Jul 15, 2008 - Kunming

15th Today we just waited till our afternoon train, 18 hours or so to Kunming. ... Kunming, quite a modern city,has an immediately noticeable cooler climate - not as much humidity- but that is not to say is does not rain there. ... These sorts of stalls seemed common in Kunming 17th The first thing we did was to go see the east and west Pagodas. ... We chatted to his foreigner locals, if that oxymoron makes sense all night 18th We had planned to go the Stone Forest park outside Kunming, but we didn't realise what time the buses ran (and the price to get in) so we instead decided on somewhere else. ... We made the long journey to the Kunming City Museum. ...

Feb 12, 2008 - Leaving Kunming, China

After seven years working in Kunming, China with an NGO, a development organization, we have the opportunity to take a one year no-pay leave to spend time with God, family, and friends. ... It was a strange feeling to leave Kunming for six months, which has unbelievably become a home for us both physically and emotionally. ... But we look forward to the one year leave from work to spend time with God, family, and friends.After seven years working in Kunming, China with an NGO, a development organization, we have the opportunity to take a one year no-pay leave to spend time with God, family, and friends. ... It was a strange feeling to leave Kunming for six months, which has unbelievably become a home for us both physically and emotionally. ... But we look forward to the one year leave from work to spend time with God, family, and friends....

Nov 29, 2007 - Lost and Found!

Shortly after arriving in Thailand, I discovered that I had left a couple of things in the drawer of the night table beside my bed.Shortly after arriving in Thailand, I discovered that I had left a couple of things in the drawer of the night table beside my bed....

Nov 17, 2007 - Kunming

As we approached Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province we knew that the journey with our Naxi friends was coming to an end. ... The three Naxi spoke with the motorcyclist at length in Chinese and then they told us the rider said there were no Super 8s in Kunming. ... We woke up to heavy skies and rain our first morning in Kunming. ... It's too bad that David left when he did because the sun is shining, the air is warm and we have been enjoying some great walks around Kunming. ...

Oct 29, 2007 - Kunming

Hi Everyone, We are getting ready to leave Kunming and it was a great city. ... The first day we went to the Stone forest and it was amazing to see! We met up with a friend of ours friends daughter who is currently studying here in Kunming and and was so much fun having dinner with them and to spend some fun time and great conversations!! We are quite tired after our mountain experience. ... We are off to LiJang at 7am in the morning! More from that magical city soon.Hi Everyone, We are getting ready to leave Kunming and it was a great city. ... The first day we went to the Stone forest and it was amazing to see! We met up with a friend of ours friends daughter who is currently studying here in Kunming and and was so much fun having dinner with them and to spend some fun time and great conversations!! We are quite tired after our mountain experience. ... We are off to LiJang at 7am in the morning! More from that magical city soon....

Aug 16, 2007 - Kunming and the Stone Forest

To be honest, there's not much to say about Kunming, because ultimatly its another large modern chinese city. ... I book myself into "The Hump", a hostel named after the flights by Allied pilots in the Second World War over the eastern end of the Himalayan Mountains, which lies south of Kunming. ... Michael Palin has stayed here, so if its good enough for him its good enough for me! I take a day-trip to the Stone Forest, about 2 hours out of Kunming by bus. ... I spent about 3 hours wandering around and taking photos before heading back to Kunming. ...

Jan 29, 2007 - Kunming

So we pulled into the Hump Hostel like a couple of wet dogs out of the rain at about 5 am and to our delight the place wasn't just in the down town core but actually built into the preserved 1 block radius downtown ancient city site, so talk about theme.So we pulled into the Hump Hostel like a couple of wet dogs out of the rain at about 5 am and to our delight the place wasn't just in the down town core but actually built into the preserved 1 block radius downtown ancient city site, so talk about theme....

Jan 19, 2007 - Pizza in Kunming

Kunming then. ... When not eating pizza in Kunming, we consumed quite a lot of food on sticks. ... Chinese people really go in for this 'stick food' thing.Kunming then. ... When not eating pizza in Kunming, we consumed quite a lot of food on sticks. ... Chinese people really go in for this 'stick food' thing....

