I have accumulated a lot of very unique and adventurous activities for everywhere i've traveled. I wanted to start a crowdsourcing list or links to maps for all the memorable cool places you have been to for specific countries. I have created custom 'My Maps' in Google Maps for these to also pin locations and am happy to share links.
As for a list, I can start: ** I have an in depth 'cheat sheet' for a lot of countries that I can supply to anyone interested, but am only including the very unique and 'off the beaten path' activities below:
VIETNAM = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

1. Cobra Snake Restaurant - Hanoi has several restaurants where you can go, point at a snake inside a cages that line the walls, and watch it get caught & butchered right in front of you. This is then prepared into an 8-course meal for you.
2. Phong Nha Caves - In Phong Nha National Park, there are over 200 caves throughout Phong Gna national park, but some of the incredible ones are not even claimed or discovered, which you can find by just exploring through the park (be careful of leaches).
3. Hoi An - beatiful town known for it's tailor shops and lanterns. Can get custom silk-blend suits for <$150 per full suit.
4. Hanoi Cock Fights on Tuesdays. (or maybe every day) 9am @ Vườn Hoa Hàng Đậu
   • (21.0399803, 105.8467618)
5. Arctyrics & North Face Outlet Store - decent quality & very cheap nockoff versions, decent quality, &but very cheap (107 P. Hàng Gai, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam)
6. Monkey Bridge - fun place to go by motorbike. Challenging activity where man has created a monkey bridge on his property where you try and cross it by bike. Fun and beautiful place with views. (1-2 hrs)
7. Suối Par Le - beautiful swimming spot East of Hue
8. Dalat - XQ Đà Lạt Sử Quán - XQ Vietnam - beautiful embroidery shop with lots of intricate artwork

Hopefully this is enough detail and context and specific enough to stay up :) apologies for any sp
TIA for reading at length.
Background: I am trying to finalize building out my Japan trip as we are 3 weeks out from the start of my trip which begins with 2 weeks in Vietnam, 2ish weeks in Thailand, and 2 weeks in Korea.
I add this as context that we will have visited 13 different cities across 3 countries encompassing different aspects of multiple temple visits, nature stays, and home/temple stays (in this case specifically Sapa/hanok in Gyeongju. We will be "somewhat" prepared for the shock of Tokyo crowds after Seoul and Bangkok, and smaller degree Hanoi.
We are generally fast travel types with maximist schedules, but since we are travelling for such an extended period this time we are trying to adapt a more slow travel schedule with days of just cafes and wandering aimlessly as to not burn out.
Main question: Should I add any day trips or 1-2 night stays within the Tokyo block of my visit that would be high-value nature and Japanese countryside/off the main tourist path that would be worth the time needed to travel to while taking days away from 1 week in Tokyo?
I have mostly been considering Hakone/Lake Kawaguchi/Nikkone but maybe also somewhere in Chubu (Kanazawa/Shirakawa/Takayama) but feel that this itch will be scratched by temple stay in Koyasan

• reasons against Nikkone (templed out by the end of the trip) reasons against Hakone/Lake Kawaguchi (already completing ryokan experience/Mt Fuji is not promised to see without clouds/seems like checking a box for a photo as much as I know I would love to see it in person, particularly Chureita Pagoda)

-reasons against Chubu (more difficult to travel to, would probably need 2 days to make worth the distance?)
-extra info: work in the food sci industry so I love agrotourism and any food processing or culinary tours
Current Itinerary: Dates May 22- June 11-14 (flexible as we haven't booked our flight back yet)
Leaving loose with less detail as we have more time to allow for casual/flex schedule and to keep simple to my questions above. Currently averaging 70-95$/night pp with exceptions for special stays - ryokan/temple/etc)
Day 1- Arrival (Hiroshima station)
Fly into Osaka/KIX, travel to Hiroshima - arrive at hotel ~9 pm. Long travel day, easy dinner and sleep
Day 2-3 Hiroshima (Hiroshima station)
Peace Park, Bomb dome, Castle, Hondori
Miyojima Island
Day 4-5 (Amira Onsen)
Travel to Amira, check out town, check into ryokan, Kaseiki dinner
Enjoy onsens, Travel to Osaka
Day 6-9 (Osaka, Namba area)
Free day
Half day trip to Himeji Castle, Dontonburi nightlife
Osaka Castle, market, arcade
Half day trip to Nara, upon checkout and enroute to Kyoto - focus on temples/mochi over deer park
**Day 10-14 (Kyoto, Gion/Higashima Shirakawa-**still finalizing hotel in this area)
early weekday- Fushimi Inari, explore back trails for quieter bamboo forest experience in favor of Arashiyama
Nikishi market, Ghibli store
Free day to just wander aimlessly in the old quarters (forgetting names of specific streets but you know the ones) and lesser known temples/shrines
Kiyomizudera temple - walking distance from hotel so easy to fit in a few hours
Kinakuji temple
Day 15-16 (Seijoshin-in, Kayosan shukobo)
Travel to Mt Koya, explore town, check-in, shojin ryori dinner, night tour of Okunoin
morning prayer and goma prayer, onward to Tokyo
{Here's where I am needing most suggestions}
Day 17-24 (Tokyo, Shinjuku)
Musts for Tokyo include (and please be gentle as this is what I am still planning so don't have the day by day flow outlined yet as to what makes most sense next to each other geographically)
Shibuya crossing/Shibuya sky sunset
Golden Gai/Memory Lane
Harajuku shopping couple hours
Asashi beer tower, Ninja Food tour
Akihabara - wander around
Meiji-jingu Shrine
Tsukiji market
Senso-ji
NO INTEREST IN TEAMlabs, cat cafes, maid cafes etc
Want a lot of time to just soak in Tokyo and eat as much as we can. Also considering breaking the ~7 nights into 2 different districts. Shinjuku and Shibuya of most interest.
Honestly just typing this out exhausted me and maybe I have my answer. After planing for 6 weeks straight I am even fatigued of just planning. But I feel a lot of stress to nail down the trip since we are fortunate to have the amount of time that we do.
If you have any experiences or tours that are highly worthy I am also open to those suggestions for any of the above places.
Also forgot to add- have not yet done the math on JR Pass and local passes but assuming we will just buy individual routes as we go with exception for perhaps a Kansai/Hiroshima pass. Any feedback welcome here as well.
Promise to write a trip review in the end :)

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This is a list of pit bull attacks and fatalities documented by the media and social media for the month of December 2023. This list will be edited throughout the month and after as new incidents are reported.
CHILD FATALITIES: 1
ADULT FATALITIES: 7
ANIMAL FATALITIES: 68
TOTAL FATALITIES: 76
TOTAL ATTACKS LOGGED: 186
December 01

• Trenton, NJ: Woman and her small dog attacked by 2 loose pit bulls - Post Link
• São Carlos, Brazil: Loose pit bull attacked a puppy out on a walk with its owners and also bit a woman - Article Link
• Distrito Federal, Brazil: Cane Corso injured after attack by 3 loose pit bull type dogs - Article Link
• Doncaster, England: 3 y/o girl bitten and attacked by pit bull - Article Link
• Mallorca, Spain: 3 pit bulls attacked a 38 y/o woman - Article Link
• Camaragibe, Brazil: 3 y/o boy attacked by pit bull - Article Link
• São Carlos, Brazil: Small dog attacked by pit bull - Article Link
• Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil: Elderly couple attacked by 3 pit bulls - Article Link

December 02

• ANIMAL FATALITY - Cheshunt, England: Woman walking her dog when it was attacked by an off-lead pit bull. Pit bull's owner fled the scene after.
• Kitchener, ON, Canada: McDonald employee's arm ripped open by 2 pit bulls while bringing food to owner's car - Article Link
• Harrison Township, OH: 4 y/o boy attacked by pit bull - Article Link
• Genoa, Italy: Woman bitten by pit bull after it attacked her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The pit bull's owner ran away - Article Link
• Santa Fe, Argentina: 2 children attacked by pit bull - Article Link

December 03

• Okeechobee, FL: 5 y/o boy and his grandmother flown to hospital after being attacked by a family's member's pit bull - Article Link
• Patrocínio, Brazil: 2 loose pit bulls attacked a 41 y/o man and 72 y/o man - Article Link
• Pisa, Italy: Jack Russell viciously attacked by a pit bull - Article Link
• Lajeado, Brazil: Dog seriously injured and owner injured after pit bull attack - Article Link
• Campo Grande, Brazil: Pit bull attacked a dog, nearly killing it - Article Link
• Botucatu, Brazil: Pit bull attacked a 37 y/o woman and 10 y/o girl - Article Link
• Suffolk, VA: Male attacked by family member's pit bull - Post Link

December 04

• ANIMAL FATALITY - Louth, Ireland: 10 y/o Chihuahua attacked and killed by loose pit bull.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - Ñemby, Paraguay: Poodle killed by pit bull.
• Tekirdağ, Turkey: Woman and her dog attacked by pit bull - Article Link
• Durban, S. Africa: 1 y/o boy attacked by family pit bull - Article Link

December 05

• ANIMAL FATALITY - São Bernardo, Brazil: Cat killed by pit bull. The same dog killed a dog two days later.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - Konawa, OK: 16 y/o boy's service dog was killed by a neighbor's loose pit bull.
• Palmas, Brazil: Chihuahua severely injured after a pit bull ran out of a building and attacked - Article Link
• Paulo de Faria, Brazil: Sanitation worker attacked by pit bull - Article Link

December 06

• ADULT FATALITY - Cass County, IN: 89 y/o woman attacked and killed by her pit bull.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - Baytown, TX: Pit bull broke through fence and killed a family's dog.
• Vancouver, BC: Off-leash pit bull attacked a dog - Post Link
• Turin, Italy: Pit bull attacked a dog owner - Article Link

December 07

• CHILD FATALITY - Caraguatatuba, Brazil: 1 y/o boy died after an attack by the family pit bull.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - São Bernardo, Brazil: Loose pit bull who had killed a cat 2 days prior killed a puppy and also injured a 13 y/o girl trying to save the dog.
• Porto Alegre, Brazil: Loose pit bull attacked another dog - Article Link
• Garibaldi, Brazil: Man and his puppy were both attacked by a loose pit bull who had escaped from its kennel - Article Link
• Odessa, TX: 12 y/o boy attacked by 3 pit bulls - Article Link
• Kendal, England: Pit bull attacked a dog and its owner, attacking another dog before the pit bull's owner fled with his dog - Post Link

December 08

• ADULT FATALITY - Roorkee, India: 70 y/o woman attacked by her son's pit bull, passed away 12/15/23.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - Salamanca, Spain: 2 pit bulls mauled a Beagle that was on a walk with its owner.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - New Jersey, US: Owner injured after rescuing dog when neighbor's pit bull attacked, the dog passing away days later.
• Castrezzato, Italy: 2 loose pit bulls attacked a woman and her dog - Article Link
• Americana, Brazil: 42 y/o man and 47 y/o woman hospitalized from pit bull attack - Article Link
• Araçatuba, Brazil: Labrador and 67 y/o owner attacked by pit bull - Article Link
• Kharar, India: 35 y/o woman mauled by 2 pit bulls on her first day of work as a maid - Article Link
• Sheffield, England: 2 off leash pit bulls attacked another dog - Article Link
• Venâncio Aires, Brazil: 32 y/o man attacked by pit bull and may require leg amputation - Article Link
• Harrisburg, PA: Jindo out for a walk with its owner when they were attacked by a pit bull who broke loose from its house - Post Link
• Comas, Peru: 70 y/o man attacked by pit bull - Article Link

