| Cambodia | China | Thailand | Vietnam | Hong-Kong | Taiwan |
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ANGKOR, CAMBODIACambodia, a country still politically unstable and economically poor. The Red Khmers still hope to rule the country one day. The king’s army, very badly paid, finds itself compelled to hold the nation to ransom. Mines are widespread over the territory, mutilating thousands of people, specially children. But incredibly, there is a great general feeling of hope. May this country succeed in overcoming the horrible genocide it went through and which will not be easily forgotten in the history of mankind. In spite of all this, the Cambodian people has remained pleasant, charming. Its past civilisation, specially that of Angkor, is just as magnificent as that of ancient Greek or Roman civilisation. Forgotten temples, rediscovered some 100 years ago, Angkor deserves to be named as the 8th wonder of our world. Amonst these11th century old ruins, you are overwhelmed by the muffled silence, you are captured by the magic atmosphere of the moment; it’s a mythical place; each and everyone who has been there will tell you the same thing.
Discover the famous Angkor temples through the following pictures taken in 1995 during some of the hottest days I have ever experienced.
CHINADo you know which language is the most spoken in the world? You will very probably say that it is English. Wrong answer! In fact, it is Chinese with a total of nearly one billion two hundred million individuals in 1996. China is, since several years now, slowly but surely opening up economically. But when will the political liberalisation take place ? This is indeed another story. Meanwhile, we cannot but admire its culture past and present, beautiful, fascinating, mysterious...
Here are a few pictures of this great empire that I had the chance of visiting 6 times.
THAILANDWho has never heard of Thailand ? Highly touristic, this country welcomes millions of visitors every year. However, the richer it becomes the more Thailand loses its charm. Bangkok has grown into an anonymous megalopolis where breathing is a hard task, so polluted is the air. Still, Patpong Road remains the pot of honey to which all the single men ( and ladies! ) rush once the evening begins. There is also the North, interesting with its various ethnic groups; and for those who go for the inevitable sea, sex and sun trilogy, I recommend Kata Beach on Phuket island (very interesting prices of hotels during the low season).
Three photos of ancient Siam:
VIETNAMA country still healing its wounds after its war with America. History says that the Vietnamese came out victorious from this conflict; in a certain way, yes - but how many of us are aware that the number of dead men on Uncle Ho’s side exceed by large that on Uncle Sam’s side ? What a waste! If one gets to know the Vietnamese better, one concludes very quickly that this nation is particularly intelligent and capable. Full of wisdom, its people harbour no grudge, not even towards their ex enemies: the Americans even though, as that woman I met in Hue told me, ‘the pain is still here’. Vietnam will, in a very near future, turn out to be a formidable economic power on the world market, competing easily with other developing countries such as Thailand, China... and even Japan.
Some souvenirs through these 3 snapshots of this fabulous country that deserves to be visited.as soon as you can:
HONG-KONG1st July 1997: Great Britain will hand back Hong-kong to China 99 years after the latter lost the opium war. Many Hong-kong people are dreading this event. Capital assets have been steadily leaking out of the territory, investments have considerably decreased; what will Hong-Kong become in the years after 1997 ? The 1989 events of Tien An Men and those more recent of Chinese intimidation towards Taiwan are more than ever present in the minds of each and everyone. Hong-Kong, I keep my fingers crossed that in spite of everything, you remain as I have always known you: with your typically Chinese roads and streets ever so lively, full of beautiful fashionably-dressed girls; and with your numerous noisy restaurants packed with their even more numerous round tables displaying those delicious Dim Sum dishes.
Pictures forever present:
TAIWANHe was called Tchang Kaï-Chek, Jiang Jeshi or Tsiang Kiai-Che, but the man is one and the same. This general-in-chief and great political figure defied the communism proned by Mao (1949), fled to Formosa (known nowadays as Taiwan) and founded the Republic of China. Thus indeed, we have 2 China...s, even though Peking is still not ready to admit that. I made a trip to Taiwan in 1996 and came across one of the most gentle people I have ever met. The Taiwanese man (and woman) is kind, generous and endowed with a profound respect towards the property of others. For exemple: whereas in the US no one would dare leave his bike or motorbike unlocked in the street, there in Taiwan you can do so safely and be sure that it will not be robbed. Today, Taiwan with its booming economy is considered as one of the most powerful tigers of South-East Asia. Wealthy, modern, the country however can still boast places where nature has stayed put, unaltered, beautiful and where old Chinese traditions still survive.
Pictures of 1996:
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