Asia 2010-2011
My Seventh trip to Asia and my sixth to The Kingdom of Thailand
A flight to South East Asia requires a change of planes before you get all the way there. I have usually stopped in Narita (Tokyo) but never left the airport. Japan is even more expensive than Taipei where I did stop on my first Asia trip. This time I went through Hong Kong. It was November 28th and I would return in 3 months, missing the whole winter.
In Hong Kong I took a day tour to the New
Territories. There is more building here and in Hong Kong than anywhere in the
world. The new is clean; it reminded me of Singapore.
With all the unsafe goods coming from China, I was getting cynical, but I'm
impressed. The Two-China policy isn't their relationship with Taiwan, but with
Hong Kong! As Jon Stewart said to an Indian writer he had on The Daily Show, "I
hope you will be a benevolent leader when your rule everything..." Ditto to
China.
That is China, across the water from as far north as you can get without a visa, and as close as I got.
I went on to Thailand. Friends from Canada wouldn't
be arriving for a few weeks so I took the train up north to Nong Khai,
crossing the Friendship Bridge to Laos.
Coffee Lao with sweet milk
Back across the Friendship Bridge in Nong Khai, Thailand I met Sam Lee who took me to Sala
Kaeo Ku at Wat Khaek, an area with Giant Buddha inspired statues. Across the
Mekong there is a sister park by the same creator (Buddha Park). Of course, today the internet
tells it better.
In 1995 on my first trip to the
other side of the globe I went to Phuket on the west
coast. From there I continued south into Malaysia and eventually Singapore. I was in
Thailand in 1998, 2000 and 2002. When the tsunami hit in 2004 I was not
traveling but received lots of messages from friends who worried I might be
(traveling and washed away). When I had gone again (the truth is) I preferred the
beaches on the east part of Thailand.
As
planned, I traveled with my friend and his wife and daughter. We flew to Krabi
where we stayed 3 days and then ferried to Koh Phi Phi for a few more. Most of
the accommodations have been rebuilt. They went
scuba diving and I went snorkeling. One of the many islands is James Bond
island. I assume from a movie, but The Beach with Leonardo DiCaprio, popularized
Koh Phi Phi.
There are solitary limestone hills, both on the land and in the sea as islands.
They are incredible and I got real close. This was the rear view from
by bungalow window.
I was back in Bangkok for New Years. In a week I will be in Hanoi.
Some people laugh that I go to movies in Bangkok but the cinema is a real
experience. When you purchase your ticket you choose your seat. Most all new releases are in English but the commercials before hand
have surprises, and before the feature runs you stand for one for the king.
I am blown away by a commercial for Dtac, a Thai mobile phone provider. I found
it on Youtube!
On to Viet Nam
