Forums > Living in Kunming > New visa/immigration regulations July 1, 2013

Beijing announced they are requiring working visa applicants to get a criminal background check for work. Suzhou and Nanjing is also making these requirements. This is no joke amd have read this from numerous websites.

One small piece of good news is that Beijing is only going to require initial applicants for the criminal check, not for renewals. But if someone is from another area in China and go there for work, they will also have to return home.Also the Exit-Entry Law does not specifically require criminal checks. But I think everyone else is going to follow Beijing. But there might be a small amount of wiggle room if one wants to work in the back country. Maybe.

I am a teacher here and I have a Misdeamnor criminal conviction. I also have a wife here, who fortunately is doing quite well financially who just bought a house. She told me I can live there and not work. She also promised me that she has enough guanxi in her community to get my L visa and stay. I hope so. This scares the hell out of me. I have been here 12 years. Just got my visa renewed, so it will be 13 years since I been here when it expires.

Forums > Living in Kunming > New visa/immigration regulations July 1, 2013

The Z visa will also require teachers in China to return home for a Criminal Background Certificate. I have read this from several different sources.

Forums > Travel Yunnan > Anyone been to Nepal? I am going in about two weeks.

I am a bit overweight, so I am not going to be into trekking, and obviously not mountain climbing. One thing I want to do is to see Mount Everest or any of those other big hills. I just want to see it. Problem is that seemingly one cannot just drive to a place to see it, it requires several days hike on paths to get to the area. Hopefully I am wrong.

I enjoy looking at temples, villages, towns, shopping and food. I have researched Chitwan and I will definitely go there. Kathmandu would be a blast me thinks. I do not mind a bit of third world filth. This is Asia, not Beverly Hills. Pokhara looks great to spend a week or so riding bikes and enjoying the lake there. Temples are another big hit with me. I can go temple touring for days.

How is the public transportation and busses there? This is something I enjoy about China. Even out in Bumfark, I can catch something moving going somewhere. I don't really want to fly in country. I want to see landscape, people and villages.

How does transportation work from the Kathmandu airport into the city? Are there taxis to get into like in China? Are they metered taxis or do I have to haggle everytime I go somewhere?

Like everyone, I have a burning hate for touts. Burning, hitler like hate for them. I consider them the AIDS virus of traveling. Yangzhou was nice, but I was so ready to get away from there because of all the touts chasing me wanting to sell me everything or take me somewhere.

I will leave July 3rd and come back July 24th. One things that concerns me is filling the time. The ticket was fairly cheap for the window of time. If I wanted to come back, let's say five days earlier, the ticket would be more expensive.

The original plan was to go to Lhasa, but in research, it seems such a pain in the ass to get there, I cannot independently travel, and must stay with a tour group, something I have done before and refuse to do more than an afternoon. I want to see the Himalaya and Nepal seems like the best choice.

I come on this board because probably some of you have been to Nepal, since it is not that far away by plane from you. I just don't know much about the place and now I am doing my homework. I am just seeking a different experience and a sense of adventure.

Forums > Travel Yunnan > Going down to Xishuangbanna/Laos this week?

Last year, I went from Phnom Penh, through Laos and ended up in Jinghong. I was knackered, tired and wanted to go home, but I did not really like Jinghong that much, especially the taxi drivers who wanted to take advantage of foreigners who refused to run their meters. Besides the Burmese (who were not that friendly), there is not much of interest there.

I would fly to Vientiane, because this is where you are getting your visa (right?) then go to Vang Vieng, Laung Prabang, Laung Namtha (which is just south of the border.) and then the border and Jinghong (and back to Kunming). You should fly one way, or frankly, you are going to have a sore ass with all the bus travel going to Vientiane and then back to China.

Lastly, when you cross the border from Laos into China, do not bring anything back that you shouldn't take back. Plenty of that in Yunnan. The border people were soldiers who barked orders and they went through everyone's bag, digging around looking for contraband. The people inside were not much better. On the way out the door, there is a woman (or women) who will exchange Lao Kip for RMB.

I'd skip Jinhong and the fake Chinese Thai crap and enter the real SE Asia. My opinion.

Forums > Travel Yunnan > Anyone been to Nepal? I am going in about two weeks.

Howdy!

I just bought my ticket for Kathmandu, Nepal. I will arrive there July 3rd. I will be going through Kunming and will spend the night there on the way home.

I have never been there. Basically have three things in mind.

* Basically see Kathmandu. Spend a few days looking around, looking at temples and relaxing.

One thing I discovered about Kathmandu is that they do not have addresses like we do, but have something called a "tole" which is the intersection of two streets. That to me might be confusing. I have read that they offer maps in the airport.

Any siggestions on lodging anywhere would be appreciated.

* I want to see Mt. Everest. Just see it. "Like wow man, there it is, the largest hill in the World."

* Go to Pokhara. That looks like a chill place and there is a nice lake near there.

My interests there would be looking at the temples, I love the temples. I also want to see some beautiful countryside and this seems to fit the bill. Just relaxation.

I am trying to get a feel on what the temperatures might be there and if I need to bring a sweater and a pair long fall/winter pants with me. Kathmandu is plenty warm, this week it is 25*-30* C outside.

I would welcome "a trek" but nothing really strenuous. Three flights of steps wind me. I do not need to climb a mountain to see a mountain. Again, seeing a mountain 3 miles high would be amazing.

For 20 days, how much money should I take for basically lodging and food? I am pretty easy about hotels, as long as the room is safe, clean, with a clean bed and a hot shower, basically I am fine. WiFi would be good too.

Any advice would be appreciated.