This week is the annual Samoeng Strawberry festival which is a well worth a visit if you're in Chiang Mai but it's lots of noise and chaos so I left for Chiang Dao for 3 days to stay near the cave on the way up to Doi Luang.

It's mid-February now but still cold in the evenings from the cold air that comes down from the mountain. Highly recommend if you're suffering in the heat now in the city.

However, the annual Shambhala festival here in Chiang Dao ended on Sunday so there's so still stragglers floating around. Today I stop at 7-11 and see this guy and some women with him. I can't film his face but he had a long straggly gray bear to match his filthy dreadlocks. The picture isn't great because I was facing the sun from the evening but he looked like he's been sleeping in the dirt and baking in the sun for weeks. Bone thin and sickly looking in general with shabby tattered clothes and flip flops. I feel bad for the poor 7-11 girls who took the time to present themselves well despite their humble background and had to serve this disgusting person.

So the question is, why do I care then? Who cares how some random person is dressed? Well, it's not just him, it's an entire sub-culture of people who do this and it's caught my attention over many years. It's not easy to articulate and takes some thinking but here's by best answer as of now.

Basically we're dealing with a fraudulent person who is lying to you straight to your face and making you notice him, like the teenager who modifies their motorbike exhaust. This guy had enough money to flying to Thailand, stay in a hotel and attend a festival solely intended for foreign tourists yet presents like the opposite. We don't know his story but it's common for these people to come from wealthy backgrounds and are so detached from real life they're still rebelling in to their 30,40,50s and beyond. Identity fraudster and attention seeker could sum him up.

It's even more offensive when they do it in a place like Chiang Dao which has people living actual hard lives and working hard days in order to not starve. Kind of like a vampire but instead of sucking blood they suck the life blood of the culture around them.

Anyways, these people are scum. I know immigration can't deny for that reason alone but everyone is thinking this same thing, especially Thai people.

38 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

Basically we're dealing with a fraudulent person who is lying to you straight to your face and making you notice him, like the teenager who modifies their motorbike exhaust. This guy had enough money to flying to Thailand, stay in a hotel and attend a festival solely intended for foreign tourists yet presents like the opposite. We don't know his story but it's common for these people to come from wealthy backgrounds and are so detached from real life they're still rebelling in to their 30,40,50s and beyond. Identity fraudster and attention seeker could sum him up.

Can you picture yourself sitting next to this individual on a long flight? Bring a mask.

18 minutes ago, Fact said:

Can you picture yourself sitting next to this individual on a long flight? Bring a mask.

This guy was so vile. I really wish I could have taken a clean picture of his face.

It was something like this but he was white. He's cosplaying as an Indian guru. That woman he was with was relatively young too. He must have some scam going where he's some wise guru to her.

On 2/18/2026 at 2:05 AM, NorthernRyland said:

This guy was so vile. I really wish I could have taken a clean picture of his face.

It was something like this but he was white. He's cosplaying as an Indian guru. That woman he was with was relatively young too. He must have some scam going where he's some wise guru to her.

Having a beard is not a scam. I can not see the issue here.

49 minutes ago, khaosokman said:

Having a beard is not a scam. I can not see the issue here.

the scam is intentionally presenting like a hobo when you're actually a tourist with the means to travel internationally and stay at hotels to attend festivals.

6 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

the scam is intentionally presenting like a hobo when you're actually a tourist with the means to travel internationally and stay at hotels to attend festivals.

So tourists should shave and dress nice to make you happy?

5 hours ago, khaosokman said:

So tourists should shave and dress nice to make you happy?

No he just shouldn't lie about his identity and look disgusting. You really have a problem with upholding even the most basic standards of decency don't you? If that's your attitude you really shouldn't be traveling abroad where you're a guest.

3 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

No he just shouldn't lie about his identity and look disgusting. You really have a problem with upholding even the most basic standards of decency don't you? If that's your attitude you really shouldn't be traveling abroad where you're a guest.

I've seen many young people badly dressed. It is best not to judge people. I don't see how this guy bothered you so much.