December 09

• ANIMAL FATALITY (3) - Wichita, KS: 2 loose pit bulls attacked 4 Dachshunds, killing 3 of the dogs.
• Santa Rosa, Argentina: 68 y/o woman injured after being attacked by her pit bull - Article Link
• Wicklow, Ireland: Pit bull type dog attacked a Spaniel - Post Link
• Mococa, Brazil: Cat seriously injured after being attacked by 2 pit bulls next door - Post Link
• Theix-Noyalo, France: 63 y/o woman bitten around 20 times by loose pit bull - Article Link

December 10

• ANIMAL FATALITY - Guaratuba, Brazil: Small dog killed by pit bull.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - Cava de' Tirreni, Italy: Small dog killed by pit bull.
• Haridwar, India: 70 y/o woman attacked by pit bull - Article Link
• Ludhiana, India: Pit bull attacked a horse and then attacked a woman - Article Link
• London, England: Man attacked by 2 pit bull type dogs - Article Link
• Jujuy, Argentina: 27 y/o woman hospitalized after an attack by 2 loose pit bulls - Article Link
• Rawson, Argentina: 2 pit bulls attacked 2 siblings - Article Link
• Illinois, US: Man attacked by the pit bull he adopted a year ago - Post Link
• Wichita Falls, TX: 44 y/o woman Life Flighted after being attacked by her own pit bull - Article Link

December 11

• ANIMAL FATALITY (3) - Charlotte, NC: 2 loose pit bulls killed 3 goats.
• Hanoi, Vietnam: 4 y/o girl attacked while riding her bike - Article Link
• Aracaju, Brazil: Police officer attacked and bitten by pit bull during a patrol - Article Link
• Stoke-on-Trent, England: Pit bull seriously injured a dog and bit its owner - Article Link
• Cary, NC: Woman attacked by pit bull while out jogging - Post Link

December 12

• ADULT FATALITY - Kortrijk, Belgium: 56 y/o man killed by his pit bull after suffering from an epileptic seizure.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - Vilhena, Brazil: Loose pit bull attacked other dogs and killed one.
• Sheffield, England: 12 y/o boy attacked by his family's pit bull - Article Link
• Cartagena, Spain: Man and his 2 daughters attacked by family pit bull - Article Link

December 13

• Warrington, England: Woman and her dog attacked by a pit bull - Article Link
• Springdale, OH: Man attacked by business partner's 2 pit bulls, dogs had to be shot by police - Article Link
• San Antonio, TX: Man attacked by pit bull - Article Link
• Derby, England: Corgi mauled, receiving life-threatening injuries - Article Link
• San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy: Poodle seriously injured by off-leash and unmuzzled pit bull - Article Link
• Ada, OK: Man attacked by his pit bull after the dog attacked his female companion - Article Link
• San Esteban, Chile: 66 y/o woman seriously injured after neighbor's 2 pit bulls mauled her - Article Link

December 14

• ADULT FATALITY - Yuma County, AZ: Man found deceased after being attacked by a pit bull.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - Ourinhos, Brazil: Pit bull attacked 2 dogs, killing one.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - Raleigh, NC: Black Labrador killed by a pit bull and German Shepherd.
• Beylikdüzü, Turkey: Pit bull bit and injured two children - Article Link
• Michigan, US: Owner suffered heart attack after their 4 pit bulls mauled each other - Post Link

December 15

• Jaboticabal, Brazil: 7 month old pit bull puppy attacked its owner's 1 y/o nephew - Article Link
• Pelotas, Brazil: Pit bull escaped through the building's garage and attacked elderly man - Article Link
• Terra Rica, Brazil: 30 y/o woman attacked by her pit bull - Article Link
• Veracruz, Mexico: 2 pit bulls attacked 2 Xoloitzcuintles and their owner - Article Link
• Sandy, UT: Dog seriously injured after being mauled by 2 pit bulls - Post Link
• Martinsburg, WV: Young boy mauled by neighbor's pit bull - Post Link

December 16

• ANIMAL FATALITY - Petrolina, Brazil: Cat killed by pit bull.
• Aydın, Turkey: Woman and her Pekingese dog attacked - Article Link
• Alta Floresta, Brazil: 40 y/man hospitalized after being attacked by his pit bull - Article Link
• Rossano, Italy: 8 y/o girl rushed to ER after being attacked by a pit bull - Article Link
• Nevers, France: Man hospitalized after being bitten by a pit bull - Article Link
• La Grange, KY: Pit bull and a Boxer attacked a man and another dog - Article Link
• La Maddalena, Italy: 59 y/o woman injured after her dog was attacked by 2 off-leash pit bulls - Article Link
• Louisville, KY: Therapy dog attacked by 2 pit bulls - Link
• Noisiel, France: 29 y/o woman attacked - Article Link

December 17

• ANIMAL FATALITY - Primavera do Leste, Brazil: Dog killed by pit bull.
• Penzance, England: Man in his 70s and his dog attacked by a loose pit bull - Article Link
• Santa Bárbara, Brazil: 25 y/o man attacked by his own pit bull - Post Link

December 18

• ANIMAL FATALITY - San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, Argentina: 5 pit bulls attacked and killed a Poodle.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - Newport, TN: Neighbor's pit bull killed a dog, seriously injured another dog, and attacked dogs' owner.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - Wartrace, TN: Small dog mauled in its own yard by neighbor's 3 pit bulls.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - Interlachen, FL: Cat killed in its own yard by loose pit bull.
• Ludhiana, India: Woman violently attacked by pit bull for 15 minutes - Article Link
• Hinesville, GA: Off-duty deputy airlifted to hospital after attack by 2 pit bulls - Article 1, Article 2
• Fernando de la Mora, Paraguay: Woman attacked by police man's pit bull - Article Link
• Joshua Tree, CA, US: 2 dogs and owner attacked by 2 pit bulls - Post Link
• Noisiel, France: 29 y/o woman injured by a pit bull after it turned on her while she was protecting her Jack Russel - Article Link
• Berwick, PA: Man in critical condition after being attacked by caretaker's pit bull - Article Link

December 19

• ADULT FATALITY - Miami, FL: 29 y/o disabled man mauled and killed by his own dog. Breed confirmed via victim's social media.
• Mansfield, England: French Bulldog repeatedly attacked by a pit bull - Article Link
• Huaraz, Peru: 5 y/o girl hospitalized after pit bull attack - Article Link
• Prince George's County, MD: 8 y/o girl playing in her front yard when loose pit bull attacked - Article Link
• Henry Co., IN: Small dog and owner attacked by pit mix - Post Link
• Kennesaw, GA: Dog that had survived a prior pit bull attack attacked again - Post Link
• Mauthausen, Austria: Off-leash pit bull attacked 4 circus camels, owner fled the scene after - Article Link
• Loughton, England: Dog attacked by pit bull - Article Link

December 20

• ADULT FATALITY - Chiang Rai, Thailand: 64 y/o disabled man attacked by 2 pit bulls, succumbing to extreme blood loss.
• Tullibody, Scotland: 77 y/o woman hospitalized after pit bull attack - Article Link
• Lazenby, England: Abandoned pit bull bit a resident and had to be euthanized - Article Link
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 5 employees at vet clinic attacked by pit bull - Article Link
• Pontremoli, Italy (2): 68 y/o woman attacked by pit bull. A couple hours prior, the same dog attacked another woman - Article Link

December 21

• ANIMAL FATALITY - Barra Mansa, Brazil: Small dog mauled by 2 pit bulls.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - Fleury-la-Forêt, France: Husky discovered dead after 2 pit bulls attacked.
• Maulay, France: 18 month old girl seriously injured after her family's pit bull attacked unprovoked - Article Link
• Torreón, Mexico: Young boy attacked by pit bull - Article Link
• Culiacán, Mexico: 3 y/o boy suffered severe facial injuries after pit bull attack - Article Link

December 22

• ANIMAL FATALITY - Doncaster, England: Out of control pit bull attacked a Chihuahua.
• Brazil: Cat seriously injured after 2 pit bulls escaped and attacked - Link
• Oklahoma City, OK: Woman mauled by 3 pit bulls and another man injured - Article Link
• S. Carolina, US: Young autistic boy attacked by loose pit bull - Post Link
• Shamli, India (3): 3 people attacked in separate incidents by 2 pit bulls - Article Link
• La Paz, Bolivia: Elderly woman badly injured after 2 pit bulls attacked her - Article Link
• Waterlooville, England: Woman attacked by loose pit bull - Article Link

December 23

• São Carlos, Brazil: Puppy attacked by 2 pit bulls - Article Link
• Juiz de Fora, Brazil: 3 people attacked by pit bull - Article Link
• Santa Luzia, Brazil: Shih Tzu's attacked by neighbor's pit bull - Post Link
• Goldsboro, NC: Shih Tzu seriously injured after attack by neighbor's 2 loose pit bulls - Post Link

December 24

• ANIMAL FATALITY (25) - Puna, HI: Pit bull mix killed 25 chickens and ducks.
• Ploiești, Romania: Pit bull escaped from its yard and attacked another dog - Article Link
• San Antonio, TX, US: Stray pit bull attacked another dog - Post Link
• Tenosique, Mexico: Child in critical condition after being mauled by a pit bull - Article Link)
• Rome, Italy: Woman and her French Bulldog injured after pit bull attack - Article Link

December 25

• ANIMAL FATALITY - Ontario, Canada: 2 pit bulls killed small dog.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - Fleury-la-Forêt, France: Cat killed by 2 pit bulls.
• Desterro de Entre Rios, Brazil: 49 y/o woman badly injured by loose pit bull - Article Link
• Cuauhtémoc, Mexico: 36 y/o woman attacked by pit bull when walking by - Article Link

December 26

• ANIMAL FATALITY - Oxnard, CA: Small dog killed by neighbor's pit bull.
• Resende, Brazil: 18 y/o man attacked - Article Link

December 27

• ANIMAL FATALITY (3) - Tarija, Bolivia: Pinscher attacked by pit bull. 2 other dogs were killed by same dog hours before.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - Beautor, France: Chihuahua mauled by pit bull and Labrador.
• Porto Velho, Brazil: 47 y/o man walking past a house when a pit bull attacked, biting his groin - Article Link
• Barra do Garças, Brazil: 4 y/o child attacked by family pit bull - Article Link

December 28

• ADULT FATALITY - Granada, Nicaragua: 83 y/o attacked and killed by her own pit bull.
• Pamproux, France: Young girl attacked by neighbor's 6 pit bulls while protecting her cats - Article Link
• Hashonaim, Israel: 13 y/o girl attacked by pit bull - Article Link
• Distrito Federal, Brazil: Small dog's back torn apart by pit bull - Article Link

December 29

• Härryda, Sweden: 11 month old baby in critical but stable condition after being bitten by a pit bull - Article Link
• Campo Mourão, Brazil: 44 y/o woman mauled by husband's 2 pit bulls - Article Link
• Nova Andradina, Brazil: 20 y/o woman attacked by pit bull - Article Link
  • Basildon, England: Woman and her Beagle attacked by pit bull - Article Link

December 30

• ANIMAL FATALITY (3) - Forte dei Marmi, Italy: 2 pit bulls killed cat, injuring 87 y/o owner. Killed 2 kittens a couple hours prior.
• Venâncio Aires, Brazil: Dog attacked by pit bull. The same dog attacked a man on 12/8/23 - Article Link
• Far S. Coast, NSW, Australia: Pit bull attacked Cattle dog at a beach - Post Link
• Adjuntas, Puerto Rico: 6 y/o girl bitten in the face by her dad's pit bull - Article Link
• Chetumal, Mexico: Family got into a fight, family pit bull became upset and attacked, injuring at least 5 members - Article Link
• Fort Myers, FL: Police officer attacked by pit bull - Article Link

December 31

• ANIMAL FATALITY - Atascocita, TX: Pomeranian killed by neighbor's pit bulls.
• Torrington, WY: Man attacked when helping a boy whose dog was being attacked - Post Link

Unconfirmed Dates

• ANIMAL FATALITY - Marion, MI: Small dog killed by neighbor's pit bulls.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - Torreón, Mexico: Dog killed by pit bull.
• ANIMAL FATALITY - Birmingham, England: Cat killed after pit bull jumped a fence.
• Durham, NC: German Shepherd attacked in its own yard - Post Link
• Houston, TX: Postal worker attacked by pit bull while delivering mail - Article Link
• Cinco Ranch, TX: Man and his dog attacked by pit bulls - Article Link
• Araucanía, Chile: Police officer attacked by pit bull - Article Link
• Palenque, Mexico: Child outside playing when attacked by loose pit bull - Article Link
• Ponta Grossa, Brazil: Abandoned street dog attacked - Link

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Welcome back to the Reformed UPG of the Week, where we learn about and ask God to reach an unreached group. Now, a caveat. I did this post 4 years ago, but I was wanting to do a large people group today and so I decided, with my newer format, it would be good to redo some of those old posts. So, meet the Thai people of Thailand!

