Nostalgia Tourism Takes Root In Thailand

[MaiChai]

There is nothing really old in Thailand any more (apart from the mindset). I mean every town in Thailand has identical modern town planning with huge dual carriageways and slip roads with lots of concrete everywhere. Anything old is made of wood, which rots away very quickly here, leaving nothing of the past to see. Most of the buddhist temples look dilapidated after 5 or 10 years and thus most of the beautiful temples are new. Thus what is old and beautiful to see, apart from natural scenery, which the Thais trash anyway given half the chance?

Thing I miss is the cheap prices and happy, smiling, carefree people. Thailand has indeed changed and I wish I could up roots and move somewhere new. The part of Bangkok I am in is now getting so dirty that quite a few of my neighbours are trying to sell and move somewhere nicer to live (Thais). In the UK alot of things are now cheaper than Thailand (example: my garmin GPS is half the price it is here). So what happened to the beautiful, cheap, carefree Thailand we all loved?

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Thing I miss is the cheap prices and happy, smiling, carefree people. Thailand has indeed changed and I wish I could up roots and move somewhere new. The part of Bangkok I am in is now getting so dirty that quite a few of my neighbours are trying to sell and move somewhere nicer to live (Thais). In the UK alot of things are now cheaper than Thailand (example: my garmin GPS is half the price it is here). So what happened to the beautiful, cheap, carefree Thailand we all loved?

Chances are that you changed as much as Thailand, if not more. Chances are when you first came to Thailand to experience the smiling carefreeishness, you weren't spending your days in Fortune Mall looking for electronic gadgetry. If you were, you would have found it expensive back then, too. Imported electronics were always quite expensive in Thailand. If anything prices came down a lot.

[Bagwan]

Sounds like Phuket is going to be the place for Brits nostalgic about the old licencing laws: bars closed from 2 o'clock until 5 o'clock in the afternoon.

It's to protect the local kiddie-winkies and to ensure that they don't become addicted to the demon drink.

:D

[featography]

Thais like learning about their history - yes but they get taught a lie

How about a nostalgia tour re WWII and the truth about thailands part in it!!

How about life before thaksin!

AMAZING FARANG. subject; Nostalgia Tourism, and it only took 17 posts for someone to drag Thaksin into it.

[otherstuff1957]

I visited an old Wat in Nonthaburi a few years ago. According to a sign (printed in Thai, not English) the Wat was about 400 years old. The old building was falling apart. The roof was made or badly rusted corrugated tin and the interior was cluttered with massive tree trunks that braced up the walls and kept the old building from collapsing. From the size of the tree trunks used to brace up the walls, I would guess that the makeshift repair was done about 50 or 100 years ago (trees like that would be too expensive now).

A few meters away a giant new building was almost completed. It had a shiny new tile roof, gilded dragons flanking the stairway and the usual statutes and ornamentation. It was 4 or 5 times the size of the old Wat and the cost of its construction could have paid for the renovation of the historic old Wat several times over.

So, are Thais nostalgic? When nostalgic is profitable they are.

New Wat:

Old Wat:

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Well, a key concept of Buddhism is impermanence. Can't cling to the physical stuff too much.

[MaiChai]

Thing I miss is the cheap prices and happy, smiling, carefree people. Thailand has indeed changed and I wish I could up roots and move somewhere new. The part of Bangkok I am in is now getting so dirty that quite a few of my neighbours are trying to sell and move somewhere nicer to live (Thais). In the UK alot of things are now cheaper than Thailand (example: my garmin GPS is half the price it is here). So what happened to the beautiful, cheap, carefree Thailand we all loved?

Chances are that you changed as much as Thailand, if not more. Chances are when you first came to Thailand to experience the smiling carefreeishness, you weren't spending your days in Fortune Mall looking for electronic gadgetry. If you were, you would have found it expensive back then, too. Imported electronics were always quite expensive in Thailand. If anything prices came down a lot.

I haven't change, I have been long enough to see the changes. People used to stare at me when I first came here because they had never seen a caucasian before. How long have you been in Thailand? I guess not long (member 60000 and something?). Myself been here about 15 years. I split my life between my home country and Thailand because I can see the good and bad in both, but if I had to choose I would choose my home country. At least I know I will be looked after there when I am too old and decrepit to think straight? Could this happen here? Only if you are lucid enough to show the money at the bank and manage your personal affairs, and not have some local robbing you in the nicest possible way since you can't think clearly?

Getting back on topic, Thailand is in danger of loosing what used to attract people (well apart from the cheap sex which is still available). I went to Vietnam recently and really enjoyed it. Alot to see there and in my opinion now much more interesting than Thailand. Would love to see Burma open up as that used to be an interesting place to go.