54 minutes ago, khaosokman said:

I've seen many young people badly dressed. It is best not to judge people. I don't see how this guy bothered you so much.

Maybe you need to see his face but I couldn't take that obviously. He was revolting looking, I really mean that.

In fact there was a hill tribe woman with her child selling some strawberries with her little kid in front of 7-11. I think some of these people don't have ready access to clean water in their village and the kids often are covered in dirt and looking a mess (kind of cute actually).

This guy put both of them to shame. Never will you see a Thai person looking that terrible unless they're schizophrenic and homeless. That's how bad it was.

54 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

Maybe you need to see his face but I couldn't take that obviously. He was revolting looking, I really mean that.

In fact there was a hill tribe woman with her child selling some strawberries with her little kid in front of 7-11. I think some of these people don't have ready access to clean water in their village and the kids often are covered in dirt and looking a mess (kind of cute actually).

This guy put both of them to shame. Never will you see a Thai person looking that terrible unless they're schizophrenic and homeless. That's how bad it was.

Probably a meth addict (Ya-Ice), very cheap and easy to get, around 20bht a tablet.

10 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

No he just shouldn't lie about his identity and look disgusting. You really have a problem with upholding even the most basic standards of decency don't you? If that's your attitude you really shouldn't be traveling abroad where you're a guest.

Bug up your butt much?

Two hippies were riding the bus when a nun got on with her leg in a cast.

The bus driver asked "What happened sister?"

The nun answered "I fell and broke my leg getting out of the bathtub".

1st hippies asks his pal "What's a bathtub?".

2nd hippie says "How should I know? I'm not Catholic."

Dysgenic leftist trash who couldn't afford a bubble in the West has definitely been on the increase in Thailand. Pea brain buffoon Wyt liberals and non-Wyt Americans fleeing a reality they backed to be ushered in bringing their incredible odd and disconnected forms of pandering to 'ethnic folk'.

If you're a decent person with a brain and you don't have a family, consider leaving Thailand. If you came here years ago you have already seen the best. I may make a post why these leftist trash will totally alienate them from other groups. They already have grumpy Russians, weird Indians and insular East Asians that don't have good interactions with them + fckers from ug ug societies that have no respect for others without the consequence of the whip, and now these Leftist Westerners are going to completely make them just want nothing to do with foreigners. I am out for the last time later this month with a lot of good memories.

On 2/17/2026 at 10:03 AM, NorthernRyland said:

This week is the annual Samoeng Strawberry festival which is a well worth a visit if you're in Chiang Mai but it's lots of noise and chaos so I left for Chiang Dao for 3 days to stay near the cave on the way up to Doi Luang.

It's mid-February now but still cold in the evenings from the cold air that comes down from the mountain. Highly recommend if you're suffering in the heat now in the city.

However, the annual Shambhala festival here in Chiang Dao ended on Sunday so there's so still stragglers floating around. Today I stop at 7-11 and see this guy and some women with him. I can't film his face but he had a long straggly gray bear to match his filthy dreadlocks. The picture isn't great because I was facing the sun from the evening but he looked like he's been sleeping in the dirt and baking in the sun for weeks. Bone thin and sickly looking in general with shabby tattered clothes and flip flops. I feel bad for the poor 7-11 girls who took the time to present themselves well despite their humble background and had to serve this disgusting person.

So the question is, why do I care then? Who cares how some random person is dressed? Well, it's not just him, it's an entire subculture of people who do this, and it's caught my attention over many years. It's not easy to articulate and takes some thinking but here's by best answer as of now.

Basically we're dealing with a fraudulent person who is lying to you straight to your face and making you notice him, like the teenager who modifies their motorbike exhaust. This guy had enough money to flying to Thailand, stay in a hotel and attend a festival solely intended for foreign tourists yet presents like the opposite. We don't know his story but it's common for these people to come from wealthy backgrounds and are so detached from real life they're still rebelling in to their 30,40,50s and beyond. Identity fraudster and attention seeker could sum him up.

It's even more offensive when they do it in a place like Chiang Dao which has people living actual hard lives and working hard days in order to not starve. Kind of like a vampire but instead of sucking blood they suck the life blood of the culture around them.

