This is my 3rd time to China, and my first time living somewhere as opposed to vacation. I've been here [Kunming] nearly 4 weeks now, and perhaps I am more 'tolerant' but I cannot find an awful lot that is genuinely specific to Kunming as opposed to China.
1. Smoking
My big bugbear - but prevalent throughout China and Japan for that matter (where I was going to live before the split with my ex-girlfriend).
2. Spitting
Am I the only one who thinks that spitting here in Kunming is much better than other places in China? The sheer amount of spitting and hawking in Lijiang, felt like the Government mandated it as a new Olympic sport and people were trying out for the Olympics in 2012!
3. Lack of green parks i.e. grass that one can sit on
London has spoilt me in one important regard: availability of green, open spaces (Regent's Park, Hyde Park, Hamstead Heath, etc). This was my biggest gripe when I first arrived, and is still a bone of contention. However, I am adapting and am arranging with Chinese friends to go hiking, visit Anning i.e. outdoor stuff outside Kunming.
4. Lack of cultural pursuits
Museums, galleries etc. But if this bothered me I would have chosen another city.
5. Night-life
Kundu is an argument against democracy! I originally thought that the choice of music and Lady Gaga on constant rotation was a post-modern joke. Sadly, David 1855 is what passes for night-life in Kundu.
Bars are equally limited. That said, I didn't choose this city for it's night-life, and am in a relationship (once I stopped looking in all the wrong places), so no biggie. But thought I'd mention it because an American girl on Chinese-Forums.com is considering Kunming, and one of her questions was quality of night-life.
6. Construction work 24/7
7. Damn trucks that blurt out 'Happy Birthday' or what sounds like 'Scarborough Fair' at stupid o'clock in the morning (then again, I do live on Dong Feng Dong Lu).
There was a similar thread on Gaijinpot (Japanese forum) and it was used by regulars to vent now and again. This thread may serve a similar purpose.
Cheers!
Welcome to the new GoKunming.com!
Posted byI like the colour scheme and the initial layout. However, the forum / posting features are basic - especially the layout of posts contained (constrained) in a frame, hard to read and follow, and has a mid-90s feel.
Appreciate if you could look at the possibility - based upon feedback / user-polls - of moving posts to the left-side of the screen, and have threaded posts.
The introduction of a PM [personal message] feature is much welcome, although sadly I expect the necessity of terms and conditions of usage due to "douche-bags" who cannot play nicely and may (ab)use the feature to send a series of abusive messages.
Cheers!
Getting away: Bamboo Temple
Posted byGood review.
I went this weekend with some other students (via cab - approx 40 yuan from 东风东路).
I really enjoyed the setting, as it is extremely peaceful, and the surrounding hills look ideal for exploring - if one has a bike (scooter / mountain bike).
Spent approx 90 mins exploring the temple, looking at the arhats, and talking to a Chinese woman who was learning Japanese, accompanied by her Japanese teacher.
Sadly, we didn't have the opportunity to eat the vegetarian food - although I am a vegetarian - because my class-mates had eaten previously.
I much preferred this temple to Yuantong; and it is nice to be occasionally reminded of Japan (in terms of temples, shrines, etc - and women, let's not forget ;)).
Half a morning / afternoon trip, so would recommend combining with another activity in the vicinity.
Where to watch the World Cup in Kunming
Posted byAddendum: my 2 female friends just arrived back [home] to complain that they were harassed to buy more alcohol and food.
My female friends wanted Tsingtao beer, to be told that they would not be sold Tsingtao as it's too cheap (12 yuan). They were arm-twisted to buy a more expensive beer. Then after they bought Sol beer, not only was the beer room-temperature, but they constantly badgered to buy food, inquiries asking if they were hungry, etc.
They left to go to Aoma's after that, and had a much better experience in a much more relaxed atmosphere.
Camel Bar 滚蛋！
Where to watch the World Cup in Kunming
Posted byJust came back from Camel Bar after experiencing one of the most bizarre and retarded 'rules' for being 'allowed' to watch a World Cup game.
There is effectively a table fee of 180 yuan (which includes 12 bottles of beer and some popcorn, and a little bit of other food) which you have to pay if you wish to sit and watch a game.
Here's the kicker: I and two others met some (4) friends who already had paid this fee and were happily watching the game. We went to sit with them only to be told that we could sit around the table i.e. in front - thus obscuring the view for them of the game - but not alongside as that would necessitate another 180 yuan table fee!
Admission / seating fees to watch a World Cup game in a bar is retarded at best, as one will buy drinks anyway, but then to be told that effectively a table can only hold 4 people (sitting the other side - and thus in front of the other 4, blocking their view of the game - defeats the purpose of wishing to watch the game ..) when the bar was empty besides one or two others, was the final straw.
I decided to take my custom elsewhere, as there are plenty of other places showing the game - and with projectors.
The other insult was that the projector was slightly fuzzy, distorting the image.
I shan't be going back either during or after the World Cup.