User profile: hedgepig

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Internet service providers

i've been pretty satisfied with China Telecom - both in Kunming as well as elsewhere in China. i run a wireless router off my ADSL connection here, and hadn't run into any difficulties, so i was surprised to read here about blacklisting. however, this has just been clarified for me, as a friend of mine was at China Telecom yesterday and found that they're cool with wireless running on the 150 kuai a month package.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Cardstock and PVA glue?

there are a number of art shops around that might help you out. one that springs to mind is on Jianshe Lu, roughly opposite Dona Donuts. i understand there's (for obvious reasons) a bunch near the Art Institute too, but i'm not sure of the specifics. if these let you down, there's a paper wholesaler near Shiping Huiguan that must be able to help you out, at least with the paper part of your needs - go to steps by the entrance of Shiping Huiguan but walk past them, carry on along the alley, and then around to the right. the paper company is on the corner. of course, being a wholesaler, you might need to buy in quantity. good luck!

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Apple computers in Hong Kong

I can't provide you with any direct answers, Manning, but i can say that the Chinese authorities seem remarkably inconsistent on this one. In addition, i'd say you'd find it hard to get a straight answer regarding current policy.

You're right that Macs are considerably cheaper outside of the mainland, but i think you're also right to be concerned about being hit by some sort of import fee.

Businessmen (including myself, in a past life) troop back and forth across that border all the time carrying notebook computers. But as soon as you start carrying or shipping desktop machines, things seem to change. A friend of mine who shipped his machine from Hong Kong to Shanghai for a business trip found it impounded by customs, and was unable to lay his hands on it for the duration of his visit, hampering his work severely. On the other hand, the laptop he brought in was no problem.

So, i'd say one solution open to you is to pick up a MacBook instead :) Alternatively, shed all the packaging, and claim you bought the machine in the mainland :)

So far as a place to buy goes, check out New Vision www.newvision.com.hk/NVshops.html - they have several shops in HK, and are considered the most knowledgeable and well-stocked Apple dealers in the HKSAR. I believe they have a shop on Wellington Street.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Computer Geeks

Q. If I get it connected in an apartment are the speeds decent?
A. The speed is acceptable. Maybe not as great as what you're used to, but definitely usable.

Q. Is it difficult to organise private internet connections?
A. Nope. Expect to pay around 130-150RMB per month.

Thoughts on laptops:
I've not bought a laptop recently, but it seems there are some good prices out there (under RMB10k) and there's plenty of models to choose from. Getting a legal-copy install of an English language OS could be problematic.

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Comments

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@Hazelnut
I think Kuixing was thinking more along the lines of 1.21 of them being needed, along with a DeLorean and a flux capacitor, for time travel. Best generated from bolts of lightning, rather than plutonium borrowed from Libyan terrorists. Ahh, that takes me back...

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the technology exists. take a cab in Singapore... the signs on the outside of the cab are wonderfully clear, even to the point of naming the direction in which drivers about to go off shift are prepared to take fares. we have pointless scrolling LEDs and drivers who can't be bothered to cover up the 空车 sign when they don't want to take fares. GPS? hahaha.

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starting from and returning to downtown, the old route around the lake (which is now somewhat fraught with construction work and heavy traffic) used to clock about 130km.

i'm making the assumption that the 'Dianchi bike path' is merely bike path alongside the new 'around lake road 环湖路' rather than being an independent path. Google Earth clearly shows the path that the around lake road takes, and it's significantly closer to the lake than the old route. some sections are old, some new and already open.

for reference, a circuit of Fuxian Lake is 92km. also, a lake circuit race will possibly lop off Caohai 草海 by using the Haigeng 海埂 causeway.

taking all this into account (but without actually measuring it on Google Earth, koz this machine doesn't have it installed) i'd say we're looking at somewhere in the range 90-100km for the new circuit (excluding the extra distance to get to the lake from downtown.)

i guess we'll find out on June 18, should this race go ahead. i'll be there with bells on. maybe with one bell on. unless i've taken it off to reduce weight.

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the yunfest.org website is accessible, in so far as connections are being accepted by the server, but the homepage is throwing a 404 error (page not found.)

given these symptoms, i'd have to diagnose incompetence.

Reviews

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.