@Kate.Kunming
I'm going to write a country song using your last paragraph, and since it's China, no royalties to you!
Also, I'm going to open with "I know your passport number and you worked illegally" to any foreigner next time. Probably half the bar at Moondog will get spooked and leave.
Outside of it being the rainy season, it's probably a lot more interesting to ride from Shangrila to Jinghong than Laos.
Buy your bike, rack, panniers, in Kunming at the Xiong Brothers bike shop.
They may have a used mountain bike to sell you from their collection of excellent condition rentals. Also, they have cycled through Laos, but you need to speak some Chinese if you want info. After, pay some rmb to bring the bike with you to jinghong under the bus. Anywhere from 50 to 100rmb depending on driver.
If you are going to buy a bike right before Laos, then Jinghong is your best bet. It's the last major city with real bike shops.
Why did you just totally ignore atwillden's question? If it's because he used your name, I'll re-ask without, so you can answer.
Bigger question—didn't you often post about how great living like a local with your Chinese gf was? This presumes you in fact had one and knew where to meet them, so then point of this discussion is....?
Warning noted. But sadly, most Chinese can't tackle this alone without the help of a foreign relative or significant other, because only they are going to bother to step up that much. Also, 2k rmb is nothing now and for a visa to Europe it's cheap, so they see it as a good deal. Too bad the agents are scam artists and liars, and they can just shift the denial as the consulate's fault.
@faraday
I wonder if there is a business opportunity for an honest foreigner to act as an agent. Would 2k rmb be enough compensation for you to guide a total stranger through the European visa process?
2600 for big furnished and not a dump in Wenlin jie is alright. That 3000 unfurnished as tiger said was probably a rip off. A lot of complexes near wenlinjie close their main gate after midnight.
No results found.
Never gotten sick once at Sals. Their food is TexMex, so yeah, not authentic Mexican food, but pretty authentic as TexMex goes. Burrito wrap has improved a lot. Like the draft beer option now.
If you haven't had dairy products in a while, and do eat here, best forgo the sour cream. Nothing wrong with it, in fact it's the best sour cream in Kunming, but if you've eaten Chinese for month or months with no dairy intake, your system will react to sour cream or probably any liquid dairy product not so well. Maybe that's what happened with nailer and tallamerican.
Update:
It's now 5 working days for regular processing. So I submitted my application a bit before 5pm on a Friday and was told to pick it up next week Friday after 5pm.
Cost is now 400rmb for a single 30 day entry. Or that was what I was charged anyways. There are no posted prices and its cash only with no receipt except for your passport pickup. That's like $65 USD.
You can pay another 150rmb for 2 day or 100rmb for 3 day processing. For 400rmb, they should process it in three days like they used to before, but now you'd pay 500rmb. The office is still like deserted most of the time, so why does it take longer now and cost extra. If you opted for 2 day, thats like $90 usd. All other neighboring countries charge like $25usd.
The rest of and cope review is still good for hours and location.
Far out, less people. Big enough to get lost in. Pretty and quiet near dusk. 20yuan entrance fee.
Like everyone else says, best Indian food in Kunming. They have lunch plates and dinner plates. Show up before 1pm for lunch.
They are on the 4th floor of the half empty shopping mall. Best way is too take the elevator past the KFC around the corner from Starbucks.
Most individual dishes can feed only two hungry guys, so order more if you are starving. Naan order can take care of one only.
Five stars for the food. Go with Yereth's recommendations, plus any vegetable the waitress says is fresh.
Beware that Xue Fu lu is one way, so many taxis have to take a roundabout way to get here.
In China's hinterlands, a new life for Myanmar's Rohingya
发布者I've been inside that shop!
The faceless grottos of Anning's Fahua Temple
发布者Thanks. Nice travelogue. Bern to various grottoes great and small. Both large and small showing what a couple of hundred years of weather and vandals does to the head of carvings. Even though the small ones like this aren't as impressive, I find them more peaceful and always tended by a humble monk or two. Haven't been to this one, but should make for a great cycle.
Recipe: Twice cooked pork belly with kumquats
发布者You're wrong Alien. mPRin is correct.
Getting Away: Cycling and camping at Fuxian Lake
发布者Great article. Just enough details to get going but not enough to leave imagination behind.
Snapshot: A laowai wedding in Kunming
发布者Great photos. Thanks Kris.