I live on the 24th floor of a recently built building and barely felt it. I was standing next to my friend who didn't feel it at all. Does this mean earthquake building codes were/are actually being enforced in KM? If some people who live lower to the ground felt it much more significantly, does that mean my building is made to absorb the waves? Anybody with earthquake experience please chime in..would like to know the level of safety of this building.
It's so difficult to organize anything in Kunming and I am VERY happy to see Vervo getting a great dnb DJ in there. It's only gonna get better! Can't say much for the pollution these days tho ;(
Just wanted to give extra heads up to this show! Great American DnB DJ at Vervo—Dave Owen! I know I'd be pissed if I missed it and might have if a friend in Chengdu hadn't told me about it. Here's the GoK events link: www.gokunming.com/[...]
AndrewD: "not paying too much mind" doesn't mean not caring. I'm sure they care what their customers think. I presume that many businesses in Kunming don't take unsubstantiated claims or one-off negative occasions written about on GoK as substance to change. I don't speak for them; I speak for myself. The "even you" was directed in general..yeah, a little jerky, but that's what forums are for, right? ;) Don't take it personally..it wasn't directed at you specifically.
Just trying to get some out there to realize that a little support goes a long way in Kunming's expat community. And the lack of support and negative, non-constructive comments on GoK can have a very extreme opposite effect.
But, I'm glad to see others' are enjoying and finding it a special place! Nice to see well-written, thoughtful reviews instead of reactions.
Another great article Mr. Hartzell! I've got a couple of questions and perhaps you (or others) can answer:
1.) What are the names of these 'national forests' with old growth forests? I've been to Mopan Mountain National Forest Park (磨盘山国家森林公园), but I did not see any old growth. Perhaps I didn't look hard enough (pun intended!).
If anyone has extra links/info about old growth forrests/parks in Yunnan, please enlighten. It's been a little difficult for me to locate them outside of Deqin/Nujiang.
2.) Where is the exact origin of the Red River and what are the most popular 'local' variations of its name? Is it 'West River' NNW of Weishan (what I thought but others have questioned)?
I made the trip up there last month—glad I found a cool road back from the area or would've considered the trip a bust.
The beer was definitely not the highlight of that trip. After riding all that way, I was expecting to sit down to a decent beer and lamb barbeque—didn't get either. Apparently, the only thing they had (that day) was hot pot, and anyone who rides knows questionable oily soup and a bumpy road don't mix. So, out of a meal.
Beer it is! We received a cold glass of what could be mistaken as a mud milkshake (only 'black beer' that day too). Not sure what process the guy is using, but yeast was churned up throughout the beer (his CO2 must have not been tuned correctly because it took him a while to get a decent pint poured).
The taste was OK considering all the yeast that was in it, but it did give my stomach a little rumble as I rode off (maybe it was my empty stomach but beer yeast can give diarrhea). Good thing the meal we finally were able to have at another nongjiale quieted it down.
Overall, very glad someone is brewing beer..BUT, in typical Yunnan fashion, sanitation of the brewing area was questionable at best and the place had this weird "maybe this is more than just a majang nongjiale with young girls" vibe if you catch my drift.
Perhaps going there on a Monday afternoon is not the best time to go, but don't think I'll be joining their beer of the month club any time soon.
Sorry for the long post, but did not have the same great experience there as others have had. And, I don't want to discourage anyone either—was just one experience but maybe can give more balanced expectations. Maybe you'll have a good meal/beer...
On similar topic, anyone have any suggestions for finding 'non-professional' information (books, websites, etc.) in English on flora and fauna in Yunnan?
Wang, I live on Jianshe Lu. Any chance of delivery there? If not, perhaps you can do just weekend delivery to center? Seems like many are interested in having your delivery outside the north :)
I'd have to second tommann's review. I stayed there last month after not being able to find a room at other guesthouses. I thought it was supposed to have a decent review from Lonely Planet, but maybe that was quite some time ago.
I think I had to pay 120 kuai for a low quality room (plywood 'riser' with cheap mattress..I've slept on futons with better mattresses).
Worst of all were the 'bathrooms'. The toilets were separated by nothing more than a sheet. The showers (both rooms I stayed in there) had mildew ALL over them. Typical Yunnan cleaning job ('if it gets wet, it's clean!').
The courtyard was OK, the dogs sweet but very smelly when I was there (not very inviting for a guesthouse seeing they were huge St. Bernards), and staff were OK...the only reason I gave it at least a star.
As for the rooms, they'd probably get a negative rating for the price..awful!
FYI, google has re-named the restaurant: "El Salvador". Viva El Salvador for it's Brooklyn Brewery beers and Mexican breakfast! (Is it possible to get better meat for burgers though? Would kill for a good burger on wenlin..)