Region: Thailand

Map
Stratus Index Ranking (Urgency): 45
It has been noted to me by u/JCmathetes that I should explain this ranking. Low numbers are more urgent, both physically and spiritually together, while high numbers are less urgent. The scale is 1-177, with one number assigned to each country. So basically on a scale from Afghanistan (1) to Finland (177), how urgent are the peoples physical and spiritual needs.

The Stratus Index - Synthesizes reliable data from different sources to clearly display the world’s most urgent spiritual and physical needs.
The vast majority of missions resources go to people and places already Reached by the Gospel, while only 3% of missionaries and 1% of missions money are deployed among the Unreached. This is the Great Imbalance. As a result, there are more people without access to the Gospel today than a decade ago. Stratus seeks to equip the global church with fresh vision to accomplish the Great Commission by addressing some of the factors that perpetuate the Great Imbalance. We hope this tool allows the church to better understand what steps will be required to overcome the barriers that prevent needs from being met, spurring informed and collaborative missions strategy. Stratus Website

Bangkok
Climate: Thailand's climate is influenced by monsoon winds that have a seasonal character (the southwest and northeast monsoon). Most of the country is classified as Köppen's tropical savanna climate. The majority of the south as well as the eastern tip of the east have a tropical monsoon climate. Parts of the south also have a tropical rainforest climate. A year in Thailand is divided into three seasons. The first is the rainy or southwest monsoon season (mid–May to mid–October), which is caused by southwestern wind from the Indian Ocean. Rainfall is also contributed by Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and tropical cyclones, with August and September being the wettest period of the year. The country receives a mean annual rainfall of 1,200 to 1,600 mm (47 to 63 in). Winter or the northeast monsoon occurs from mid–October until mid–February. Most of Thailand experiences dry weather with mild temperatures. Summer or the pre–monsoon season runs from mid–February until mid–May. Due to their inland position and latitude, the north, northeast, central and eastern parts of Thailand experience a long period of warm weather, where temperatures can reach up to 40 °C (104 °F) during March to May, in contrast to close to or below 0 °C (32 °F) in some (lol where?) areas in winter. Southern Thailand is characterised by mild (super hot) weather year-round with less diurnal and seasonal variations in temperatures due to maritime influences. It receives abundant rainfall, particularly during October to November.
Phang Nga Bay
Terrain: Thailand comprises several distinct geographic regions, partly corresponding to the provincial groups. The north of the country is the mountainous area of the Thai highlands, with the highest point being Doi Inthanon in the Thanon Thong Chai Range at 2,565 metres (8,415 ft) above sea level. The northeast, Isan, consists of the Khorat Plateau, bordered to the east by the Mekong River. The centre of the country is dominated by the predominantly flat Chao Phraya river valley, which runs into the Gulf of Thailand. Southern Thailand consists of the narrow Kra Isthmus that widens into the Malay Peninsula.
Mountains in Thailand
Wildlife of Thailand: Thailand is home to more than 10% of the world’s animals. There are more than 285 mammal species including elephants, tigers, leopards, Malaysian sun bears, sambars, deer and otters as well as a variety of primate species including gibbons, monkeys and macaques. Sheep, goats, wild cattle and wild hogs are also common. Larger mammals like elephants and tigers have witnessed dramatic drops in numbers and exist mainly in national parks and conservation areas. Thailand is home to numerous reptile and amphibian species including approximately 176 snake species including cobras, pythons and vipers. There are three species of tortoise living in Thailand - the Asian giant tortoise can live for over one hundred years. There are some 310 lizard species located around the country including common geckos and tree lizards, monitor lizards and water dragons.
Unfortunately, there are a metric poop ton of monkeys in Thailand.
Wild Elephants in Thailand
Environmental Issues: Thailand's dramatic economic growth has caused numerous environmental issues. The country faces problems with air, declining wildlife populations, deforestation, soil erosion, water scarcity, and waste issues.
Languages: The official language of Thailand is Thai, a Kra–Dai language closely related to Lao, Shan in Myanmar, and numerous smaller languages spoken in an arc from Hainan and Yunnan south to the Chinese border. The largest of Thailand's minority languages is the Lao dialect of Isan spoken in the northeastern provinces. In the far south, Kelantan-Pattani Malay is the primary language of Malay Muslims. Varieties of Chinese are also spoken by the large Thai Chinese population, with the Teochew dialect best-represented. Numerous tribal languages are also spoken, including many Austroasiatic languages such as Mon, Khmer, Viet, Mlabri and Aslian; Austronesian languages such as Cham, Moken and Urak Lawoi'; Sino-Tibetan languages like Lawa, Akha, and Karen; and other Tai languages such as Tai Yo, Phu Thai, and Saek. Hmong is a member of the Hmong–Mien languages, which is now regarded as a language family of its own. The Thai speak Thai.
Government Type: Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
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People: Thai in Thailand

