AnkertilBrewer

Are the cameras to catch petty thieves, or to monitor for social unrest? I wasn't really clear on that.

I don't know why we should make such a big deal of this. Corruption is what drives US conservative politics, drags the rest of the world into horrific conflicts, and rapes the 3rd World of it's resources. Relatively speaking, Thai corruption is for the most part localised. US corruption global.

This is spot on. Corruption exists everywhere and it's like a cancer that's destroying everything. In China, where corruption appears to me to be much mover vicious than here, most everyone accepts it and engages in it with the justification that they are getting so screwed from above that they needs to screw over anyone else they can just to break even.

In China you need to pay a bribe to get a good job.

However, as Technikall pointed out, we have corruption in America as well, which cause the economic crisis. All that crooked banking was extremely corrupt, and they got away with it. The difference is that we are much better at hiding our corruption in America. In Asia sometimes people flaunt being corrupt to show their power. Obviously, in America one isn't expected to pay a bribe to get a job, but there are other ways to cheat, exploit and take advantage of the less privileged and fortunate.

wouldn't anyone have noticed this happening? Seems too nightmarish for anyone to willingly put themselves through. If you can face jumping into a crocodile pit and being shredded alive, I think you could probably handle everyday problems. Why not just jump off a building, or OD on pills?

I was interested in the fact that they take pride in their respective schools. This leads me to think the schools may also be able to play more of a role (if they aren't already doing so). First, students who use violence should be expelled. Of course this should be evaluated on a case by case basis, with appropriate warnings where needed. But being ostracized from the school might undermine their need for group/pack bonding.

If this is about pride in one's school, and students have a surplus of physical energy, can't this be channeled into sport competitions and, for the brainier and less physically volatile, other sorts of competitions (I can't think of anything other than spelling Bs and speech competitions at the moment)? Oh, perhaps some multi-school activities such as art exhibitions? For the violent ones, how about kick-boxing matches? Just have an onsite kick-boxing coach (who's tough enough), and the kid's that think they are bad-asses get recruited onto the kickboxing team. Then there are competitions between schools. OK, maybe that's not a good idea, because it could too easily get turned into physical punishment. But a completely voluntary kick-boxing team with competitions between schools might be a good idea (anyone has a fight outside of the ring is penalized from fighting in the ring for a period of time).

I'm guessing the school is probably just a convenient way of the kids to self-segment themselves into various competing gangs. So, there needs to be a more meaningful way for them to gain respect among their peers.

The boot camp seems like a pretty good idea to teach students some no bullshit discipline, and force cooperation on them. At least the Thai govt. is taking some initiating in addressing the problem. I think they may do more to teach the students skills that will give them something of a future. If given a choice of doing something constructive that will get the respect of one's peers or whoever else AND help fortify one's future, I think kids will take that route rather than just do something nasty to look cool for a few minutes before accepting one's dim future as a subservient laborer.

I also agree with the people that said that 200 baht is NOT a penalty. Hell, those kids would probably pay 200 baht up front for the chance to stab another student in the head. The penalty should be some form of meaningful community service. I'm thinking something connected to a skill. Could be something like painting homes or landscaping. Just punishment won't work because it doesn't give kids something they can use to have a successful life.

Putting things in perspective by comparing Thailand and Japan, another Asian country with its own culturally unique cuisine.

Japan, about twice the population of Thailand

Japan, about half the number of tourists annually as Thailand

Japan, 3500+ McDonalds or 21 times the number located in Thailand.

Doesn't look like its tourists being the main group there.

You might also compare Hong Kong. I've never seen so many Western fast food restaurants as in Hong Kong. But, it doesn't mean that it's the same in Thailand. Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Nepal don't have any, but I won't try to say that it's because the citizens all hate it. Each country is different.

Forgot to mention KFC, Pizza Hut , Subway are already all there :-) enjoy your Gai tod upsize !

While we're enjoying that let's choke down some pollution, bask in global warming, watch our bank accounts shrivel in the economic crisis, and celebrate fruitless wars. In other words, just because something happens, or succeeds in happening, doesn't mean it's a good thing.

