leozaza

Well "Erb". The rains have come and went here a bit north of Ubon. Some minor local flooding and a few crops washed away. Nothing serious that  I have seen today between Mukdahan and Ubon. Worth a visit just to look at the Mekong nearly up to full level.
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It would be really good if you could send in some photos.  Thanks.

This happens to me also in Malaysia, where I once brought my backpac into a small supermarket and was quite happy to use that for the groceries I'd purchased.&nbsp; The girl behind the checkout was about to pack everything into plastic bags and I said I didn't need them and to just fill the backpac. I was helping her to do just that when the Manager appeared and started telling her off for not providing plastic bags. I told him it's OK I will use my own bag and they looked at me like I was from another planet!&nbsp; They even laughed as I left the store quite amused by my using MY OWN bag for the things I'd bought in THEIR store.&nbsp; <br><br>The "no plastic bag campaign" has been in Australia for some years such that supermarkets will now ask at the checkout "Are you planning to buy a bag today?" if they see you haven't brought your own bags in to the store. <br><br>There seems to be a certain cache involved especially in SE Asia with the plastic bag being seen as some kind of indication that the store is truly modern.&nbsp; Not necessary to have them thrust upon you for even the smallest purchase.<br><br><br>