Just reviewed it on Google:
This is my restaurant of choice in the north of Kunming. The food is delicious and healthy. Why? Because the choice of ingredients. The choice of vegetables is remarkably unique, and they go to some very specific markets to get them. I have no problem ordering 80% wild vegetables in all the dishes of the meal. They are very open-minded for preparing suggestions, and will combine stuff whenever you think it will taste nice. Only with the wild mushrooms they'll refrain from this obviously. They have plaques on the walls saying: "We prefer to handle natural food in the traditional way to get optimal taste and think it is unnecessary to use chemical taste enhancers. We don't use MSG!" Salt is used sparingly, the chillies can all be left out and they serve you free home made kimchi and apple vinegar for every meal. Service is very attentive and friendly. Plates are almost oil-free after you finish a dish. Cold beer is available. Talk to the chef, he's a very nice guy. And get the small potatoes. And the home made peanut soup.
Getting Away: Luang Prabang
发布者I agree with bluppfisk the backpackers are an exhibit in their own way, and they have changed the attitude of the locals considerably. Dealing with them is convenient because they can all speak great English and have perfectly adjusted their ways to accommodate this continuous wining and dining of the tourists, but in their hearts you feel a big distance and you feel the need to make money off the tourists is stronger that genuine hospitality. Especially if you compare it to travelling around in Yunnan or even parts of rural Laos just kilometres away from tourist centres like Luang Prabang. I agree there is an interesting cultural heritage and a general pleasant laid-back vibe. But after a week I was really fed up with those foreigner-local relations that ruin the atmosphere.
Cycling from Kunming to Lüchun
发布者Hi Voltaire,
Thank you so much for your correction. I asked a few locals about it and actually tried to distill a story that was as plausible as possible out of their contradicting answers, happy you could clear that up!
When I get back to Kunming next week, I'll post some more anecdotes of my cycling inside Luchun county, and some more pictures.
Video: The Dangsters
发布者I do not see or hear anything offensive in this video. The dance is really cool.
Insect cuisine: Bugging out in Kunming
发布者Great article indeed!
In southern Yunnan (I found this in Honghezhou) they also tend to sell a roadside snack that consists of an empty honey comb with living bee larvae inside. A friend of mine bought a piece and tried a few, but it was too much for me. I'm okay with eating insects but not when they are alive.
Wenhua Xiang filling up with financially overextended youth
发布者I think one of the motives for this behavior that is not mentioned in the article of comments is not a financial one. The youths seem to consider it as a very hip kind of lifestyle to sell their fashion on the street. They try to be as image conscious as possible and as it often goes with this kind of young-hipster-fashion-motivated behavior, they completely disregard and undermine the existence of other people around them; neighborhood residents and the people who pay loads of rent in order to open legitimate shops.
The chengguan once again show us that they are not more than lazy, selective and ignorant thugs who are not at all genuinely concerned with the well-being of the city. They use overly excessive force when there is not a single reason to do so, while at the same time giving those disrespectful youths the chance to exploit the lax policies and almost vandalize a neighborhood.
What else is there to do? At least don't buy anything from them..