Sorry to burst the bubble A. ...according to my sources u should see the first McD in HCM Vietnam next year ...

Laos and Cambodia are still off the charts for now due to supply chain issues but expect this to change when the connecting highways are in full blast ...rumors that the supplies will be trucked in from Kunming

You, and your alleged sources say it's just a "supply chain" issue. But then you say they have KFC… But, but, but, if Pizza Hut and Subway can get their supply in, why can't McDonalds? Perhaps your "sources" are, well, full of McDonald's.

My sources say everyone isn't eager to be swallowed up by American culture. They also say that just because something happens doesn't mean it's a good thing: global warming, the economic crisis, the war on terror…

Pretty much everything seems to be going to shit, largely because of corruption, so it does seem fitting that the world be paved over and each and ever country should have McDonald's franchises in it. I think we should put McDonald's in the schools and force feed the monks and elephants McDonalds, too. We might as well go all the way. Let's just make a giant mall in space, fill it with fast food restaurants, move in, and pork ourselves to death.

They can afford it in Vietnam, but there are no McDonalds. You stand corrected.

Ever thought of teaching English in Vietnam or Cambodia, to ease your stress?

Who said I haven't already taught there? Ever thought of moving back to the West so you could be in your own culture?

McDonald's doesn't cause me stress. That's the whole point of it. Any Westerner can go into any McDonald's anywhere in the world and feel like he's safe and secure back home, eating the absolutely most familiar food imaginable, in the most familiar and cliched environment. Going to McDonald's in Thailand is a little like reciting your ABC's in a Thai language class. It's just weakly crawling back to what you already know.

The real question is, should the people who are too stressed by living in another culture go back home instead of bringing McDonald's with them?

If you can't live without McDonald's, you probably should stay at home (if you can afford it!). True, many, many people are here not because they like Thailand at all, or have any interest in Thai culture or any culture, but merely because they don't have enough money to live in their own countries. I've seen many a miserable foreigner who can't adapt or acclimate, clinging to the Golden Arches, almost literally, and suffering from depression because they are not in their homeland (though that does tend to be the ones who can't afford to live it up Western style).

Sorry chum, but you are saying that you do not want to see successful fast food outlets on your holiday destinations. The stuff you have talked about is not liking a successful business because it's from the USA.

You cannot accept my answer about Lao or Cambodia, Why ?.

Out of season nobody can afford to buy in these countries, simple stuff. In LOS, some Thais can afford to buy and have a bigger expat farang community. .

Oh are we chums now. You don't have to be sorry. Everyone is wrong sometimes, and this was just your time. Anyway, you seem to have some new angles you are trying to work.

You say I am against successful fast food outlets in my holiday destinations. I don't mind if I see a KFC next to Disneyland. I mind when too many dumb foreigners are too addicted to fast food and too lazy to explore the local good, and the result is that the rest of us have to see the McDonald's cropping up for them to plop themselves at. No, I don't want to see the Golden Arches when I go to see a different culture. Some of us travel to see things that are different, not to squat at McDonald's and pound burgers. I'm not begrudging anyone's success, but rather, the stupidity of those needing/demanding to engorge themselves on familiar fast food wherever they go. Do we really need to bring McDonald's with us to feel safe? Are we that weak?

The stuff you have talked about is not liking a successful business because it's from the USA.

No, because it's a cliche. Because it's lame. Because it is the biggest symbol of conformity in America. Because it is the "lowest common denominator." True, I didn't come to Asia to have the dumbest American shit thrust in my face. It's not about I'm against a successful business. This is actually so ridiculous it's a joke. What is the absolute dumbest thing anyone could say they did in Asia. "Der, I went to Mac Donald."

You cannot accept my answer about Lao or Cambodia, Why ?

You wrote:

Out of season nobody can afford to buy in these countries, simple stuff.

They can afford it in Vietnam, but there are no McDonalds. You stand corrected.

I'm surprised people are still arguing about this. Nobody has answered one of my questions. I mentioned that there are NO McDonald's in Vietnam, Cambodia, or Myanmar (Burma). And my question was, do you want there to be McDonald's in those countries?

