bjtokm you have come from the worst, gone to above average but deterioating. Of course you love it! That doesn't surprise me one bit and it wouldn't surprise any of the long term Kunming people here who would wonder what took you so long!
My intention is to ask others, particularly Kunming long timers, if they would consider moving elsewhere in Yunnan based on Kunmings constant deterioration. Those that have lived here for a long time seem to indicate they are at least thinking about it if not already doing it. Likely they will be replaced by other laowai escaping the east coast cities, which is fine, but for long term Kunmingers (ha haa mingers!) there appear to be increasingly greener pastures.
On my bike ride yesterday I also visited the big flower market and production area. I noticed that they use the water directly from Dianchi in canals to irrigate the flowers plus one hell of a lot of sprays... and the run off from those sprays go where? Give you one guess. I actually saw a guy washing out his spray containers in the canals coming straight from Dianchi! And they wonder why what they are doing to Dianchi isn't doing anything? All they are doing is taking the surface plants off.
I would argue that if you aren't really going to do anything to fix Dianchi then at least use the plants that come off it for biofuel production!
Anyone gone down Beijing Lu on a double decker bus? I did the other day...
The middle/side of the road was still open and not much work being done in most places. After garnering the opinions of several taxi drivers the consensus was "maybe next year" even from one who heard it from a subway worker that told him just that! Without the government coming out and telling us when it's going to be (which arguably is pointless anyway going by their track record) that's the best info I have...
I definitely would make a terrible used car salesman, I am way too honest.
"This ones steering wheel fell off when I drove it in. Makes a weird sound when it tries to start as well. I think there's a big hole in the exhaust. Oh yeah and the cambelt flew off when I took it for a spin. But it goes really fast! I took it up to 210 on the motorway after driving it home last night!"
This is awesome, will be great to be able to go to Luang Prabang and Vientiane via rail! Even if the route to Bangkok isn't finished, it's a small distance between Vientiane and Nong Khai in Thailand, so onward travel isn't too much of a problem.
Corrupt man assumes control of vast fortune. Man converts a great deal of the fortune to easily transportable assets (diamonds etc) and/or transfers money to foreign accounts in countries with zero corruption laws and/or launders said money through dodgy means. Man leaves country. Man pays foreign official to create identity with a tiny portion of said assets. Man can go anywhere without ramifications.
Finally another westerner has been to Shizong! My wife is from there, been to all these places (except the ridge!), not highly exciting, but interesting enough :-)
If you:
1. Are an experienced kayaker/boaty
2. Are adventurous and in good shape (actively exercise, have stamina)
3. Would like a more free exploring experience
4. Have a decent phone with GPS that you can put markers on, know how to use and can waterproof
Then I recommend the following:
Catch the ferry to Cat Ba.
Stay on Cat Ba island in pretty much luxury
Go to the back of Cat Ba island early morning with a packed lunch and other energy goodies.
Rent a sea kayak (they have pretty decent ones for rent and rent for a whole day).
Go forth and explore.
You can see so much, up close and personal and can decide where you want to go and when. I spent 2 days doing this, going through caves to hidden grottoes, landing on amazing beaches, looking around the local water peoples villages... was gobsmackingly amazing and didn't have any tourist shite. Seriously recommend.
Wow, just wow. Possibly the best Chinese food I have had in Kunming. And in one of the nicest, traditional courtyard style restaurant I have been in. A woman dressed in traditional qi pao playing a gu zheng just adds to it.
We had okra, mushroom soup, dried beef and chou dofu. All top notch with the bill coming in at just over 250 kuai. But we could have fed 3 people for that so not too bad at about 80-90 kuai each. Not the cheapest but for the quality, it's damn good.
If you have people visiting and want to take them to a traditional Chinese style restaurant with Yunnan style food, or want a romantic night out with a gal, you can't go wrong here. Close to Green Lake (down a little alley) for a romantic walk... Just perfect.
Pretty good place for getting all your documents translated and/or notarised. Note that there are a number of notaries in the building which you can find by going up the stairs (the elevators are impossible). But you have to find the stairs to do so... go in the door, head over to the right, go up the big wide stairs which head up a floor, turn right then right again into the elevator area and right again into the stairwells. Whew!
One point off for the elevators never being available and having to hike 7-9 flights of stairs (not good if you have to go 3-4 times a day like I often did!)
This does not stop at the Jinanya hotel at Da Shang Hui as the flyers state (and is on the images tab here). They need to have another stop in the same area or else they are missing out on covering a big chunk of the city.
You can take another bus, the 919C, I believe, if you are nearby Da Shang Hui, which leaves from the bus station on HeHong Lu, nearby the Qianxing road intersection. This bus goes every hour and is white, found at the western end of the station. It is operated by a different company and takes about 1 hour 10 minutes to get to the airport due to a large number of stops especially near the airport.
Friendly people, even got to the talk to the vice consulate, who told me she had done a stint in Malaysia's Siberian Consulate!
English is spoken by some of the Chinese girls working at the desk who are pleasant to deal with. I assume they do Visa's as well but I wasn't here for a visa, this time!
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China-Laos railway now connecting cities of Kunming and Vientiane
Posted byThis is awesome, will be great to be able to go to Luang Prabang and Vientiane via rail! Even if the route to Bangkok isn't finished, it's a small distance between Vientiane and Nong Khai in Thailand, so onward travel isn't too much of a problem.
Kunming Metro Line 4 and Line 6 (phase 2) officially in operation
Posted byIsn't map making illegal in China? Be careful Yereth!
Beleaguered Kunming metals tycoon missing
Posted byLet me take a guess:
Corrupt man assumes control of vast fortune. Man converts a great deal of the fortune to easily transportable assets (diamonds etc) and/or transfers money to foreign accounts in countries with zero corruption laws and/or launders said money through dodgy means. Man leaves country. Man pays foreign official to create identity with a tiny portion of said assets. Man can go anywhere without ramifications.
Only occurred about 1000 times before in China...
Exploring eastern Yunnan's Shizong County on foot
Posted byFinally another westerner has been to Shizong! My wife is from there, been to all these places (except the ridge!), not highly exciting, but interesting enough :-)
Good work!
Getting Away: Vietnam's Ha Long Bay
Posted byIf you:
1. Are an experienced kayaker/boaty
2. Are adventurous and in good shape (actively exercise, have stamina)
3. Would like a more free exploring experience
4. Have a decent phone with GPS that you can put markers on, know how to use and can waterproof
Then I recommend the following:
Catch the ferry to Cat Ba.
Stay on Cat Ba island in pretty much luxury
Go to the back of Cat Ba island early morning with a packed lunch and other energy goodies.
Rent a sea kayak (they have pretty decent ones for rent and rent for a whole day).
Go forth and explore.
You can see so much, up close and personal and can decide where you want to go and when. I spent 2 days doing this, going through caves to hidden grottoes, landing on amazing beaches, looking around the local water peoples villages... was gobsmackingly amazing and didn't have any tourist shite. Seriously recommend.