ArcticTropic recently came across a cache of slides from 1988 and scanned them. South Thailand is now Asia’s jetset playground , but 25 years ago was still a sleepy paradise. However fishing boats still bring in fresh ingredients for delicious seafood curry.

Ko Phi Phi Lae, the uninhabited Phi Phi islet,great for diving.

Beach on Ko Phi Phi Don – the bungalows were 50 Baht ( US $ 2 ) per night. Electricity was available from a generator for a couple hours each night, just enough to recharge my video camera batteries. When I returned in 1995, the same beach had been paved over with a multistory modern hotel – which was in turn swept away by the 2004 Tsunami. Apparently everything has been rebuilt since then.

A winding road though the limestone mountains near Krabi. Southern Burma is just now opening up to the outside world and will offer scenes similar to these.

Fisherman with the morning’s catch.

Lord Buddha gazes into the jungle.

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In late June ArcticTropic travels to China and Mongolia. First Beijing for a few days, then the Trans Siberian to Ulanbataar. From Mongolia down through Central China, winding up in Chengdu – and onwards to Hong Kong.

Expeditions for the rest of the year are in the advance planning stages. Above is the flight pattern for June-July.

The flight pattern for October -November, above.

On May 15th, I flew China Eastern from Hangzhou to Guangzhou. Guangzhou Airport is massive – it appeared several times bigger than  JFK or LAX. Cargo terminals make up most of that – almost anything one buys in a Home Depot or Pottery Barn or any other massive chain was made within 50 miles of Guangzhou. The city itself is massive – Manhattan coud fit into the corner of a smaller neighborhood. Above is the TV Tower – about 1480 feet.

Nearby is a tall Pagoda – dwarfed by theTV Tower.

The Pearl River from the TV Tower.

7:30 AM Monday May 16th. Primary schoolers stand for assembly , which includes patriotic songs, speeches by teachers , awards to students. In general these children are about 2 years ahead of American children in math and science.

The Shanghai Trade Fair Mart across the Pearl River.

CPU’s and keyboards en route to California.

It seems that all cheap souvenirs , tchachkes, bricabrac , momentos and swag are made in Guangzhou. These cups can be ordered by the container load at 20 cents a piece.

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What’s For Dinner Tonight ?

Before

After

Any thing that walks, flies,swims or slithers is considered food.

A Muslim Uigyr Restaurant in Shanghai featuring the cuisine of Xinjiang.

Drunken Venison .

Delicious Pigeon Head at Bao Lu in Shanghai.

Giant Crab at Norman’s Seafood in Shanghai – RMB 4000 – about $ 600 each.

Delicious Duck Tongues.

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Shanghai had changed a lot in the 14 months since ArcticTropic had last visited. There were 3 new buildings , all taller than the World Trade Center, all built in two years or less.

THe 120 mile ( 190 km ) trip from Hangzhou to Shanghai took 45 minutes on the Bullet Train -at 343 kph – 212 mph.

Crossing the Huangpu River from the Bund to Pudong.

Just completed – building on right –  the Shanghai World FInancial Centre , at 429 m ( 1614 ft.) the 3rd tallest building in the world.

View from the top – last year’s tallest structure – the CCTV Tower. ( See March 2010)

No matter how high – windows always have to be washed – especially in smoggy Shanghai.

Vertigo sufferers need not apply for this job.

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ArcticTropic attempted this post last week, but photos would not upload properly in the People’s Republic, even with, or perhaps because of, the proxy server. The purpose of this trip was not exploration, but rather business meetings taking place in office towers in major cities. This morning hike in Huangzhou, one of China’s secondary cites – smaller – meaning New York sized at about 9 or 10 million people was one of few outdoor excursions .

WIthin the city limits are large forested expanses surrounding West Lake. In the hills above the lake is a pagoda surrounded by shrines the Buddha – which were smashed with sledgehammers by fanatical Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution in 1967.

The brick pagoda – about 200 years old. It was probably too difficult to destroy with sledgehammers.

A sloping staircase through the mountain.

A peddler’s village.

The thoughts of the Chairman are always with us !

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Hong Kong from the Top of Victoria Peak.  Some of the buildings are as tall as the mountain.

Looking East to Causeway Bay.

THe view from the 118th floor bar at the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong – the world’s highest hotel . The bar is at an elevation of 484 meters – 1573 feet .

Delicious shrimp curry for dinner.

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