Dcheech

Heh – I do recall a few unfriendly faces in Hanoi's old town/market area. However, never an issue. Hanoi is a great place to spend 5 days or a week. Stay at a boutique hotel in the old town. Trendy restaurants, coffee, French style breakfasts & walk around the lake in the morning. The traffic is another story. A nightmare. It’s a fricking leap of faith crossing streets or bigger roads. Did Vietnam as a backpacker, in contrast, really liked taking a cush week here. Mahseer posted Went to LP regularly in the aughts/naughts. Always knew, it could get overrun. Will get updated on Chinese holiday times. I’ll give it another visit before writing it off completely. Visited a long time ago – might still be worth it Georgetown Penang. The old Chinese colonial part of town Darjeeling. You have to go through Calcutta but … Nice hill station with Kanchenjunga looming in the distance. ----------- Was looking at a Tasmania hiking/fishing trip, or NZ. Then wuhan & the house, put all that on the back burner. Still, an idea.

Last there December 2019, just before Wuhan flu, & before the rail link opened. With all the other news, never hear much about it recently. LP packed with Chinese tourists (sigh). When were you last there? Any comments or further observations?

Russia aided Syria because of past, soviet alliances & yes, access to a port, but little to do with oil. Syria has oil, not a major player. Maybe Russia has no love for Iran but they’re a top military supplier after China in the Ukraine war. In fact today Iran has military/tech units in Crimea coordinating Russian/Iranian drone tech attacks.. As China gets 90 per cent of Iranian oil. Netty and Trump bellowing hits a reality wall. Not that anyone believes what those two say anyway, but attack Iran?! ----- bellow all you want, Not going to happen.

Hanoi or Luang Prabang. However same seasons as Thailand so wait until the rains kick in and give it a month to cool. Indonesia, by the way, has reverse seasons, something to consider if wanting to skip the hot/smoke season here. Air Asia has a convenient Bangkok Bali flight. Not a fan of Bali but it serves as an easy stepping stone to the archipelago.

The house has lots of windows, and two sliding glass doors. All are screened, no problem with opening it up, AC off, let the breeze blow. Saying that, people here, get wound up about Power. Leaving the lights on our fence/wall, on all night, a major catastrophe. Leaving the AC running, an extra half hour, could mean the end of existence as we know it. As I’m the person paying the bills, should this matter? Questions with no answers.

The 'extended family' were supposed to stop by, then it was into CM by the moat, for water fights. Damp morning, followed by rain at 1300 killed that, Heh. A relaxing, Songkran, rain pattering on the awnings, reading the kindle, with Sinatra flac files, on the DAP, playing in the background.

A beautiful morning, no AC, just rain cool wind sweeping through the house. One can almost believe the wet monsoon is here.

Like everything else, It's not Trumps fault, it can never be Trumps fault, if you're a MAGA bootlicker. China did this to themselves. If only they had just played along with Trump, this never would have happened. Unfortunately they just behaved like any other country would. You wonder how long before Trump declares victory and drops the tariffs. Hopefully someone will talk to, grab a golf cart, go out & have a chat with Trump. The longer he drags it out, the harder it will be, to convince non MAGA types, that he won.

Out at 8 AM on a Rimping/Makro holiday scooter run. Had a brief smattering of rain, woohoo. Forecast for thundershowers this afternoon also. YES!

Penguins are far more intelligent & emotionally stable than Donald Trump. It's a no brainer.

Yes, these weapons will soon cause death & destruction in Kiev, as Vladimir Putin & the Russian forces desperately try & salvage something out of their Ukrainian invasion. China being Russia's biggest ally, supplier & bankroller. North Korea & IRAN being the other two suppliers of Putin. Rest Easy; Vladimir Putin, him good guy, according to MAGA narrative.

As China buys 90% of Iranian oil. There is another factor to consider.

Its almost like their was another player, besides Iran, assisting & propping up Syria. A supplier of both military equipment, & soldiers, to Assad. Surprise, Surprise, Surprise, it was RUSSIA. However given the bro love for Putin, MAGA heads are not permitted to mention that fact.

Lets face it, lots of people look pretty ugly. Masks are an improvement.

Right & Trump was going to go total crush on Hamas if the hostages were not released, plus Peace in the Ukraine in "days" after he became president. Like everything else, just empty bellowing. Given how fast he caved on his tariffs. Was it even 24 hours? Iran has nothing to worry about. More to the point China is watching all of this and making plans. Remain calm & just wait him out. Given his legendary attention span deficit, he will declare victory & move onto something else.

Why not give Lisa her due, in Gimme Shelter spats, she's not that bad.

After a one day rally, due to Trump pausing tariffs, the markets tanked again. His right wing money people are going to get their wind up about that. Not surprising as he is a six time bankrupt, who couldn't make money owning a casino. The idea he is wealthy genius was all a Hollywood creation.

Markets have been dropping again across the board. Less than 24 hours after the 90 day wait period inspired rally of yesterday. 🫤

A Pattaya Classic

You got it. There is a Thai model/actress in jail for over 30 years for a tenth of a gram of coke (or meth). I don't see how that case, or this, are anything more than a set up. I would like to think he is guilty of something else, .... never will know. Phuket airport is also where they found bullets in the luggage of two departing tourists. That little event cost 6 weeks plus in the pokey and roughly 50K USD each. In one of those cases, the perp asked to see the bullet, they never showed it to him. Instead he got the old Sierra Madre routine ... we don't need no stinking bullets.

And the MAGA heads have a new narrative for on his latest F up, & can use an old standards ... 'Trust the plan' & 'the art of the deal'. On the plus side he did not crash the world economy, on the negative side, China knows what a joke he is, if they didn't already. All bark, & nothing. Wait him out & he will sull. Panama, Greenland & Canada also know how empty his bellowing really is. This should help the Ukraine too. The coffee seems to taste better this morning, go figure.

Trump never had a plan or strategy. He's just pulling it out of his a--, like he has always done. It's why he has had to file bankruptcy six times. He still has lots of time to work on bankruptcy number seven.

Sounds like typical Russian/Soviet style disinformation. Promoted & pushed by Reds, MAGA heads & fellow travelers. ваше здоровье