any chance it was a meteorite way up in the atmosphere? i've seen big ones before that leave a long smoke trail, sometimes sparkling, before skipping back out into space or burning up. if it was a meteorite, at least it didn't explode like that russian one.

On the way back from Dali yesterday we saw a number of forest fires, including a couple near Anning. That might explain why levels have been so high this week. And on top of that, they're digging big trenches to lay those pipes for the Burma oil line and it's been causing massive dust clouds for a long stretch of the highway. Not a good time to be in Kunming.

They are coming again soon...

A consular officer from the United States Consulate in Chengdu will be in Kunming to provide limited consular services on Saturday, April 13, 2013. There are a limited number of appointment slots for this visit. You must email us to reserve a time; please include your full name and which service you require. When your appointment has been confirmed, we will email you the time and location confirmation.

The consular officer will be able to perform a number of limited American Citizen Services. Services available include:

- Passport renewal applications (no new passport applications will be accepted)
- Additional passport visa pages applications
- Marriageability Affidavit Notarials
- Notarials

For some of these services, some of your materials may have to be brought to Chengdu for processing. If this is the case, they can be returned to you via the local Chinese EMS mailing service. However, mailing through EMS is done at your own risk, as we cannot guarantee EMS service. Alternatively, you can come to pick up your documents at the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu during regularly scheduled ACS hours.

To use the EMS mailing service, you must bring your address (in Chinese) and a 40 RMB EMS mailing fee.EMS envelopes can hold up to four passports, so if you require multiple passport renewals, you may need to pay additional EMS mailing fees. For example:

-1-2 Passports renewed: 1 envelope
-3-4 Passports renewed: 2 envelopes
-5-6 Passports renewed: 3 envelopes

Please note the consular officer will have no change available and cannot keep any overpayment, so exact change is required. Fees are listed below:

Passport Book Renewal – Adult (over 16 years old): $ 110.00 / ¥ 693
Passport Book Renewal – Minor (under 16 years old): $105.00 / ¥ 661.5
Additional passport visa pages: $ 82.00 / ¥ 516.6
Notarial and Marriageability Services: $ 50.00 / ¥ 315

A small number of required forms will be available, but it is suggested that you download, print, and fill out any required forms yourself. These are all available on our website: chengdu.usembassy-china.org.cn/service.html.

Also, please bring originals and photocopies of all materials you will be submitting.

Regards,
Citizen Services Unit
U.S. Consulate General, Chengdu

From the US consulate...

A consular officer from the United States Consulate in Chengdu will be in Kunming to provide limited consular services on Saturday, February 2, 2013. There are a limited number of appointment slots for this visit. You must email us to reserve a time; please include your full name and what service you require. When your appointment has been confirmed, we will email you the time and location confirmation.

The consular officer will be able to perform a number of limited American Citizen Services. Services available include:
- Passport applications and renewals
- Passport add pages
- Certificates of Marriageability
- Notarials

For some of these services, some of your materials may have to be brought to Chengdu for processing. If this is the case, they can be returned to you via the local Chinese EMS mailing service. However, mailing through EMS is done at your own risk, as we cannot guarantee EMS service. Alternatively, you can come to pick up your documents at the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu during regularly scheduled ACS hours.

To use the EMS mailing service, you must bring your address (in Chinese) and a 40 RMB EMS mailing fee.EMS envelopes can hold up to four passports, so if you require multiple passport renewals, you may need to pay additional EMS mailing fees. For example:
-1-2 Passports renewed: 1 envelope
-3-4 Passports renewed: 2 envelopes
-5-6 Passports renewed: 3 envelopes

Please note the consular officer will have no change available, so exact change is required. Fees are listed below:

Passport Book Renewal – Adult (over 16 years old): $ 110.00 / ¥ 704
Passport Book Renewal – Minor (under 16 years old): $105.00 / ¥ 672
New Passport Application (ex. lost or stolen): $ 135.00 / ¥ 864
Additional passport visa pages: $ 82.00 / ¥ 524.80
Notarial and Marriageability Services: $ 50.00 / ¥ 320

A small number of required forms will be available, but it is suggested that you download, print, and fill out any required forms yourself. These are all available on our website: chengdu.usembassy-china.org.cn/service.html.

Also, please bring originals and photocopies of all materials submitted you will be submitting.

Regards,
Citizen Services Unit
U.S. Consulate General, Chengdu

we've got chemical-free and hormone-free fresh milk available at Salvador's. It's pretty damn good and at a reasonable price.