Anyways, these people are scum. I know immigration can't deny for that reason alone but everyone is thinking this same thing, especially Thai people.

I used to live in Humboldt County California, which is hippy central. They live in a different universe.

10 minutes ago, kevozman1 said:

Dysgenic leftist trash who couldn't afford a bubble in the West has definitely been on the increase in Thailand. Pea brain buffoon Wyt liberals and non-Wyt Americans fleeing a reality they backed to be ushered in bringing their incredible odd and disconnected forms of pandering to 'ethnic folk'.

If you're a decent person with a brain and you don't have a family, consider leaving Thailand. If you came here years ago you have already seen the best. I may make a post why these leftist trash will totally alienate them from other groups. They already have grumpy Russians, weird Indians and insular East Asians that don't have good interactions with them + fckers from ug ug societies that have no respect for others without the consequence of the whip, and now these Leftist Westerners are going to completely make them just want nothing to do with foreigners. I am out for the last time later this month with a lot of good memories.

11 minutes ago, kevozman1 said:

I am out for the last time later this month with a lot of good memories.

Are you sure?😊 You seem unhappy.

I sort of think of myself as a plain clothed hippie.

Was just in CD. Stayed at a $200 a night place. People were dressed pretty poorly.

It’s just the way it is now. Get over it.

If that's your attitude you really shouldn't be traveling abroad where you're a guest.

If he’s paying, how is he a guest?

If I see Thai people walking around in New York, I don’t think of them as my guest.

Do you think this person whose name you do not know is really your guest?

4 hours ago, Prubangboy said:

I sort of think of myself as a plain clothed hippie.

Was just in CD. Stayed at a $200 a night place. People were dressed pretty poorly.

It’s just the way it is now. Get over it.

Then you aren't making people feel uncomfortable and there's no problem.

4 hours ago, Prubangboy said:

If that's your attitude you really shouldn't be traveling abroad where you're a guest.

If he’s paying, how is he a guest?

If I see Thai people walking around in New York, I don’t think of them as my guest.

Do you think this person whose name you do not know is really your guest?

he's a customer and guest. In either circumstance you should be at least rise to the most basic levels of decency out of respect. How bad must things be that I need to be defending this point.

47 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

Then you aren't making people feel uncomfortable and there's no problem.

I don't recall seeing many guests who appeared as if they could be members of the Manson family in $200 hotels in Thailand.

44 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

he's a customer and guest. In either circumstance you should be at least rise to the most basic levels of decency out of respect. How bad must things be that I need to be defending this point.

Oh no… a man with messy hair bought a plane ticket... National alert.... Bring out those Immigration Smart Cars !

You could’ve offered to help him out financially, though, y'know... Pop a lump of coal up yer jacksie for a few hours and present him with the diamond you’ve heroically produced. That should resolve the humanitarian crisis unfolding at 7-11.

While you're at it, draft a formal complaint to the Ministry of Acceptable Facial Hair and Flip-Flop Compliance. I reckon they have a rapid-response unit for un-ironed trousers.

The way you tell it, he’s masterminded an international conspiracy - infiltrates Thailand, attends a festival, then commits the unspeakable crime of not pressing his linen. Thats audacity that is...

You’d better get down to Khao San Road and sort out those fraudulent gap-year oxygen thieves as well. Teach them how to steam razor-sharp creases into their tie-dye fishermans pants. They’re clearly running a shadow economy of spiritual identity theft somewhere between açaí bowls and tantric massage workshops.

You call Mr Beard a “vampire sucking the life-blood of the culture” and an “identity fraudster” - yet somehow miss the irony of flying abroad, living somewhere cheaper, and then gatekeeping who is allowed to look scruffy while doing essentially the same thing.

Maybe... just maybe... a man with dreadlocks isn’t a cultural parasite. Maybe he’s just… a man with dreadlocks.

If we’re ranking social offences in Chiang Mai, I’m not convinced “creases, dreads and visible sun damage” makes the podium.... But do keep us updated. If you spot someone in Crocs, socks with sandals, or elephant pants, we may need to alert Immigration - back to those smart-cars again - I knew they'd be useful eventually.

