Trip to Thailand and Laos (page 15 of 19)

We’re all here comparing everything to India. Pierre, a former VF member, once told me: "Kate, there’s India, and then there’s the rest of the world." !

It’s true—I feel the same way, and I’d add India and Morocco to that 🙂

Thanks for this travel journal, Kate and Richard! 🙂

It more or less confirms my decision not to return to Laos, which I found so untouristy even though I was only able to visit a tiny part of it back then.

Malaysia: personally far from being my favorite country:

I share this opinion. I’ve only been to Kuala Lumpur, and it didn’t make me want to explore more.

Mumbai / Sri Lanka: the gigantic, bustling city, and then in SL a bit of beach and tea plantations.....

The cultural triangle is also really nice!

but nothing’s complicated

Except driving on sand and camping...

We’re all here comparing it to India LOL Pierre, a former VF member, once told me: "Kate, there’s India, and then there’s the rest of the world!"

Well, isn’t it true?

We’re all here comparing it to India LOL Pierre, a former VF member, once told me: "Kate, there’s India, and then there’s the rest of the world" !

Well, isn’t it true?

YES!

(but you’re not answering my question – see post 279 😉)

But there won’t be a travel journal—I don’t think many people would be interested.

A lot of French people only travel within France... Plus, this forum is Francophone, not just French.

I think, for example, that Canadians would love a travel journal about France! 😊

It’s true—I’m spoiled from my trips to India where I’m often the only tourist.

Not everywhere, though… ;)

Still, there are quite a few countries where there aren’t many travelers, but tourism isn’t as easy or budget-friendly as in India.

Few French travelers in the Faroe Islands, Zambia, behind the wheel of a 4x4 in Southern Africa, or on some Indonesian islands, etc.

Even in Thailand, I haven’t run into anyone in certain spots (though crowds in others…).

A huge thank you to both of you for taking us on a journey to Laos... it really makes me want to go back, especially to the south! 😊 I still love your portraits, Kate! 😍

Hey, for example, why don’t you or Pagal feel like going to Thailand?

So far, the only country I’ve gone back to is Brazil, and you quickly understand why when you look at its size…

I went to Thailand almost 20 years ago. Back then, it was touristy but still acceptable, I think. It was my first discovery of Asia, and I have a memory of it that I believe is glorified by time.

I’m afraid that if I go back, I’ll be disappointed by what the country has become—it’s still one of the top tourist destinations in the region…

I have to admit that Agnès’s recent travel journal about her road trip there almost made me reconsider.

But for now, I prefer to explore destinations and populations that are new to me. I’m "saving" these countries for when I have fewer time constraints, like the United States, for example (despite its current leader)…

Or maybe not, the world is so vast (when missiles aren’t raining down…)

As for Pagal, I don’t know 😄

(But you’re not answering my question – message 279 Wink)

Hey, for example, why don’t you or Pagal want to go to Thailand? Why is Aleph put off by French tourists? Why doesn’t Southeast Asia still inspire Solene?

Oh right, I was at work, and with all the messages that piled up in the meantime, this one slipped through...

Good question! The thing is, my first big trip was to India, followed by nine more in a row, and after that explosion of extreme sensory overload and exoticism, other exotic destinations can feel a little bland in comparison. If someone becomes an alcoholic after tasting rum for the first time, beer probably won’t satisfy them...

More recently, only Africa (Senegal), experienced from the inside since it’s where my in-laws are, and certain parts of Turkey and Norway have managed to give me that same sense of transcendence.

Why doesn’t Thailand appeal to me? Southeast Asia still does, though, and even if I don’t doubt that the country has plenty of places where mass tourism doesn’t exist and tourism is minimal, I have this image of it as a place that’s lost some of its authenticity, with a tourism culture that’s too developed and a tourist crowd that’s not always high-quality. And since I imagine there are similar countries in the region but wilder and less crowded, Cambodia or Laos appeal to me more at first glance.

Good evening. Anyway, in 2023 we still saw some near Kratié—fewer than before, of course—but no more motorboats for the ride; you had to go by kayak. Why not!

Since I assume there are comparable countries in the same region that are wilder and less crowded, Cambodia or Laos appeal to me more at first glance.

Totally agree with that.

Good evening. In any case, in 2023 we still saw some near Kratié, fewer than before of course, but no motorboats for the ride—you had to go by kayak. Why not!

What’s funny is that in Don Det when I was there, they were still selling excursions to see the Irrawaddy dolphins… Well, I don’t know if it’s funny when we’re talking about the extinction of a species. 🏴‍☠️

It’s true—I’m spoiled by my trips to India where I’m the only tourist.

Not everywhere... 😉

Actually, there are tons of tourists, but they’re Indian. I don’t see the difference 😉

A huge thank you to both of you for taking us on a journey to Laos... it really makes me want to go back, especially to the south 😊 I still love your portraits, Kate 😍

Thanks Isabelle :) Richard was a bit disappointed by the lack of landscapes to illustrate his writing. It’s true that I’m drawn to portraits, especially kids. In France, not at all, or else the session is planned. Street portraits are so complicated here that I don’t do them as easily.

Actually, there are tons of tourists, but they’re Indian. I don’t see the difference ;)

Yeah, but they’re local tourists, so they’re part of the scenery and are tourist attractions themselves 😄

In France, not at all, or else the session is scheduled. Street portraits are so complicated here that I do them less easily.

But in France in 2026, doesn’t it end up in court if you take a kid’s photo on the street?

Yes, but they’re local tourists, so they’re part of the scenery and tourist attractions themselves 😄

I’ll admit it’s a bit like my situation, Pagal, with Indian tourists. I often enjoy watching them—they travel, they’re joyful, often very colorful… and I don’t understand a word they’re saying, which makes it all the more fun 😆. The issue some of us have, myself included, is that we travel to escape to *our* planet. And when your fellow countrymen show up in that magical spot you’ve found, talking about everything you *don’t* want to hear (especially right now!!), it’s like a cold shower—back to a certain reality, the one you wanted to escape for a little while 😅.

What you're saying is very true about French tourists, tourists in general—non-locals. But when traveling, I try to make this truth my own: "we’re always someone else’s tourist." It helps me, though not always, to take a step back. 😉

So let's be travelers, not just tourists 😉