'if you try to explain why you don't eat meat probably they will kick you out of the restaurant' haha I assume/hope that is hyperbole for comic effect!
Look at it this way, if they can't accept your perfectly acceptable (and commendable) diet choice, they aren't worth being friends with anyway. I'm not a vegetarian now but I used to not eat meat most of the time (only a few times a year at Christmas etc) when I was growing up and I have several friends who are vegan or vegetarian, and totally respect people who can maintain that kind of diet in spite of the difficulties you describe.
Christmas is nice in that it fosters generosity. Its bad because it fosters waste. Chinese festivals are rubbish, but at least they don't waste as much - giving mooncakes and hongbaos rather than presents that people don't want. I don't know much about Thanksgiving, seems from the outside like a half Christmas - good dinner, but not much else. Happy Thanksgiving you United Statesmen and women of America!
From my experiences, HFCAMPO is right about the Chinese being unable to directly tell the truth if it means 'losing face'. What they don't take into account is that the truth will eventually come out and then they will lose even more face. Perhaps this system only continues because people save each others face all the time by not calling each other out on their lies.
I'd probably just give the poorest people a lump sum of money to invest as they see fit. If they waste it, they will stay poor (and deserve to). If they invest it well, they can break out of the poverty trap. I can't see that kind of policy being popular with officials though - not much room for siphoning off money to themselves/family/friends.
I agree with Alien here, whether or not you trust the authorities, believe in conspicies, or have a basic understanding of earth science, it should be obvious that minimising pollution - of all kinds - is worth doing. Of course we must use resources to live, but let's not waste them.
Well done her, extremely generous, but as others have said, schools should really be built with taxes, especially given the incredible wealth and waste you can see in every big city.
a very pleasant park with a tall pagoda you can climb and take photos of the city if you wish. Roses in summer, blossom in spring, nice lawn to sit on, bbq areas.
Recently the food seems to be better. Decent steak at a decent price, decent pizza, some decent wine, and the music is more suitable these days (Rammenstein wasn't the right mood music for Cantina)!
Had lunch - grilled chicken on top of mashed cuttlefish and a salad. The chicken was tasty and well cooked, and there was plenty of meat/fish to fill up even a hungry person. The salad was overdressed and nothing special - I won't order one next time. The service is a decent imitation of what you might find in the west. A large menu of food and drink. A nice civilised place to go for food or drink, but some of the dishes (i.e. the steaks) are very pricey. You could easily spend 300rmb+ per person here. Equally, it is possible to have lunch for under 60rmb per person (as we did). Warning - the bottle of water on each table costs an eye watering 48rmb! Don't be a sucker by opening it!
Went for a spot of lunch. Best pizza I've had in Kunming by some distance. In fact, one of the best pizzas I've ever had - quality ingredients, thin base, cooked to perfection. Sashimi salmon tasted very fresh and was well presented. The drinks are expensive, and one of the waiters was letting the side down by being a bit scruffy and impolite (hence not 5 stars), but definitely go and try the pizza.
Not bad. Pizza base was a little thick for my taste. Great selection of craft beers in the fridge, a few beers on tap, and well priced mixed drinks and cocktails. Staff were pleasant. A 14" pizza is the perfect size for two people, and very reasonably priced at 45-70RMB. Beware that the English menu, whilst written in perfect English, is not necessarily accurate. I ordered the 'local one' pizza expecting pepperoni and mango but got neither. The waitress explained that was a mistake on the menu. Would be nice if the menu corresponded with what you get on the plate! Hopefully this will get sorted.
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Chen Hao named Yunnan Party chief and governor
Posted bymy goodness he looks good for 62! Is that a mistake?
Provincial authorities get serious about poverty
Posted byI'd probably just give the poorest people a lump sum of money to invest as they see fit. If they waste it, they will stay poor (and deserve to). If they invest it well, they can break out of the poverty trap. I can't see that kind of policy being popular with officials though - not much room for siphoning off money to themselves/family/friends.
Earth's budget deficit at 160%, hope stems from trees
Posted by*conspiracies
Earth's budget deficit at 160%, hope stems from trees
Posted byI agree with Alien here, whether or not you trust the authorities, believe in conspicies, or have a basic understanding of earth science, it should be obvious that minimising pollution - of all kinds - is worth doing. Of course we must use resources to live, but let's not waste them.
Widow gives two million yuan to rural Yunnan school
Posted byWell done her, extremely generous, but as others have said, schools should really be built with taxes, especially given the incredible wealth and waste you can see in every big city.