Here is a nice little video from The International Herald Tribune’s Thomas Fuller on road links from Kunming down into Southeast Asia. Thanks to long-time reader Paul for pointing it out.
Kunming to Bangkok road links
March 31st, 2008 by Nicholas Farrelly · 6 Comments
Tags: China · Laos · Thailand · Trans-Border Issues
6 responses so far ↓
1 Thai TV // Apr 4, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Progress never stops!
2 roger.casas // Apr 5, 2008 at 5:44 pm
A quite optimistic view of it all -in particular regarding the “help” that the Chinese and Thai governments are supposedly providing for the poor Lao people… Anyway, does anyone know about the current situation of the planned Burmese branch of this road -going from Jinghong to Daluo and the Burmese border, instead of Laos, and then heading south through Shan State into Thailand?
3 Nicholas Farrelly // Apr 6, 2008 at 10:25 am
Hi Roger,
The last time I was in the eastern Shan State the major trunk roads were (as they have been for quite a few years) of a good “secondary” nature. Not sure what has changed since then. No mega-highways…but the intention was always there. See the picture of this toll gate to see what I mean.
As an aside, there used not to be a great deal of traffic and every car paid somewhere in the region of 7,000 kyat in tolls to make the journey one way. That was also about how much a single passenger paid in a four-seater car so the drivers were off-loading about a quarter of their take keeping the road-builders happy. Again, I’m not sure if this is still the case. Like Roger I would be keen to hear more from anyone who has been on these roads over the past year or so.
Best wishes to all,
Nich
4 Roads in the eastern Shan State // Apr 6, 2008 at 10:25 am
[...] by the question from long-time contributor Roger Casas I thought I should put up some pictures of roads in the [...]
5 Mor // Apr 18, 2008 at 4:51 am
It will be France, 1940, all over again.
So, who will be the Vichy Thais?
Ching, chong, sher, shiao …
(That’s my Mandarin lesson, getting ready to be a slave)
6 Teth // Apr 21, 2008 at 8:28 am
There was already a collaborative Thai government during the war. Not to worry.
But why the irrational fear of China and the need to mock its language? Somehow I think when it comes to commitment to free trade, even the West shudders when former colonies and spheres of influence begin turning the tide.
Leave a Comment
Please note: New Mandala encourages vigorous debate but we reserve the right to reject or edit comments that contain material that is offensive, irrelevant, overly repetitious or involves personal attack rather than a discussion of the issues. And please avoid long quotes from other online sources - just provide the link!