Hi all..does anybody have any opinions about a good smartphone deal going around right now??
I'm looking at the Samsung line (galaxy/ace) but definitely don't know enough about other brands (HTC, etc.) to make a good decision on which to choose.
Another thing to consider are the plans. I was told it's pay as you go but don't really know for sure.
Thanks!
If anyone knows where/how much I can buy a good hair trimmer, I'd really appreciate it. I was told the ones at walmart aren't great so I didn't buy one there. I'd like a solidly built one (if possible) that I can have for a while. Some good brand advice as well please...thanks!
thanks for the warning bucko..been training myself in korea (generally people are good here, but dependence on GPS systems thinking for them is WAY ridiculous..GPS says turn right, so they turn right, regardless of the massive bus or motorcycle next to them :/).
anyways, i don't plan on wasting any tread of a big bike in chinese cities. the 200-250cc bike i hope to buy (and parked out of city) will be for rural excursions only..e-bike for KM. i'm very used to the 'blame the foreigner first thing' already...
thanks beni-w.
these guys know their stuff. a bit too much for my knowledge of bikes but i guess that means i gotta learn some stuff.
seems like everyones into the shinerays..any experience with those or the galaxys?
any more hints/advice on checking out/buying bikes in kunming, once i get there, would be greatly appreciated!!
I'm moving to kunming soon and would like to hear the low-down on motorcycle/scooter laws and practicalities if anyone has any opinions. :)
First of all, I would really like to get a 250cc (or above) motorcycle to travel around yunnan with. Any words about: laws, good bikes (good deals for good bikes), registration/insurance (if any), and anything else i've overlooked that you think i need to know about?
My buddy told me i can't ride around downtown in a 250cc (or up) bike so i'm planning on keeping it out of town.
So while in town, i've been told that it'd be advantageous to get an electric scooter. Anyone have any thoughts on this too?
ALSO, i'm not planning on working for a month or two when i first get there..any thoughts on some good bike trips worth doing when first getting to kunming? (I have never lived in China but have been riding for two years so please keep this in mind..i'm not used to chinese traffic/language/etc).
Any thoughts are immensely appreciated!
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hasenman
Wang, I live on Jianshe Lu. Any chance of delivery there? If not, perhaps you can do just weekend delivery to center? Seems like many are interested in having your delivery outside the north :)
hasenman
I'd have to second tommann's review. I stayed there last month after not being able to find a room at other guesthouses. I thought it was supposed to have a decent review from Lonely Planet, but maybe that was quite some time ago.
I think I had to pay 120 kuai for a low quality room (plywood 'riser' with cheap mattress..I've slept on futons with better mattresses).
Worst of all were the 'bathrooms'. The toilets were separated by nothing more than a sheet. The showers (both rooms I stayed in there) had mildew ALL over them. Typical Yunnan cleaning job ('if it gets wet, it's clean!').
The courtyard was OK, the dogs sweet but very smelly when I was there (not very inviting for a guesthouse seeing they were huge St. Bernards), and staff were OK...the only reason I gave it at least a star.
As for the rooms, they'd probably get a negative rating for the price..awful!
hasenman
FYI, google has re-named the restaurant: "El Salvador". Viva El Salvador for it's Brooklyn Brewery beers and Mexican breakfast! (Is it possible to get better meat for burgers though? Would kill for a good burger on wenlin..)
hasenman
Always have the yellow curry, my gf gets the tomyumgoong and we get veggies, etc. on side. Never disappoints to have a meal here. I love Thai food and the other 'classy' thai restaurants aren't really something I wanna try for over-priced thai food which i can get close to at home.
This is an affordable, relatively good Thai restaurant..in Kunming! True the green curry was disappointing (I had it when I first went, tried the yellow and have never gone back), but other dishes are good enough to redeem this place. I'm actually surprised at the bad review about the tomyumgoong as I am shocked at how well they can do it (though have had an off one or two) but in general has excellent flavor, kick and a decent amount of prawns usually..good lemongrass, galangal, chili mix that is quintessential Thai! I almost get it over the curry..but I'm a curry guy! The papaya salad is pretty authentic too (hard to mess that one up).
