Asia Impressions

[howeird]

Some random impressions from my vacation.

Thailand:

• There are a lot more fat Thai people than there were in 1989


• The level of English expertise has dropped dramatically.


• The currency is 1/10 the dollar value it was in 1989 but most things only cost 5x more (so things cost half the number of $$)


• Phuket is 3x more expensive than Bangkok


• The air is cleaner


• Traffic moves a lot better - fewer and briefer traffic jams


• There are more tall women


• There are way fewer beggars on the streets


• Sidewalks are not for walking on. They are for:
  
  
  • Parking motorcycles
  
  
  • Setting up vending stalls
  
  
  • Outdoor food stall seating
  
  
  • Sleeping dogs
  
  
  • Motorcycle short-cuts
  
  
  • Sleeping drunks
  
  
• Most Thai massage places are now legitimate - it's hard to find a "body shampoo" place


• In 1989, MacDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut were only patronized by Westerners. Now they are mostly patronized by Thais


• Every Thai above the age of 5 has a cell phone

China:

• This is not your father's China


• Mao's greatest fears have come true - rampant Western influence has all but destroyed Chinese culture


• The food tastes great - though it may be unidentifiable


• In China, a Christmas Tree is a symbol of commerce, not religion


• Glass jar, hot water, spoon, loose tea instead of coffee cup on each desk


• Wonderful tea. Jasmine tea has whole jasmine flowers in it