Latest Comments

• • July 28, 2011
  • Kunming discovers two more fake Apple stores
    

    Leaving aside the alleged fake Apple stores, the concept of 'minding your own business', turning a blind eye to irregularities, and complete disregard for law and order is indeed what many people in the south of China do. I recognise this and accept this as the culture. But while maintaining a stance of non-interference, I don't accept it is neccessarily good for society - any society.

    I've seen local people walk past a lost and crying child. They were minding their own business and with complete disregard for one of the most vulnerable members of their own society. I've seen someone knocked off of a motorbike and as he lay, clearly hurt in the middle of the road, local people sat in the chairs and made no attempt to go to the aid of motorcyclist. They were minding their own business.

    Minding your own business is a state of mind which is either on or off and I don't believe you can be selective. Birdabroad was not minding her own business, he or she was being curious, making observations and speaking of what she observed. It's what people in civil society tend to do. I dare say Birdabroad would not pass by a clearly distressed child in the street. There is such a thing as a 'duty of care' both morally and legally in many countries. Minding your own business is a luxury civil society can't always afford, but as you rightly say, that's what most Chinese people do.

• • July 27, 2011
  • Kunming discovers two more fake Apple stores
    

    There was nothing fake about the way most of the staff in these places worked.

    Unlike many stores (Wal-Mart, Metro, Carrefour etc) were the staff hang around in droves glued to their cell-phones, chatting, fooling around and generally getting in the way, the staff in the Apple stores (fake or otherwise) stand back and let you browse. When you do need them they listen, very unlike some of the air-heads elsewhere who are programmed to sell the junk of the day whether you like it or not.

    Shops mentioned above should be snapping any Apple store staff made redundant and hiring them at a premium to do some serious staff training.

• • July 10, 2011
  • Video: Kunming driver crosses pedestrian bridge
    

    Any updates on this story?

• • July 4, 2011
  • Kunming announces plan to increase green space
    

    I've read, and re-read the following statement in the article, and I can't be sure I understand precisely what it means:

    'Within the coming three years Kunming's green space coverage will be expanded to 40 percent........'

    Forty percent of what?

• • July 1, 2011
  • Video: Kunming driver crosses pedestrian bridge
    

    Use of asterisks (***) often do little for clarity. For example, should someone wish to describe such a driver as an 'arsehole' they might use A***hole. However this may lead to confusion. Thus, if anyone should want to describe a driver in this way then 'arsehole' spelt out and without asterisks would be much clearer to the reader. The more vulgar sounding 'asshole' might be avoided in case it should cause offence and result in the post being deleted.

Latest Forum Posts

• • May 24, 2012
    
  • Forums > Living in Kunming > Two flies and your out.
    

    Buttons only trousers? A true no fly zone.

• • May 24, 2012
    
  • Forums > Living in Kunming > sound familiar?
    

    This is a fascinating read and you can identify where and when NJ could be substituted for NC, but having read it and recognised some similarities I can't see myself now labelling these words and actions as microaggressions. To me, this is a Psychologists theory putting two and two together and telling us we should think it adds up to five.

    If I went out today now viewing these things as microaggressions, I'd have to discount what I intrinsically recognise as opening gambits in conversation, genuine curiosity about me and my obvious differences in looks and behaviour (not always the best), and most importantly, I would have to discount the overall acceptance of me, as an individual. Doctors and psychologists can be interesting but they are not always right - all too often wrong. And if in this case the author has a point and cares to believe it, then he or she is suffering from chronic expat fatigue.

    It's going to interesting to see how others view this.

• • May 24, 2012
    
  • Forums > Living in Kunming > Two flies and your out.
    

    Alien flies, minority flies and flies not holding a Hukou are exempt.

• • May 22, 2012
    
  • Forums > Living in Kunming > CCTV Host Yang Rui
    

    Hardly surprising Yang Rui allegedly has such contempt for foreigners. His research department has fed him endless Homer Simpson type characters, seemingly unaware they were there to be exploited. Once in a while they would feed Yang Rui an interviewee who had a chip on their shoulder and ready to serve the Dialogue agenda come what May. Only rarely do I remember this guy being asked to carry out a challenging interview. Admittedly it's a long time since I've watched such trash but I often remember having nothing but contempt for many of the interviewees. Whatever your nationality, no one respects a traitor. Like me, he must have found it sickening.

• • May 20, 2012
    
  • Forums > Living in Kunming > some suggested forum guidelines
    

    goKunming has served the local community well, I've certainly looked upon it as an asset over several years. The anarchic, or near anarchic element, has contributed and been an integral part of the overall success.

    Problems have emerged fleetingly and then died out. Zealous moderation would be an onerous task in what must already be a labour of love. I can see why this is being suggested now but if moderation became the norm it could well serve as the prelude to a long, lingering death. Even the so called trolls serve as a barometer of opinion both local and foreign.

    It's a relief to hear moderation will continue to go largely unnoticed.

Latest Reviews

• • nnoble
    June 16, 2011
    
  • Kunming > Richland International Hospital
    瑞奇徳国际医院

    My one and only impression is that Richland is a cash deposit facility dressed up as medical establishment with actors dressed up as nurses. The 'doctors' turning up late, if at all, for rehearsal.

• The Old Theatre Inn
• Lost Garden Guesthouse & Restaurant
• Chicago Coffee
• Kunming Mei's Mandarin School
• As You Like
• Keats School
• Moondog
• GoKunming
• YMCA Club 1933
• Slice of Heaven
• Kingsway Tented Resorts
• Camel Bar
• The Mask
• Bakery 88
• Kunming College of Eastern Language and Culture
• My Favor Restaurant
• Chapter One
• Wonders Of Yunnan Travel
• O'Reilly's Irish Pub
• Salvador's Coffee House
• Wangtianshu Restaurant & Deli
• Tenwest Mandarin School
• Cacao Mexican Restaurant
• Flying Tigers Restaurant
• Kunming Yu-Cong Enterprise Management Company
• Huiying Dental Clinic