[britadders28]

There is nothing really old in Thailand any more (apart from the mindset). I mean every town in Thailand has identical modern town planning with huge dual carriageways and slip roads with lots of concrete everywhere. Anything old is made of wood, which rots away very quickly here, leaving nothing of the past to see. Most of the buddhist temples look dilapidated after 5 or 10 years and thus most of the beautiful temples are new. Thus what is old and beautiful to see, apart from natural scenery, which the Thais trash anyway given half the chance?

Thing I miss is the cheap prices and happy, smiling, carefree people. Thailand has indeed changed and I wish I could up roots and move somewhere new. The part of Bangkok I am in is now getting so dirty that quite a few of my neighbours are trying to sell and move somewhere nicer to live (Thais). In the UK alot of things are now cheaper than Thailand (example: my garmin GPS is half the price it is here). So what happened to the beautiful, cheap, carefree Thailand we all loved?

Maybe you have finally seen through the fake smile and warm weather and cheap but bad quality items. Yes Thailand has changed but i think with the power of the internet more and more people are seeing thailand for what it is. You can even buy singha beer in uk for same cost as thailand now. Just take a look at some of our beaches, one million on bournemouth beach on one day, thailand could only dream of this kind of business. I work a lot of markets and bootsales in Uk and i see more thai people every week and after speaking to many they say they just had to leave thailand, its just a big fake lie with no human rights what so ever, I actually met thais going to live in cambodia because they are sick of thailand and thai people.

[sangfroid]

I myself am nostalgic about the times when i could get a flight for £450 and then get over 80 baht to the pound sob sob

And 16% from a fixed term deposit account in the Thai Banks

[sangfroid]

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be

[Ricardo]

I actually met thais going to live in cambodia because they are sick of thailand and thai people.

Unfortunately the most famous of these now wishes to return, and indeed remains free to do so, but seems to have certain legal-problems outstanding, so has been forced to seek employment with the Cambodian government, as an economic-adviser.

He too no doubt feels nostalgic for the 'good old days' !

[fiercesnake]

I went to Sam Chuk "hundred year old' Market a few weeks ago. The place was packed with tourists... No Farangs though, just Thais from Bangkok. The Baan Mai Market in Chachoensao is the same, as are a number of other similar locations. There is a definite "nostalgia tourism" market, but it doesn't include Farangs, just middle-class urban Thais.

I think you are right. Perhaps a number of farangs think this article is aimed at them? My feeling is that this is aimed at local Thais and general tourists from all over, NOT really the average sex tourist from UK or the US. The Thai government has been revamping its approach to tourism of recent aiming more for local Hi-So and the up and coming middle classes from Krung Thep as they know that's where the money is really at. Lots of venues that many years ago were quite cheap have been revamped more and more for upmarket local tourism. Many budget places have been pushed out of existence as the ever increasing pace of non-sustainable multi-million dollar resort and hotels take hold.

Thais have a huge motivation towards materialism. The Bangkok rich and lately developing middle classes are the most likely to take holidays. The concept of holidays like what the rich or farang have is a foreign concept to most poor rural Thais. Their idea of holidays is going to temple for meditation for a few days or to see Great Aunt Porntip in some far flung province. No the push is more general here, to encourage all backgrounds to visit local cultural sites.

The government acts to play down the role that sex tourism plays in Thailand's economy. They may certainly know that the backbone of its tourism depends largely on this factor, but pretend that it is its marvelous temples and great history that brings in so many dollars. Though I could understand why the Thai Tourism board would avoid this reality as it is an embarrassment that sex is the major draw-card to this nation not what most good Thais prefer. The average Thai is very conservative so tourism or the Pattaya kind is something that may cause loss of face for some. Hence the emphasis is, not surprisingly, on avoiding controversy and suggesting the use of visiting temples as a boost for tourism.

In deed it's not a bad idea. I like going to historical places and temples and hence avoid the average ignorant Khao San Road tourist. I personally evade the foreign tourist areas like the plague as they tend to be filled with the worst kind of Thais, constantly badgering you or attempting to rip you off. Hence instead of feeling that Thai sanook feeling, I feel only "kwaam kriat" ความเครียด (tension or stress) dealing with one rip off idiot after another . For real Thais going to the temple is part of their culture and heritage so encouraging all peoples to be part of this is understandable why they would attempt to promote this idea rather than Pattaya bar girls.

[MaiChai]

Nice post fiercesnake.

[Steve2UK]

Nice post fiercesnake.

Likewise - and also your own thoughts earlier......

[Bagwan]

I do not understand why Fiercesnake would think that Thais are embarrassed by the sex trade. What the tourists get up to is a very small part of the total naughtiness.