@ Geezer: I agree about what you say about experienced capitalists. And your rules of thumb, I'll accept, probably 'work' for that reason. But as you say, they are a starting point - but surely they vary with the cost of 'labor' and other factors, and anyway the maximation of profit isn't the only goal? People I know who have run small businesses often become attached to the product of their businesses, the way they choose to produce it, as well as the profit they make from it (which does, you'll agree, have to do with the difference between profit and wages, not just something that comes after wages are paid) and to the environment (including the social environment, which obviously involves employees, as well as customers) they have created, and I wouldn't be too interested in frequenting a business where this was not the case. Seems to me this probably applies to most or all of the small Western-run places in Kunming that I know about, which do not strike me as mere 'money machines'.
@ Peter: I don't think I know of any Westerners here who feel seriously desperate, except perhaps when they first arrive and are unfamiliar with a lot of things here.
I appreciate Xiefei's comments and, since I started this thread, I'd like to point out that I did not mean to imply that anybody in particular is into serious greed. I have no idea what the margins might be - I meant what I said: "...merely an impression." I don't think we're producing dollar millionaires, and I hope not.
Location of The Park is on the courtyard of then Buddhist temple (now full of shops for tourists) on the island in the middle of Cuihu (see listing). I don't know how to join the wechat group. Notification of meetings happens on this thread, and is also usually entered on the calendar for the day.
Saw a couple people accept and then immediately auction off excellent raffle prizes they had won but would not or could not make use of, and give the money to a charity - seems to me to be a good and valid option to include in future events.
Note that the South RR Station is on the underground/subway.
I have just returned from Guangzhou to Kunming South - 9 hours, good comfortable seats, quiet, smooth, bright & shiny; ran at about 200 kms/hr. Price a little over Y400. Even the food on the train was better than the usual quite-bad food on ordinary trains. There's a faster train that is supposed to take about 6 hours, price a little over Y800.
Really nice photos, makes me want to visit the place, although I object to the practice in China of charging entrance fees to visit whole towns, which turn them into museums.
I take your point, hedgepig, but cultures change, very often brought on by outside influences, and I'm not sure that taking on Christianity is necessarily more negative than taking on nationalism or various other doctrines - I'm not pushing anything in particular, except that the circumstances are always somewhat particular and have to be judged that way. For better or for worse, there is no hermetic sealing against the outside - the general question is, who's in charge here?
Not quite what you'd call a jumping place, but not bad at all for rather standard US-type meals, not overly expensive, and with a really good salad bar that's cheap, or free with most dinner dishes after 5:30PM. You can get a bottle of beer or even wine if you really want to, but I've never seen anybody do it - maybe that's just to take out. Chinese Christian run, and they hire people with physical disadvantages, who are pleasant and helpful. Frequented by foreign (mostly North American) Christians and Chinese Christians - was started by a Canadian couple associated with Bless China (previously, Project Grace), who are no longer here, but no religious pressure or any of that. Steaks are nothing special, and I avoid the Korean dishes, which I've had a few times but which did not impress me.
As a shop and bakery, it's very good bread at reasonable prices, of various kinds (Y18 for a good multigrain loaf that certainly weighs well over a pound. Other stuff too, like granola and oatmeal that is local, as well as imported things, including American cornflakes and so forth, which some people seem to require.
Large portions, seriously so with the pizza, which is Brooklyn/American style, I guess. Convivial, conversational, good place to drink with good folks on both sides of the bar, especially after about 9PM.
Winners: Best of Kunming Awards 2016-2017
Posted bySaw a couple people accept and then immediately auction off excellent raffle prizes they had won but would not or could not make use of, and give the money to a charity - seems to me to be a good and valid option to include in future events.
Dual high-speed railways usher in new era for Yunnan
Posted byNote that the South RR Station is on the underground/subway.
I have just returned from Guangzhou to Kunming South - 9 hours, good comfortable seats, quiet, smooth, bright & shiny; ran at about 200 kms/hr. Price a little over Y400. Even the food on the train was better than the usual quite-bad food on ordinary trains. There's a faster train that is supposed to take about 6 hours, price a little over Y800.
Around Town: Dancing in Green Lake Park
Posted byOn balance it's a good thing: public space for the public.
Heshun: Old school charm in western Yunnan
Posted byReally nice photos, makes me want to visit the place, although I object to the practice in China of charging entrance fees to visit whole towns, which turn them into museums.
Celebrating a Miao Christmas in Yunnan
Posted byI take your point, hedgepig, but cultures change, very often brought on by outside influences, and I'm not sure that taking on Christianity is necessarily more negative than taking on nationalism or various other doctrines - I'm not pushing anything in particular, except that the circumstances are always somewhat particular and have to be judged that way. For better or for worse, there is no hermetic sealing against the outside - the general question is, who's in charge here?