Sorry, I think I misread your question...you asked about the best networks for your journey to the Lao border from Kunming. I am assuming that you also want to catch up on emails etc. in Laos so follow my advice as indicated above for Laos.
In terms of rural Yunnan, I don't think there should be a problem with coverage for any of the major carriers provided you stay to the main roads (which you will).
@Blade regarding your question about which networks are best for Laos, the answer is: not the Chinese ones. I don't think Chinese carriers offer roaming (my one certainly doesn't) and even if they do, the charges will be incredibly high.
Your best bet is to buy a Lao SIM card in Huay Xai, recharge it and use that. Try Tigo Lao, Beeline (probably the cheapest network) or M phone 3G (I use that one). Alternatively, recharge your Thai SIM and pay the exorbitant roaming charges, but since there is no reason for you not to purchase a Lao SIM, do so. Even if you catch the direct Chiang Mai-Luang Prabang bus, getting off in Luang Nam Tha to catch your onward connection to Kunming via Boten, Mengla or Jinghong (Chiang Rung), the bus will still stop long enough at rest stops along the way where you can surely purchase a Lao SIM card. If you catch any bus starting from Huay Xai, you'll have even less of an excuse not to purchase a SIM card there.
Carrefour also stocks imported yoghurt, but usually only one brand from Germany. Buy that one. Otherwise, try Paul's shop or Metro.
Well since Hong Kong is outside of the mainland and adminstered separately, it's considered to be "outside of China". Consequently, you can go there to obtain another visa to enter China. If you are going to get a "Z" visa, you might have to get a letter stating that you will apply in Hong Kong. On the other hand, being a Chinese territory, there wouldn't be a Chinese consulate there, so probably you'd have to seek the services of a travel agency.
Otherwise, try a consulate or embassy in another country but be sure to specify to the person sending your application, to state that the applicant will apply in a particular city. If not, they might try to use that as an excuse to send you to the country of your citizenship, as absurd as that would be.
I am currently waiting for my Z visa to be processed and had a look at the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok website and printed out the forms, which I've started filling out. I will be applying for my visa at this post. The forms are quite lengthy, but there's nothing unusual about them except for the biographical page and the 6 questions about the status of your visa in Thailand (which is none of the Chinese government's concern and besides, westerners can easily enter Thailand without a visa anyway so I'm not sure why they would ask these sorts of questions; fill them out anyway though).
On the form, a 1 day rush service option is available, so I'd imagine other Chinese posts would also offer such a service. However, the length of time it will take to obtain permission for your company to hire you is what you'll need to wait a while for, not the actual visa processing time, which can be as short as a day.
Unless it's made overseas and has a label in English, forget it.
If you want supplements buy them either back home (or get them shipped to China) or go to Bangkok or Hong Kong.
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What do you mean by "foreigners"? Everyone who is a non-citizen of Myanmar and wants to travel there is a foreigner. I doubt Burmese citizens require visas to return to their homeland.
Horrible tasteless, thick-crusted "cardboard" like pizzas that are a far cry from what they should be like. Way overpriced too. Wine may be good, but why bother when the nearby Prague Cafe makes much better pizza at a more reasonable price?
Great Mexican food and ice cream, excellent Raspberry smoothies and an overall good atmosphere. Can't do much about the low ceilings on the second floor, but the early closing time could be adjusted, after all, the nearby French Cafe closes at 1am.
Getting Away: Luang Prabang
发布者@flengs, what do you mean by being fed up with the "foreigner-local" relations? Some of them seem quite superficial, but it depends on what level the relationship is. When both parties speak at least one of the other's languages really well, then mutual understanding will increase of course, however, this is rarely the case as few foreigners can speak Lao (except for a few words maybe) and few Laotians can speak very good English.
Major Kunming traffic arteries converted to one-way roads
发布者An interesting read. I first came to Kunming in mid-2009 and by then the changes were already made. I actually live just off xue fu lu and everytime I'm in a car or taxi (except late at night) we have to go the long way round starting on yi er yi, passing by hongshan bei lu and finally onto xue fu lu. In the reverse direction it's a straight route direct to yi er yi that takes all of 5-6 minutes outside or rush hour; in the original direction going back home it takes about double that. Good for taxi drivers (they get more money!), good for bus patronage but a little annoying for the average commuter affected by this everyday. Anyway, nothing wrong with it, it's just the way it is now - i never realized it used to be different before!
Getting Away: Jinghong
发布者Really nice city.
First-hand account: Setting up a guesthouse in Xishuangbanna
发布者Geezer, where did you hear this? Would be really sad if it was true. I too have thought about such a business and indeed have also considered xishuangbanna, which is one of the nicest parts of all of China. However, all things being considered, I find it much easier to set-up something in SE Asia.
First-hand account: Setting up a guesthouse in Xishuangbanna
发布者First of all, Thais are foreign tourists too if they are outside of Thailand. Anyway, nice article, I wish these people lots of success. I think it would be nice if there were more westerners (and foreigners in general) travelling in Xishuangbanna, because right now it's a world away from neighboring Laos and Vietnam. In fact, even though it's so restrictive, I find it easier to come across other travellers in Myanmar than in Xishuangbanna...why is that? I look forward to the day you can find a central backpacker district in Jinghong that looks like its equivalent in Laos filled with hundreds of western backpackers.