Thai man
Population: 23,248,000
Estimated Foreign Workers Needed: 465+
Beliefs: The Thai in Thailand are around 2% Christian. That means out of their population of 23,248,000, there are roughly 464,000 believers. Thats about 2 for every 100 unbelievers.
Theravada Buddhism was introduced in Thailand in 329 B.C. Almost all of the Thai are devout followers of Buddha ("the enlightened one") and seek to eliminate suffering and improve their future by gaining merit in pursuit of perfect peace, or nirvana. They believe that merit can be acquired through feeding monks, donating to temples, and attending worship services.
A note, depending on the Thai, you may get a devout follower or you may get a follower of Buddhism that is simply nominal, there because culture and family demands it.
Wat Saket Ratchawora Mahawihan, usually shortened to Wat Saket, is a Buddhist temple in Pom Prap Sattru Phai district, Bangkok, Thailand. The temple dates back to the Ayutthaya era, when it was known as Wat Sakae
History: There have been many theories proposing the origin of the Tai peoples — of which the Thai are a subgroup — including an association of the Tai people with the Kingdom of Nanzhao that has been proven to be invalid. A linguistic study has suggested that the origin of the Tai people may lie around Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of southern China, where the Zhuang people currently account for approximately one third of the total population. The Qin dynasty founded Guangdong in 214 BC, initiating varying successive waves of Han Chinese from the north for centuries to come.
With dynastic Chinese political upheavals, cultural changes, and intenstive Han migratory pressures from north that led the Tai peoples on the verge of being displaced, some of them migrated southwards where they met the classical Indianized civilizations of Southeast Asia. According to linguistic and other historical evidence, the southwestward migration of Southwestern Tai-speaking tribes, in particular, from Guangxi took place sometime between the 8th-10th centuries.
The Tais from the north gradually settled in the Chao Phraya valley from the tenth century onwards, in lands of the Dvaravati culture, assimilating the earlier Austroasiatic Mon and Khmer people, as well as coming into contact with the Khmer Empire. The Tais who came to the area of present-day Thailand were engulfed into the Theravada Buddhism of the Mon and the Hindu-Khmer culture and statecraft. Therefore, the Thai culture is a mixture of Tai traditions with Indic, Mon, and Khmer influences.
Early Thai chiefdoms included the Sukhothai Kingdom and Suphan Buri Province. The Lavo Kingdom, which was the center of Khmer culture in Chao Phraya valley, was also the rallying point for the Thais. The Thai were called "Siam" by the Angkorians and they appeared on the bas relief at Angkor Wat as a part of the army of Lavo Kingdom. Sometimes the Thai chiefdoms in the Chao Phraya valley were put under the Angkorian control under strong monarchs (including Suryavarman II and Jayavarman VII) but they were mostly independent.
A new city-state known as Ayutthaya Covering the areas of central and southern Thailand, named after the Indian city of Ayodhya, was founded by Ramathibodi and emerged as the center of the growing Thai empire starting in 1350. Inspired by the then Hindu-based Khmer Empire, the Ayutthayan empire's continued conquests led to more Thai settlements as the Khmer empire weakened after their defeat at Angkor in 1431. During this period, the Ayutthayans developed a feudal system as various vassal states paid homage to the Ayutthayans kings. Even as Thai power expanded at the expense of the Mon and Khmer, the Thai Ayutthayans faced setbacks at the hands of the Malays at Malacca and were checked by the Toungoo of Burma.
Though sporadic wars continued with the Burmese and other neighbors, Chinese wars with Burma and European intervention elsewhere in Southeast Asia allowed the Thais to develop an independent course by trading with the Europeans as well as playing the major powers against each other in order to remain independent. The Chakkri dynasty under Rama I held the Burmese at bay, while Rama II and Rama III helped to shape much of Thai society, but also led to Thai setbacks as the Europeans moved into areas surrounding modern Thailand and curtailed any claims the Thai had over Cambodia, in dispute with Burma and Vietnam. The Thai learned from European traders and diplomats, while maintaining an independent course. Chinese, Malay, and British influences helped to further shape the Thai people who often assimilated foreign ideas, but managed to preserve much of their culture and resisted the European colonization that engulfed their neighbors. Thailand is also the only country in Southeast Asia that was not colonized by European powers in modern history.
The concept of a Thai nation was not developed until the beginning of the 20th century, under Prince Damrong and then King Rama VI (Vajiravudh). Before this era, Thai did not even have a word for 'nation'. King Rama VI also imposed the idea of "Thai-ness" (khwam-pen-thai) on his subjects and strictly defined what was "Thai" and "un-Thai". Authors of this period re-wrote Thai history from an ethno-nationalist viewpoint, disregarding the fact that the concept of ethnicity had not played an important role in Southeast Asia until the 19th century. This newly developed nationalism was the base of the policy of "Thaification" of Thailand which was intensified after the end of absolute monarchy in 1932 and especially under the rule of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram (1938–1944). Minorities were forced to assimilate and the regional differences of northern, northeastern and southern Thailand were repressed in favour of one homogenous "Thai" culture. As a result, many citizens of Thailand cannot differentiate between their nationality (san-chat) and ethnic origin (chuea-chat). It is thus common for descendants of Jek เจ๊ก (Chinese) and Khaek แขก (Indian, Arab, Muslim), after several generations in Thailand, to consider themselves as "chuea-chat Thai" (ethnic Thai) rather than identifying with their ancestors' ethnic identity.
Constant unrest and instability, as well as fear of a communist takeover after the fall of Saigon, made some ultra-right groups brand leftist students as communists. This culminated in the Thammasat University massacre in October 1976. A coup d'état on that day brought Thailand a new ultra-right government, which cracked down on media outlets, officials, and intellectuals, and fuelled the communist insurgency. Another coup the following year installed a more moderate government, which offered amnesty to communist fighters in 1978. Fuelled by Indochina refugee crisis, Vietnamese border raids and economic hardships, Prem Tinsulanonda became the Prime Minister from 1980 to 1988. The communists abandoned the insurgency by 1983. Prem's premiership was dubbed "semi-democracy" because the Parliament was composed of all elected House and all appointed Senate. The 1980s also saw increasing intervention in politics by the monarch, who rendered two coups in 1981 and 1985 attempts against Prem failed. Thailand had its first elected prime minister in 1988.
Suchinda Kraprayoon, who was the coup leader in 1991 and said he would not seek to become prime minister, was nominated as one by the majority coalition government after the 1992 general election. This caused a popular demonstration in Bangkok, which ended with a bloody military crackdown. Bhumibol intervened in the event and signed an amnesty law, Suchinda then resigned.
The 1997 Asian financial crisis originated in Thailand and ended the country's 40 years of uninterrupted economic growth. Chuan Leekpai's government took an IMF loan with unpopular provisions. The populist Thai Rak Thai party, led by prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, governed from 2001 until 2006. His policies were successful in reducing rural poverty and initiated universal healthcare in the country. A South Thailand insurgency escalated starting from 2004. The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami hit the country, mostly in the south. Massive protests against Thaksin led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) started in his second term as prime minister and his tenure ended with a coup d'état in 2006. The junta installed a military government which lasted a year.In 2007, a civilian government led by the Thaksin-allied People's Power Party (PPP) was elected. Another protest led by PAD ended with the dissolution of PPP, and the Democrat Party led a coalition government in its place. The pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) protested both in 2009 and in 2010, the latter of which ended with a violent military crackdown causing more than 70 civilian deaths.
After the general election of 2011, the populist Pheu Thai Party won a majority and Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's younger sister, became prime minister. The People's Democratic Reform Committee organised another anti-Shinawatra protest after the ruling party proposed an amnesty bill which would benefit Thaksin. Yingluck dissolved parliament and a general election was scheduled, but was invalidated by the Constitutional Court. The crisis ended with another coup d'état in 2014.
The ensuing National Council for Peace and Order, a military junta led by General Prayut Chan-o-cha, led the country until 2019. Civil and political rights were restricted, and the country saw a surge in lèse-majesté cases. Political opponents and dissenters were sent to "attitude adjustment" camps; this was described by academics as showing the rise of fascism. Bhumibol, the longest-reigning Thai king, died in 2016, and his son Vajiralongkorn ascended to the throne. The referendum and adoption of Thailand's current constitution happened under the junta's rule. The junta also bound future governments to a 20-year national strategy 'road map' it laid down, effectively locking the country into military-guided democracy. In 2019, the junta agreed to schedule a general election in March. Prayut continued his premiership with the support of Palang Pracharath Party-coalition in the House and junta-appointed Senate, amid allegations of election fraud. The 2020–21 pro-democracy protests were triggered by increasing royal prerogative, democratic and economic regression from the Royal Thai Armed Forces supported by the Thai monarchy in the wake of the 2014 Thai coup d'état, dissolution of the pro-democracy Future Forward Party, distrust in the 2019 general election and the current political system, forced disappearance and deaths of political activists including Wanchalearm Satsaksit, and political corruption scandals, which brought forward unprecedented demands to reform the monarchy and the highest sense of republicanism in the country.
In May 2023, Thailand's reformist opposition,the progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) and the populist Pheu Thai Party, won the general election, meaning the royalist-military parties that supported Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha lost power. On 22 August 2023, Srettha Thavisin of the populist Pheu Thai party, became Thailand's new prime minister, while the Pheu Thai party's billionaire figurehead Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand after years in self-imposed exile.
1686 Map of the Kingdom of Siam
Culture: Typical qualification that all people groups can't be summed up in small paragraphs and this is an over generalization.
The Thai are unusually polite, respectful, and hospitable people. Their children are brought up to respect those of a higher rank, with additional emphasis on independence and self-reliance. The Thai seldom use physical punishment to discipline children.
Age is highly respected in Thai society. Type of occupation, wealth, and place and type of residence follow age in terms of respect and rank. Rural farmers rank below artisans, merchants, and city government officials; clergy form a separate group. Families are the core of Thai society. In rural areas, the immediate family usually lives, eats, and farms together. A young married couple may live with the bride's family until they can establish their own home.
The Thai are distinguished by a near absence of labor division by gender. Both men and women plow, till, fish, cook, tend babies, clean house, and wash clothes. Rice is the major economic crop, providing both a food staple and a cash crop.
The wealthiest Thai live in wood-framed homes that are raised off the ground and have plank floors, hard wood or mahogany panels, and tile roofs. The poorest villagers live in bamboo homes with thatched roofs and dirt floors. There are a wide variety of homes in the cities: multi-level cement houses, houses that are attached to or above shops, townhouses, apartment complexes, or wooden houses. The temple and school are prominent features in the villages. Water taxis transport people and cargo on polluted waterways that connect houses and other buildings.
Khao San Road in Bangkok
Cuisine: Thai cooking is "about the juggling of disparate elements to create a harmonious finish. Like a complex musical chord it's got to have a smooth surface but it doesn't matter what's happening underneath. Simplicity isn't the dictum here, at all." Traditional Thai cuisine loosely falls into four categories: tom (boiled dishes), yam (spicy salads), tam (pounded foods), and kaeng (curries). Deep-frying, stir-frying and steaming are methods introduced from Chinese cuisine. A typical Thai meal includes five main flavors: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy. Indeed, most Thai dishes are not considered satisfying unless they combine all five. While the seasoning can be spicy for a foreign palate, Thai food ensures that a balance of all flavors is present. Nothing occupies a more prominent place in Thai cuisine than rice. The most served dish in all meals, rice is treated with respect and never wasted. Guay teow is arguably one of the most popular Thai dishes and can be found almost everywhere. Guay teow describes any type of noodle soup. It can be made with chicken, pork, or beef (rarely vegetarian-friendly) as well as either rice noodles or egg noodles. Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup) is another wildly popular dish in Thailand. Tom yum goong is created with quintessential Thai ingredients like lemongrass, chilli, galangal, kaffier lime leaves, shallots, fresh lime juice and plenty of fish sauce. Tom kha gai is related to tom yum and offers people with a lower tolerance to spice the opportunity to have a taste of beautiful Thai flavours. Besides the spice scale, Tom kha gai is also unique in that it typically comes with lots of creamy coconut milk creating a rich sweet soup. Like most Thai foods, vegetarian options are easily adaptable by substituting a few ingredients. Som tam hails from Isaan in Northeastern Thailand and is one of the most popular dishes in Thailand. Som tam comes in a variety of styles, however, the classic som tam consists of shredded green papaya, tomatoes, carrots, peanuts, dried shrimp, runner beans, palm sugar, tamarind pulp, fish sauce, lime juice, garlic and plenty of chillies. The ingredients are mixed together using a mortar and pestle, which amplifies the flavours into a super moreish dish. Laab is a northeastern-style salad with meat or mushroom and mint which originates in the northeastern province of Isan. Laab comes in a variety of styles including chicken, pork, and mushroom. It is not recommended for those who can’t handle spice as it tends to come with a hefty kick. Pad thai is one of Thailands national dishes and is a go-to for tourists who are starting out their Thai cuisine exploration. Pad thai is a fried noodle dish which is usually made with shrimp or chicken, however, the vegetarian option is popular too. Pad thai is available on almost every corner that serves street food and is a cheap and tasty meal. Pad See Eiw (Thick Noodle Dish) is another dish, it consists of wide rice noodles which are stir-fried in thick dark soy sauce with chicken, pork, or beef as well as either Chinese broccoli or cabbage. Pad krapao usually is made using minced pork or chicken (it’s also great with tofu) which is stir-fried with Thai basil and plenty of chillies. Pad krapow is definitely not a dish for picky eaters: The Thai basil has a very sharp, peppery flavour, while the chillies add a hefty dose of spice. Of course Thailand is also full of curries, from penang to masaman to green curry!
Pad Krapow

Prayer Request:

• Ask God to raise prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
• Ask God to go before the missionaries there, that they would find favor with the Thai people and see the Great Commission succeed.
• Pray that God will grant wisdom and favor to missions agencies currently ministering to the Thai.
• Ask God to send Christian teachers and medical teams to work among the Thai.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Thai towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.
• Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Thai.
• Pray against Putin and his insane little war.
• Pray for our nation (the United States), that we Christians can learn to come alongside our hurting brothers and sisters and learn to carry one another's burdens in a more Christlike manner than we have done historically.
• Pray that in this time of an upcoming election and insanity that the needs of the unreached are not forgotten by the church. Pray that our hearts continue to ache to see the unreached hear the Good News.Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1)

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Here are the previous weeks threads on the UPG of the Week for Reformed from 2023 (plus a few from 2022 so this one post isn't so lonely). To save some space on these, all UPG posts made 2019-now are here, I will try to keep this current.

People Group	Country	Continent	Date Posted	Beliefs
Thai (updated)	Thailand	Asia	12/18/2023	Buddhism
Bayad	Mongolia	Asia	12/11/2023	Buddhism
Bedouin (Suafa)	Algeria	Africa	12/04/2023	Islam
Aboriginal (Reached)	Australia	Oceania	11/27/2023	Christian
Nachhiring	Nepal	Asia	11/13/2023	Hinduismc
Bahraini Arab	Bahrain	Asia	11/06/2023	Islam
Cyrenaican Arab	Libya	Africa	10/30/2023	Islam
Yao	Malawi	Africa	10/23/2023	Islamc
Tunisian Arab (2nd)	Tunisia	Africa	10/16/2023	Islam
Lao	Laos	Asia	10/09/2023	Buddhismc

^{a - Tibet belongs to Tibet, not China.
b - Russia/Turkey/etc is Europe but also Asia so...
c - this likely is not the true religion that they worship, but rather they have a mixture of what is listed with other local religions, or they have embraced a liberal drift and are leaving faith entirely but this is their historical faith.}
Here is a list of definitions in case you wonder what exactly I mean by words like "Unreached".
Here is a list of missions organizations that reach out to the world to do missions for the Glory of God.

EDIT: I messed up the title... it should be March 15 - 29th!

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My fiancee and I are getting married in late February, and are travelling from Ireland to Asia through the month of March for our honeymoon (we basically dropped the wedding in favour of this - a much better spend of the money, we reckon!).
We will be spending two weeks in Vietnam/Taiwan first so will be over the jetlag, rested and ready to run ourselves off our feet for the two weeks we are in Japan. We are planning for kids not long after, so as this is likely our only real chance to get Japan on our own terms we are willing to kill ourselves and pay for it after! I made sure that our Osaka and Tokyo hotels had swimming pools to help us recover at the end of (or morning after) some of the more strenuous days. I am curious if the below seems unrealistic or manageable ; I have slowed the pace a little from around March 20-24th to give us some time to recover.
Apologies in advance if I butchered any spellings of places!

