StayinThailand2much

Sometimes. Most was more than 60 hours, which felt like having just run a marathon.

Loose pages yet to be bound ? (my dad was a bookbinder by trade, true) Never understood those binary numbers...

If TAT officials interviewed me at the airport about my spending habits, I'd tell them '1.5 million'... - When Tourism Malaysia staff interviewed me years ago, I made up the numbers too. (Partly because I was embarrassed having stayed only two days, and partly because I couldn't recall all the numbers.)

This is a world-wide development, but one would think that ticket prices from major Chinese cities are still more affordable than those from North America or Europe.

What Thais often declare as unique 'Thai food or dessert' often has roots in neighbouring countries, or there are similar dishes in those countries...

Well, these places in the sticks, probably, cater more to the locals, rather than the international tourists. As for brothels, some people must be blind claiming that there is 'no prostitution in Thailand'...

For me, some of the main draws are the people, culture, and history, but beaches, nature, and ladies would be extra bonus points. (Been only to the two big cities, so far.) If Vietnam had visas like Thailand (not just short-term), I'd probably try to stay there a while as an alternative to Thailand.

No go-go or beer bars.

Wonder, if it is the same in Thailand, considering the cult of 'white skin'...

My personal experience (during my short stays in Vietnam) is that I experienced neither.

Both unheard of in Thailand...

How predictable; Belarus and Syria reliant on Russia(n troops). Same as for Mali (Wagner Group mercenaries). North Korea, Nicaragua, and Eritrea as Russia's buddies... South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Laos indebted to, and reliant on Russia's best buddy China. Vietnam worried about border troubles with China, and India just enjoying great business with, and cheap oil from Russia...

China "wants peace", but not at the expense of forcing Russia to withdraw, as they are best buddies. - Hypocrisy 'Made in China'...

Those have been nuisances forever, certainly since I first travelled to Thailand, 25 years ago. And I doubt either will ever change...

For every Westerner who left, probably 10 Chinese came...

Yet, in political decisions and news, a lot of emphasis is placed on rice exports and exports of other agricultural products (e.g. to China).

Reliance on exports (esp. agricultural products) and international tourism. Overvaluation of currency (due to excessive foreign currency/ gold reserves), affecting exports and tourism. Lack of (qualified) labour (e.g. tourism industry), and underinvestment in infrastructure and education. Uncontrolled price increases and price manipulation. Overindebtedness of households, and lower living standards. Still widening economic inequality between a handful of families and 'the rest'. Corruption as a permanent drag on economy and society...

If the natives suffer due to failed economic policies, there are usually two ways of giving hope: cash streams (preferably from abroad), or war...

???? "The Flight Attendant" (HBO) comes to mind...

When I have luggage, it's often hard to get a taxi. Don't know why. I would even lift my bags into the trunk by myself. On the other hand, if I don't need one, they drive by and honk... TiT!

Give it another 6 or 12 years, and still nothing will change...

As it turns out now, zilch...

Those charges sometimes make up half the ticket price, esp. on shorter flights. No wonder flights are expensive...

...and no morals, or positive examples by the parents.

Funny, everywhere I go it's 'avoid the Chinese', or 'if you are Chinese do not do this'; spitting (many signs in Hong Kong), standing on toilet seat, throwing "No. 2" into the bin next to the toilet, driving on the wrong side, climbing statues and monuments, doing dangerous things, breaking this and that (Australia, New Zealand signs everywhere in Mandarin). - Seems, mainland Chinese need to be educated on how to travel and behave when abroad...