I was actually quite surprised and shocked to initially see all these agreeing comments to this shallow outing from "Gaoxing" popping up.
Thank you Grasshopper and even more Livo1 to bring some sense into this thread.
Livo1, I was contemplating to write a similar comment, but you said it all: thanks again! Saves me some time :-)
This shallowness I mentioned is clearly a result of a dramatic impotence to integrate into Chinese society in any way, and at the same time not showing any effort to get into "the reasons why". Objectivity is so crucial, but o-so scarce
I'm a little confused about the structure of leadership in Kunming. I recently mixed up Zhang Zulin and Qiu He. Although I knew that Qiu He is the mayor, I recently found that Zhang Zulin also helds that position.
And somebody told me mr. Qiu He is Christian, is that true? Sounds strange for a cadre of this caliber... His children supposedly go to an International Christian school...
Thanks for sharing any information about this!
Cheers
Thanks! I checked out the shop yesterday. They are able to fix me decent bike (well, consisting of all the cheapest parts but new and my size and upgradeable) for 3500 kuai. I'm gonna keep shopping around a bit, though. Proper second hand parts are supposedly hard to come by here in Kunming for a tall guy like me (1m93)...
Recently I set my mind on purchasing a mountain bike. My problem is that I hear from different sources that good quality mountain bikes are sold in Kunming, but for astronomically high prices. I'm more looking for reasonable quality, not top-end, and price around 2000/3000 kuai...
Is there anybody who can recommend a certain shop or bike brand?
Great article indeed. It is always the first thing I try to communicate to our guests when they arrive in Yunnan. The depth of the historic relevance of the Tea Horse Road is unmatched. Funny that the mainstream tourism industry decided to use it as an umbrella and then promptly started to simplify it as some sort of static movement in which you can almost imagine a single caravan hauling their tea straight to Lhasa, and bringing back horses, unregarding during which season. Not only the actual movement but also the influence is so much underestimated and not given the attention it deserves. Your article makes my legs itch to pack up some mules and GO!
Really interesting, I'm really fascinated by the life and achievements of Forrest!
Brendan, is there a lot of info on his life in the coffee table book? I'd LOVE to read it but can't get it anywhere, seems like an expensive collector's item.
Peter, that is so interesting that you actually tried to locate his grave! Wow. I can't find the story on the Geographical Society Bulletin, do you have a link or website? Thanks!
I helped out covering some big bullfights over Torch Festival in Luliang for the Wall Street Journal. Very similar experience. Thanks Jim for all the extra background on all the fascinating minority dresses and garments.
Great article, thank you, Gokunming! I will definitely check out this hotel when I get to town next time.
And yes, at a time when half the province was high on opium, and Kunming was a huge market for this specific good, which came from the west, it is funny to think that the richest family was actually exporting a milk-papaya snack along that same route. Maybe it was milk of the poppy? :-)
This place is without doubt my favorite restaurant in Kunming. It is truly Simao-style, but adds its own unique touch. The ingredients vary per week and the ingredients are all carefully sourced in specific markets or brought straight from the mountains. Their wild vegetables are always sweeter than other places in Kunming. There are plaques on the wall that say: "we don't feel the need to enhance the flavor with weijing or jijing, we do our best to source the best natural foods for you". You will not see any grease after finishing the plate, not even with the deep fried dishes. They are very flexible with ordering combinations and the super-friendly owner-chef will be happy to step out of the kitchen and give you some great advice. If he has time, because this place is crowded on most evenings. Service is friendly and attentive (but it is still Kunming). You get free home-made kimchi and apple vinegar with all meals. They have cold Fenghuaxueyue beer. Without doubt a safe Chinese eatery, really delicious food, friendly people who are passionate about their product. A true gem, in my opinion.
I heard Richland Hospital has proper testing material.
I think the medical staff is of the same level as other Kunming healthcare facilities. I needed to translate some specifics of a medical report I got in another specialized hospital. I wanted to do this by letting the Richland doctor have a phone call with the specialized doctor that had done the tests. I came in and there sat a young physician with a translating nurse. When the phone call to the other hospital wasn't successful he wanted to have look at the report himself. I asked if that would make sense if he wasn't a doctor that was specialized in that specific field. He told me he wanted to have a look anyway. To my horror, he promptly misdiagnosed me with a truly appalling disease. When I came home I was puzzled. I didn't have any symptoms, how could I have something that serious. I checked the internet and found out that the condition that he described DIDN'T EVEN EXIST. Well, I have to give him, he had me stressing out there for a minute. I wanted to confront him with his mistake but apparently all the doctors had taken the weekend off. Eventually, in combination with my visit to the other state run facility, I was in constant uncertainty and stress over the period of 4 days for something that turned to be NOTHING. I had NOTHING.
Please use the highest level of common sense in dealing with local healthcare. The situation is grim. Best to let them test (if the facilities are ok) and make conclusions and decisions by yourself, if serious ask a physician in another country. Never blindly trust anything they say.
Reflections on the Tea Horse Road
发布者Great article indeed. It is always the first thing I try to communicate to our guests when they arrive in Yunnan. The depth of the historic relevance of the Tea Horse Road is unmatched. Funny that the mainstream tourism industry decided to use it as an umbrella and then promptly started to simplify it as some sort of static movement in which you can almost imagine a single caravan hauling their tea straight to Lhasa, and bringing back horses, unregarding during which season. Not only the actual movement but also the influence is so much underestimated and not given the attention it deserves. Your article makes my legs itch to pack up some mules and GO!
George Forrest: Scotland's Qing-era plant hunter
发布者Really interesting, I'm really fascinated by the life and achievements of Forrest!
Brendan, is there a lot of info on his life in the coffee table book? I'd LOVE to read it but can't get it anywhere, seems like an expensive collector's item.
Peter, that is so interesting that you actually tried to locate his grave! Wow. I can't find the story on the Geographical Society Bulletin, do you have a link or website? Thanks!
Myanmar jails scores of Chinese loggers, Beijing incensed
发布者Serves the bastard right! Hope they stay locked up for at least the period they were convicted for.
For those interested in some extra thoughts about this matter: www.eastbysoutheast.com/[...]
Bullfighting culture in rural China
发布者I helped out covering some big bullfights over Torch Festival in Luliang for the Wall Street Journal. Very similar experience. Thanks Jim for all the extra background on all the fascinating minority dresses and garments.
www.wsj.com/[...]
Resurrecting history in downtown Kunming
发布者Great article, thank you, Gokunming! I will definitely check out this hotel when I get to town next time.
And yes, at a time when half the province was high on opium, and Kunming was a huge market for this specific good, which came from the west, it is funny to think that the richest family was actually exporting a milk-papaya snack along that same route. Maybe it was milk of the poppy? :-)