OSAKA (March 15-20)

March 15 - plane arrives 6pm from Taipei. Hotel is right by Namba Station (a lifesaver for our 'day trips' below). Nothing big on this evening, just check in to hotel, then check out Dotonbori/Americamura and get a feel of the place, maybe try Bar Naruto. Possibly take a gander over to Tenma after dark if we are feeling up to it.
March 16 - day trip to Himeji & Kobe. Leave early so we can first go and check Himeji Castle for 9am which does not seem much further on (2hrs from Namba). Then double back to Kobe for about 12-1pm, check out the huge herb garden and view from the mountain top. Come down and take a stroll around Chinatown and some sake distilleries/bars. Go to a good kobe beef place (recommendations welcome by the way!), then get the train back to our hotel in Osaka.
March 17th - Osaka Aquarium in the morning, then return to Namba area and see Shitennoji-ji / the general area afternoon... make it to Teamlab Botanical Garden for sunset, then back up to Abenu Harukas sky garden/Tennoji Park/Shinsekai at night... maybe get to Spa World (which seems almost 24hrs) if we still have the energy at the end of it.
March 18th - day trip to Hiroshima. This city seems quite compact which is nice. We plan to get up out early enough to arrive by about 10am, to walk to Shukkeien Gardens from the station (about 1km), then walk on to the castle (another 1km), and to make it to the Peace done/Park (about 2km south) for about 1-2pm. Get the 1 hour boat out to Itukushima at about 4pm to see the shrine for sunset at 6.30pm-ish, then get the 1 hour boat back at about 7.30pm. Walk or tram about 2km back to the station, and get the 9.30 train back to Namba for about 11.30pm. Eat at/near to Hiroshima station if time permits, or street food back in Dotonbori Osaka at night if not.
March 19th - day trip to Nara... the day of pain, as this place does not seem nearly as compact! The plan is to arrive by about 9-10am, go to Heijo Palace and the Park around it... then make the trip to Todai-Ji and Isuien Garden/Nara Park for the afternoon. Take a quick walk in some of Mt. Kasuga Primeval Forest, and then make it to Naramachi for sunset (or night, if we cannot get there in time). Eat out in Nara, and get a train back to Osaka again. We are likely to cover 20km+ walking on this day, it's going to hurt!
March 20th - A more relaxed day to recover from Hiroshima & Nara. Try to make it to Osaka Castle if we can and then get to the sumo in the afternoon. If we have the energy, back to Tenma at night. If not, then Dotonbori.

KYOTO (March 21-22)

March 21 - We are staying very close to Gion as she has a big hang up on geishas. We plan to get the 1hr train up to Kyoto and arrive around midday. Get the train to Kyoto Botanical Gardens, then down Tetsugaku No Michi/Philisopher's Walk if cherry blossoms are out, and then down again to Fushimi Inari Shrine in the evening (or earlier if no cherry blossoms). Geisha hunting/spotting like a weirdo with herself at night.
March 22 - Head east to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest followed by Kimono Forest for most of the day. Back to Gion, back to geisha watching lunacy.
\NOTE: are there any specific highly recommended historical buildings in Kyoto people would recommend? There are an absolute tonne of them and we don't have much time, so otherwise are just popping into ones nearby other things we are doing (largely around Gion/Arashiyama/Philosopher's Walk).*

MOUNT FUJI (March 23)

March 23 - We originally planned to go straight to Tokyo, but thought this would be nice to see a little more of the countryside, get a good view of Mt. Fuji. Basically, we leave Kyoto quite early, get the bullet train to just east of Shizuoka, then a bus that kind of laps around the west of Mt Fuji to Fujiyoshida - about 5-6 hours travel in total. Stay the night, relax, enjoy the view.

TOKYO (March 24-29)

Arrive about 12-1pm after a 2hr bus from Mt. Fuji. We are staying in Aoyama so are kind of situated nicely in between a lot of things on our list, and can hit up some things like Shinjuku Gyoen, Meiji Jingu, etc at our own leisure as they walking distance from us and in between our hotel and areas we will be visiting.
Also, not everything is an absolute 'must do' below, many of them are more things we would like to do in the area but can drop some of if we get tight for time. If there are any things people would suggest to remove or even add on, please let me know!
March 24 - this is the one day I have planned as we only have half a day. Go check out Kappabashi and Akihabara, and then Senso-ji at night when it is much quieter and looks better lit up in my opinion).
March 25th - Tsujiki market early in the morning to beat the crowds, then on to Koto for Teamlab Planets and Miraikan Museum of Emerging Science. Up to Chiyoda in the afternoon for the Imperial Palace and general area. Finally, down to Roppongi in the evening/night for the National Art Centre and Mori ToweArt Museum after dark. Also maybe Tokyo Tower if time permits (but more likely some bars or clubs).
March 26th - Shinjuku/Shibuya: Yayoi Kusama museum and the general area in the day... off to Shibuya (Takeshita Street, the big crossing, and Shibuya Sky for when it is getting dark), then return to Shinjuku for Golden Gai briefly followed by Omoide Yokocho, and maybe some places like Bar Benfiddich for a drink or two if we are able to.
March 27th - Up quite early to go to Nakano Broadway, followed by Edo Open Air Museum, then back to Ghibli Museum, and finally a nice walk through Inokashira Park before hitting up Harmonica Yokocho.
March 28th - Kind of an open day here, I am leaning towards a Yokohama day trip or some cherry blossom walks or even leaving some space for things we have missed, but am open to any suggestions!
March 29th - Some more time to catch anything we missed or really want to go back to, hopefully also Teamlab Borderless Museum which is due to reopen in February if we have not managed to squeeze it in the previous days. Our flight takes off 10.30pm from Narita, so we aim to be at airport for about 7.30pm, meaning we will leave from Tokyo 5.30-6pm.
QUESTION: Is it also true that hotels will send your baggage to the airport for you, and if so how much does it cost/where or how do you pick it up at Narita? We are only bringing a backpack each to Vietnam but expect to amass stuff as we go, while all our flights included check in bags into the cost anyway so we figure we might as well take advantage of it. The one thing I am dreading is even attempting to use the Tokyo subway at that hour with a suitcase and half expect we would simply not be allowed, so if this is true about baggage services it would be a real game changer.
Any helps, suggestions, criticisms, or anything else would be much appreciated. Thanks!!

Hey all I'm helping an elderly couple fill out the E-visa application for their cruise and I am not a professional in this whatsoever, I work at a copy shop (lo) l I am just doing this as a favour for them and I wanted to ask you guys what information you provided for 3 of the Visa application questions!
background info: their cruise is to Thailand and Vietnam in January 2024
https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/ First off I picked this website. let me know if it's a scam but I do believe this is the official one as I've done some research!
PERSONAL INFORMATION SECTION

1. when they ask for an "ID card number" is that the number on their driver's licence? it's not a required field should I just leave it blank?

INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRIP SECTION

1. their entry port is in Ho Chi Minh City Seaport, which appears on the drop-down menu for selecting your entry and exit ports. their exit port, however, is only listed as Hạ Long Bay, which is a location that has multiple ports from what I've gathered. After some digging, I've deduced that Hon Gai Seaport is the one that matches best. Hạ Long Bay itself wasn't an option so I just need affirmation that I'm right in thinking Hon Gai is a Seaport in Hạ Long Bay.
   
2. "Intended temporary residential address in Viet Nam" Is it okay to just put "cruise ship" as they won't be staying in any hotel or anything?
   

everything else I understood I just don't want to screw these retirees over because they promised to bring me back a magnet from their trip lol. ANY and ALL information is SO HELPFUL and VERY MUCH APPRECIATED I will love you forever if you share any bit of knowledge with me!
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Submission statement: America traded mean tweets for WWIII and the military industrial complex when they voted Biden in ahead of Trump. With the joke evacuation in Kabul, the endless Ukraine funding, and literally handing $6 billion in cash to Iran, it is clear what the plan was. Now it is even coming out that Ukraine has been selling weapons to Hamas- considering we bought those weapons for the Ukraine, in a roundabout way we were actually arming Hamas. The anti-orangeman military industrial complex propaganda run in the mainstream really did a number on people. Some of them even still think that the Russiagate hoax was real. Would you rather have mean tweets and peace or WWIII like we have now?
edit: The military industrial complex shills and bots are here. This thread really seems to have upset them
edit 2: Here is video footage of Hamas thanking Ukraine for selling them the weapons they just used to murder hundreds of Israelis. https://twitter.com/Sprinter99800/status/1710928745878495427 Slava Ukraini, amirite gais?
edit 3: Seymour Hersh, the journalist who helped end the Vietnam war: -How America Took Out The Nord Stream Pipeline- https://seymourhersh.substack.com/p/how-america-took-out-the-nord-stream
America and Norway blew up the Nordstream pipeline then blamed it on Russia
edit 4: I have never had a thread get shilled and botted this hard. They REALLY do not like this thread for some reason.
edit 5: The current top comment of this thread "Where did you get proof that Ukraine is funding Hamas?" by u/No0dles4life somehow "organically" rose to the top. This comment is deliberately obtuse and disingenuous and designed to muddy the waters. I never once stated that Ukraine is funding Hamas. Ukraine is profiting off of Hamas by selling weapons the US gave them on the black market to Hamas.
https://twitter.com/Sprinter99800/status/1710928745878495427
Here is video of Hamas stating this themselves. The Israeli military has been saying this is happening for over a year now. u/No0dles4life 's comment is not organic and for some reason reddit has artificially pumped it to the top of this thread with fake updoots. Here is a guide to COINTELPRO forum sliding in case people aren't aware of this basic shill technique yet https://safenetforum.org/t/the-gentleperson-s-guide-to-forum-spies/30059
It's disgusting how bloodthirsty these "peaceful, tolerant, liberal and loving" redditors are for war.
edit 6: strange! Shortly after calling out the shill comment from u/No0dles4life, it vanished from the top of the thread, where it previously sat artificially.
edit 7: Antony Blinken, Secretary of State and Childhood friend of Ghislane Maxwell, admits on Meet the Press that the $6 billion Biden gave to Iran was used to fund the latest Hamas attack on Israel https://twitter.com/JoeyMannarinoUS/status/1711038523120234906?s=20
edit 8: here's a photo of Hamas fighters holding American M-4s while celebrating. How did Hamas fighters obtain American M-4s? https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fsn1qzqxe52tb1.png (side note: I dunno the etiquette of if I'm allowed or not to link to the conspiracy thread on the first page I sourced this image from)

Hi, first of all, thanks to everyone in this sub for giving me recommendations and ideas for making this itinerary.
Im a soon-to-be 30yo M, from Vietnam/Australia. This trip is actually my first time ever going oversea for holiday + soloing as well.
My main interests are viewing scenery, food, manga, light hiking, bars. I actively avoid crowd places like Team labs & theme parks, so you wont see them in my itinerary. Im looking for any 2nd hand opinions of my current itinerary, all of the hotels are booked, but I reckon some light adjustments can still be made.
I will do most of my shopping for souvenir in Tokyo so thats why I have it as my last base.
Im still calculating the travel cost, not really sure if JR Pass (7 or 14 days) worth it, so far I have:
Tokyo to Nagoya , Nagoya to Kyoto, (Kyoto to Osaka, Nara is not counted?), Osaka - Amanohashidate 2 ways, Osaka to Himeji to Kobe back to Osaka, Osaka to Suwa (Not sure if cover), Suwa to Komagane (Not sure if cover), Komagane to Tokyo (Not sure if cover), Tokyo - Nikko 2 ways.
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### Day 0 - Tokyo - 20/10 Fri

• est 08:20 Melbourne (Melbourne) flight out.
• est 16:20 Tokyo (Narita International) flight in.
• Get cash & top up Suica. (Suica card & eSIM purchased beforehand.)
• Head to hotel Toyoko Inn Asakusabashi
• Dinneexplore local area, shop at Don Quijote Akihabara (25mins walking) for toiletry.

