I think people need to separate their reactions to this a little bit. There is a difference between looking down on looking for play and not wanting that search to happen on this website. From what I see it seems like most people simply look down on foreign men and chinese women getting together casually. To that I say who cares? White men have earned a reputation (both unfairly through entertainment and fairly through real example) for being overly interested in sex and vice versa the stereotype of chiense women looking for money or an exotic lover. Both foreigners and chinese have their opinions about this but the fact is every case is different and I think its the judgmental impulse of gossiping chickens to have to create an outcry over it.

As for whether this is the appropriate forum for such posts, I'm not really sure but that seems like the more interesting topic to discuss of what Tonyaod's brought up. Honestly it doesn't bother me, in fact many of those are a huge source of entertainment and nothing more in my mind, but I don't feel strongly one way or another.

When I was there last March, there weren't any drivers looking/waiting around to be hired to make the drive but I bet you can ask at the bus station if you can speak any Chinese. Plus its a common trip probably so I'd also bet that hitching would be do-able but theres definitely no train.

Bus times if you're interested:

8:45am, 1050am, 1230pm, 100pm, 550pm, 555pm, 600pm, 605pm
Ticket price was around 135rmb

Hey friends- any idea if theres an area of town with lots of mattresses on sale? I don't want to go all the way to the furniture warehouses, just need a basic mattress.

PS I think since there are so often neighborhoods that seem to sell just one type of product, someone should start an active map or something... no idea how but just thought it would be nice :)

These threads always devolve into semantics and name calling. I think the reason Colin started this thread hits at a bigger picture issue. There are more and more foreigners coming to China and Kunming for what seems two main reasons. The first being geinuine interest in living abroad and in Chinese culture/life. The second seems to be the idea of finding an extremely easy life- easy money, cheap living, ready access to drugs, whatever... Many of us fall somewhere between the two.

But the fact is that, for whatever reason you're here, for how long, and whether we like it or not, foreigners in China are guests in this country. We also, as individuals, represent a very distinct group in Kunming's society as well as our own countries so when we act, we are inevitably perceived in a wider context. And basic self control and awareness, particularly in public places, is a basic expectation for a guest I think.

That said, many consider Kunming home and of course these things happen in foreigner and local Chinese communities (i.e. the college boys I see booting before getting on the bus on weekend nights). But I welcome a reaction like Colin's in starting this thread- it shows a level of investment in and respect for Kunming as a real home, not just the backdrop for a couple semesters of fucking around one could do in any other city in the world. And its healthy to discuss the behavioral standards we consider appropriate for ourselves as guests in this country and members of the expat and wider Kunming community. Its something we should think a lot more about, in my opinion.

I had to travel to Chiang Mai last month for business and as far as we knew there used to be a direct flight but its been canceled and the only things we could find went through Bangkok. We flew Thai air and I guess also that flight is not daily but only offered few times a week.