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This flood prevention hotline may be useful if you get stuck in the mud so to speak and need assistance:

0871-63130070

Weather forecast seems to point to another night of rain and next morning shower. Hope not, but If the case, those commuting through flood-prone roads tomorrow may want to get updates on road conditions:

Yunnan news portal on Weixin:

mp.weixin.qq.com/s/WPBqN-f7HiO6mqE53zLx-A

Another website that updated Kunming road conditions on a more timely basis. They started reporting at 7:25am this morning:

www.i-km.com.cn/art-164494.html

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Okay, this flooding is getting out of hand. Knee-deep in Western Kunming. Flooding reported in the North per usual. Even city-center, the Panlong River is filling up inches from the brim. The decorative LED lights wrapping the river's edge already submerged in the fast flowing, yellow-brownish water. In some sections of Panlong River, water has already overflown lower stairwells where potted flowers are placed. Disturbing sights to say the least.

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Yes, please. They are very much needed, both the craft ones, and the fruit and vegs ones. All animals products forbidden completely.

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@HFCAMPO

Having contacted Lugu Lake government portals on WeChat and verified again by telephone, they now officially accept foreign travelers. On paper, they denied entry of foreigners a while back due to the pandemic.

One-way direct flight from Kunming to Lugu Lake via Lucky Air ranges from $220 to $290 (excluding $50 airport taxes) depending on dates. Airport buses to lake bus terminal cost $30/pax, approximately an one hour duration. Other cities that could fly to Lugu Lake besides Kunming are Chongqing and Chengdu.

Lake sightseeing buses that drive around the entire lake, which starts in Yunnan and crosses over to Sichuan Province and back, takes a total of four hours. 2/3 of lake is supposedly in the territory of Sichuan, 1/3 in Yunnan (the more scenic). Two daily departure bus times, once in the morning and once at noon. $60/pax for two-day all-you-can-ride scenic bus pass.

Lugu Lake buses to Lijiang takes approximately four hours, halving the driving time in the past due to new roads.

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More details on food vouchers:

Above-mentioned Nanqiang Street is offering 80% off (2折) discounted food vouchers. Purchase them on Meituan app.

Two main types of vouchers for each Meituan account:

$6 for $30 voucher used as cash for street stalls/vendors stationed in the middle of Nanqiang Street (and cross-street).

$10 for $50 vouchers for restaurant storefronts flanking them.

To pick-up Nanqiang Street vouchers, visit Nanqiang Street outdoor kiosk located in front of the head of train. Servicing from 10am through 5pm daily. Present to staff your Meituan purchase(s) via phone, and they'll hand you the vouchers.

Voucher expiration date: October 31, 2020

For more details, their WeChat official account (昆明南强街卷) will list participating vendors/restaurants. Scroll down to their 7/25/20 post titled "去爱吧"

On Meituan app, search for the words, "南强街美食天地代金卷" to purchase.

GoK listing for Nanqiang Street:
www.gokunming.com/[...]

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Currently listening to an interesting audiobook called Eat the Buddha: Life and Death in a Tibetan Town by award-winning journalist and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, Barbara Demick. Nice read/listen on a rainy Saturday with coffee.

Demick lived in China for seven years. One of the extraordinary (and controversial due to >100 monk immolation) places she visited was a remote Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture county 480km Northwest of Chengdu, Sichuan called Ngawa (aka Ngaba). Demick documents Ngawa people's cultural heritage from a historical context, and how the indigenous conformed to modern day China over the last half century.

Sample listening (part 1 of 11):

www.upload.ee/[...]

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Thank you! I've found it an interesting and enlightening experience. Much love to all of the (Go)Kunming community and I'm looking forward to connecting with you in new and different ways. I'll continue to contribute articles but will focus on my own cultural exchange projects. Thanks again for the well-wishes.

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To bigger and better pastures for Vera... whereever your long-distance cycling adventures take you.

Thank you for all your featured article contributions. Foreigners in Kunming & beyond greatly appreciate your dedicated updates during the covid onslaught.