evening. I was considering drinking beer at the Harbin Brewery shed. Problem is, there was a long queue, and I was already a bit tired. Thought that I wasn’t fortunate enough to enjoy a cup of cold, refreshing beer, I just left. And again, after that I found myself damn stupid. There were other “beer gardens” to accommodate me, and I just left! Maybe I was really exhausted… During that time, I met a photographer and a reporter from Heilongjiang Televison, I wanted to take a photo of them. However, the reporter realized I was looking at her, so I was too embarrassed to take the photo. She came up to me and asked where I was from. Of course, Harbin… Then she said goodbye, because she was looking for visitors from out of town to film a interview. Okay then. It’s just… it was also my first visit to Harbin International Beer Festival, and I was equally excited and thrilled.

Almost nine o’clock, time to leave. However, the line outside the subway station was long enough to fill a street, thus the subway station was restricted. Wasn’t lucky to take the subway when the station entrance is just steps away from me. Then I decided to take the bus. So I walked and ran all the way from the Sun Island to the Central Hospital bus stop. There were also a lot of people who chose to walk back to the south side of the river, walking in several lines on the river bridge. The traffic police even thoughtfully directed cars to avoid us. I don’t think this bridge normally allows people to walk on it. Any way, tired but still had a little energy, I walked and ran kilometers to the bus stop, eventually missed the bus… It was less than a hundred meters, I think, but I couldn’t run anymore and had some heat stroke… Thought I might had missed the last bus, I just took a cab. The cab arrived, with the next bus… Fuck. While I was waiting for the cab, I checked the map app, it told me the next bus wouldn’t be here for another ten minutes or so! In the end, I spent eighteen yuan for the cab, knowing that I’d be an asshole if I just refuse the cab drivers’s service and take the bus to save money.

And here I am, sitting in front of my PC, organizing photos and thoughts. I did feel a little upset on my way back home. Will today end like this? When will be the next time I experience such excitement mixed with exhaustion? Guess I just can’t let go of these beautiful international ladies after all. Didn’t take enough photos. I have to say that I never had the courage to go and take a photo with strangers before, so today was actually an improvement. It’s just… Will I get more chances in the future? Will I go abroad? Maybe marry an Russian woman. Haha, what am I day-dreaming (Well it’s night…) of? I know it’s ridiculous. I can’t even socialize with other people. I can’t even find a girlfriend. Marry an Russian woman? Nonsense. Perhaps I should have just found another place for cups of beer back then, so I wouldn’t be upset.

And tomorrow I would be a fine guy again. Just kidding, it’s already “tomorrow” now… I’ll attach the photos later, I have a bunch of useless shots now.

