Kunming Favorites

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Favorite thing: Ever think of going on a holiday in China where the climate is always spring? Then, Kunming should be the answer. It’s a place where spring is all year round thus popularly dubbed as The City of Eternal Spring. It’s the pleasant climate and the colorful blooms that are in abundance in all parks and corners of the city that makes Kunming a lovely place to spend a holiday. But if you are still persistent about the details of the local weather, I would say January is relatively colder and July is a little hot. But the foliage is said to remain green all year round.

The areas in and around Kunming are rich with natural beauty spots - dotted with lakes, forest, hills and caves. An attraction within the city limit is the picturesque Cuihu Lake Park. One can sit for hours at end by the beautiful lake garden enjoying the sights of lake gulls flying free, graceful and busy soaring high and diving low targeting fish and fry in the water and tidbits from the your hands.
Then just walk around the shady lakeside where willows weep in the breeze. It’s simply fascinating – and this is Kunming.

Fondest memory: Kunming is a city to relax and enjoy your holiday. If you stay at any of the hotels in the city center, try to be up early, have a good breakfast and take a walk to one of the major parks in the locality. I’m sure it’s a good place to start up the day – mass dancing (or mass drill if I should say) in the bright morning sun. It’s here where you can see a few hundred couples – mostly elderly folks doing the cha-chas and the rhumbas. Simply mingle in with the `troupe’. No problem as everyone is welcomed. If you don’t have a partner, try an `excuse me dance’. You may have a chance.

For those who are not easily attracted by the latino foot tapping cha chas but still want to give their leg muscles a stretch, move on to the other corner of the park and join the Taichi group. You don’t need a sword to do the Taichi in the park..

Fondest memory: The thing impressed me more going around Kunming was the incredible amount of cellulars shops.One next to the other one, I tried to count them but I soon gave up.This impressed me, because the feeling I had in this city was just that people were absolutely not willing to comunicate, but, seing the number of telephones they sell, I must have been wrong, I probably was in the temple of comunication and did not realise it, may be my cellular was switched off or had some problems with the local net:-)

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Favorite thing: I don't think, that you are going to be married, when next time you'll visit Kunming. BUT.......
you never know. Kunming is not like Las Vegas, where you can get married day and night, or New Caledonia, where many Japanese couples go to marry, nor Tahiti, the traditional wedding destination.
Anyway, everything for your wedding in Kunming is ready. Around Beijing Road, there are many establishments, who will organise everything for your wedding.

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Favorite thing: When just walking around in de city center, you can meet on several places, very original statues, made of bronze. Sometimes amazing, sometimes just amusing. You can find them in the surroundings of Dongfeng Yilu and Renming Zhonglu.

Favorite thing: If anyone wants to know anything about Kunming I'm sure there are loads of other people around here who'd be only too glad to help.

Fondest memory: As fondest memories go, the following story may seem a little bleak.
Don't be misled, it's actually an alright place.

Favorite thing: The best way is to make sure you know where you going before you set off, take the time to study your map. Once you leave the safety of your room/hotel/hostel, you kind of on your own. I have spent 1 whole day looking for a shop (there was a map the back of the business card..that was not correct) I was in the general vicinity, but every person I ask pointed me in the wrong direction ( even the police). It was not they were trying to steer me on the wrong direction, but they had no idea too. After walking about 10 miles I went home. found out the address, and then used a "correct map" To find out where it was. You can buy these maps just about any place for 3 RMB. There are Chinese/English and also have the bus routs.
You will amazed, like you have some sort of magnetic power. By just standing in one spot looking at an open map, there will be many people who will stop and try to help you. Most people will come up out of curiosity, or some people see a foreigner and want to practice English, but for the most part it seems (in the city area at least) want to help you find your way. But becarful or you'll end up lost

Fondest memory: walking around for 6 hours looking for the place to fix my camera

Favorite thing: I think I have beat
hooiluangoh in the hair cut department, for just 5 RMB I got a hair cut. Sure I did not get a wash or blowe, but fot 5RMB....who cares. I was just happy to pay so little. I'm used to paying $20-30 back home. It was not the best cut I ever had, but it was ok.

Near the west gate of the Yunnan Normal University, there are 3-4 small barbers shops. The seem to get cheaper the farther from the school you get. I'm sure I could of got a cheaper cut if I went a little way more down the street.

Fondest memory: Having the lady just "Barrowed" the scissors form the next chair, cigarette in mouth...and just started cutting.

Favorite thing: I never had this feeling, but it was like seeing home again when I saw the Malaysian flag outside "Ying Hua Hotel" (tel:3165888), which is on the corner of Bai Ta Lu and Dong Feng Dong Lu (opposite Kunming Hotel, where the Thai Consulate is).

Fondest memory: That's where the Malaysian Consulate is.

Tel: 311 3500 - The consulate: Ayauf Bachi

So if you want to feast of Satay, I guess he is the guy to contact : )