8 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Oh no… a man with messy hair bought a plane ticket... National alert.... Bring out those Immigration Smart Cars !

You could’ve offered to help him out financially, though, y'know... Pop a lump of coal up yer jacksie for a few hours and present him with the diamond you’ve heroically produced. That should resolve the humanitarian crisis unfolding at 7-11.

While you're at it, draft a formal complaint to the Ministry of Acceptable Facial Hair and Flip-Flop Compliance. I reckon they have a rapid-response unit for un-ironed trousers.

The way you tell it, he’s masterminded an international conspiracy - infiltrates Thailand, attends a festival, then commits the unspeakable crime of not pressing his linen. Thats audacity that is...

You’d better get down to Khao San Road and sort out those fraudulent gap-year oxygen thieves as well. Teach them how to steam razor-sharp creases into their tie-dye fishermans pants. They’re clearly running a shadow economy of spiritual identity theft somewhere between açaí bowls and tantric massage workshops.

You call Mr Beard a “vampire sucking the life-blood of the culture” and an “identity fraudster” - yet somehow miss the irony of flying abroad, living somewhere cheaper, and then gatekeeping who is allowed to look scruffy while doing essentially the same thing.

Maybe... just maybe... a man with dreadlocks isn’t a cultural parasite. Maybe he’s just… a man with dreadlocks.

If we’re ranking social offences in Chiang Mai, I’m not convinced “creases, dreads and visible sun damage” makes the podium.... But do keep us updated. If you spot someone in Crocs, socks with sandals, or elephant pants, we may need to alert Immigration - back to those smart-cars again - I knew they'd be useful eventually.

I don't always agree with your views, but IMHO this is one of your better posts Richard.

On 2/17/2026 at 10:03 PM, NorthernRyland said:

I can't film his face but he had a long straggly gray bear to match his filthy dreadlocks

I would also have refrained from filming somebody in such a dangerous situation 🐨

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Oh no… a man with messy hair bought a plane ticket... National alert.... Bring out those Immigration Smart Cars !

You could’ve offered to help him out financially, though, y'know... Pop a lump of coal up yer jacksie for a few hours and present him with the diamond you’ve heroically produced. That should resolve the humanitarian crisis unfolding at 7-11.

Oh I'm sure he has plenty of money. I don't think you're really understanding who these people are. It's cosplay and attention seeking behavior for adults. They want to present to you something they're not and make you and everyone else feel uncomfortable in the process or at the very least steal your attention.

As long as I’m here, and since I was appropriately attired, wearing a $150 lacrosse special edition polo shirt with 1 million little alligator all over it, what’s it like to live in Chiang Dao?

I was only two days, three nights there. We went to the cave, which was really stunning, we donated a fake gold brick to the giant Buddha, and went down a twisted little jungle alley to a place next to a little stream and a waterfall and had a fairly decent hang lay curry.

I already forget the name of the place where we stayed, but it was little chalets on a well landscaped plane with the big white Buddha in the distance.

The other higher end place was glamping inside of geodesic dome type tents. They were all arranged tightly in a row, and my girlfriend is extremely loud when having sex. So I went for those thick wall chalets.

Our place was very modern interior design, with a low table, expensive mattress on the floor, and not a single usable chair in the room. There was a massive hot tub dead in the middle of the room, and that’s strange new design idea with a glass wall between the bedroom and the bathroom means you can watch your wife take a dump.

80% of the other visitors, or if you prefer, guests, were Chinese young women, traveling in pairs.

But someone on Reddit incorrectly described it as Pai for old people. I had this hope of little coffee bars that you could walk to easily, and stuff, but it is all spread out along a pretty busy highway. Did I miss anything?

it seems like a day trip for a Buddha Cave fan, of which I am one, and some local food at a passable, but not great restaurant.

My GF did buy some of the CD only spinach to take home with her. Apparently, this spinach is a bit more bitter than the average kind and was much enjoyed by her extended family fried up water, spinach style with oyster sauce.