Nov 12, 2006 - Kunming - Fruehstueck in Prag

Das wohl beste Freuhstueck seit Beginn unserer Reise bekamen wir in einem kleinen Cafe im Univiertel von Kunming. ... Auf einmal tauchte es vor uns auf "Cafe Prague" und es sah so einladend aus, dass wir uns gleich hineinbegaben.Das wohl beste Freuhstueck seit Beginn unserer Reise bekamen wir in einem kleinen Cafe im Univiertel von Kunming. ... Auf einmal tauchte es vor uns auf "Cafe Prague" und es sah so einladend aus, dass wir uns gleich hineinbegaben....

Nov 9, 2006 - Kunming

Haaaaaaaaauuuuuuwk - THWWAT! This is becoming a familiar sound here in China. Kunming is a nice manageable city, with a small picturesque lake. ... A quick one night stop on our way to Dali, which is known for beautiful mountain views, a rich collection of ethnicities due to it's close proximity to Tibet and apparently it's the ganja capital of China (not that we care about that).Haaaaaaaaauuuuuuwk - THWWAT! This is becoming a familiar sound here in China. Kunming is a nice manageable city, with a small picturesque lake. ... A quick one night stop on our way to Dali, which is known for beautiful mountain views, a rich collection of ethnicities due to it's close proximity to Tibet and apparently it's the ganja capital of China (not that we care about that)....

Nov 4, 2006 - Last days in China, last meal of dumplings!!

Yesterday was spent doing some errands, like picking up passports and wandering around the town doing some shopping. Today was our last day in Kunming as we were talking a 25 hour bus to Luang Phrabang in Laos. ... So it was more household things of getting food for the bus, posting our souveniers home and making sure everything was properly packed! Even managed to have a quick visit with Sarah (another Vodkatrainer!) since she arrived 20 minutes before we left to catch the bus.Yesterday was spent doing some errands, like picking up passports and wandering around the town doing some shopping. Today was our last day in Kunming as we were talking a 25 hour bus to Luang Phrabang in Laos. ... So it was more household things of getting food for the bus, posting our souveniers home and making sure everything was properly packed! Even managed to have a quick visit with Sarah (another Vodkatrainer!) since she arrived 20 minutes before we left to catch the bus....

Oct 29, 2006 - The train ride from hell!! Arrival Kunming

Well what can I say the title pretty much says it all!! Cam and I decided to grab a hardseat for 22 hours from Guilin to Kunming (it was the only seats left for the train) and boy did I ever regret my decision, not at first but somewhere around hour 5 it was getting there at definitely by hour 10 I was unhappy and pretty much at hour 15 miserable!! The best way I can describe this journey is that it was on one of the local trains so there are many more Chinese on this than travelers, not that its a bad thing as it gives you a chance to mingle with the locals but this was more mingling than I cared to have in the end. ... Things were looking up (but again this was only hour 1!!) To make a long story short, one the the Chinese guys across from us ended up sending his friend off to sit somewhere else so that he could sleep and to my shock and horror put his foot almost up my ass when he used our seat as a foot rest (was not at all happy about this development and tried to make it very clear - Chinese do not care since their since of personal space is very much different from ours!) Later on, the smoking began, livable during the day when the windows were open but anytime the train stopped or at night it because a cross between a sauna and very smoky bar - eeuw! Garbage cans are unheard of in this class and of course you wonder what they actually do with their garbage then, well where else - throw it on the floor - so after 15 hours of anything and everything being thrown on the floor it is disgusting - this includes spitting!! I think the thing that really did us in was when someone brought out a big bong and decided to start smoking that at 2AM! Needless to say we didn't actually get any sleep on this train! I know some of you will be wondering about the toilet situation - can't tell you, Cam went in the first hour and came back with the report that it was pretty nasty so I ended up not going to the bathroom until we reached the hostel in Kunming, some 24/25 hours after we left Guilin! Thank God for a strong bladder and very little water to drink! I know not healthy, but hey if you saw it you would understand!!! So that is the story of the worst journey I have ever had to date!! My advice, book ahead and pay the extra to take at the very least a softsleeper if not a hard sleeper. ...