Always have the yellow curry, my gf gets the tomyumgoong and we get veggies, etc. on side. Never disappoints to have a meal here. I love Thai food and the other 'classy' thai restaurants aren't really something I wanna try for over-priced thai food which i can get close to at home.
This is an affordable, relatively good Thai restaurant..in Kunming! True the green curry was disappointing (I had it when I first went, tried the yellow and have never gone back), but other dishes are good enough to redeem this place. I'm actually surprised at the bad review about the tomyumgoong as I am shocked at how well they can do it (though have had an off one or two) but in general has excellent flavor, kick and a decent amount of prawns usually..good lemongrass, galangal, chili mix that is quintessential Thai! I almost get it over the curry..but I'm a curry guy! The papaya salad is pretty authentic too (hard to mess that one up).
The food gets 4 stars (are some lackluster dishes) but just for BEING in Kunming and not trying to be some high-end, swanky event to have a decent curry, this place gets a tremendously well-deserved 5 stars from me..oh, and the guy agreed to deliver to my new apartment which is out of his 'delivery zone'..6 stars for that! Green Lake area, beware that these guys deliver! ;)
It seems all 'educatedman' can do is go to places and be a sully silly (3 reviews, 1 star total! haha). How did you get your 'education', man—in your mommy's lap with a silver spoon??
O'Reily's definitely has the best burger in Kunming; the best draft beer/Belgian beers in Kunming; very kind staff/owners; best sports selection; great (free) pool table. What else could you want from a 'Irish' sports bar—a leprechaun??
Perhaps 'educatedman' could find a leprechaun, get him a working visa and supply him the investment to open up a REAL Irish bar in Kunming..so he won't have bother GOK readers with his negativity! If you could look outside your ego 'educatedman', you'd notice that you're not in Ireland, BUT IN SW CHINA!!
GOK, please consider canceling an account so that all places local expats enjoy don't get trashed by an uneducated boy...
Exploring central Yunnan's Xinping County
Posted byAnother great article Mr. Hartzell! I've got a couple of questions and perhaps you (or others) can answer:
1.) What are the names of these 'national forests' with old growth forests? I've been to Mopan Mountain National Forest Park (磨盘山国家森林公园), but I did not see any old growth. Perhaps I didn't look hard enough (pun intended!).
If anyone has extra links/info about old growth forrests/parks in Yunnan, please enlighten. It's been a little difficult for me to locate them outside of Deqin/Nujiang.
2.) Where is the exact origin of the Red River and what are the most popular 'local' variations of its name? Is it 'West River' NNW of Weishan (what I thought but others have questioned)?
Thanks for any info!
Homebrewed beer just outside of Kunming
Posted byI made the trip up there last month—glad I found a cool road back from the area or would've considered the trip a bust.
The beer was definitely not the highlight of that trip. After riding all that way, I was expecting to sit down to a decent beer and lamb barbeque—didn't get either. Apparently, the only thing they had (that day) was hot pot, and anyone who rides knows questionable oily soup and a bumpy road don't mix. So, out of a meal.
Beer it is! We received a cold glass of what could be mistaken as a mud milkshake (only 'black beer' that day too). Not sure what process the guy is using, but yeast was churned up throughout the beer (his CO2 must have not been tuned correctly because it took him a while to get a decent pint poured).
The taste was OK considering all the yeast that was in it, but it did give my stomach a little rumble as I rode off (maybe it was my empty stomach but beer yeast can give diarrhea). Good thing the meal we finally were able to have at another nongjiale quieted it down.
Overall, very glad someone is brewing beer..BUT, in typical Yunnan fashion, sanitation of the brewing area was questionable at best and the place had this weird "maybe this is more than just a majang nongjiale with young girls" vibe if you catch my drift.
Perhaps going there on a Monday afternoon is not the best time to go, but don't think I'll be joining their beer of the month club any time soon.
Sorry for the long post, but did not have the same great experience there as others have had. And, I don't want to discourage anyone either—was just one experience but maybe can give more balanced expectations. Maybe you'll have a good meal/beer...
Getting Away: Heart 2 Heart Youth Hostel
Posted byAnd another good article Matt!
Getting Away: Heart 2 Heart Youth Hostel
Posted byWhy don't you mention more about it, changkt? We don't have to wait for GoK to give us all our info on Yunnan, do we?
Obituary: Wu Zhengyi, the father of Chinese botany
Posted bySounds like a pretty interesting life!
On similar topic, anyone have any suggestions for finding 'non-professional' information (books, websites, etc.) in English on flora and fauna in Yunnan?
Any suggestions appreciated!