User profile: timkunming

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Forums > Food & Drink > uprock ... over and out??

That place was doomed from the start with prices for drinks that could be out-matched at any similar venues. The music was good, and people had fun, but the priority seating and abundance of high school students kind of ruined it for me - a bit too "Kundu" for my tastes, and seemingly for a lot of others as well.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Bombs on busses

So what's the verdict on this? Was it a tire explosion or engine malfunction, or what? The article in the 春城晚报the other day wasn't too informative on whether it's a bomb or not.

Although, it would be entirely coincidental if two buses had bombs on the same route last week and this week was simply a "malfunction" of sorts...

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Forums > Food & Drink > No Smoking at Salvador's?

While the WiFi was clearly a decision on Salvador's part for whatever reason - it doesn't affect me much as I use the internet at home. The hub at the center table downstairs is a great idea, though.

EHS aside, I do believe most other establishments that cater to the same clientele are still using WiFi networks as an added service to customers, so I suppose for most of you who are "allergic" to these radio waves it's an added bonus for you. However, banning cell phone use is a bit too much. There are millions of cell phones being used all the time in this city, and banning their use in a restaurant to cater to a select few who are sensitive to them seems to overstep the boundaries of common sense.

In terms of what's going on now at Salvador's, I think a great common ground has been found so that those who don't appreciate smoking can still come and enjoy the food during specific times.

Or you could always go to a missionary joint and not have to worry about it at all...

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Forums > Living in Kunming > DVDs on Wen Hua Xiang

This is just a little note to those of us living in Kunming who find ourselves at the DVD stores a bit more often than we should be:

Of course everyone knows the large DVD shop beside the police station on Wen Hua Xiang. I used to shop there regularly, but no longer. Last week I bought a DVD boxset for 98 yuan - including 6 DVD-9 discs. I felt the price was a bit steep compared to what is normally charged for a DVD-9 (around 10RMB give or take) and asked the boss what was up. "All of them are like this, the boxsets," he replied. I was pretty desperate for the set so I simply paid the man, regretting it a bit but sure I'd enjoy my purchase once I got home.

This afternoon I stopped by another DVD shop on Jian She Lu, opposite Xin Jian She Cinemas - the smaller one, albeit with the same company name and even the same bags. As it turns out, the shops are owned by one family with different "managers."

I checked out the same DVD boxset I had purchased a few days before at the Wen Hua Xiang shop. The price was 20 yuan cheaper! I felt this was kind of a steep difference, so I asked the boss at this Jian She Lu shop what was up. I told her I had bought the same exact set for 20 yuan more. She replied, "Some factories charge different prices, so even if it looks the same, the quality on yours will be better." Clearly this woman didn't know me well - you can't bullshit a bullshitter!

In any case, avoid the Wen Hua Xiang shop if possible and shop somewhere else. The boss inflates prices due to the number of foreign shoppers who don't know any better. At one point I wanted to buy a leather case for my discs and the price at his shop was 180 yuan - the same exact case at the small shop on Yi Er Yi Da Jie was 100. Avoid this shop like the plague.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Booze @ Uprock

I'll add to this. Simply stated, the drinks they serve are horrible. One of two things is happening - one, they're serving fake alcohol (or watered down) - or two, they're really skimming on the shots. I bought a gin and tonic, and I'll be damned if it didn't taste like a glass of club soda. My wife had a vodka red bull, and shockingly enough, not a hint of vodka's notorious taste nor smell present.

Go there for the music, but have a drinking session somewhere else before you go.

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Although I don't live in Kunming full-time anymore, I spent quite a few nights there and will really miss the place. I remember hanging out there back in 2003-2004 at the same location before the renovation. It was a great place because after so many years you'd find the same people returning. It was a great place to have that sense of camaraderie.

I'll miss political discussions mixed with a hefty helping of alcohol, and I'll miss the great food. I'll miss the Smegma Riot boys and all the debauchery that goes along with that.

I had a wonderful 28th birthday party upstairs on the second floor and everyone was wonderful, and very understanding about the loud noise and crowding.

I remember watching my Australian friend Justin leap off the second floor through the windows to grab a pack of smokes across the street. I remember hitting my head walking down the stairs on more than one occasion.

I remember lots of late night discussions and being disappointed when they would close down every evening and we'd have to go home.

I'll miss Francesca and I'll miss the Box. Best of luck to all of you in the future.

Tim

Great article. I remember the old location in the Flower and Bird Market...beautiful building and really quite difficult to find unless you knew exactly where it was. The old location on Wenhua Xiang I was never able to visit, but I remember those old buildings down on the corner and where the new police station is. They had massive marijuana plants growing in there when it was being torn down. Things really have changed!

Kind of makes me nostalgic...I remember getting to Rocco's in the market in no time by bus and now it would take twenty minutes on a good day! Now we're really quite spoiled when it comes to food choices.

Way to go local government. I know I'd love to send my kids to an unlicensed kindergarten to be stabbed by that teacher.

How long was this school running before someone "found out" it wasn't licensed? She should not only lose her job, but face some prison time for assaulting children. Imagine if the children were Uyghurs! No, wait...

Reviews

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Went there for the second time with a few friends the other day. Despite being in really tight quarters, the beers were cold and priced well at 8 yuan for a Qingdao, I believe. We went late afternoon and played with the chess board. Very cool.

The only thing I was surprised about was a 36 kuai game fee we had to pay the next evening? We weren't told that when we were offered the chess board... and weren't charged the first time we went. Needless to say, if that's the case we won't be going back.

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I visited this fine establishment with my wife on Valentine's Day and we had a wonderful experience.
The first thing we noticed was the ambiance - it was fantastic. A nice, quiet place playing relaxing music.
The second thing we noticed was that it was CLEAN. Spotless. I felt like I was back home in the states, and it felt good to be in such a well-maintained restaurant.
The staff were extremely friendly and helpful, and we were a bit taken aback, to be honest. We hadn't received such wonderful service since being back home - - - we've been accustomed to rude waitresses and horrible service for a long time!
A bit on the pricy side, but not outrageously so. I'd certainly recommend some of their desserts, and their sandwich selection looked amazing.

The only downside I can see to this place is the location. Too. Damned. Far. Unless you live in the area it's quite a pain to get out there in a reasonable amount of time due to Kunming's less-than-adequate transportation systems. On that note, however, I think it's relative remoteness from the center of town allows it to have the great atmosphere it does.

The first time I've been in a restaurant where I forgot I was in China. I really felt at home.

Give it a shot if you haven't been there already.