@ Geezer: I agree about what you say about experienced capitalists. And your rules of thumb, I'll accept, probably 'work' for that reason. But as you say, they are a starting point - but surely they vary with the cost of 'labor' and other factors, and anyway the maximation of profit isn't the only goal? People I know who have run small businesses often become attached to the product of their businesses, the way they choose to produce it, as well as the profit they make from it (which does, you'll agree, have to do with the difference between profit and wages, not just something that comes after wages are paid) and to the environment (including the social environment, which obviously involves employees, as well as customers) they have created, and I wouldn't be too interested in frequenting a business where this was not the case. Seems to me this probably applies to most or all of the small Western-run places in Kunming that I know about, which do not strike me as mere 'money machines'.
@ Peter: I don't think I know of any Westerners here who feel seriously desperate, except perhaps when they first arrive and are unfamiliar with a lot of things here.
I appreciate Xiefei's comments and, since I started this thread, I'd like to point out that I did not mean to imply that anybody in particular is into serious greed. I have no idea what the margins might be - I meant what I said: "...merely an impression." I don't think we're producing dollar millionaires, and I hope not.
Location of The Park is on the courtyard of then Buddhist temple (now full of shops for tourists) on the island in the middle of Cuihu (see listing). I don't know how to join the wechat group. Notification of meetings happens on this thread, and is also usually entered on the calendar for the day.
True about how Laos has little credit, but it seems you're comparing Lao-Chinese national relations with those of brothers, and I think that kind of metaphor is a bit overused - national ruling classes, who make or break agreements and devise policies etc. in the name of 'nations', have interests, not friends, as has been famously stated by...who was that guy? Sometimes these interests coincide, at least for a while, but there is usually a dominant partner/class group.
A little confused, not sure how to think about this - seems to me that both Chinese and Lao interests will benefit from the RR - so why should Laos have to pay for ALL of it?
Sounds okay so far, near as one can tell - but an open question: who benefits most, in terms of money and/or power (or, or that matter, anything else), from the creation of such tourist spaces and cultures, and where do they live? Is it all win-win? And how might it be calculated?
Went there once and found it interesting just to wander around the surrounding area on my own - plenty of interesting limestone outside the designated area, & people you meet are neither tourists nor people trying to sell you tourist experiences. And of course it's free.
Not quite what you'd call a jumping place, but not bad at all for rather standard US-type meals, not overly expensive, and with a really good salad bar that's cheap, or free with most dinner dishes after 5:30PM. You can get a bottle of beer or even wine if you really want to, but I've never seen anybody do it - maybe that's just to take out. Chinese Christian run, and they hire people with physical disadvantages, who are pleasant and helpful. Frequented by foreign (mostly North American) Christians and Chinese Christians - was started by a Canadian couple associated with Bless China (previously, Project Grace), who are no longer here, but no religious pressure or any of that. Steaks are nothing special, and I avoid the Korean dishes, which I've had a few times but which did not impress me.
As a shop and bakery, it's very good bread at reasonable prices, of various kinds (Y18 for a good multigrain loaf that certainly weighs well over a pound. Other stuff too, like granola and oatmeal that is local, as well as imported things, including American cornflakes and so forth, which some people seem to require.
Large portions, seriously so with the pizza, which is Brooklyn/American style, I guess. Convivial, conversational, good place to drink with good folks on both sides of the bar, especially after about 9PM.
'Potato college' serious, Chinese netizens less so
发布者I personally look forward to the spread of the baked potato.
China, Laos agree to $500 million railway loan
发布者True about how Laos has little credit, but it seems you're comparing Lao-Chinese national relations with those of brothers, and I think that kind of metaphor is a bit overused - national ruling classes, who make or break agreements and devise policies etc. in the name of 'nations', have interests, not friends, as has been famously stated by...who was that guy? Sometimes these interests coincide, at least for a while, but there is usually a dominant partner/class group.
China, Laos agree to $500 million railway loan
发布者A little confused, not sure how to think about this - seems to me that both Chinese and Lao interests will benefit from the RR - so why should Laos have to pay for ALL of it?
Shangri-la old town reopens two years after devastating fire
发布者Sounds okay so far, near as one can tell - but an open question: who benefits most, in terms of money and/or power (or, or that matter, anything else), from the creation of such tourist spaces and cultures, and where do they live? Is it all win-win? And how might it be calculated?
Stone Forest tourists surpass four million in 2015
发布者Went there once and found it interesting just to wander around the surrounding area on my own - plenty of interesting limestone outside the designated area, & people you meet are neither tourists nor people trying to sell you tourist experiences. And of course it's free.