Thailand - Land Of Smiles Or Tourist Trap?

[Payboy]

Agree completely. I'm a classic farang in Thailand...in my early 60s, no money problems, in good health, etc. But, I do not and will not fall into the trap of serial sex with beautiful young Thai women; or pay for one Thai girlfriend. Why? because it is fake, it ain't real...it's just an image. I can not think of anything more lonely or desperate than going to a foreign country with a difficult language and culture to have superficial sex with someone half/one-third my age. It is phony and fraught with the moral hazards already mentioned.

So, what do you do in your spare time, then?

Sounds like he's got a lot of spare time on his hands.

[FarangFB]

It is impossible to have a money-generating tourist area with crime happening.

Then how come Rio de Janeiro attracts 2.8 million international tourists every year? Far more dangerous than any city in SE Asia.

The hotels there are among the most expensive in the world. Nevertheless, they get fully booked months before any great event such as Carnival, new year or world cup.

[sunshine51]

It is impossible to have a money-generating tourist area with crime happening.

Then how come Rio de Janeiro attracts 2.8 million international tourists every year? Far more dangerous than any city in SE Asia.

The hotels there are among the most expensive in the world. Nevertheless, they get fully booked months before any great event such as Carnival, new year or world cup.

It must be all those foxy Brazilian ladies in micro thongs lazing about the beach, bars, restaurants,

bistros, discos, riding bicycles, roller blading, walking, jogging....etc...etc...

They're the next best "thing" to Thai ladies in my opinion!

[pacovl46]

I've been living in Thailand for almost 10 years now. For some reason I never made it to Phuket. Considering what's been on Thai Visa for the past year I have no desire to go there anytime soon.

[sunshine51]

Thailand land of scams liars cheats and theives, home of poluted beaches covered in deck chairs and filth plenty of better places to go in the world

I have only one question...with your statement....If you're here in LOS...why are you here?

If you don't like it, airports are close with planes leaving LOS regularly...be on one.

Been living here for 7 years and just stating obvious how long have you been here

Well...what can I say at least we got some intel out of you. For what it's worth it seems

to me you haven't learned much in your relatively short 7 year stay. You have a good

day ok.

Edited July 23, 2012 by sunshine51

[phuketrichard]

I agree - the numbers are up but is the quality of holiday still there?

These young college kids seem to think all of their "Dreams can come true" in Soi Bangla Phuket.

Awesome filmclip promoting Soi Bangla and Phuket's crazy nightlife.

There is only one Thailand and with all its flaws and faults it will continue to draw tourists because no other Souteast Asian nation delivers so much "Culture Shock"in one punch. It's a heady mix compared to the stilted experiences on offer in Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and Philippines. Seasoned travelers seem drawn back like moths to the flame...

You can't have the seeming chaos without some real danger... but for some this just adds to the experience.

To those that think soi bangla is bad, Don't ever go to Vang Vieng in laos. Absolutely beautiful location totally ruined by young kids drunk and stoned "tubing " down the river

and walking around town fuc_ked out of their heads in bathing suits

[tragickingdom]

Visit Engeland and experience the wonderful hospitality over there. If you want to be in time for the closing ceremony go today. The queues will be intolerable. The prices of the public transport unbearable, the price quality of hotels dismal.

Go to China and experience the dirt, the inhospitable authorities and the filthy hotels. Go to any place where lots of tourists go and experience the same as in Thailand. But than again, take the bus to a Southern of Northern village, stay away from the white noses and the black scammers and you have the time of your life.

[rucus7]

Yeah ok cute video, but really I could give a rats behind that some spoiled affluent kids might get there dreams to come true here.....most show up having paid no dues in life to teach them anything, what little they do know is usually some regurgitation of politically correct crap about social responsibility that their lefty college prof. has pounded into their mushy little heads.....they and the world they travel to would be better off if they were home washing dishes and digging ditches to unlearn all the years of crap their schooling has mis-educated them about before they venture overseas.....but hey, thats just me....always the romantic.

Wow. You must have had a rough life.

Not necessarily, some people are just born bitter.

[Chopperboy]

LOS Land of Smiles?

More like Land of Scowls because thats what I see most of these days.

Never mined, I keep smiling if only to keep them off my case.

[cdnvic]

Unsubstantiated and reckless posts have been removed.

[dcduffy]

back in the eighties i met some japanese businessmen who told me, to my surprise, that after visiting the USA, they found that all Americans were thieves and the women were all whores...

When I asked what they were doing to get that impression they said they had spent a week in Washington DC, where they went to strip clubs every night, got drunk at overpriced tourist trap bars, had sex with different escorts from the back page of some sex magazine, stayed in expensive hotels where the staff did not speak Japanese and probably thought they were fools,

i guess you only see what you want dependent upon what you expect to see

sound familiar?

[Globeman]

Yeah ok cute video, but really I could give a rats behind that some spoiled affluent kids might get there dreams to come true here.....most show up having paid no dues in life to teach them anything, what little they do know is usually some regurgitation of politically correct crap about social responsibility that their lefty college prof. has pounded into their mushy little heads.....they and the world they travel to would be better off if they were home washing dishes and digging ditches to unlearn all the years of crap their schooling has mis-educated them about before they venture overseas.....but hey, thats just me....always the romantic.