there is a man standing in front of a large crowd of people
people walking around a city plaza with a ferris wheel in the background
there is a large inflatable snowman in a park with a castle in the background
people are walking in front of a building with a sign on it
there are three girls in green uniforms holding drums and a fan
there is a man in a suit and hat with a camera on his head
there are three people dressed in costumes and holding drums
there are three girls in green costumes with a camera and a camera
there are three girls in green costumes standing next to each other
people sitting at tables in a large tent with a screen
two women in green costumes standing next to each other
several people dressed in costumes and hats are standing together
people walking around a building with a large advertisement on it
people are standing in a large room with red banners and red lights
several police officers standing around a woman with a hat
person dressed in a yellow and black costume standing in front of a crowd
there is a man in a costume and a child in a blue shirt
people are gathered around a clown balloon in a parade
people are standing around a giant inflatable clown with a guitar
people are gathered around a large inflatable clown in a city
people are standing around a man in a wheelchair and a robot
there is a man in a costume that is sitting in a wheel chair
people standing in front of a stage with neon lights and a sign
people standing in front of a white truck with chinese writing on it
there is a red sign with chinese writing on it in front of a bunch of flowers
picture of a ferris wheel with a lot of lights on it
there is a giant panda bear statue in front of a building
there is a red fire truck parked next to a white van
people are standing around a food cart with clowns on it
there are many children standing around a man pouring water on a bottle
yellow tent with a sign that says sunflowers and people standing under it
several people in green outfits are standing in a crowd
people in costumes are standing in a crowd with a camera
several people in costumes are posing for a picture with a camera
several people in fancy costumes are posing for a picture
several women are standing outside of a building with a green hat
several people in costumes are posing for a picture in front of a building
there are many people standing outside of a building with a camera
people are gathered around a stage with fireworks and a large screen
people are standing in front of a stage with a giant screen
there are many people standing in front of a stage with a large screen
people are watching a large screen with a picture of a man and woman
there are many people watching a performance on a large screen
people are watching a performance on a large screen in a stadium
there are many people standing in front of a large screen
there is a large screen with a woman on it in a crowd
people sitting on the ground in front of a stage with a large screen
woman in a pink and blue costume taking a picture of a girl
three women in colorful costumes posing for a picture with a man
woman dressed in a costume and holding a cell phone
woman dressed in a colorful costume at a carnival
there are many people standing together in a crowd with hats on
there is a man with a blue feathered costume on posing for a picture
woman in a colorful costume with a child in front of a crowd
there is a woman in a blue and orange costume standing in a crowd
woman dressed in a blue and orange costume taking a picture with a cell phone
people are standing in a crowd and taking pictures of a man in a costume
there are three people standing together in a parade with feathers
several people in costumes sitting on a green grass covered field
there are three people standing together in front of a colorful display
they are dressed in colorful costumes and feathered headdress
clown juggling with a white juggling stick in front of a building
people are walking around in a park with a kite flying in the sky
people are standing around playing with frisbees in a courtyard
image of a large crowd of people standing in front of a building
clown and child posing for a picture with giant inflatable balloon
clown and girl posing for a picture in front of a giant inflatable clown
people are standing in a plaza with a bridge and a red lantern
there are many people standing in front of a stage with lights
fireworks are lit up in the sky above a stadium with a crowd watching
fireworks are lit up in the sky above a crowd of people
message on a sky with a plane flying in the sky
fireworks are lit up in the sky above a crowd of people
image of a plane with a gift on it's side
fireworks are lit up in the sky over a stadium
fireworks are lit up in the sky above a crowd of people
people are gathered in a large crowd at night with lights projected on the sky
fireworks are lit up in the sky above a crowd of people
fireworks are lit up in the sky above a crowd of people
fireworks are lit up in the sky above a crowd of people
fireworks are lit up in the sky above a crowd of people
fireworks are lit up in the sky above a crowd of people
people are walking around in a large crowd at night
there are many people standing in a crowd with a sky background
people are gathered in a large crowd watching a display of lights
brightly lit stage with a man on a cell phone in front of a crowd
there are many street signs on a pole in the dark
image of a man on stage with a microphone and a woman on stage
people are standing in front of a large screen with a ferris wheel in the background
brightly lit building with neon signs and people in front of it
people are standing in front of a building with neon lights
people are standing in front of a building with a green light
people walking around a busy street at night with many signs
people are standing outside of a building with a lit up building
night time view of a busy city street with a lot of traffic
sign with information about the theme park and attractions
they are posing for a picture in a carnival with a blue feathered headdress
there are two men with clown faces on their faces at a carnival
there are two men standing next to each other at a festival
people taking pictures of a concert with their cell phones
people taking pictures of a concert with their cell phones
people standing in line at a bus stop waiting for their bus
people are standing in a parking lot at night with a lot of lights
people standing in a parking lot at night with a crowd of people
people walking on a bridge at night with a city in the background
there is a man walking by a motorcycle with a bag
people standing on the side of a road next to a highway

Videos uploaded to YouTube. You may need a proxy to view them if you live in Chinese mainland.


The End

  • Title: The 22nd China Harbin International Beer Festival
  • Author: Hollis
  • Created at : 07-06-2024 11:04:23 pm
  • Updated at : 07-07-2024 07:21:56 pm
  • Link: https://his2nd.life/en/posts/dfeb1577.html
  • License: This post is copyrighted and reproduction is prohibited. Individuals, groups, etc., whose photographs and videos are taken own the right to their likeness.
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The 22nd China Harbin International Beer Festival