Not enough custom, easy really. BigMac, = weeks wages, hmmmmmmmm 2+2= hmmmmm.

Might wanna think that one through. If the restaurants are in the tourist sections, it's a question of whether or not the tourists can afford it. Really, it's a question of whether a tourist wants to go to another country to eat at McDonalds, or to eat at local restaurants. Some tourists just want to eat at McDonalds and party, etc… They'd probably just stay at home if Thailand wasn't cheap for them, and didn't have some things available that they couldn't get at home (bar girls…).

Also, you guys keep trying to make it like I said there shouldn't be any Western fast food joints. Of course McDonalds is the biggest cliche. But, I said not too many of them. At some point it just becomes retarded.

I'm surprised people are still arguing about this. Nobody has answered one of my questions. I mentioned that there are NO McDonald's in Vietnam, Cambodia, or Myanmar (Burma). And my question was, do you want there to be McDonald's in those countries?

I couldn't care less. It's up to the locals in those countries. As the Thai's have proven they want it here by the stores popularity.

If you couldn't care less, might as well not post about it. Anyway, your assumption that McDonalds are here by popular Thai demand is naive. Did they vote on it? If they are in the tourist areas why do you conclude it's by Thai demand and not tourist demand? Why are the Western fast food restaurants in CM filled with Westerners if it's the Thais that want them?

I'm surprised people are still arguing about this. Nobody has answered one of my questions. I mentioned that there are NO McDonald's in Vietnam, Cambodia, or Myanmar (Burma). And my question was, do you want there to be McDonald's in those countries?

Post # 138 for the financial stuff,

are you against Thai, Lao or Cambodian grub in USA or UK. ? Please answer.

And if you think it OK, then what if they come successful and make bundles of cash, will you then be against them ????

Of course I'm not against international food. The question isn't the food, but the multinational food chain restaurant in question. Yeah, generally speaking, monopoly businesses tend to put lots and lots of independent restaurants out of business. Think Starbucks and how many "mom & pop" coffee shops were eliminated because of it. I don't mind if they sell coffee in a guesthouse in Myanmar, but I don't want a McDonalds infront of the Shwedegon pagoda.

Actually, do YOU see "Pat Thai Hut" right next to the Lincoln Memorial? Think a little.

I'm surprised people are still arguing about this. Nobody has answered one of my questions. I mentioned that there are NO McDonald's in Vietnam, Cambodia, or Myanmar (Burma). And my question was, do you want there to be McDonald's in those countries?

So, again, no, I don't agree that tourists who want to see the world want to see McDonalds when they go someplace like Chiangmai.

Again, Thailand is a modern country, not a theme park. It doesn't really matter that a very few tourists can not ignore the fact that there are Apple stores and fast food restaurants and Internet shops mixed in with the temples and noodle stalls - just like most developed countries. Thailand is "going in its own direction". It is just not a direction that you personally approve of.

Every time you say the thing about the "theme park" I kind of do a double take. McDonalds makes Thailand into a theme park. Just imagine McDonald's in the Royal Palace. Would that make it seem more or less like a theme park to you?

I didn't say anything about approving or not.

You might want to reread my post. It seems that you are agreeing with me. McDonald's are to be found in tourist areas not in culture areas. People in the tourist areas are not here to see the culture. You assume that they do not like McDonald's. If that were true McDonald's would not build them there. The same as they don't build them in the hill tribe's.

You may think they are stupid but they actually know what they are doing. Not sure how McDonald's can bore you. Do you sit around looking at them all day long. Or what. do food carts bore you there is a heck of a lot more of them than there is McDonald's. 66,000,000 people and only 165 McDonald's. Hardly a invasion. You should go in to one some time. They are actually offering some Thai type food. And here in Chiang Mai you can not get a cheese quarter pounder it is made of pork in here.

Not that it matters but for my self I prefer Burger King. But I do find it strange that so many people can get so upset over a business that is obviously giving the people what they want and not trying to impose on their culture.