​
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### Day 1 - Tokyo - 21/10 Sat

• Morning: walk to Ueno Park (35mins walking)
• Visiting friends and follow their plan for the day

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### Day 2 - Nagoya, Kyoto - 22/10 Sun

• Catch Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagoya early for KAGAYA Exhibition (Open from 10AM).
• Back to Nagoya, visiting Osu Shopping Street & Osu Kannon Temple.
• Go to Kyoto & check in new hotel, watch Jidai Matsuri Parade if possible.
• Visit Yasaka Shrine at night.

​
---
### Day 3 - Kyoto - 23/10 Mon

• Early morning 7AM: Sannenkaza, Ninnenzaka, Kiyomizu-dera Temple
• Explore Gion, walk toward Nishiki Market (Lunch at Nikuno Kakurega Oagari 11 am–2:30 pm)
• 3PM visit Nishiki Market (closed ~ 6PM), Pokemon Centre Kyoto (closed ~ 8PM)
• Explore Pontocho at night (Takonyudo Izakaya,...)

​
---
### Day 4 - Kyoto - 24/10 Tue

• Wake up early at 4AM for Fushimi Inari (prefer night/early morning scenery + less traffic)
• Morning: Kokedera (Moss Temple) (Need to book)
• Afternoon: Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (Tenjin-san Flea Market 6am-4pm)
• Night: explore Pontocho more or rest early.

​
---
### Day 5 - Kyoto, Nara - 25/10 Wed

• Daytrip to Nara (Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha, Mount Wakakusayama, Todaiji Temple)
• Afternoon: Back to Kyoto, Fushimi Sake Village (11 am–10 pm)

​
---
### Day 6 - Amanohashidate - 26/10 Thu

• Leave early to Amanohashidate (2hrs trip, first train 7.30AM)
• Amanohashidate (to spend ~ 3hrs) > 50mins Bus to Funaya (to spend ~ 2hrs). (Or going to Funaya first, depend on the mood)
• Back to Amanohashidate to get 6PM or 7 PM Hashidate trains directly back to Kyoto

​
--- ### Day 7 - Osaka - 27/10 Fri

• Morning check out hotel, going to Osaka.
• Check in new hotel, visit Kuromon Ichiba Market, Denden town, America-mura (may be thrifting for Halloween), Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street
• Night time in Dotonbori, Friday night before Haloween.

​
---
### Day 8 - Osaka - 28/10 Sat

• USJ & Super Nintendo World if I have people to go with.
• (If not, going to Hiroshima for 1 day trip)

​
--- ### Day 9 - Osaka - 29/10 Sun

• Morning: Osaka Aquarium.
• Afternoon: Shinsekai Market, Daimaru Shinsaibashi
• Night time: Explore more Dotonbori

​
--- ### Day 10 - Himeji, Kobe - 30/10 Mon

• Morning: Himeji Castle
• Midday: To Kobe (Nunobiki Herb Garden-Ropeway & Arima Onsen)
• Back to Osaka

​
--- ### Day 11 - Osaka, Koyasan - 31/10 Tue

• Daytime: visit Koyasan
• Night time: Halloween night + shopping.

​
--- ### Day 12 - Nagano - Suwa - 01/11 Wed

• Morning: check out early 6AM, head to Nagano - Suwa Lake. (~5hr trip, ~12AM arrival)
• Midday: Check in Hotel, Having Unagi lunch, see Akimiya Shrine
• Night: Explore local and Tateishi Park

​
--- ### Day 13 Suwa - Komagane - 2/11 Thu

• Morning: Check out, Hire a car from near Kami-Suwa Station > Shirakoma Pond and Forest short hiking. (2 - 3hrs hiking)
• Midday: Heading to lake Shirabake for lunch, Kita-Yatsugatake Ropeway
• Afternoon: Head back to Suwa, catch train from Kami-Suwa Station to Komagane station, check in new hotel.

​
--- ### Day 14 - Komagane - 3/11 - Fri

• Day: Mt. Kiso-Komagatake, Senjojiki Cirque hiking.
• Noon: Hayataro Onsen Komakusa-no-yu Hot Spring and dinner.

​
--- ### Day 15 - Komagane - Tokyo - 4/11 - Sat

• Morning: Head to Tokyo (Either Bus or Train to Shinjuku) (~ arrived by 12AM) Check in hotel, lunch and ready to leave Tokyo to Tsuchiura by 3.30PM (~ 1h30 trip)
• Afternoon: Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition, 17:30 - 20:00
• Night: Probably arrive late back to Tokyo, late dinner and rest.

​
--- ### Day 16 - Tokyo - 5/11 - Sun

• (Open to any reddit discord meetup plan all day)
• Morning: Walking in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (The Garden of Words location), Suga Jinja shrine & Your Name stairs
• Midday: Shibuya Crossing, Mandarake, Amiami, Shibuya Parco (Hamburg Meal)
• Night: Exploring Shinjuku, Golden Gai (Sunday night)

​
--- ### Day 17 - Tokyo - 6/11 - Mon

• Day: Akihabara (Gigo, SE cafe,... ), Ameyoko Market
• Afternoon: Nakamise + Sensoji Temple, Tokyo Skytree (Sunset)
• Night: SAKE MARKET Shinjuku (Izakaya restaurant), Omoide Yokocho

​
--- ### Day 18 - Nikko - 7/11 - Tue

• (Not yet plan)

​
--- ### Day 19 - Tokyo - 8/11 - Wed

• (Open to any reddit discord meetup plan all day)
• Early morning: Tsukiji Fish Market Day: trip to Kamakura (Open for suggestion for other location)
• Night: (Open for suggestion)

​
--- ### Day 20 - Tokyo - 9/11 - Thu

• (Shopping for souvenir day)
• Kappabashi (Chopstick, knife, nail clippers)
• Nakano Broadway (Anime related)
• Ginza (UNIQLO, Art Aquarium)

​
--- ### Last day - 10/11 - Fri

• Check out ~6.30AM, get to airport early (bus or train) from Shinjuku
• est 10:55 Tokyo (Narita International) flight out

​
Anyway to improve my trip? There are definitely some weirds timing but I based my time around those events: KAGAYA Exhibition (ends on 22/10), Friday before Halloween in Osaka (28/10), Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition (4/11).
Also, I REALLY REALLY want to visit Hokkaido, but think it would be better to save for my next trip, when I may have a partner to share the cost of car renting so I can go further north.

Dấu hiệu mang thai con gái theo dân gian chính xác nhất
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Siêu âm là cách xác định giới tính thai nhi chính xác nhất, nhưng cần chờ đến thời gian nhất định. Chính vì vậy, nhiều cha mẹ đã áp dụng 28 dấu hiệu mang thai con gái hay con trai dựa trên những biểu hiện khi mang thai. Nếu bạn cũng đang tò mò thiên thần nhỏ trong bụng mình có phải con gái không, hãy kiểm tra 28 dấu hiệu mang thai con gái sau mà NuBest Vietnam chia sẽ nhé!
​
Xem chi tiết: https://nubest.vn/dau-hieu-mang-thai-con-gai
​
​

Trong cuộc sống phức tạp và căng thẳng hiện nay, nụ cười đã trở thành một viên ngọc quý, một phép thuật nhẹ nhàng giúp chúng ta thoát khỏi những lo âu và mệt mỏi. Và khi nó được thể hiện qua những hình ảnh gái bựa, chúng ta không chỉ cảm nhận được một cảm xúc sảng khoái, mà còn cả một sự kết nối vô cùng ấm áp với những khoảnh khắc đáng yêu, ngộ nghĩnh mà hình ảnh này mang lại.
Những bức ảnh gái bựa luôn đốn tim chúng ta bằng các tình huống bất ngờ và khả năng tạo ra nụ cười tự nhiên. Nhìn những cô gái trong những tư thế vụng về, không ngại ngần khoe khéo những khoảnh khắc khó đỡ, ta không thể không bật cười và cảm nhận rằng, dù cuộc sống có khó khăn thế nào đi chăng nữa, niềm vui và tiếng cười vẫn luôn có thể xuất hiện.
Ảnh gái bựa không chỉ đem lại nụ cười mà còn làm chúng ta nhớ đến ý nghĩa thực sự của sự đồng cảm. Bởi vì chúng ta không chỉ cười cho riêng mình mà còn cười cùng với những người khác. Cảm giác ấy khiến ta thấy rằng, dù chúng ta đến từ nhiều nền văn hóa và hoàn cảnh khác nhau, một nụ cười vẫn đủ sức kết nối chúng ta lại với nhau, làm tan biến mọi rào cản.
Nhìn vào những hình ảnh gái bựa, chúng ta cũng nhận ra rằng cuộc sống không cần phải luôn nghiêm túc và nặng nề. Những khoảnh khắc nhẹ nhàng, tinh thần hài hước và sự sẵn sàng đối diện với những thất bại nhỏ, tất cả đều góp phần tạo nên một cuộc sống thú vị và đáng nhớ.
Tóm lại, ảnh gái hài hước không chỉ đơn thuần là những bức ảnh mang tính chất giải trí mà còn chứa đựng những thông điệp sâu sắc về tình thân, tình bạn và khả năng đối diện với cuộc sống một cách lạc quan. Chúng là những khoảnh khắc giản đơn nhưng vô cùng ý nghĩa, khiến cho cuộc sống trở nên rạng ngời hơn thông qua những nụ cười thật chân thành.
Xem thêm bài viết: https://www.vietnamfineart.com.vn/anh-gai-xinh/anh-gai-bua-goc-nhin-moi-la-va-hai-huoc-ve-net-dep-doi-thuong/
Chia sẻ bởi Việt Nam Fineart
Website: https://vietnamfineart.com.vn/
Email: vietnamfineart@gmail.com
Linkedin : https://www. linkedin.com/in/vietnam-fineart-a81657289/
Pinterest: https:https://www. pinterest.com/vietnamfineart/
Tumblr: https://www. tumblr.com/blog/vietnamfineart
Địa chỉ: Số 51 Trần Hưng Đạo, Q. Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Htag: #vietnamfineart, #vietnamfineart.com.vn, #anhgaixinh, #anhgaibua, #anhgaibuavietnamfineart

​
.

A large batch arriving for September. Many premium ones!

27 in total - Too many to show in a single Reddit topic post, as it only allows 20 images maximum per topic. So we will need a couple more to show them all.
Listing by Category so it's easier to grasp...

No New Location stamps

These are pride and joy for those of us who care about the various countries which until very recently had been without ANY flags of their own.
Sadly, August's batch, again, does not include any new ones.

New Premium Stamps

Seven more added, all new and selling for the 50 Coins premium price.
One new Sports series, Global issues.
Handball, finally arrived
And another 7 Regional Premium stamps - for sale only in their local stamp stores.
Fileteado, Argentina
Water Lily, Bangladesh
Mote con huesillos, Chile
Persian Miniature, Iran
Daruma, Japan
Truck Art, Pakistan
Líneas de Nazca, Peru

NO New Global, International Day issues

These are free and available everywhere, to much joy from our Slowly users in general. But no new ones this time.

Some new Commemorative free Regional Releases

Time limited, and available for Free only in their designated countries. Most likely these will appear later on the Time Machine for the regular 25 Coins random purchase.
Wattle Day, Australia
Thruebab, Bhutan
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Canada
Knabschiessen, Switzerland
Gai Jatra, Nepal
Goroka Show, Papua New Guinea
Uhmlanga, various countries (?)

Two new regional Stamp sets - for Romania and Netherlands

I cannot include on this post - will add them in another topic -- HERE, as this exceeds the 20 max images for this post).

