Thanks again @AlPage48. I guess I'm just too lazy and was trying to minimise travel time. In truth I would rather not pay for such hotels when Vienna hotels are nice enough for me. They've been welcoming in every other city.
To answer the original question, I'd say it's a mixture of 'home' and elsewhere in SE Asia.
@livingin china I guess you arrived before me. Having first arrived in Kunming in 2009, I'm a relative 'newbie'. Maybe I wasn't clear enough: How exactly has the city improved in your opinion? Bear in mind that We're entitled to our own opinion and I respect yours regardless of how long you've been here. For me, the city was torn in two by the creation of Chengong. It was far more lively in the days when most students were based around 121 and there was a larger international community.
Thanks @AlPage48. I was look for somewhere nearer Tongde but I guess 'beggars can't be choosers', as the saying goes.
@livinginchina sorry, I'm not sure what you mean. The subway is mostly done so lots of the construction ended (yay - Beijing lu is OK) and Burger King came to town along with many other large brands but I don't think much else has improved in recent years, especially for foreign passport holders. Still, the climate is great for me and it offers access to a number of excellent destinations, especially if international travel returns. I'm moving back so it can't all be bad. The reception was just disappointing.
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The only place worth going for a beer in Lijiang. Small place with a super friendly vibe. Great relaxed hangout for locals and travellers alike.
a lovely place to stay with great views of Yulong xueshan (JadeDragon snow mountain) from the roof! Beautifully decorated and hosts that make you feel like family. A million miles better than most other places locally. I can't recommend this place enough.
i thought i'd give this place another try as my usual place was closed today. even though there is now more choice, i was not impressed by the menu. they do have an apparently good range of coffees for up to 80 kuai but even a basic latte is Y26 now. the drinks were OK but nothing special and certainly not worth the money. the place looked somehow cleaner too and was certainly busier! why have so many of the cafes in this area decided that it's fine to raise their prices by so much (in some cases almost double)? i doubt i'll be going back. the 2 stars are because it was just OK and they've obviously made some effort.
not a bad selection of stuff and some of the staff obviously know their way around a bike. however, the 'special' prices for foreigners and the fact that some of the staff will use a big hammer to fix anything keeps me from going back. you could do better.
I won't go there again. The yoghurt is tasty and the curries are usually ok (they seem to vary in quality depending on the day and time). What really annoys me is the fact that they can't comprehend that I order dishes to eat TOGETHER... if my curry arrives 30 minutes after all the other dishes it's not really acceptable. Then again, neither is the 1 hour wait for the rest of the food or the incorrect dishes being sent. By the way, why can't I sit on the 3rd floor until both of the other floors are packed full? Has it never occurred to them that I might want a quiet meal and, after all, I am paying for it!
Baiyun Lu closed for 18 months, civilian "air raid shelter" to be built
Posted byBeijing lu in that area is now a nightmare, especially at rush hours. It was bad before but somehow it got worse and the daily car parks start somewhere past the ring road for those going south. the pedestrian crossings are a nightmare with pedestrians, cars and bikes/ebikes all competing for the same space. any of the above can now come from any direction at any time. the traffic lights are useless and so are the crossing people/police. One good rainy night and the whole intersection of Baiyun Lu and Beijing lu is flooded. It seems that nobody considered drainage.
Kunming police taking steps to tame traffic chaos
Posted byI got fined 50rmb for riding across a road NEXT TO the pedestrian crossing (rightly so - I was in the wrong) but as I was leaving at least 2 guys were getting visibly upset with the police, 1 woman was crying and another was screaming angrily. Since then they just make people walk their bikes across. The problem is that the police are only at one junction on Beijing lu... everywhere else is still as it always was and once the police leave at about 6pm even that one crossing reverts to the usual craziness. This education is going to be a long process!
Chinese student apologizes after Maryland graduation speech sparks firestorm
Posted by@Liumingke1234 - yes, the air here is MUCH cleaner than in Beijing but let's not pretend it's 'fresh' or free of pollution. So Kunming "enjoys high-quality air, with the PM2.5 always staying below 50"?? I must be in a different city... according to www.pm25s.com/en/kunming.html
Kunming AQI ranks #133 in China at the moment (total 367).
Kunming's bike share options: A user guide
Posted byI saw one of those yellow OFO bikes sprayed red on my way home. It was a really messy paint job too. 2 students riding on it.
Kunming's bike share options: A user guide
Posted byoh.. I've also noticed recently that locking bike racks are being installed on the streets. I'd guess that they hold 10 to 15 bikes each. The initial article mentioned 45,000 bikes so they'll be needing a lot more of them.