I can say the same, over 40 years I've seen a lot so I'm getting a bit more careful in my old age. I still travel a lot and enjoy new experiences, but I don't take so many risks now. I don't live in Thailand but visit family regularly as my Thai wife of 35 years likes to spend time with her old Mum and sisters. We've travelled all over SE Asia over the years, and unscrupulous vendors are more the norm these days as the requirement for money pushes people to the brink. I've been caught out a number of times with substandard food and been ill for days, thankfully when drinking I've only had hangovers from drinking Chang or Leo beer.
I keep adding this story about those 6 unfortunate backpackers as it could happen to anybody who travels here and hope that people become more aware of the dangers and take some sensible precautions.
Laos today is like Thailand 40 years ago, and Cambodia and Vietnam 20 years ago. Its been just 30 years since Laos opened its borders, its changing quick in parts due to the Chinese high speed rail from Kunming and the transport of goods from China through Laos to Thailand.
I did post about this a few years ago.
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