All of those stamps will soon be added to our WIKI

...which is a great reference tool for anyone curious about the many Slowly stamps.
We will be adding extra pages for many of these new commemoratives, in due time (I created blank pages, to be edited later).

Tentative September 2023 Stamp Releases and Dates ?

Subject to errors, as for the most part we have to research and find the dates ourselves. This is a copy of a message from a collector friend, I have not verified any of these dates, but think this can be useful and appreciated, right.
Complete monthly release schedule. NEW Releases shown in Bolded text in the list. Re-issues are shown in normal text.

September stamps

1 Gai Jatra 🇳🇵; Wattle Day 🇦🇺; Slovakia 🇸🇰; Uzbekistan 🇺🇿; Letter Writing Day ✍️; День Знаний 🇷🇺
2 Vietnam 🇻🇳
3 San Marino 🇸🇲; Regata Storica 🇮🇹
4 Uhmlanga Reed Dance 🇸🇿🇿🇦
5 Charity Day 💰
6 Eswatini 🇸🇿; Bulgaria 🇧🇬
7 Brazil 🇧🇷
8 Malta 🇲🇹; North Macedonia 🇲🇰; Literacy Day 📚
9 Tajikistan 🇹🇯; North Korea 🇰🇵; Komuz Day 🇰🇬; Andorra 🇦🇩
10 Gibraltar 🇬🇮; Tet Trung Thu 🇻🇳; 月見 🇯🇵; Tuna Festival 🇵🇭; Chuseok 🇰🇷 (?); Mid Autumn Festival 🇨🇳 (?); Onam 🇮🇳
11 Knabenschiessen 🇨🇭; Enkutatash 🇪🇹
12 Guinea Equatorial 🇬🇶
12-16 Goroka Show 🇵🇬
13 Programmer Day 👨‍💻
15 Costa Rica 🇨🇷; El Salvador 🇸🇻; Guatemala 🇬🇹; Honduras 🇭🇳; Nicaragua 🇳🇮; Sir M. Visveraya 🇮🇳
16 Mexico 🇲🇽; Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬; Malesia 🇲🇾
17 Oktoberfest 🇩🇪; Rosh Hashanah ✡️
18 Chile 🇨🇱; Red Panda Day 🌏; Jeune Federal 🇨🇭(?)
19 Nepal 🇳🇵; Saint Kitts and Nevis 🇰🇳; Talk Like a Pirate Day 🏴‍☠️
20 Gabriella Silang 🇵🇭; Prinsjesdag 🇳🇱 (?)
21 Belize 🇧🇿; Peace Day ☮️; Armenia 🇦🇲
22 Mali 🇲🇱; Rhino Day 🦏; Bulgaria 🇧🇬
23 Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦; Signature Language Day 🌎
23-29 Hermanus Whale Festival 🇿🇦 (?)
24 Rainy Day 🇧🇹; New Caledonia 🇳🇨; Guinea-Bissau 🇬🇼; Guyana 🇬🇾; Gorilla Day 🦍; Heritage Day 🇿🇦
27 Turkmenistan 🇹🇲
30 Orange Shirt Day 🇨🇦; Botswana 🇧🇼; Palau 🇵🇼; Save The Koala Day 🇦🇺
edit 1: updated with link to new regional stamp sets post.
edit 2: added September release schedule - big thank you to ASRandASR for this! 😎👍😊

Sản phẩm Băng dính gai Velco tròn của công ty Baihe Holding Vietnam mang tới trải nghiệm hoàn hảo cho các quý đối tác và khách hàng.

1. Cấu tạo:

📷 📷 📷

• Mỗi cặp Băng dính gai Velco tròn có hai mặt: 1 mặt mịn, trơn (lông mềm) và 1 mặt nhám (có gai). Sau lưng cả hai mặt đều có keo, chỉ cần lột giấy ra và dán vào vật cần dán, rất tiện dụng.

2. Ứng dụng:

• Khác với băng dính gai thông thường, Băng dính gai Velco tròn ở không phải may vào, có thể dán ở bất cứ chất liệu nào như bìa carton, vải dạ, sách in ép plastic…
• Loại băng nhám xé băng dính gai velco tròn này Thường được ứng dụng ở khá nhiều khu vực như trang trí sân khấu hay vận chuyển, đóng gói hàng hóa.

3. Quy cách đóng gói:

• Hiện tại Băng dính gai Velco tròn của Baihe Holding Vietnam có sẵn các kích thước: 12.5 – 15 – 20 – 25 mm (màu trắng/ đen).
• Ngoài ra, chúng tôi còn nhận các đơn đặt hàng của các quý khách. Vui lòng inbox fanpage Baihe Holdings Vietnam hoặc hotline 0985.009.338 để có giá tốt nhất.

Nhân tiện có 1 con bò đỏ hoàn lương đào lại cái vụ tịnh thất, tao post 1 bài của Luật Khoa Tạp Chí khá hay về vụ này lên đây, để cho tụi mày thấy rằng không phải cái gì bị mim, trend hóa cho hài thì đều là đúng cả, kể cả vài thằng không phải bò đỏ cũng chưa chắc hiểu được vấn đề.
​
Ngày 12/5/2022, sau khi Công an tỉnh Long An bắt tạm giam bà Cao Thị Cúc trong vụ án Tịnh thất Bồng Lai, Lê Thanh Nhị Nguyên đã lên tiếng trong một video trên Youtube: [1]
“Ngày hôm nay, công an đã tới đây nói khởi tố và bắt tạm giam cô Cúc… Không biết cô Cúc đã làm gì mà bị khởi tố nữa… thì công an mới đưa cái này là thông báo kết luận giám định… Nói rằng cô Cúc có mấy câu nói [trong clip] mà đã phạm vô Điều 331.”
​
15 ngày sau đó, Nhị Nguyên bị bắt tạm giam , trở thành người thứ sáu bị khởi tố theo Điều 331 Bộ luật Hình sự, tội lợi dụng các quyền tự do dân chủ xâm phạm lợi ích của Nhà nước, quyền, lợi ích hợp pháp của tổ chức, cá nhân, với án phạt có thể lên đến 7 năm tù giam. [2]
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Điều 331 là một điều luật đặc biệt nguy hiểm. Nó cho phép chính quyền kết tội bất kỳ ai bị cho là đã “lợi dụng các quyền tự do” – hay nói cách khác là đã sử dụng các quyền tự do vượt quá mức độ mà chính quyền có thể chấp nhận được.
​
Bất cứ ai đều có thể bị tống vào tù theo Điều 331. Năm nhà báo thuộc nhóm Báo Sạch bị kết án tù vì chỉ trích các quan chức địa phương. Doanh nhân Phương Hằng đang bị khởi tố sau các video bị cho là xúc phạm các cá nhân. Hay ông chủ một cửa hàng sim số ở TP. Cần Thơ bị phạt 1,5 năm tù giam sau khi bị chính quyền truy tố về hàng loạt hành vi của ông trên Facebook, trong đó có bình luận về vụ việc Đồng Tâm, đăng ảnh một chiếc quần lót cùng với ảnh cổng chào năm mới của TP. Cần Thơ. [3]
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Và giờ đây là sáu thành viên của Tịnh thất Bồng Lai, những người không hiểu vì sao họ lại bị chính quyền khởi tố. Tuy nhiên, chính quyền thì lại hiểu rất rõ vì sao chuỗi ồn ào ở Tịnh thất Bồng Lai phải chấm dứt bằng những bản án tù.
​
Tịnh thất Bồng Lai đã làm gì?
Sau khi bà Cao Thị Cúc đưa Lê Thanh Huyền Trân, một cô bé mồ côi, tu theo đạo Phật, tham gia Giọng hát Việt nhí năm 2014, [4] Tịnh thất Bồng Lai bắt đầu được hình thành với nhiều trẻ em được cơ sở này cưu mang. [5]
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Năm 2017, Tịnh thất Bồng Lai bắt đầu nổi tiếng khi Lê Thanh Nhất Nguyên và Lê Thanh Hoàn Nguyên cất giọng hát trong chương trình Tuyệt Đỉnh Song Ca. Lúc này, Ban Trị sự Phật giáo tỉnh Long An đã lên tiếng đòi chính quyền xử lý Tịnh thất Bồng Lai vì cho rằng những người ở đây “giả dạng nhà tu”, cơ sở này không trực thuộc giáo hội, gây ảnh hưởng đến uy tín Phật giáo. [6]
Năm trong sáu thành viên Tịnh thất Bồng Lai đang bị khởi tố theo Điều 331 Bộ luật Hình sự. Ảnh: Tịnh thất Bồng Lai.
Năm 2019, Tịnh thất Bồng Lai càng nổi tiếng hơn khi có năm em bé đoạt giải thưởng cao nhất trong chương trình truyền hình Thách thức Danh hài. [7]
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Danh tiếng luôn đi kèm với rắc rối. Năm 2019, các thành viên ở Tịnh thất Bồng Lai đã đăng tải clip tranh cãi với công an tại trụ sở Công an huyện Đức Hòa, tỉnh Long An khi truy tìm một cô gái có tên “Diễm My”. Cô này đã bỏ nhà ra đi và từng ở Tịnh thất Bồng Lai. [8]
​
Đến tháng 6/2020, Diễm My lại trốn khỏi nhà của ba mẹ mình. [9] Cuộc truy tìm lại nổi lên trên mạng xã hội, trở thành một trào lưu đùa cợt liên quan đến Diễm My và Tịnh thất Bồng Lai. Sự việc ồn ào này dấy lên nghi ngờ rằng nơi này dùng trẻ em và tôn giáo để trục lợi. [10]
Tháng 11/2021, Ban Tôn giáo Chính phủ và chính quyền tỉnh Long An cho biết sẽ xử lý Tịnh thất Bồng Lai. [11]
Ban Tôn giáo Chính phủ khẳng định Tịnh thất Bồng Lai có dấu hiệu “lợi dụng tôn giáo để trục lợi” trong một buổi họp báo vào tháng 11/2021. Tuy nhiên, đây không phải là một tội danh trong Bộ luật Hình sự. Ảnh: Chụp màn hình.
Lúc này, Tịnh thất Bồng Lai đã cực kỳ nổi tiếng. Kênh Youtube “5 Chú Tiểu – Thiền Am Bên Bờ Vũ Trụ” với khoảng 800 triệu lượt xem, ngoài ra họ còn có hàng loạt các kênh khác trên mạng xã hội. [12] Các thành viên nơi đây đặc biệt nổi tiếng nhờ giọng hát, khả năng diễn xuất trong các video trên mạng xã hội.
Đến đầu tháng 1/2022, chính quyền khởi tố vụ án và bắt giữ bốn thành viên ở Tịnh thất Bồng Lai, trong đó có ông Lê Tùng Vân, 90 tuổi. Báo chí lập tức đưa tin cơ sở này bị công an khởi tố vì tội loạn luân, lừa đảo. [13] Tuy nhiên, đến nay vụ án này chỉ bị khởi tố theo Điều 331, nghĩa là không phải loạn luân, cũng không phải lừa đảo. Việc đưa tin sai lệch khi đó đã khiến công chúng phẫn nộ đối với Tịnh thất Bồng Lai. Giờ đây, dư luận nên bắt đầu hoài nghi về tính chính đáng của việc khởi tố vụ án này.

