Contrast. Like much of China, Kunming
is a contrast of old and new, with the new overtaking the old.
Modern high-rise buildings hover over
shops with mud walls and weeds growing in the tile roofs. (photo by Aaron)
People, People Everywhere.
Kunming has a little more hustle and bustle than South Dakota. Sometimes
there's a traffic jam on the walking bridge
and sometimes on the road and bicycle lanes below. The
walking bridge is directly below our window,
less than 40 feet away. (photo by Lyle)
Bike Lot. The young and old alike
ride bicycles. Some elderly ride a bicycle they peddle with their hands.
(photo by Aaron)
Eating Out.
Over-the-bridge noodles, akin to chicken noodle soup, is a Kunming speciality.
We had it
at the Brothers Jiang Restaurant, a chain
in the city, the day after we arrived. Yanhong, on the right,
lived in Brookings. We were also served
pigtail and stomach linings. (photo by Gwen)
Huddle. Young and old alike also
play games at any time of the day at street corners, in alleys, all over
the city.
(photo by Aaron)
Food, Food Everywhere. Markets,
like this one, and shops with fruits and vegetables are all over the city.
Shops and street vendors with moveable
carts also sell prepared food any place people gather. (photo by Aaron)
American Presence. American
products and companies and English and Chinese exist side by side.
Kodak film-developing shops are all over
the city. Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Fanta, and Sprite are readily available, to
name
a few. There are two KFC's, a Holiday Inn, a Walmart (next picture) and
a Sam's Club. (photo by Aaron)
Not the Same Old Walmart.
It's called Walmart, but it's quite
different. From the products to the signs, to
the dozens of employees hawking and demonstrating
the wares (sometimes with megaphones),
to the shoulder to shoulder crowds, it's
not like anything in the States. (photo by Aaron)
Church. At this state-licensed
church, Westerners meet on the fourth floor every Sunday morning for services.
It's called Kunming International Fellowship.
The Chinese pastor speaks once a month through a translator.
Two Americans and a Dutch man also speak.
(photo by Aaron)