19th December
The blog around Thailand will start to grow way before we entry into Laos. And then we have to cross Vietnam. And then we cross Cambodia, back into Thailand, Malyasi and finally into Singapore. So much to do. Let's pace ourselves.
The Route Around South East Asia
A Bit of Information
In Thailand, lèse-majesté is a crime according to Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code. It is illegal to defame, insult, or threaten the monarch of Thailand (king, queen, heir-apparent, heir-presumptive, or regent). Modern Thai lèse-majesté law has been on the statute books since 1908. Thailand is the only constitutional monarchy to have strengthened its lèse-majesté law since World War II. With penalties ranging from three to fifteen years imprisonment for each count, it has been described as the "world's harshest lèse majesté law" and "possibly the strictest criminal-defamation law anywhere". Its enforcement has been described as being "in the interest of the palace".
The King & Queen of Thailand
The Gods in Thailand like red Fanta. Just to show how different are worlds are, it is believed that the spirits which inhabit the land and the trees get displaced by the construction of houses and roads and need a place to stay. These spirits take care of the inhabitants and bring good luck and you can getyour wishes granted by offering Strawberry Fanta. To be seen to be believed.
It's called Fanta nam dang, or “red water,” and it has become the spirit drink of choice? Thailand—a country physically smaller than the state of Texas—has become Fanta’s fourth-biggest market, ahead of both the entire United States and China? A strawberry version of the soda concocted by a Coke-deprived, World War II-era Germany has since found its way into the culture of a country halfway around the world. I found out that Thais associate the colour red with blood, signifying both fertility and sacrifice. Before soft drinks existed, Thais sweetened and coloured water for the spirits with nam ya thai thip, a pink-hued blend of palm sugar and six herbal essences. Today, sodas such as red Fanta provide the same result, with less effort.
The Strawberry Fanta God
A closer look
I'm playing catch up but nearly there - had a bad cold but riding through it. My main concern was the road traffic issues that I'd heard about in Thailand. According to the Thailand Road Accidents Data Centre for Road Safety Culture, 14,737 people lost their lives on the road in 2022, with 924,799 injuries reported. In 2021, the World Health Organiaation said traffic-related incidents in Thailand made up nearly 33% of total deaths. That's a million injuries!
In its most recent global report (2018), the WHO ranks Thailand as the number 9 country with the highest road traffic death rate in the world, with 32.7 deaths per 100,000 population. I haven't seen this problem yet, Thai drivers have been really considerate and I feel very safe. Let's look at how it is in my head right now having arrived from India
And so to bed. I'm knackered. Up early.
Map of the Day
With your mate Rog watching your mag Blods.
Looking forward to the next one.
They are absolutely amazing.
Laura and Roger
We thought Vietnam the most dangerous country we motorbiked in. Saw the worst accident I have ever seen too.