Kunming Warnings and Dangers

Don't believe if someone tells you you have to purchase a minimum of a bucket of beers or at least a bottle of whiskey in Barbi. Although it's a norm that the locals drink by the buckets, you can purchase single shots for reasonable price.

I almost fell for this but realized later it wasn't, after talking to some people inside...

So it's always good to find out before you decide to part with your money :-)

In 2002, huge parts of Kunming were sprouting skyscrapers or piling up rubble from demolition of the old quarters. I imagine that work is ongoing.

Be careful while walking in areas where work is underway. Often large pieces of metal or other heavy stuff is thrown from up high and land on the sidewalks.

On my first day in Kunming, I took this pic of a nice sculpture behind a construction fence. At a party that night, I mentioned it to a young painter and he was proud to tell me that the sculptor was his grandfather.

I saw a man running, not they kind of "out in the park for a jog" run, but the look of fear in his eyes run. Just as he got to where I was standing, I few Chinese lads tackled him and start to "kick the daylights" out of him. A police man walked by (and kept walking) these "lads" took a break from the beating to pull out a pink wallet the the guys wallet. I guess he stole a wallet (or it is a crime to have a pink wallet in china, either way he had it coming) So when the girls who's wallet was stolen arriver with her friends, they all got a chance to kick the guy. And after a while, some men who looked to be plain clothes police came (and they had their turn with him too) and then dragged (walked) him to the police station.
So, don't steal or don't care a pink hello kitty wallet!

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When ever you go to an average place to eat, (most of them) will give you plastic pack of tissue. At first you might use one or 2 and leave the rest. The one day you'll have just eat an enjoy Chinese lunch (with lots of hot peppers), then with out notice you lunch wants out, and out fast. You want to go back to the place where you just ate, but then you remember the sign in the pit they call a rest room"Urine only, 50 RMB for violators" , then up ahead you see a public rest room, but the lady who sell toilet tissue is taking her tea break and the SOB who was there before you used the last of the TP (acutely, no toilets supply Toilet paper)
But, if you hang on to this little nifty packs that they so kindly give you at restaurant, and always keep one in you pocket. You will always be prepared and not be caught with your pants down (lol)

When waste time to let everyone one knoow that you'll be shuttingdoen the power to do some work. Just tell your worker don't touch any other wire, don't let go (or he'll fall) and for saftys sake, wear your hard hat!
it seem no one thinks twice abot doing this sort of dagerous work.
Bur becaful if your looking up at the high wire act, chances are that there is an open unmarker man hole near.

Don't drink the water! I have been places where it unsafe if your not from around there to dink tap water, but the people who grew up drink the water can drink it. But not in China. Even the locals stay away from tap water and drink bottled water or tea (or beer) It is strange for a county that is change faster than the speed of light and becoming more modern every day, and there is still a problem with the local water supply. You can always buy a small bottle of water (1 RMB) just about anywhere, if you go to a restaurant they will offer tea (the make the tea out of the good water right????)
And all houses have the 5 gallon bottle of water cooler.
I'm not sure what will happen if you do drink the water, but I'm not the brave to try and find out.

Don't let them fool you!
My understanding, until a few years ago it was illegal to beg anywhere except on overpasses. But now there seem to be more and more people begging for money. At first if felt a little sorry and would give these people some money, but everyday I would see the same few men begging for money, and I started to add up how much money they were getting. I figured they make about 2 times the average wage of a working person.
One particular gentleman is a little more persistent and annoying than the others. He will stand right in front of you as you wait for the crosswalk light to change, and makes sound like Chubaka from star wars Ngaaaaaaaaaaa! And stomps his foot while shoving his pan in your face. And if you still don't acknowledge the he is there, he will poke you. I put a few pieces of candy in is bowl once, but I don’t think he like candy (He has a crutch and a limp and acts like he can barley walk)
One night while wait for the bus around 10 pm, I see the man hobbling towrd the bus stop. Before he made it to the bus stop his bus came. So he picks up has crutch, tucks it under his arm, and runs like nothing was wrong. It just happens the he was on the same bus as I was. He seems to walk perfectly.

It is a common mistake made by the restaurants when they tell you how much your meal has cost you. It can be more and can be less. I am not sure if this is intentional, because in my experience, the amount just swings 50-50 at either side of the correct total.

DOUBLE CHECK you bill. If you suspect it is not right, just ask politely that you want to see the bill itemised, or just ask how much each dish costs. The restaurant never feel offended this way, perhaps because they know they get it wrong more often than not.