Tour in China part 2

Traveling in China
Laughing Buddha in Beijing, China

People ask me sometimes "How did you get in Thailand?" and I answer "By airplane". But in reality it was a bit more complex, so I did write some postings about that. Follow this story at Blast from the past. In 1999 I made a 3 weeks tour in China, starting in Beijing and ending in Hong Kong. We did everything, visit the forbidden city in Beijing, walked over the Chinese wall, did see the Terracotta Army, visited Tibetan monks in Xiahe, made a stunning overnight boat trip and did sit on the beach in Hong Kong. Following is a selection of photos of traveling in China.

Selling food on the market
Xiahe (China)
Walking in the park
Beach in Hong Kong
On the beach in Hong Kong
Karsten landscape

Nomads in the highlands

Japanese girls on the Great Wall
Japanese girls on the Great Wall
🌍 China

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It ain't over till the fat lady sings

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Written 24 December 2020 . And well in regards of the Corona virus worldwide the fat lady has not been singing yet. And the borders of Thailand are still more or less closed, people entering Thailand still have to go into 14 days quarantine. Although until now the numbers of COVID-19 cases have been very low in compare to other countries. But since a few days there might be (or is) a second wave of COVID-19 going on in Thailand. What happend? Well Thailand is famous for its fishing & seafood industry. And just like many other industries they try to make as much money as they can by hiring cheap labour. Now you would say that is easy in Thailand. But it is much cheaper to use the so called migrant workers from Myanmar (or Cambodia and Laos). But in the fishing & seafood industry most are from Myanmar. So when in the beginning of the Corona crisis the borders of Thailand were closed many Myanmar workers returned home. Then later borders were openend again for business and cargo t
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Visiting the Wat Tham Phrathat Khao Prang in Chai Badan

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The parents of my wife are old and life has not been kind to their health, although they themselves are also not kind for their own health. So this week it was time to visit the family of wife, a bare 600 km drive from Nan province in North Thailand. So we left in the very early morning and arrived in the afternoon. And every time driving over route 21 at Chai Badan we can see in a distance a huge Buddha image built on the flanks of a small mountain range. And on the way back we finally made a short stop. Short as we still had to drive another 500 km to home sweet home. Of course the name suggest already that there is some kind of cave at the temple. And the stairs going up suggest that there is a magnificent viewpoint. But as we were a bit in a hurry we skipped all that. Later I saw that you can actually also drive up to the viewpoint. Well never mind, must be said that once close by the Buddha image is less impressive as you think it would be. There are temple related shops, donation
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Another sunset along route 1256 in Pua

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Sunset in Krabi

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On the motorbike to Nanthaburi National Park in Nan province

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Visiting Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary in Loei

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Small creek between the trees Reposting from 2016. Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary is at the Phu Luang mountain area in Loei province and is part of the Luang Prabang mountain range Eco-system. Although the Phu Luang mountain is accessible from different places, the wildlife sanctuary entrance is at the north side. Access to here is a road from route 21 (203) between Phu Rua and Loei city. It takes you about 14 km to the entrance of the National Park. Entrance fee for Thai is 20 Thai baht while non-Thai have the privilege of paying 10 times as much (200 Thai baht). After the entrance it is another 14 km driving to the HQ at 1.400 meter high. Be aware that the last 7 km of this road has some very steep parts. I would not recommend to drive this with a mini-van. Actually a 4WD car would be best. Be also aware that in the raining season access to the park is closed. At the HQ op top are some simple rooms in bungalows and tents for rent. The tents look good and well taken care of. You ev
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Travelling along the Mekong River in Loei province

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Tai Lue party in Pua

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The Golden Triangle and beyond in North Thailand

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Happy Buddha at the Golden Triangle - North Thailand Reposting from 2015. We made a beautiful trip along the Mekong River from Mai Sai to the point where the Mekong River starts to be the border between Thailand and Laos. And then following the river until the point where the river enters Laos for the first time. You will need your own transport but traveling east of Mai Sai along the not anymore so mighty Mekong River (Mae Nam Khong) one comes in a all new area of Thailand bordering with Laos where you are passing the Golden Triangle (stop at the Hall of Opium), Chiang Saen, Chiang Khong (border crossing to Laos) and Wiang Kaen to go in direction Chiang Kham but not before you visit Phu Patang and Phu Chi Fa  and Doi Pha Tang. For me it was really one of Thailand's most remarkable trips, reasonable good roads, not much tourists and even for me as long term resident of Thailand it did feel like I was on holiday in a foreign country. Stunning view along the Mekong River and fro
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