Arrogant is one thing I never get from Thais.
The Bangkok built environment tore ahead of Manila in comparison as I came to Asia 2000 and saw both same-time.... Manila has been left behind especially in public transport works.
Pollution and endless visa rule changes worst but Thailand is not to shabby.
3rd world is a fuzzy term now and Thailand is strongly in transition...to what, not sure...but the pace of built environment development is faster than UK now anyway - or so it appears to me.