User profile: blobbles

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Western Backpackers

This is a bit of a silly question isn't it neddy?

Without enquiring into each individuals travel intentions, you can't say with any authority what they should or should not be wearing. The backpacker(s) in question could be en-route to climb meili xue shan (for example) or another hike which requires fairly technical hiking gear. They may need what they are wearing and are wearing it around the city because it is what they bought from where they came from. In this situation they (or "we", as I am also sometimes of this crowd that goes places and hikes fairly technical routes) do not wish to carry casual city attire as our packs are already full with what we need to survive in the mountains. Hence you will see us walking around in hi tech outdoor gear in the city as its all that we have with us.

There are also outdoor poseurs, who buy all the gear and then only climb Xi Shan, find its too hard so take the cable car down. If they wish to spend their money on very expensive outdoor gear, I encourage it, as it lowers the price for those of us that need it. :-)

But why question it at all? Why not just accept that people all over travel differently depending on what they are comfortable with and their intentions? It seems a bit of a judgemental thing to ask.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Natural Spring-Well in Kunming

Careful with your assumptions Alien. I have talked to a chemist about my former problem and what they told be surprised me.

Basically pure water is actually QUITE reactive and water itself is clearly the most commonly used solvent in the world. Water that is naturally mineralised is much healthier as it does not remove any minerals from your body, a percentage of water molecules have attached themselves to (usually) a mineral molecule which forms a more stable (less reactive) form of water.

Water that is pure however WANTS to form a molecular bond with something else, usually a mineral. So what occurs is pure water actually strips your body of the essential minerals you require and you pee them out. The result is clearly not good for your health as I found out - severe calcium and magnesium deficiencies. I switched to mineral water and hey presto, within 6 months back to normal.

Note though at the time I was drinking in excess of 3L everyday of water.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Natural Spring-Well in Kunming

I lived on reverse osmosis water for a year and it nearly destroyed me. Just don't do it, seriously.

WHO reviewed reverse osmosis water and if you read their report (as I did after figuring out the water made me sick), it is a damning indictment of reverse osmosis or other demineralised waters.

www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/nutrientschap12.pdf

" In addition to an increased risk of sudden death, it has been suggested that intake of water low in magnesium may be associated with a higher risk of motor neuronal disease, pregnancy disorders (so-called preeclampsia), sudden death in infants, and some types of cancer."

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Professional I. T. Training in english?

I only went for the exams so can't comment on the training and can't recommend a place. From the places I have been to, Dazzer is on the money regarding classmate interaction but training is delivered in English with a little Cantonese sometimes used. Likely if a laowai is in the class they wouldn't use any though, for teaching anyway.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Professional I. T. Training in english?

Microsoft only allows Chinese Nationals to take certification tests within China and only in Chinese. Closest is Hong Kong where you can take the tests at a number of training centres there (I have been doing exactly that for some technical certifications).

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Let 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...

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.

Reviews

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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.

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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!)

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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.

Great bus though if you can catch it!

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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!