If you really cared about big business imposing on Thai Culture you would be going after all the motor Bike and auto manufacturers they are the ones who haverevolutionized the culture. Now instead of walking and staying in shape they drive or ride a motor bike and people wonder why they are putting on weight. DUH

We probably ARE mostly agreeing, and also not reading each other's posts carefully enough. I said that tourists who actually want to see the real culture, still must center themselves in tourist spots as a base from which to explore from (otherwise how will they know where to go at first if it isn't advertised somewhere). So, I would disagree with you that people in the tourist areas at NOT hear to see the culture. What the hell are they here to see, then? And where else can they go when they are green and don't speak the language? I've met plenty of tourists in the old city in CM who are here to see culture, and don't want to see a bunch of American chain restaurants and coffee shops.

You don't understand how McDonald's can bore me? The food is boring. After not having it in Asia for years, because it wasn't available where I lived, I happened to visit a tourist city and had a Big Mac. After a few bites, well, I lost interest in it. It's actually pretty bland food. Culturally it is boring. Eating at McDonalds in Thailand is like going to a kick-boxing stadium to watch a little league game, or going to a temple for a Christian sermon. It holds no cultural interest whatsoever. It is mind-numbingly over-familiar and innocuous. One doesn't go to Thailand to see the most familiar icons from back home. It would be like striving to attain enlightenment, and then finding out it was just a perpetual condition of smelling an eternal fart. It would be, strangely enough, like pursuing the most beautiful and exotic woman to find out she's smuggling a Budgie. You might as well go to another country to see the American flag waving, and Bob's Big boy running the country. You might as well go on a journey of a thousand miles and end up in your own restroom only to discover you forgot to flush.

Of course they offer food catering to the locals. This is consistent in every Asian country, just as they tailor the same generic pop to their own lyrics.

You don't think 165 McDonalds are a lot? Well, how many of them are in Chiangmai, for one? Further, how many are in Vietnam? Zero. How many are in Cambodia? Zero.

Do you think they SHOULD be in Vietnam and Cambodia? I was rather happy NOT to see them. And, I would be happier if there weren't any in Thailand, and no Western fast food chains at all. For the dozenth time, why go so far from home for the most boring shit you could get in your own neighborhood, and is actually so boring you don't even eat there. I mean, really, who the hell eats at McDonalds regularly in the West?

This reminds me. The first time I went to Vietnam, the first restaurant I went into (which really WAS a hole in the wall) started blaring Christmas music. There I was in Vietnam (it was Danang), listening to Jingle F'ing Bells! AND, it was boring to hear it. Really boring. As boring as it was to see "Friends" playing at all the cafes in Vang Vieng. As if people went to Laos to discover American TV sitcoms.

If you really cared about big business imposing on Thai Culture you would be going after all the motor Bike and auto manufacturers they are the ones who haverevolutionized the culture.

A separate but probably relevant issue.

Of course one has to accept that the world is becoming more homogenized, and eventually there may not be anyplace very different left to see. I've been lucky to see some places that still had their own culture, even as others are becoming McDonaldized, over familiar, and no more interesting than the place where I grew up.

I'd rather other cultures continue to develop in their own direction rather than just get swallowed up by McDonalds and become overrun with Westerners. There are some places in Thailand where there's more English than Thai. Joy. Why not just rename Thailand "McDonaldland" and switch out the Buddhas for Ronald McDonald statues?

Kinda shot your self in the foot here with

"This is a no-brainer. For people who are actually interested in seeing different cultures and exploring the world"

What are they doing in the tourist areas if it is the culture they are looking for.

Nice try. But, no, even the tourists didn't come to Thailand to go to McDonalds. I'm sure it's not actually on their itinerary. Do you really expect people who've never been to Thailand before, have no contacts, and don't speak any Thai, to explore the country side eating at food stalls with no English. Some might do that, especially if they are more seasoned travelers, but I suspect most will settle in the touristy area, and then use that as a base from which to explore farther afield.

I've been a tourist in 6 Asian countries, and I've lived in 3 and worked in them. I've been in touristy areas and also in places where I didn't see any other foreigners for days on end. In fact I've lived for years in places with only a handful of foreigners within hours of driving distance. But I've never welcomed a McDonalds anywhere really. Honestly, I think I was permanently bored of McDonalds when I was still a teenager. I burned out on it at about the same time I burned out on re-runs of "Happy Days."

