Sorry, I don't know. As to quality of buses, they vary, but the last time I took one (Jinghong back to Kunming) the bus I was on was as good as any bus I've ever taken ANYWHERE (it was a day bus with seats, not a sleeper), with the exception that there was a movie playing all the time, which I don't like.
I think it would be useful if somebody would simply ADMIT that he/she is miserable here and then tell us his/her subjective reason for staying.
@Casimir: true.
Suggest you ask at any of the many travel agencies in Kunming.
Almost surely goes from the southern bus station. I've gone by bus to Houay Xai and on to Thailand numerous times. However, I strongly suggest you take a bus to Jinghong, hang out a day or so, then take bus from there to Houay Xai - from Kunming to Houay Xia is a long trip and being on the bus that long would get very old. The buses are comfortable to quite comfortable. Short notice tickets are possible - you can probably get one the day before, or (possibly) the same day. Price to Jinghong is about 200 rmb; from Jinghong to Houay Xai is, I think, about the same. You can get your visa to Laos (which you need) at the Lao border, the bus will stop there for this - only takes a few minutes, cost US$37; have a photo ready, but if you don't have one they'll take one for US$2.
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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.
Too bourgeois.
Really good pizza and steaks. The wine machine fuddles me when I'm a bit fuddled, & seems unnecessary. Good folks on both sides of the bar.
Ain't no flies on Salvador's.
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发布者Bad that the construction company would try to do this; good that the government actually acted against them.
US Ambassador to China visits Yunnan
发布者Follow the aluminum trail.
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Shwe Mann removal a blow to reform in Myanmar
发布者53 years of this crap - my respect for the people of the country, who have managed to hang on through it all.
I'll be glad when all these guys are fossils, and I'm sure the Burmese/Myanmarese who are alive then will too. But it won't happen automatically.
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发布者Fine book, good read, good guy.