Empty Asia

The river Ping flowing past Ban Tak

One thing I notice on my road trip yesterday when we stopped for lunch in the small country town of Ban Tak - whilst small, it has been a town for hundreds of years, but in the last 10 years the working age population as been moving to the regional centres, and particularly Bangkok for work. Leaving this once active town populated by old women and primary aged school kids.

Like Australia, Thai's small country towns are losing their banks, doctors and basic government services, reinforcing the need to move to a regional centre or city.