If I were to go to Tibet, not having ever been there before, I would take along the Lonely Planet and hit some established spots at first to get my footing. And as more and more people are travelling, it's harder to avoid "tourist" spots because anywhere that starts getting a reputation ends up with places catering to tourists. But no, I wouldn't want to arrive somewhere in Tibet, and find McDonald's and Burger King and Wendy's and Subway waiting for me there.

In fact, a lot of the tourist cities I've been to in Asia don't have ANY Western fast food restaurants OR Starbucks, and the travelers are perfectly happy with that. I don't remember seeing any of those places in Laos or Cambodia, and certainly not in Burma. But maybe they've been more Westernized recently.

You know what that's like finding a McDonalds on a trip to Asia. It's like hiking up a mountain, and when you finally get to the top, you discover there's a road leading there, and instead of the view you wanted to see, you get a Dunkin Donuts and a bunch of cars parked there. There are a bunch of people milling about taking photos of each other. Instead of a photo of nature, you get a photo of Dunkin Donuts. Who, by the way, wants a photo of the Taa Pae gate, with either Starbucks or McDonalds showing through the opening?

Do you think there should be a McDonalds on the grounds of the Royal Palace? Why not? It's one of the first places that tourists go?

Should there be a McDonalds on the peak of Mt. Whitney?

So, again, no, I don't agree that tourists who want to see the world want to see McDonalds when they go someplace like Chiangmai. I actually see more backpackers sitting around food stalls for 30-50 baht meals than I do in McDonalds or Burger King. They are still in the touristy area, but they seem to be avoiding Ronald McDonald. I mostly see the older, retired guys in those locations, to be honest. Actually, overwhelmingly, I see the older guys in all the over-priced Western establishments. And this is logical. People who came here to travel don't want the comforts of home necessarily, but people who just came here to retire because it's cheap, just want the comforts of home. Of course there are many who lived here and worked here, or traveled here BEFORE retiring here. And there are those who just retired here and are also not interested in McDonalds. But, it IS the landed retirees that are the most populous in the fast food joints, and also the ones on the forum here talking about the wonders that can be found in various Western fast food chains and independent burger joints…

just said I'd prefer not to see TOO MANY McDonalds, because it's boring as all hell to come all the way to Thailand to see McDonalds.

I'm pretty sure that all of the McDonald's in Chiang Mai other than two are in modern shopping malls which are not exactly traditional "Thai culture" anyway. Do you want to knock down the shopping malls too? I'm not sure that the Thais would agree with you.

I don't remember saying anything about knocking anything down. I think you have me mixed up with another poster. I think I said McDonalds is boring. I also said I'm going to go to Burger King sometimes soon because I've been craving a whopper. Don't try to make me seem like a nutty extremist. I'm just saying I don't want extreme McDonaldization of Thailand, because then there's really no point in being here.

There's a McDonalds and a Starbucks directly opposite Taa Pae gate. So, if you consider the wall and moat and gate not to be symbols of Chiangmai history, than you are right that McDonalds isn't encroaching on traditional Thai culture.

Do YOU think we should knock down the moat and temples to build to build Walmarts and Water Parks and more McDonalds? Of course not. I'm arguing for a good balance. Not TOO MANY McDonalds.

I mean, shit, think about it, the ones by the gate ARE for the stupid foreigners who can't be away from their Starbucks and McDonalds before they even get out of the starting gate of exploring Chiangmai.

So, if you think a bunch of fat Westerners porking down Big Macs and slurping coffee is traditional Thai culture, then you are in heaven.

Think you have got your eyes wide shut.

How would you know when you are the blind following the blind, muttering inanities borrowed from fools.

Rumor is that the Ford motor company was going to set up a plant here. Why is the Thai government allowing this evil capitalist company to do so.

