| Some pictures from the second week in Laos and the first days in Chiang Mai, Thailand: |
| Frans Vandenbosch 27.10.2024 |
| In Luang Prabang there is an excellent western bakery. Recommended: |
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| No coins in Laos. Only banknotes with huge numbers: |
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| Wednesday afternoon 23.10.2024 with an ATR72 turboprop of Laos Airlines from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai. That still feels like a real airplane. |
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| Passengers simply walk from the airport building to the plane: |
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| The mighty Mekong, the artery of Laos: |
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| At Chiang Mai airport only ATM’s of Thai and Chinese banks: |
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| Since last year, the use and sale of cannabis has been legal in Thailand. Next year, that will be reversed. |
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| Bookstore: |
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| Muay Thai (Thai boxing): |
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| Most Thai music is romantic and melodramatic: |
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| There are several Buddhist temples on almost every street. |
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| Economically, Thailand is doing somewhat better than Laos, but not nearly at the level of China. Almost the entire Thai economy (manufacturing, finance, mining, …) is in the hands of ethnic Chinese (Thais of Chinese descent, 2nd, 3rd or 4th generation, they can no longer speak Chinese, but are still Confucian) |
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| Here in Chiang Mai, many Thais wear traditional costumes on Fridays. Along the streets of the entire city center of Chiang Mai, I see more Westerners than Thais. Many Western political refugees, Westerners who live here in Chiang Mai because they fled the EU or the US because of the coming economic, political and social collapse. |
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| On Tuesday we fly to Koh Samui. I will give a lecture there on Wednesday at the Karma Resort for “Samui Real”, a large group of Western political refugees about Politics in China |
| Remember, as I have said before, I go to China to enjoy the freedom in that country. … the freedom that I miss so much in Western Europe. Can you somewhat imagine that? |
