Hello From Bangkok

We are in Bangkok at the moment awaiting a
flight back to LA. We have been in Ho Chi Mien City
formerly Siagon where we had the best time touring the
country and eating the delicious food. Then we spent a
few days in Thialand where we travelled on the river
boats and visited the King's Palaces but then we went
to Bali. As the plane was in it's final approace they
announced over the pa system that "drugs are illigal
and subjected to the death penalty!. When we
disembarked I could see the police with dogs searching
the luggage.
The Bali people are probably the kindest most gentle
people on this planet. They smile and look into your
eyes when they talk to you. The climate is warm and
gentle like the people. The roads are narrow and
filled with cars and scooters with entire families
riding one scooter travelling 50 miles an hour
practically touching the car next to it as they ride.
They all drive on the left side of the road opposite
to America. In fact every thing in Bali is opposite to
America.
So I could not believe the Bali's additude toward
drugs until I read a book about a guy who did 7 years
in a Thai Jail! The seriousness of the slightest drug
offence fuels corruption! People will spend money if
their lives are threatened. When a tourist is busted
by the police he or she will bribe their way out of
trouble if they are smart! And ther is no down side
for the authorities! You broke the law! Therefore you
deserve what ever happens to you! Now this is a
country where you see three people riding a scooter
with out helmets! Or a couple wearing helmets with a
little child riding in front without one. You slow
down when you go through green lights because so many
people ignore red lights! The scary thing about their
drug laws is the people who sell you the stuff are the
same ones who turn you in! So they get paid twice and
in some case get the drugs back to sell again. This
goes on in the States as well except they don't do the
death penalty.
I would advise anyone thinking of going to Bali to go
completely drug free. Don't even wear a pot leaf
t-shirt! Keep a low tourist profile and be generous
with the tips! They resent people who are stingy and
ignorant. And don't travel with anything drug related!
Leave all that stuff behind. Disguise yourself as a
tourist! Don't flash money around and remember who you
are. You are a fish! And these people are expert
fishermen!....tc