Những cáo buộc chắp vá

Dựa trên thông tin từ báo chí nhà nước, có thể thấy các cáo buộc đối với Tịnh thất Bồng Lai cho đến nay chỉ là những quy chụp một cách chắp vá, đầy miễn cưỡng.
Đầu tháng 6/2022, báo Công an TP. Hồ Chí Minh đăng bài viết “Sự thật kinh hoàng ở ‘Tịnh thất Bồng Lai – Thiền am bên bờ vũ trụ’” để tóm tắt kết luận điều tra vụ án. Tuy nhiên, nội dung bài viết không có gì là kinh hoàng. [14]
Bài viết dẫn ra ba cáo buộc chính trong vụ án. Thứ nhất, các thành viên tịnh thất đã gây rối, quay phim, đăng tải clip tại trụ sở Công an huyện Đức Hòa vào năm 2019 với nội dung xúc phạm cơ quan công an.
Thứ nhì, họ đã tham gia chương trình truyền hình, làm các video “mạo danh Phật giáo”, có nội dung xuyên tạc, xúc phạm tổ chức, cơ quan, cá nhân, có tính kích động nhằm kiếm tiền từ Youtube, thu hút từ thiện.
Thứ ba, có bốn cá nhân tố cáo tịnh thất, trong đó có hai chức sắc của Giáo hội Phật giáo Việt Nam, Thượng tọa Thích Nhật Từ và Trưởng ban trị sự Giáo hội Phật giáo tỉnh Long An Thích Minh Thiện. Hai vị này tố cáo Tịnh thất Bồng Lai xúc phạm họ, xúc phạm Phật giáo. Hai người tố cáo còn lại cho rằng nơi này gây mất an ninh trật tự, xúc phạm tín ngưỡng, tôn giáo.
Ba cáo buộc trên hoàn toàn có thể xử lý theo một chiều hướng khác hợp lý hơn, tôn trọng quyền tự do của các bên. Ví dụ như việc tại trụ sở Công an huyện Đức Hòa có thể xử phạt vi phạm hành chính về hành vi gây rối trật tự nơi công cộng. Các tố cáo của các cá nhân đối với Tịnh Thất Bồng Lai có thể giải quyết ở tòa dân sự. Nhưng vì sao chính quyền chọn cách gộp chung để khởi tố theo Điều 331?

Chính quyền được gì?

Việt Nam là một trong những nước có tình hình tự do tôn giáo tồi tệ trên thế giới. Sau năm 1975, một số tôn giáo đã bị cấm hoạt động hoàn toàn. Ngày nay, chính quyền kiểm soát vô cùng chặt chẽ các hoạt động tôn giáo.
Năm 2004 và 2005, chính phủ Mỹ đã đưa Việt Nam vào danh sách “các quốc gia cần quan tâm đặc biệt” về tự do tôn giáo. Sau đó, Ủy ban Tự do Tôn giáo Quốc tế Hoa Kỳ, thuộc Quốc hội Mỹ, liên tục đề nghị đưa Việt Nam trở lại danh sách này. [15]
Báo cáo năm 2021 của Ủy ban Tự do Tôn giáo Quốc tế Hoa Kỳ khẳng định chính quyền Việt Nam tiếp tục cầm tù các thành viên của các nhóm tôn giáo độc lập không đăng ký, tín đồ và các nhà vận động cho quyền tự do tôn giáo tại Việt Nam. Ảnh: USCIRF.
Năm 2014, Báo cáo viên Đặc biệt của Liên Hiệp Quốc về tự do tôn giáo, tín ngưỡng Heiner Bielefeldt đã báo cáo sau chuyến làm việc tại Việt Nam: “Quyền tự do tôn giáo, tín ngưỡng của các cộng đồng [tôn giáo, tín ngưỡng độc lập, không được công nhận ở Việt Nam] bị vi phạm rõ ràng với sự giám sát, đe dọa, sách nhiễu và đàn áp liên tục”. [16]
Báo cáo viên Đặc biệt Heiner Bielefeldt làm việc với Ban Tôn giáo Chính phủ trong chuyến làm việc chính thức tại Việt Nam vào năm 2014. Ảnh: Báo Đảng Cộng sản Việt Nam.
Năm 2015, hơn 35 tổ chức xã hội dân sự ở Đông Nam Á đã kêu gọi Việt Nam phải sửa đổi dự thảo Luật Tín ngưỡng, Tôn giáo khi dự thảo này đặt ra những quy định trái với các chuẩn mực nhân quyền quốc tế về tự do tôn giáo. [17] Một năm sau, dự thảo trở thành Luật Tín ngưỡng, Tôn giáo mà không có sửa đổi nào đáng kể.
Đối với Phật giáo, chính quyền Việt Nam chỉ công nhận duy nhất Giáo hội Phật giáo Việt Nam. Các tổ chức Phật giáo khác đều bất hợp pháp, kể cả Làng Mai của thiền sư Thích Nhất Hạnh. Các pháp môn, cơ sở Phật giáo muốn hoạt động công khai đều phải gia nhập giáo hội này. Đây là khuôn khổ mà chính quyền cố gắng duy trì, nhưng Tịnh thất Bồng Lai đạp đổ nó.
Nhiều năm qua, chính quyền dù muốn nhưng không có căn cứ xử lý Tịnh thất Bồng Lai. Các thành viên nơi đây chỉ nhận cơ sở của mình là nhà riêng để tu hành. Tuy nhiên, khác với các cơ sở “lấy nhà làm chùa” khác thường hoạt động âm thầm để tránh bị chính quyền, giáo hội can thiệp, Tịnh thất Bồng Lai lại hoạt động công khai.
Việc Tịnh thất Bồng Lai không đăng ký với chính quyền theo Luật Tín ngưỡng, Tôn giáo nhưng vẫn hoạt động công khai, đặc biệt là trên mạng xã hội là điều chính quyền không mong muốn. Nó tạo ra một tiền lệ, và có thể thúc đẩy các hoạt động Phật giáo độc lập khỏi sự quản lý của Giáo hội Phật giáo Việt Nam.
Mặt khác, Tịnh thất Bồng Lai sở hữu cùng một thứ với những người bị truy tố theo Điều 331, đó là năng lực làm truyền thông đại chúng. Việc kiếm tiền từ các video giải trí vô thưởng vô phạt như ca hát, vui chơi của các em bé ở tịnh thất có thể không phải là thứ chính quyền quan ngại. Tuy nhiên, các thành viên nơi đây trong một vài dịp đã sử dụng sức ảnh hưởng trên mạng xã hội của mình để đáp trả công an, chính quyền địa phương, các chức sắc của giáo hội.
Từ việc sử dụng quyền tự do để chỉ trích các cá nhân, quan chức đến việc chỉ trích luật pháp, hệ thống chính trị chỉ cách nhau một gang tay. Những vấn đề trên đây đã biến Tịnh thất Bồng Lai thành một mối nguy hiểm tiềm tàng đối với chính quyền, cần phải bị loại bỏ ngay khi có cơ hội.

Hình sự hóa việc thực hành quyền con người

Vụ án Tịnh thất Bồng Lai theo hướng khởi tố vụ án hiện tại cho thấy xu hướng hình sự hóa việc thực hành các quyền con người tại Việt Nam. Hiểu nôm na ở khía cạnh quyền tự do ngôn luận là khi bạn bình luận về ai đó mà người đó không đồng ý, họ đi báo công an thì bạn có thể bị bắt và phải ngồi tù.
Tịnh thất Bồng Lai từng nhiều lần bị các chức sắc của Giáo hội Phật giáo Việt Nam chỉ trích trước công chúng, nhưng các thành viên tịnh thất không báo công an. [18] Tuy nhiên, khi các thành viên tịnh thất phản bác lại thì lại bị các chức sắc cho là xúc phạm họ, [19] và họ tố cáo lên công an. [20]
Những mâu thuẫn loại này hoàn toàn có thể được giải quyết bằng việc khởi kiện ra tòa dân sự. Khi đó, tòa án sẽ xem xét các phát ngôn có căn cứ hay không, có phạm luật hay không, và đáp ứng yêu cầu bồi thường nếu có tổn thất thật sự.
Điều 331 là một điều luật mơ hồ và không có căn cứ rõ ràng để xác định như thế nào là “lợi dụng các quyền tự do dân chủ”.
Tiền thân của Điều 331 vốn là Điều 258 trong Bộ luật Hình sự năm 1999. Báo cáo viên Đặc biệt của Liên Hiệp Quốc về tự do tôn giáo Heiner Bielefeldt đã lên án về tính mơ hồ của Điều 258: “Ngay cả các thành viên của một tòa án địa phương cấp tỉnh và Tòa án Nhân dân Tối cao [của Việt Nam] cũng không thể làm rõ ý nghĩa của thuật ngữ ‘lợi dụng’ và không xác định được những hành vi nào sẽ cấu thành vi phạm pháp luật”. [21]
Không một tổ chức nhân quyền nào đồng ý với Việt Nam về việc thực thi Điều 331. Tổ chức Ân xá Quốc tế cho rằng Điều 331 hoàn toàn vi phạm các nghĩa vụ quốc tế về quyền con người của Việt Nam. [22] Đến nay, 54 người đã bị khởi tố theo tội danh này, theo thống kê của tổ chức nhân quyền The 88 Project. [23]
Những người bị khởi tố theo Điều 331, Bộ luật Hình sự theo thống kê của của The 88 Project. Ảnh: Chụp màn hình.
Chính quyền hay các chức sắc Giáo hội Phật giáo Việt Nam khẳng định Tịnh thất Bồng Lai hoạt động tôn giáo bất hợp pháp – điều này là đúng với pháp luật Việt Nam, nhưng sai so với chuẩn mực về quyền tự do tôn giáo.
Báo cáo viên đặc biệt Heiner Bielefeldt sau chuyến làm việc tại Việt Nam cũng đã bình luận rằng: “Việc thực hiện các quyền tự do tôn giáo hay tín ngưỡng không thể bị thu hẹp do phụ thuộc vào bất kỳ hành vi phê duyệt hành chính nào; là một quyền con người phổ quát, quyền tự do tôn giáo tín ngưỡng vốn có trong tất cả mọi người, trước bất kỳ hành vi đăng ký hoặc công nhận chính thức”. [24]
Đặc biệt, ông Heiner Bielefeldt nhấn mạnh rằng: “Việc phải đăng ký chính thức với Chính phủ [Việt Nam mới được phép hoạt động] không đảm bảo tôn trọng đầy đủ tự do tôn giáo, tín ngưỡng.”
Tiếp đến, theo tường thuật về kết luận điều tra vụ án Tịnh thất Bồng Lai, công an đã chỉ trích việc các thành viên ở tịnh thất quỳ lạy, sùng bái ông Vân. Đây rõ ràng là quyền thực hành tự do tôn giáo, tín ngưỡng ở Tịnh thất Bồng Lai. Chính quyền cần tôn trọng, không nên cho mình quyền được can thiệp vào thực hành này.
Ngay cả khi Tịnh thất Bồng Lai có thực hành, phổ biến sai lệch giáo lý đạo Phật, đó cũng là vấn đề của cộng đồng Phật giáo chứ không phải là việc của chính quyền.
Bản chất của quyền tự do tôn giáo là sự khoan dung đối với các thực hành tôn giáo, tín ngưỡng khác biệt. Bất cứ quy định nào trái với điều này thì không còn là tự do tôn giáo mà là đàn áp tôn giáo.
Khi bị khởi tố theo Điều 331, vụ án Tịnh thất Bồng Lai không dừng lại ở việc trừng phạt các cá nhân nữa, mà nó là phát súng của chính quyền hướng về xã hội, đe dọa bất cứ ai dám bước qua vạch giới hạn do chính quyền vẽ ra. Nhưng chẳng ai biết cái vạch đó nằm ở đâu, ngoài chính quyền.
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