piers wrote: "You can get a visa in Hekou. There are hundreds of travel agents around the border crossing."
Have you actually done this, or someone just told you?
How much did it cost?
How long does it take?
Would not want to kill time in Hekou, either.
We have been to Hekou and walked into Vietnam several times, but always got our Visas in Kunming. We're going again this week, and it would be nice to know if cheaper/faster in Hekou ... though seriously doubt that.
We have to leave China in a couple of weeks (Visa requirement).
While Myanmar is the closest border, we've been told American's can't walk across.
When we lived in Kunming we drove to Hekou and walked across to Lao Cai, Vietnam. Now from Dali we'd like to go somewhere closer. A stop in Xishuangbana for some R&R would be nice, also.
Does someone know the conditions of the roads to drive from Dali to Mengla? It looks like Dali -> Lincang -> Puer -> Xishuangbana -> Mengla is a pretty straight shot.
Google maps says that route is 876 km – about 18 hours 55 mins. Same map says going through Kunming is 1,001 km – about 14 hours 50 mins.
Does anyone have personal experience, or an alternate opinion/idea from going out from Dali?
Why not just get a Tourist Visa for 6 months? Or one year? Don't know what they offer in HK, but we just got one-year multiple entry Tourist Visas in America in June. All the Visas cost the same. They were $130 USD. You will find China reciprocating with US prices. Since US just went up on China Visas to $150, maybe China did the same.
We also must go out before Aug. 18. We live in Dali and can drive. Have driven to Hekou from Kunming and walked into and back out of Vietnam. Not a bad trip but long from Dali. Have heard there is a new road open ... last time we went was 2006.
Chinese friends told us it is dangerous to cross into Myanmar, when it is open.
On Google maps it looks like taking G214 to Laos is not bad from Dali. Does someone know the condition of those roads? What is there to do in China (for a family) close to the border of Laos?
All these issues -- validation, language settings, cost -- will be eliminated if you use a Linux OS, rather than a Microsoft OS. The Linux OS will run faster, not get worms, trojans, virus, etc. It will not cost you any money to install, nor will it cost you money to update. You will get free patches for bugs. Microsoft will charge you a lot of money for Windows 7, which is only a bug release to fix Vista.
Typical lack of advanced planning here. Gay sex spreads HIV/AIDS, so they want to open a public bar to help them find each other better. Not very smart.
Wish we'd known this a couple of weeks ago. We arrived in Kunming on August 10th and left on August 18th. We stayed in the Bai Huo Da Lou area, and we were refused plenty of times between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. — very unashamedly.
Wish I'd read this article before then ... maybe we could have gotten some better results. Of course, in a city where the vast majority of people disobey the law unless the police are standing in front of them (and some don't obey then), no one should expect it to change UNLESS it's enforced. Fat chance of that, eh?
Kunming is still just as backwards as when we arrived in 2002 ... only now there are twice the number of people! No more taxis; but more cars, and entirely too many 2-wheeled vehicles! The rudeness of drivers in Kunming, especially the electric bike and motorcycle drivers, is astounding — absolutely unbelievable!
We heard from Chinese people even before moving that "Kunming is a big village" — now we know first hand.
We must leave China to fulfill our Visa requirement by Aug. 18. We've driven to HeKou and walked across to Vietnam before. The Vietnam Visa cost 600 yuan iirc. (We'd pay for same day at the consulate in KM because we live in Dali, and that's cheaper than the cost of extra nights in KM to get a Visa not 'same day'.)
Does anyone know the cost of the Laos Visa for Americans at their border? Is this drive better/quicker than going to Vietnam? I've also heard that a new road has opened to Vietnam since our last trip (2006). Don't know whether that is true or not, either. It would be nice to see Xishuangbanna anyway.
Dali government opens 'gay bar' on World AIDS Day
Posted byTypical lack of advanced planning here. Gay sex spreads HIV/AIDS, so they want to open a public bar to help them find each other better. Not very smart.
Kunming addresses taxi shift change troubles
Posted byWish we'd known this a couple of weeks ago. We arrived in Kunming on August 10th and left on August 18th. We stayed in the Bai Huo Da Lou area, and we were refused plenty of times between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. — very unashamedly.
Wish I'd read this article before then ... maybe we could have gotten some better results. Of course, in a city where the vast majority of people disobey the law unless the police are standing in front of them (and some don't obey then), no one should expect it to change UNLESS it's enforced. Fat chance of that, eh?
Kunming is still just as backwards as when we arrived in 2002 ... only now there are twice the number of people! No more taxis; but more cars, and entirely too many 2-wheeled vehicles! The rudeness of drivers in Kunming, especially the electric bike and motorcycle drivers, is astounding — absolutely unbelievable!
We heard from Chinese people even before moving that "Kunming is a big village" — now we know first hand.
Getting away: Driving to Luang Prabang
Posted byWe must leave China to fulfill our Visa requirement by Aug. 18. We've driven to HeKou and walked across to Vietnam before. The Vietnam Visa cost 600 yuan iirc. (We'd pay for same day at the consulate in KM because we live in Dali, and that's cheaper than the cost of extra nights in KM to get a Visa not 'same day'.)
Does anyone know the cost of the Laos Visa for Americans at their border? Is this drive better/quicker than going to Vietnam? I've also heard that a new road has opened to Vietnam since our last trip (2006). Don't know whether that is true or not, either. It would be nice to see Xishuangbanna anyway.