Unexpectedly Sacred Spaces

Growing up in the Horn of Africa I was familiar with the sight of a large tree with offerings of butter underneath it, remnants of a past animism that hadn't been forgotten despite the spread of Christianity and Islam in the region. It was a surprise, however, to see similar offerings (steam buns and incense) at an otherwise unremarkable tree outside the Harbin Convention Center Mall. "It's a small world after all..."

IKEA Naps Come to Harbin

Chinese shoppers have long been able to nap at IKEAs across the PRC, but now that IKEA has opened a demo store in the Hongbo Convention Center Mall (a precursor to its Haxi store, set to open this summer) they can finally nap at IKEA-Harbin too!

Mall Randomness

You just never know what you're going to see in a mall here!