Forums > Living in Kunming > who thinks we chat is for business use I remember many years ago when computers became available to common folks. Everyone jumped on the MSN bandwagon because they gave you free email service. Then came Yahoo that offered Instant Messages. So stupid people did free advertising for the rich profit making yahoo and they invited others to join yahoo. In years to follow, this process repeated many times. We have all been asked to join this or join that but amazingly, no one offered a system that can talk to other systems. In time, people had their information posted on several systems because one did not connect with another (MSN, Yahoo, Facebook, etc).
Here in China it was all about QQ. My students would tell me how their password got stolen and I never understood what that meant until I met a chinese techy guy who showed me how he can go in and steal their passwords. I made the move to QQ when yahoo was no longer allowed in China a few years back.
Now its wechat! Went to greenery cafe and they no longer gave us a menu because they told us to go to wechat and order. We insisted and got a menu. When it came time to pay the bill the waitress looked at us like we were crazy when we handed her cash - she told us to pay on wechat. Most people use a wechat number not their telephone number so when they give us their contact info they always use wechat which is useless to a person who does not want to use this crap.
In a few years, it will be a new sytem in place and everyone will make the transition again. For us old timers who have done this crap time and time again, we can see the big picture and no longer fall for this crap.
It is all about profits, that is the reality of the present. So when I see companies that offer many things for FREE, it is clear there is an agenda. The agenda is to get as many people hooked on this as possible. Went to the movie theater last month. Tickets were 80 Yuan but with wechat it was only 30. That is a huge difference and people will get wechat to save 50 yuan per ticket. No agenda there.
In the west, most people have seen how credit cards ruin lives and families. Here in China this beast is just beginning to manifest. I see more and more examples of young people up to their necks in debt because they use credit cards every day to buy junk or a single yogurt at Walmart.
Forums > Study > KCEL a profit-making school Went to KCEL (Dong Feng) the other day. What impressed me most was the very big poster on the wall that had the PSB regulations in both Chinese and English warning students that they can NOT work with a student visa. I think this is very important and all students should be aware of this as soon as they begin classes.
Side note: I think GK staff should regulate (control) all advertisements on GK (classifieds) when it comes to English schools seeking english teachers. As a requirement to put an ad here, the school should provide GK with the authority granted to them by PSB to hire foreigners.
I see many ads for english teachers here and some very clearly state they they can give you a working visa while others do not or are seeking part time work which will certainly not be able to provide a working visa.
The institutions that can not provide a visa are clearly advertising to hire illegal workers.
Forums > Travel Yunnan > Police certificate of no criminal records www.gokunming.com/en/forums/thread/12365/police_clearance - Contact this person and ask him how he completed this process. Read the thread as there is some good information provided.
Forums > Travel Yunnan > Torch Festival - Huo Ba Jie www.gokunming.com/en/blog/item/342/torch_festival_time_in_dali
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I find the smaller events are much more enjoyable. The big Torch festival in Chuxiong (Yi) is very crowded.
I prefer the smaller events in Dali (Bai). I especially like to see the community participate in making the giant torch and all the surrounding ceremonies that are included in preparation the days prior to the event. Best one yet has been in Zhou Cheng near Dali Old Town.
Check internet for different dates for this event. This is a minority festival, not a national festival. It is also a lunar calendar festival so look for the solar equivalent this upcoming week. Fun to watch if you have not participated in one before. Still Fun even if you have seen many of them like me - Hehe! Best to go to different places to see how each is similar and different.
Do not go to the Minority Village near Dianchi Lake - ends up costing you and arm and a leg for a totally fake and overcrowded environment. Best to find a small village - Bai and Yi Torch Festivals are very different so best to try a different one every year.
A quick glimpse of Yunnan's ancient salt towns
Posted byHas the new road from Heijing to Yuan Mou been completed yet? The new road runs right through Heijing.
Ruili considers suing companies over naming rights
Posted byHow embarassing - Anything for money. No honor, no integrity, just GREED.
China's national meat scandal hits Yunnan
Posted byJust yesterday I watched something about this on the bus. The Customs folks stopped and confiscated a few big trucks on the road from Puer. The trucks were not refridgerated so this is one of the cause of the problems. So if the meat did make it in to its final destination it had to be repacked and refrozen after the long trip. Perhaps the meat in the center of the truck can keep but surely not the meat on top or the sides.
China's national meat scandal hits Yunnan
Posted byI love it, the meat came from the the USA. Like Bayer selling hemophilia drugs tainted with AIDS to other countries.
Around Town: Zhaozong Reservoir
Posted bySince I live on Zhao Zong Road I decided to pay this reservoir a visit via bus #7 which is 2 stops from my home.
The first thing I noticed is that there is plenty of constructuion going on - a new retaining wall is being built as well as a brand new pumping faciltiy with several large pipes to divert the water.
At the time this article was written, this reservoir may have just been a pond but that is no longer the case. "There are no pumping facilities or drains at Zhaozong Reservoir — it is simply a large pond".
The construction workers said that because water is such a precious commodity in Kunming every drop will be put to use in the near future.
Bus #7 to the Zhao Zong Yi Zu Cun Kou Bus Stop. Turn left when you see the Long Hua Temple a few meters before the main entrance to Sen Lin Hu = Forest Lake = 森林湖.
There were at least 20 redundant signs on the walking trail every 10 meters that clearly read - NO SWIMMING!