28 year old Thai activist, in prison for ‘insulting the monarchy’, dies after hunger strike. Lese Majeste laws are so ridiculous. To let an intelligent young woman die like this is a black mark on #Thailand and should weigh heavily on all tourists planning a visit to the country. #LeseMajeste#Tourism#SEAsia#Siam https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0v005j1j91o
Tourists and expats always complain about how cash-dependent #Japan is, but after visiting #Taiwan and #SouthKorea for the first times in years, noticed that both countries are similar. Stark contrast from #China and #SEAsia where digital payments have taken over the markets.
Is it a cultural thing that differentiates these countries from others?
@ncoca
Have been to HCMC and Binh Duong province in Southern #Vietnam in March.
Guess what: Some hotels would only accept cash or bank transactions, European credit and debit cards were only accepted in very few places. Last time I checked Vietnam was part of #SEAsia - and cash very much is king over there Paper money with uncle Ho on it.
"Tourists to Japan from Singapore and seven other Asian countries will soon find it easier to pay for their purchases using their local QR code wallets under a new joint payment scheme.
[...]
The countries are Singapore (SGQR), Malaysia (DuitNow QR), Indonesia (QRIS), the Philippines (QRPh), Thailand (Thai QR Payment), Cambodia (KHQR), Vietnam (VietQR) and India (BharatQR)."
I initially went to #Indonesia, back in 2011, because of the country’s troubling history with deforestation, driven primarily, historically, by demand for tropical commodities including #palmoil#paperpulp & #rubber.
In the past decade, as I’ve covered these issues for numerous outlet, much has changed. In some ways there has been real progress in increasing traceability and stemming deforestation, but at the same time, much of the supply chain remains opaque.
I had no trouble getting comments from groups working in #SEAsia, including Greenpeace Indonesia, Aid Environment, Trend Asia and Traction Energy. They noted that they had no partners in #China & that they struggle to do advocacy on Chinese destined supply chains. #SoutheastAsia
Is this its so hard to find #Chinese#vegetarian food in #Japan? It certainly seems like most of the diaspora here, unlike the US or #SEAsia, is from Northern China.
"In southern China, vegetarian restaurants are more plentiful than in the north."
It's relatively easy to find sources willing to criticize #Japan's fossil fuel investments in #seasia
But its far more difficult to get anyone, especially from outside the region, to do the same for #Chinese#fossilfuel or #mining investments.
For example, on #Indonesia#coalgasification plans, now only supported by Chinese investment. So little global outcry compared to Japan's #LNG investments.