Hi, John! That's interesting! Which border crossing was that?
Hi, John! That's interesting! Which border crossing was that?
Yes, that's why I backed out of my plan. The timing is not right. I was just curious if there is anyone with experience traveling from Nujiang into Tibet. I'm looking at those areas on the map and the stories I hear make it very attractive.
hmm... I went on reading about the current situation and it seems like I should back out of this naive plan... Still, sharing any kind of experiences would be very welcome!
Next July, 2 of my good Chinese friends are planning to travel to Zayu (Chayu 察隅) in Tibet. They want to drive a 4-wheel drive from the Nijiang valley. I'm very eager to join them. Assuming that it would be impossible for me to get a permit with my Dutch passport, they propose I hide out somewhere in the back of the car (big expensive 4-wheel drive) at the checkpoints. I'll have to be very low profile on the trip itself and not show myself in villages at times of daylight, etc.
Does anyone have any experience doing something like this? What would be the consequences if I'm found out somewhere beyond the checkpoints? Will I get deported, or can I continue my stay in China with paying some kind of fine? I've heard some contradicting stories on this. Has anyone been to Zayu? I'm just assuming I won't get there in any legal way, or would it be possible for me to get a permit?
Thank you for any input!
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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.
Really friendly people, very tasty proper Indian food, all made with fresh ingredients and very reasonably priced.
For sure the best Indian food in town!
Report: Rubber plantations threaten biodiversity and livelihoods
Posted byThe questions remains: how do you get the corrupt, greedy and indifferent Xishuangbanna local gvt. to enforce a stricter land monitoring system? And the international rubber buyers, whom we can comfortably describe using those same adjectives, how are you going to get them to raise the bar in terms of sustainability? Both seem like massive challenges to me.
Discoveries in Yunnan's Dayao County
Posted byExcellent article indeed.
Aren't those figures in the caves splitting open their faces and abdomens Arhat statues?
2014: The Year in Review, part II
Posted byHahah, the "super minority instrument" made it in there. Great!
Megatrudge 2014: 400 kilometers across the Gobi
Posted byGreat story!
Zhiziluo: Yunnan's mountaintop ghost town
Posted byInteresting story and great pictures. I'd be very happy to visit this place and find out more about it.
A few thoughts on the "getting there" advises, though. It would make sense to exchange Lijiang with Baoshan.
And in my opinion, a minivan up the mountain for 4-5 hours depending on weather and road conditions shouldn't necessarily be "very inexpensive". Instead, it would also make sense to find out who is the best driver with the safest car to get you there in a way that is as safe as possible. And offering a fair pay for that driver would be part of that. But this is of course up to yourself.