Do you follow the news? There's this thing called a "World Economic Crisis" going on, that is the direct result of not only devious banking, but multi-national corporations exporting all the manufacturing jobs to countries with cheap labor, like China and Thailand, and then skipping out of paying taxes. Did you know Apple made more money than the US government last year, but didn't manufacture anything in the US? So, obviously, the Thai government would want Ford here 'cause they'd get money out of it, and Ford would want to come here to make shit-loads of profit by cutting labor costs. In the end a few business moguls and politicians make a killing, and the Thais work for peanuts while the Americans back home become long-term unemployed.

If you think that's awesome, you're lucky. Some of us are socially aware enough to realize it sucks.

And then ask yourself, is your iphone really that much cheaper because it's made with cheap labor in China?

I'll tell ya' though, if I was running the Ford factory, I'd want to use you as one of my dupes in a commercial or something, extolling the virtues of my company supplying Thais with jobs better than selling noodles (or some such trite nonsense), but I sure as hell wouldn't give you a job. Now, if you were sharp enough to realize we were screwing everyone over, including "yes men" like yourself, and you could help me figure out how to screw them over even more, then I think I could find work for you.

Thai's heading to Melbourne or Sydney would be appalled at how many Thai restaurants there are. Literally thousands. I don't think so, they couldn't give a toss. And neither do I. If McDonalds is not for you just don't eat it. The Thai's are lovin it.

If Walmart and McDonalds are your idea of Thailand, than more power to you. Did you even read my post? I just said I'd prefer not to see TOO MANY McDonalds, because it's boring as all hell to come all the way to Thailand to see McDonalds. So, if you love McDonalds, go pork out to your heart's content. Actually, just pork out at home and save the airfare. Why the hell come to Thailand to engorge yourself on Western fast food when you can fatten up at home on that shit?

Now, your comparison to Thai restaurants in the West is off. Thais are not going to the West and getting confronted with a huge, multinational, Thai chain fast food store they've been eating at their whole lives. They are finding all sorts of independent restaurants. And, yes, my students would find it incredibly, mind-numbingly, disappointing to go all the way to the West to eat Pad Thai. If they want to self-lobotomize, they can ride around without a helmet.

This is a no-brainer. For people who are actually interested in seeing different cultures and exploring the world, McDonalds is #@$^ boring. Once there are McDonalds everywhere, than one might as well stop travelling. But, again, for people who are just here because it's cheap, but would actually prefer to live in the West (er, if they could have similar access to girls), culture doesn't mean shit, and they could make the whole thing into a corporate disneyland, kick the Thais out, and that would be considered an improvement.

Kinda' funny that some people are disappointed to see more McDonalds in CM. Perhaps some people come here to get away from stuff like McDonalds. Maybe they think McDonalds doesn't reflect traditional Thai culture, and probably diminishes it. And then others have turned the thread into some sort of fast food worship list. That might be a bit of a difference between people who came here because they wanted to experience another culture, and people who came here because it's cheap (and couldn't give a shit about the culture). I could live without any Western fast food chains, and haven't been to one yet, but I'm not against hitting one sooner or later.

However, how many is enough and how many is ridiculous? I don't want to see a McDonalds next to every temple. If there's one, that's probably enough. If you need to go to McDonalds more than once a week in Thailand, you might be overdoing it, especially if you didn't eat at McDonalds weekly in your own country.

Still planning on hitting up that Burger King for a whopper. Just haven't gotten around to it yet.

I too am outraged that an American business would set up shop in Thailand, and that Thais would dishonor their culture by patronizing the evil capitalists.

, Who is building Thailand ? Who is building the motorways ? Who built the airports, who makes the mobile phones, who designs LOS cars, who supplies arms, who supplies all the technology ? WAKE UP. Modern LOS does not run on sticky rice.

Yeah, but that's getting back to the whole thing about different people's reasons for being here. If you are retired, say, and honestly couldn't give a rat's ass about the local culture, and just want a Western lifestyle cheap, then all the Westernization is the bees knees. On the other hand, if you are a traveler looking to see the world, and explore different cultures, you might wish you'd been able to visit 20 years ago.

Kinda' funny that some people are disappointed to see more McDonalds in CM. Perhaps some people come here to get away from stuff like McDonalds.

