get on to Thai Airways' Kunming office. they often have deals which work out fairly good value. check the airline's website for baggage rules - every airline is different, and policies regarding bicycles are particularly difficult to deal with. watch out for words like "recognised" when talking about bike bags/boxes. i.e. it needs to look like a bike bag, not just be a bike bag by virtue of having a bike in it :)
A. yes. i hear that, strictly speaking, the amount of time given to you upon entry is at the border guard's discretion. so, in theory, you could ask nicely at the border for more days. i'd not bank on it though.
A1. Next to the Kunming Hotel. The consulate is listed on this site.
A2. apply between 9am and noon. get back two days later, if i remember rightly. might even be next day. i paid CNY230 for a 60 day (EU passport). this is issued with an 'enter before' date that's a few days after you say you plan to enter the kingdom.
A3. passport, two copies of application form, each requiring photo, passport copy, plus another simple summary form
B. 30 days
B1. US$37. payment in other currencies is permitted, it appears from a printed list that i snuck a look at, but it works out a bit more expensive. i'm pretty sure CNY is possible, but to be sure, i'd show up with the greenbacks.
B2. passport, photo (maybe 2, i forget)
this information is current as of early November for the Thai consulate in Kunming and November 30th for the Laos border crossing at Mohan-Boten.
@bucko - would love to look at your Mile info some more, as i'll be travelling to Mile soon, but having to press 'stop' every page turn on your tune of a guy who sounds like he's having trouble curling one out is doing my nut. 我的两份
maybe it was the crowd, maybe it was the wednesday night, maybe it was the excess of alcohol, maybe it was just kunming, but something was missing. kudos to the band for pulling out all the stops regardless...
there has recently been car parking enforcement in the area near Paul's store. there's been a baoan (or two) stationed just to the WHX side of Paul's for a couple of months, and while i've not confirmed the details, it appears parking in that area is now restricted to residents/permit holders. there's also been some work on the hardware (some planters removed, repairs to the road surface) to make a little more parking space.
last i saw was that the mechanical barrier was sawn or broken off (someone drove through it? they realised they were squeezing bike/diandongche/pedestrian traffic into a metre-wide space?) and that they'd started placing plastic traffic cones in the road instead.
while thus far it seems like half measures, it does seem like someone is thinking about these issues. throw in a sprinkling of consistent, reasonable enforcement from the chengguan and the traffic police, and we might be getting somewhere. there's hope.
Wenhua Xiang is just one long, extended, interminable joke. i can't write my comment for laughing. the trash pile that spews from the corner (yes, i know it used to be worse), the new(ish) buildings that were built with no utilities access, the zero-height kerbs that make it oh sooo convenient to park on the sidewalk, the fact that cars are allowed on it at all, the illegal street vendors, the police cars with parking tickets on them (no joke), the disincentive to renovate (the strip with Bangkok Cafe, Kadilan, Qian Yuan et alii) because of the persistent rumours of chai'ing, the silly rent being paid by the likes of Salvador's and The Box, it's all a big fat, side-splitting joke. what makes it all the more funny is how easy it would be to solve. everybody's stupid.
no-one's reviewed this place for nearly 3 years! i think i know why: it's solid. a bit boring maybe, but they get the job done: food on the table in good time, attentive staff, wide selection of items. the 'Prague Breakfast' is a fine feed, still good value after the recent price increase.
i joined friends here on the weekend. they were getting food and playing a game. the pizzas looked great, but my friends advised me to avoid them, saying they tasted bland.
having made a selection, it took 20 minutes for the staff to tell me that my choice was no longer available. as my friends had nearly finished their game, we then all took our business elsewhere.
helpful advice:
- if someone arrives, give them a menu
- sort out the beer selection
- if i speak to you in Chinese, speak back to me in Chinese
i've recently rediscovered this place. it's a little hit and miss, but i have to say that with a little experimentation, you can find some quality food here. while not perfect, the vindaloo is the best i've had.
i first sampled the Silver Spoon burgers a few weeks back - not bad at all, though i was unconvinced that they were 1/2 pound. another visit yesterday, and this time i was persuaded... definitely a fat burger. i was very happy with my cheese and bacon burger. diners with large appetites, be warned - you'll need a side of something to make a meal - the burger is just a burger - no fries.
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Interview: Wu Hao and Kang Mao
Posted bymaybe it was the crowd, maybe it was the wednesday night, maybe it was the excess of alcohol, maybe it was just kunming, but something was missing. kudos to the band for pulling out all the stops regardless...
John Woo to direct Flying Tigers epic
Posted byis there something that can explain the overlap between Flying Tiger fandom and borderline illiteracy?
GoKunming Year of the Rabbit Holiday Preview
Posted byAs You Like reopens on 8th Feb
Cacaja closed 2nd and 3rd
French Cafe closed 2nd
Paul's Store closed 3rd through 6th inclusive
Wenhua Xiang filling up with financially overextended youth
Posted bythere has recently been car parking enforcement in the area near Paul's store. there's been a baoan (or two) stationed just to the WHX side of Paul's for a couple of months, and while i've not confirmed the details, it appears parking in that area is now restricted to residents/permit holders. there's also been some work on the hardware (some planters removed, repairs to the road surface) to make a little more parking space.
last i saw was that the mechanical barrier was sawn or broken off (someone drove through it? they realised they were squeezing bike/diandongche/pedestrian traffic into a metre-wide space?) and that they'd started placing plastic traffic cones in the road instead.
while thus far it seems like half measures, it does seem like someone is thinking about these issues. throw in a sprinkling of consistent, reasonable enforcement from the chengguan and the traffic police, and we might be getting somewhere. there's hope.
Wenhua Xiang filling up with financially overextended youth
Posted byWenhua Xiang is just one long, extended, interminable joke. i can't write my comment for laughing. the trash pile that spews from the corner (yes, i know it used to be worse), the new(ish) buildings that were built with no utilities access, the zero-height kerbs that make it oh sooo convenient to park on the sidewalk, the fact that cars are allowed on it at all, the illegal street vendors, the police cars with parking tickets on them (no joke), the disincentive to renovate (the strip with Bangkok Cafe, Kadilan, Qian Yuan et alii) because of the persistent rumours of chai'ing, the silly rent being paid by the likes of Salvador's and The Box, it's all a big fat, side-splitting joke. what makes it all the more funny is how easy it would be to solve. everybody's stupid.