I can't swing myself into a rant of BillDan sized proportions but I do feel what he's saying. Spicy rice-noodles get old fast and when I think back on my 3 years in Kunming, oddly enough all the restaurants I remember were owned and operated by people from other provinces while the Kunming/Yunnanese ones were all the same oily stuff laced with chilli and full of bone, fat and tendons. Best Chinese restaurants I've frequented in Kunming? The Taiwanese ones, a Guangdong place, Xinjiang/Hui noodles/dishes shops and a the few Dongbei places I found along the way. Northern dumplings and baozi are infinitely better than the Yunnan ones filled with a microscopic mix of unidentifiable green stuff and something meat-like which couldn't be sold as dog food in the West. Bai food has its pros but generally, food in Yunnan is generic, boring, made without heart and effort, ridiculously oily and of pretty low quality generally.
I actually tried taking it when my school asked me to. There were a couple of questions I couldn't for the life of me figure out why they wanted (some personal non-relevant stuff too) so I sent a mail asking into them. Never heard back, also the 'online interview' never worked. Now, this was in the beginning of the implementation of this brilliant idea so I assume they've bettered it by now, although knowing China I wouldn't put money on it. Long story short, I never finished it and I renewed my contract twice after that with no problems at all. Still got my Z and Foreign Expert Certificate. I believe we were 9 or 10 foreign teachers at my school at the time and only 3 or so managed to get it done. The school never heard back as far as I know on the missing tests -or whatever they are.
Got that mail too (think I've recieved 4 or 5 since getting on GoKunming, not too bad really compared to many other sites) and it's not missionary related. As Lao and others point out, it just like any other angle on the Nigerian scam. Their prime targets are middle aged to older Westerners, people with a good chance of being Christian hence it's worth a shot with the god references. You guys probably know I like to rant against the religious, but this case doesn't warrant it.
@Tonyad. Really? I had no idea. I assume I should be forgiven considering the manner most Chinese cars are parked. Anyway, it happened in Tengchong and not Kunming. Speaking of cars: I know it's a gas guzzler and it's sort of a dick move to buy a big SUV these days, but the Toyota Highlanders do look inviting.
Arun was the nicest guy. His often weird sense of humour made me laugh many a times down at the Hump. Last time I saw the lad must have been several months back doing his horrible but funny Charlie Chaplin impersonation. I can't believe he is dead tbh. A reminder to us all that life can be taken away so swiftly and unfairly.
I'll miss you Arun as I suspect all people who knew you will.
Tear those billboards down asap. Almost everything in this city is plastered with adds and commercials to a point where I can't understand why the Chinese don't complain about it more. Eyesores.
Although Woo certainly has the capacity to fxck a movie up Tom Cruise is actually a fairly competent actor (when he is allowed to). Think Magnolia, Collateral and Tropic Thunder. 100 million and the guy who wrote The Usual Suspects ought to get you at least some part of the way to a succes. As long as China's Michael Bay doesn't get to run everything that is.
UFOs are kept secret because they threaten corporate profits? And you take offense if people refer to you as a conspiracy theorist?? They only come out at night (to watch UFOs apparantly).
By most calculations life in the universe can be estimated in tens of thousands of planets but the thing is that the distances we are talking about are so staggering that it's impossible for our civilization to ever be able to reach "them". And the argument can be turned around so that "they" are never able to reach us. Sure there may be technology to be figured which would enable us or "them" to come over for tea and cookies and I am more than willing to believe it if it happens and there is proof of it. See,, that's the difference between junk science and real science,, proof. Anyway, good luck at the convention. I might stop by myself.
Went there yesterday and it totally made my week. Nice decor and friendly staff and a real salad bar. Sadly we both wanted mexican food so I can't really say much about their other courses. The food was great but just a tad spicier would have improved the dish. The best thing was that we almost had the place to ourselves and we could have a quiet conversation without shouting, spitting Chinese people in the background. I realised how much I had missed that since coming here.
We went to Chicago Coffee a couple of days ago and it was a nice experience. The place is cozy with soft comfy chairs (I realized how much I have missed one since coming here) and they have a nice little collection of English language books in the corner consisting mainly of classics and travel litterature. I was looking forward to trying their advertized tortilla bar but it wasn't up and running that evening.
Instead we went for 2 12 inch pizzas -roast chicken and pepperoni- but we quickly realized that 1 would have been enough. Those things are heavy. I am mainly into Italian style pizza but Chicago's double layered pizzas are well worth a try. Their coffee seems to be a bit on the expensive side but people say good things about it and they have got a nice selection. I wouldn't mind dropping by again some day,, hopefully when they've got the tortilla thing going. English speaking staff btw.
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China blogs: Blood donor scandal, China stereotypes, pollution
发布者Those maps remind me of The Onion's atlas.
www.theonion.com/content/international/atlas
Obituary: Arun Veembur
发布者Arun was the nicest guy. His often weird sense of humour made me laugh many a times down at the Hump. Last time I saw the lad must have been several months back doing his horrible but funny Charlie Chaplin impersonation. I can't believe he is dead tbh. A reminder to us all that life can be taken away so swiftly and unfairly.
I'll miss you Arun as I suspect all people who knew you will.
Government, ad agencies clash over billboard demolitions
发布者Tear those billboards down asap. Almost everything in this city is plastered with adds and commercials to a point where I can't understand why the Chinese don't complain about it more. Eyesores.
Tom Cruise to star in John Woo Flying Tigers film
发布者Although Woo certainly has the capacity to fxck a movie up Tom Cruise is actually a fairly competent actor (when he is allowed to). Think Magnolia, Collateral and Tropic Thunder. 100 million and the guy who wrote The Usual Suspects ought to get you at least some part of the way to a succes. As long as China's Michael Bay doesn't get to run everything that is.
Kunming to hold UFO forum this month
发布者UFOs are kept secret because they threaten corporate profits? And you take offense if people refer to you as a conspiracy theorist?? They only come out at night (to watch UFOs apparantly).
By most calculations life in the universe can be estimated in tens of thousands of planets but the thing is that the distances we are talking about are so staggering that it's impossible for our civilization to ever be able to reach "them". And the argument can be turned around so that "they" are never able to reach us. Sure there may be technology to be figured which would enable us or "them" to come over for tea and cookies and I am more than willing to believe it if it happens and there is proof of it. See,, that's the difference between junk science and real science,, proof. Anyway, good luck at the convention. I might stop by myself.