I want to buy tile cats/wa mao/瓦猫, the small ceramic cats that people in Yunnan once put on their roofs to keep evil spirits away.

I bought a three-headed one once at a small shop on Beimen Jie that has since closed.

Does anybody know another place in town selling them? Any help is much appreciated.

You might want to check Paul's Cooking Classroom on Wenhua Xiang:

www.gokunming.com/[...]

I find CNY to be one of the nicest times to be in KM - as blobbles said, the streets quiet down quite a bit, which is always a pleasant change of pace.

GoKunming will put together something about which venues are open and which are closed during the holiday. (Attention local cafe/restaurant/bar owners: please send us your CNY plans as soon as they're decided.)

I read something about test runs for larger jets in the near future, but it does seem to be shrouded in uncertainty. Better than opening before it's ready, I suppose.

If, as I was recently, you're in a taxi with a new driver who doesn't know their way around the city so well, make sure they don't take the exit marked "Airport Expressway" on Erhuan Dong Lu heading south... that'll take you to the new airport.

I will always remember that morning... oddly, it was one of the most beautiful blue skies I've ever seen in Kunming.

It was pretty amazing that nobody was hurt or killed other than the bomber. Was also amazing how quickly you guys got the restaurant up and running again.

I remember the notes of encouragement and support (written by Chinese and foreigners) that spontaneously appeared on your door afterward. They were all heartfelt and real.

I think what that day did for myself and perhaps others was forcefully remind us that nothing in life, including life itself, is ever guaranteed - a lesson that should never be forgotten.

I'm sure Christmas Eve will always be slightly uneasy for you guys, but the coolest thing that came out of that whole situation was that after considering wrapping things up, you all decided to bring Sal's back - for the staff, for the community and for yourselves. Quitting would have been so much easier - good on all of you for not giving in to fear or hatred.