Sunday Snapshot: Team Retreat {Harbin}
In the past six years living in Asia, I’ve had the opportunity to do many things I had never imagined myself doing. Riding elephants. Bunking with four people in a tiny one person steward’s cabin on an overnight train. Boating along the North Korean border. Eating delicacies far beyond what is considered normal fare in the states. Watching a live chicken get devoured by tigers.
The last was the primary reason Harbin was chosen for our team retreat location this year. This northern (very, very Northern) Chinese city is famous for three things: an old church called St. Sophia’s, the ice festival, and the tiger park. The latter is a refuge for a couple hundred Siberian tigers, and allows for a far more personal experience with the creatures than would likely be allowed in the States due to litigation concerns. Friday morning, with excitement in the air, we prepared to board vans to the park. And Lauren got into the spirit of the day.
Upon arrival at the park, we posed for some obligatory shots with the random tigers dotting the parking lot.
After that, we boarded a cage on wheels. At this park, the tigers roam free and the tourists get stuck in cages.
We rolled through some Jurassic Park-esque double gates (all the while humming the soundtrack to Jurassic Park of course) and were greeted with our first sight of these phenomenal creatures.
All, from the oldest to the youngest on the team, were quite captivated.
We took a leisurely drive through the park, stopping every now and then to allow the tigers to investigate their visitors.
They’re allowed to get as close as they like, and since tourists often purchase raw meat to give them, that tends to be very close.
Also available for purchase are live animals.
The tiger version of meals on wheels. This little SUV rolls up. And the purchased animal gets thrown on the roof to await its fate.
After the drive, you enter a long winding corridor offering more views of the tigers.
There were some tiger fights.
And some tiger stare downs.
And the simple majesty of a stunning animal.
There was also, once again, meat available for purchase, which you could serve to the various feline creatures using metal tongs.
After purchasing and serving up a fair amount of chicken breasts to a particularly hungry liger (cross between a lion and a tiger), we all headed out to the other famous destination in Harbin, St. Sophia’s.
Where there was once again picture posing and much laughter.
All made for once again a very successful team retreat, and a last chance to enjoy each other before we’re scattered to the winds in three weeks.
As I innocently viewed your description of the tiger park, I saw the board that lists various prices
of live animals. To my *horror* and naivety, I thought at first they were selling live animals to take
home with you….THEN….as I scrolled down I couldn’t believe my eyes when I realized …OMG…
they sell these animals *choke*, even the BIG ones to feed to the tigers!!! We are so “sheltered”
here in the USA, from the reality of how live animals are killed so meat can be fed to animals , or
man. I just can’t imagine that one would ever see a “take down” at an animal park here in the states, of a live sheep or cow;especially one I bought to see killed for my entertainment! Thank you for sharing this amazing journey you have been on. I will pray for you as you spend these last
weeks in China . Bless you, from mm, vancouver, wa.