The food gets 4 stars (are some lackluster dishes) but just for BEING in Kunming and not trying to be some high-end, swanky event to have a decent curry, this place gets a tremendously well-deserved 5 stars from me..oh, and the guy agreed to deliver to my new apartment which is out of his 'delivery zone'..6 stars for that! Green Lake area, beware that these guys deliver! ;)
hasenman
It seems all 'educatedman' can do is go to places and be a sully silly (3 reviews, 1 star total! haha). How did you get your 'education', man—in your mommy's lap with a silver spoon??
O'Reily's definitely has the best burger in Kunming; the best draft beer/Belgian beers in Kunming; very kind staff/owners; best sports selection; great (free) pool table. What else could you want from a 'Irish' sports bar—a leprechaun??
Perhaps 'educatedman' could find a leprechaun, get him a working visa and supply him the investment to open up a REAL Irish bar in Kunming..so he won't have bother GOK readers with his negativity! If you could look outside your ego 'educatedman', you'd notice that you're not in Ireland, BUT IN SW CHINA!!
GOK, please consider canceling an account so that all places local expats enjoy don't get trashed by an uneducated boy...
Off the beaten trek: Tiger Leaping Gorge part 1- Bamboo forest path
Posted byThanks Pieter! Really enjoying your site: trekhaba.weebly.com/. Seems like the ultimate in Haba hiking!
Off the beaten trek: Tiger Leaping Gorge part 1- Bamboo forest path
Posted byBeen waiting patiently for the next article about the high altitude trail through the 3 passes (Miner's Pass, Divide Pass and East Pass). Anyone have any info on it?
Preserving minority culture: Yuansheng Music and Dance Festival
Posted byThanks Jeff and GoK for the write-up before festivities! It's sometimes frustrating to know of these kinds of events after the fact.
Interview: Kunming Craft Beer Society founder Darryl Snow
Posted byLooking forward to tomorrow's meetup!
Interview: Kunming Craft Beer Society founder Darryl Snow
Posted by@ The Dudeson's I think he was referring to more blind willingness of many Chinese to accept German beer as best without them actually trying other countries' styles. Since Germans are good (even best) at many things, many Chinese will apply their preconceptions to beer.
Adding to this is that most Chinese drank a German beer as their first foreign beer giving them an emotional attachment to strictly German beer. I've had many conversations with Chinese drinkers about their opinions on beer and it is generally:
Chinese guy: Oh, I love beer!
Me: What kind of beer do you like?
Chinese guy: German!
Me: Why?
Chinese guy: It's delicious!
Me: Have you tried Belgian, English or American beers?
Chinese guy: No, German is the best!
(end of conversation..of course, depending on the level of inebriation or awkward silence, the rare inquiry to other countries' styles at times is asked)
My point is it's not 'German bashing' from craft brew enthusiasts, it's observation of countless conversations with Chinese about their experience with world beer culture. I've even asked a brewer/equipment manufacturer about styles he makes: only German lagers. Then, I asked him about interest in other styles..nope!
Don't get me wrong, Germans make great beer. But, when one doesn't even have any interest in the other traditional styles as well as the new craft styles popping off all over the world, other enthusiasts/brewers will not take you too seriously these days.
Darryl is a brave soul to tackle this dearth of beer knowledge in China/Kunming with KCBS. Seeing as he earns no money from it, it's quite respectable. And, his observation about Chinese beer drinkers—spot on!
Thankfully, local impressions seem to be changing with new styles and countries represented in many bars throughout Kunming. A bar by Green Lake, 'Fun Time' (where KCBS gathered for the 'beer pairings' last meeting), doesn't even serve Chinese beer! Times—they (hopefully) are a-changin'!