The reason that there are so many McDonald's is not for foreigners. It is because many Thais like to eat there. Thailand is not a theme park. People that can not put up with fast food restaurants on crowded city streets might try travel to the Antarctic. I don't think that they have any there.

Never said the fast food restaurants were for foreigners. Same with the 7/11s. I did say that foreigners might be a little disappointed to travel half way around the world (in some cases) to see an exotic land and culture, and then see McDonalds, Burger King, Subway… everywhere. Contrary to your statement that they can go to Antarctica, they can simply go to Laos, Cambodia, or Myanmar if they don't want to see too much of the biggest cliches of their own countries already established here. I mean, it's not difficult to understand why someone wouldn't want to go all the way to Thailand to see McDonalds. Interestingly, I never saw a McDonalds in Vietnam.

Honestly, suppose you decided to go see the pyramids. You wouldn't really want to go inside and find a Starbucks AND a McDonalds, would you? Why bother going someplace different if when you get there it's the same tired old shit that was boring you to death back home.

Kinda' like going to Vang Vieng and watching Friends on TV all day. Why the #%@$ bother? Oh, well, yeah, of course, some are here 'cause it's cheap and they can get cheap sex. That's true. But other people are more interested in seeing the world.

I too don't want to see too many McDonalds, mostly because it's boring. Otherwise I might as well just stay at home if I am just going to see American fast food chains and white people. That said, I do occasionally eat at said restaurants.

Kinda' funny that some people are disappointed to see more McDonalds in CM. Perhaps some people come here to get away from stuff like McDonalds. Maybe they think McDonalds doesn't reflect traditional Thai culture, and probably diminishes it. And then others have turned the thread into some sort of fast food worship list. That might be a bit of a difference between people who came here because they wanted to experience another culture, and people who came here because it's cheap (and couldn't give a shit about the culture). I could live without any Western fast food chains, and haven't been to one yet, but I'm not against hitting one sooner or later.

However, how many is enough and how many is ridiculous? I don't want to see a McDonalds next to every temple. If there's one, that's probably enough. If you need to go to McDonalds more than once a week in Thailand, you might be overdoing it, especially if you didn't eat at McDonalds weekly in your own country.

Still planning on hitting up that Burger King for a whopper. Just haven't gotten around to it yet.

I would like to know the BMI of the Expat community here on TV? I'm happy to be off the Junk food and living off of healthy Thai Food. Some of you fools saying you'd rather eat a big mac everyday than eat a bacteria batch of Thai food obviously have weak immune systems or havent stayed in Thailand for longer than a couple months...

You are new here obviously. Take a stroll through a Thai Market.

I for one will be waiting for your reply on how well the food is preserved.

Be sure to tell us all about the meat just sitting there all day long in the heat.

And don't forget to commend them on their cleanliness.

Much cleaner than China

I don't think the posters here are being that honest with themselves. Do you really want a lot more retirees coming to CM? At some point, would there be so many that it was just ruining the experience? For example, if you are a travel photographer, you want there to be places where a photographer such as yourself can go. But, you don't want hundreds of other photographers in the same place, and you definitely don't want thousands, and you most definitely won't bother when there are tens of thousands and they are looking to expand.

This doesn't just apply to retirees, but to all expats. At some point a place can become over-saturated, which CM already is. So, it's natural for those of us already living here to not want the Farang population to increase to much more. And yes, obviously, prices do go up in many establishments, and wages for those working here stay low because there's no shortage of farang.

People who say "We welcome all foreigners, no matter how many" are probably either not being honest or would prefer to live in a fully Westernized and foreigner populated are, with some Thais on the periphery, preferably with all signs in English, goddammit.

I'm not against having the occasional Western comfort food. I've been meaning to hit the Burger King for a few weeks now. Might do that today!

Yeah, but it is kinda' sad when you see travelers come all the way to Asia, and they are sitting in Starbucks or McDonalds because they don't want to brave eating at a local Thai restaurant. Just between you and me, they can get McDonalds without getting on an airplane. You can also have it in the airport.

Incidentally, they don't have McDonalds in Vietnam. Not sure why.

Also noticed some big porky boys in Chiangmai. Might be the imported diet.