@karinxxl, yes! That bus ride! That was one of the highlights of my trip, actually. It was just so nice getting to sit with you and @revisesociology and chat and hang out in person.

I'm struggling with the idea of Bangkok, to be honest. I may end up going, but Thailand is one of the countries that participated in the dog meat trade until Soi Dog pushed some legislation through very recently. However, it's common knowledge that dog meat is still heavily trafficked in the back alleys and countrysides. Worse, the local belief that death by torture makes the meat taste better only adds to my aversion to this region of the world. I'm saddened that Steemfest organizers were unaware of this very dark and very disgusting practice so engrained in the culture of a locality that will benefit from tourism dollars spent by Steemians.

I'm sure I'll post more about this as time goes by. In the meanwhile, here's a link to a BBC article about the Asian dog meat trade. Thailand is still listed in this 2017 article as one of the countries guilty of this horrific practice.

While not widespread, [The Humane Society International] says the practice is most common in China, South Korea, The Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and the region of Nagaland in India.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/39577557/the-countries-where-people-still-eat-cats-and-dogs-for-dinner

The work Soi Dog has done in Thailand is the ONLY reason I would even consider traveling to that country. I'm still on the fence, though. Lots of research in my future.
https://www.soidog.org/content/ending-dog-meat-trade