What do you do all day in CD, and how many experts do you think live there?

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Oh no… a man with messy hair bought a plane ticket... National alert.... Bring out those Immigration Smart Cars !

You could’ve offered to help him out financially, though, y'know... Pop a lump of coal up yer jacksie for a few hours and present him with the diamond you’ve heroically produced. That should resolve the humanitarian crisis unfolding at 7-11.

While you're at it, draft a formal complaint to the Ministry of Acceptable Facial Hair and Flip-Flop Compliance. I reckon they have a rapid-response unit for un-ironed trousers.

The way you tell it, he’s masterminded an international conspiracy - infiltrates Thailand, attends a festival, then commits the unspeakable crime of not pressing his linen. Thats audacity that is...

You’d better get down to Khao San Road and sort out those fraudulent gap-year oxygen thieves as well. Teach them how to steam razor-sharp creases into their tie-dye fishermans pants. They’re clearly running a shadow economy of spiritual identity theft somewhere between açaí bowls and tantric massage workshops.

You call Mr Beard a “vampire sucking the life-blood of the culture” and an “identity fraudster” - yet somehow miss the irony of flying abroad, living somewhere cheaper, and then gatekeeping who is allowed to look scruffy while doing essentially the same thing.

Maybe... just maybe... a man with dreadlocks isn’t a cultural parasite. Maybe he’s just… a man with dreadlocks.

If we’re ranking social offences in Chiang Mai, I’m not convinced “creases, dreads and visible sun damage” makes the podium.... But do keep us updated. If you spot someone in Crocs, socks with sandals, or elephant pants, we may need to alert Immigration - back to those smart-cars again - I knew they'd be useful eventually.

20 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

80% of the other visitors, or if you prefer, guests, were Chinese young women, traveling in pairs.

But someone on Reddit incorrectly described it as Pai for old people. I had this hope of little coffee bars that you could walk to easily, and stuff, but it is all spread out along a pretty busy highway. Did I miss anything?

it seems like a day trip for a Buddha Cave fan, of which I am one, and some local food at a passable, but not great restaurant.

This was which year? I think the Chinese people are down from before but I did see a sprinkling of them. Again that week is not comparable to any other week because of the Shambala festival which no doubt drew a bunch of people out of Pai just for that week.

Pai for old people? Sounds like something a tourist would say that has no other points of reference. Chiang Dao has a surprising amount of resorts and restaurants for tourists but it's not a decidedly tourist ghetto like Pai or Phuket where tourists out number the locals 100+ to 1.

It's basically just rural northern Thailand but due to the proximity to the city and an international airport you get tourists. It's actually way easier to live in Chiang Dao than most places in northern Thailand because the wide variety of restaurants.

Stuff to do? I always visit the pool in front of the cave and then just do motorbike rides around the valley and up to a couple mountain locations depending on the mood (the first picture included Mueang Khong which is up Doi luang, 2+ hours round trip).

Have you heard about mental health before, and how people with illness fall out of the society and have nothing. Not a place to go back to, no family who wants them? Many here have falled out with their family back home, and have nothing to come back to, what will happen if they become I'll, lose everything they got?

So next time, ask this person, what happened to you, but most do not ask those questions, we judge before we know

16 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Have you heard about mental health before, and how people with illness fall out of the society and have nothing. Not a place to go back to, no family who wants them? Many here have falled out with their family back home, and have nothing to come back to, what will happen if they become I'll, lose everything they got?

So next time, ask this person, what happened to you, but most do not ask those questions, we judge before we know

I know, I understand, I really do. This is not that, I promise you. I've seen this enough times to know all about these people.

2 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

I know, I understand, I really do. This is not that, I promise you. I've seen this enough times to know all about these people.

Fair enough, and I think maybe some few here know my tolerance spectrum as well 😁 So I'm maybe not so different than you.

11 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

In either circumstance you should be at least rise to the most basic levels of decency out of respect.

'Most basic levels of decency' is opinion, completely subjective. Why not live and let live without judging the physical appearance of others? It's none of your business. If this is 'cosplay with the intention of making others uncomfortable', it worked like a charm on you.