Forums > Living in Kunming > Gang fight at the small community park Huh? I was just asking if you got confused for a minute, geez.
I don't understand what you are saying now, that crime rates in two completely different countries has something to do with the demographic differences of those countries? I don't think you know what point you are even trying to make anymore and have shifted the goal posts a bit more to make yourself sound less wrong.
You could just say "whoops, I messed up" but TBH it sounds like your ego would never allow such a thing.
Eat some humble pie dude, its fine to be wrong, its even more fine to admit when you are. You have changed my views a few times through presenting solid arguments, but it sounds like you are becoming more rambling and less coherent. Maybe getting a bit old? Also fine.
Forums > Living in Kunming > Gang fight at the small community park Uhhhh laotou, you refer to "crime rate". Crime is mostly referred to as a RATE. A rate of what? Amount of crime in terms of population.
So saying "the crime rate" doesn't reflect the population is stupid, the crime rate already includes the population. You are saying "yes, but the 1 in 100k people murder rate does not reflect the population". Uhh.... its 1 in 100k people... it is, at its heart, a statistic that is based on population. That does not mean that if one country has 1 in 100k murders per year, another should have 5 in 100k because its population is 5x the size to be "even", it means that they both should have the same crime rate to be "even".
You are a smart guy, did you have a brain fart or are you baiting?
Forums > Living in Kunming > China's Wealthy fleeing China Geez Alien, really?
In my country I could have done all these things today (having the environment and services for them). Kayaks in clean seas and rivers, kite surfed, wave surfed, played tennis (for free, if I have the gear), squash, golf (for a reasonable price), rock climbed (indoor or outdoor), mountain biked on properly formed trails, taken a kung fu course, watched 2 types of live international sports, watched a super star sing, hiked/ran/biked in beautiful forest, skydived, taken a pottery/cooking class, gone to a food festival, gone to 2 different fairs, gone to a circus, gone to a zoo (with rare and cared for animals), volunteered on quite a few conservation and lifestyle projects, seen about 3 different live performances from a symphony to local play... So many options it's not funny.
And I am only in a city of less than half a million. There was a video of a wealthy Chinese millionaire who lived in the US who literally stated that most Western countries are like Chinese gardens. I have also heard this from Chinese tourists and my wife.
Forums > Living in Kunming > China's Wealthy fleeing China It's no surprise that they want to leave. Think about it. 2 choices:
1. Live in a country where the air is polluted so badly I can't breathe, the water is not advisable to drink, the food is so polluted I have to import good food, the lifestyle options are limited and at any time in the future my government could take my wealth. Where my children will be educated but also indoctrinated. On the plus side, I know/understand/love the culture and language, have friends and high social standing.
2. Live in a country where you can drink the water, eat the food (because of appropriate government controls), where the air is breathable, where the environment is like a park, lifestyle options are virtually unlimited. Here my kids will be freer thinkers, like the laowais I met last year. In the new country property and individual rights underpin the entire legal system, making it highly unlikely the government could ever take my "hard earned" wealth. On the minus side I will be in a new and strange environment, will miss my culture and friends, however there are so many Chinese like me there now, I can make new friends!
And all it takes currently is selling one of my 3 Shanghai apartments that I have, thanks to the ridiculous property bubble.
It's not hard to see why they would leave, I just dislike that they have exported their property bubble to other countries. Other than this I don't consider it a bad thing either, it should be a wake up call to the Chinese government.
Getting Away: Luang Prabang
Posted byLuang Prabang is one of my favourite places in Asia. Laid back locals, cheap, great scenery, good architecture, a few really nice local sights... what more can you ask for. Perfect romantic getaway...
2012: Three game-changers for Kunming
Posted byPolitical achievement or not, Kunming must be one of the only cities in the world that is getting an MTR before it is drastically needed. And poor quality shade trees? I aren't too sure where you are looking but they seem fine to me...
Wether or not they are corrupt, the projects benefit the people first it seems. Unlike other places where projects would be populist or for the elites only...
2012: Three game-changers for Kunming
Posted byI suspect the car ownership face thing will continue the increase of cars in the city. The government will eventually start tolling people through high parking charges and the like to discourage it, it won't happen overnight but it will happen just as it has in *insert name of any big city in the world*.
I think Kunming will be an interesting case for the subway vs face value of cars. Kunmings streets aren't really that congested (have you been to Malaysia/Jakarta?) and the majority of workers don't appear to have cars yet. To be honest, I think the subway here is coming in before its really needed. It will be VERY interesting to see if the middle classes that have been aspiring to own a car will continue to aspire to stupidity when most of the subway system kicks in, i.e. once they realise that a car is not needed, is a hassle and a waste of money. One thing I know about Chinese is they are mostly financially savvy, which means they think about where to put there money more. They also care less about personal space than us so a squashed subway is less of a problem. And when they realise they can get from one end of Beijing Lu to the other in 10-15 minutes on the subway or 40 minutes in a car...
Regardless, the majority of the population here has never used an MTR system before, so the first few months of operation will be filled with hilarity I am sure!
I am almost sure the local govt will put a good bus route through to the new airport. Thats the way I will get there, probably by taking a taxi to the last bus stop in the city and then catching it to the airport. Might cost 2 kuai but its better than the 40-50 default charge that most taxis will probably quote...
Kunming planning on adding more taxis soon
Posted by"If suddenly there are many more competitors, everybody will have a difficult time surviving," he added. "Furthermore, in two years, after the subway is operational, the number of people taking taxis will suddenly drop. Then what do we do?"
This is such a common complaint of so many taxi drivers and completely unfoundered. You go to any big city that has a subway (think HK, NY, Singapore, Rome....) and you see taxis everywhere. What taxi drivers don't realise is the subway means its less likely people own cars (even with their face value). But subways don't go everywhere so you often need to take a taxi to the out of the way place you are trying to get to after getting off the subway.
Subways are actually good for taxis, it causes more short trips more often for drivers, which with a flag fall fee means more revenue.
Cycling from Kunming to Lüchun
Posted byIts finished??? I look back on it so fondly now, almost being killed by boulders or asphyxiation from the dust. Its a shame other cycle tourists won't get to experience the same exhilaration and breath taking air? Camping in the middle of it was...interesting as well. Ahh well, like all things in China change is inevitable.
Looks like you got the same as me when you went through omgiri! If you are guys are still around we should go for a ride sometime. My usual ride of up and down Changchong Shan is becoming rutted, I think mainly from me!