Indeed, how dare young people presume to have fun on their travels when they haven't yet done the honest backbreaking hard work that our generation had to? The nerve. The gall. The sheer unmitigated audacity. And those dam_n pinko university professors... filling our children's heads with radical left-leaning notions, taking advantage of their mushy brains, since we all know they are incapable of thinking for themselves... Youth should not be enjoyed by the young - they don't deserve it. Just because they are still glowingly attractive, with their flat stomachs, and naive hopes and as-yet unbroken dreams, they think they are all that. What they need is to be put on a chain gang and worked nearly to death, on a diet of bread and water - that would teach them a little of the bitterness of age, which those of us on the TV forums understand so well. Then they can travel abroad and have fun - if they still remember how.

Oh, sorry, went off on a bit of a rant there... it couldn't possibly be jealousy, could it?

Edited July 23, 2012 by Globeman

[transam]

Yeah ok cute video, but really I could give a rats behind that some spoiled affluent kids might get there dreams to come true here.....most show up having paid no dues in life to teach them anything, what little they do know is usually some regurgitation of politically correct crap about social responsibility that their lefty college prof. has pounded into their mushy little heads.....they and the world they travel to would be better off if they were home washing dishes and digging ditches to unlearn all the years of crap their schooling has mis-educated them about before they venture overseas.....but hey, thats just me....always the romantic.

Indeed, how dare young people presume to have fun on their travels when they haven't yet done the honest backbreaking hard work that our generation had to? The nerve. The gall. the sheer unmitigated audacity. And those dam_n pinko university professors... filling our children's heads with radical left-leaning notions, taking advantage of their mushy brains, since we all know they are incapable of thinking for themselves... Youth should not be enjoyed by the young - they don't deserve it. Just because they are still good attractive, with their flat stomachs, and naive hopes and as-yet unbroken dreams, they think they are all that. What they need is to be put on a chain gang and worked nearly to death, on a diet of bread and water - that would teach them a little of the bitterness of age, which those of us on the TV forums understand all too well. Then they can travel abroad and have fun - if they still remember how.

Oh, sorry, went off on a bit of a rant there... it couldn't possibly be jealousy, could it?

Yep.

[givenall]

Thailand is both a tourist trap for the unwary and also a land of smiles.

You don't need to look to hard to find either

Well it may be true that you can find both, unfortunately the bad part find you often when you least expected

[OZEMADE]

The Land of Smiles. It's a great place to live and anything you want to do or anything you have dreamed of is here to do.

I have lived here for 10 years and have had nothing but good experiences, you just have to go with the flow. Do as they do it's their country and remember you have to learn the Thai way, takes time but it works.

To answer someone elses question name another place on earth as good as Thailand, the Philippines. It is at least 2nd best I spent some 5 yrs travelling to and fro to Manilla and Angeles City. Had a great time there as well, loved the islands and the fair maidens as well.

[Baerboxer]

Thailand land of scams liars cheats and theives, home of poluted beaches covered in deck chairs and filth plenty of better places to go in the world

Presumably your off somewhere else soon then?

[indieke]

sewage pumped into the sea at popular Kata and Karon

Is there a video of that somewhere? Would like to see where they pump it in the sea.

About the rest. If you let tourism develop in a savage way, this is what you get. Bribes, not respecting the environment, only cash that counts. It is like this in many countries, you get "tourist-places", that have nothing to do with the original country at all. Myself I have stayed several times in Pattaya, but wouldn't have set foot there, if I not have several months I can spend in Asia. A remoted place, and authentic life, can be great for a couple of days. But if you got more time on your hands and you not want to move too much, well places like Pattaya, Phuket and Samui, stay appealing, for only one thing : You have many things and luxury you have at home. You can go out, got to a super-market, get everything you want. Shopping malls, Mexican food, world food, cheap Thai food, name it. You want to go bowling, do a movie with your gf? No problem. I have my regular gf, but if at 52, I was lonely, I still would be "the most handsome man in the world and buy me company for a "fair price" . But I ahve to admit, I can't stand some places any more! The ugliness, the smell, the attitude of soem people. But that is NOT Thailand, that is what made of it by US.

Then you have to take also the scammers, the thieves, the ugliness, the ugliness of these places, that are now just made to accomadate tourists. And for the Thai's, how can they have any respect for us, like some behave, we are in their eyes nothing better then to pay the bill. And they adapt. Soem were complaining about the "Ausies", but what about "Russians" that come now in mass, have taken over parts of cities, and were everything is now in "Russian" and even "massage girls" are thought to converse in Russian?

Like someone said before here, the good thing is, even in Pattaya, you drive 20 minutes, and you are just among the "normal" people. You take a 10, bht coke on the beach, where no farang is to be seen, and get a big smile.

[Baerboxer]

Visit Engeland and experience the wonderful hospitality over there. If you want to be in time for the closing ceremony go today. The queues will be intolerable. The prices of the public transport unbearable, the price quality of hotels dismal.

Go to China and experience the dirt, the inhospitable authorities and the filthy hotels. Go to any place where lots of tourists go and experience the same as in Thailand. But than again, take the bus to a Southern of Northern village, stay away from the white noses and the black scammers and you have the time of your life.

Every country has it's good and bad places. In Europe there are notorious resorts in Spain and Greece. I remember Ibiza when it was reasonably quiet before the raves, drugs, booze etc. Thailand is no different. The bad places always get the publicity. Thailand has so many good things to offer for those that want it.

[Reasonableman]

I'm in the UK at the moment, and word of all of these 'bad things' are slowly but surely seeping out, even to provisional north east England. Parents (for the first time) expressing concern because they've heard so many 'bad things' in the newspapers or on TV (most of it from a recent repeat of Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand, but not all). Easy to appease them - we live in Chiang Mai, it's not the same up there. A bit like York. I was stuck for words when my uncle said 'That's where all of those people died in the hotel of poisoning or gas or something, isn't it?'. Proved to me that word is getting out.

As for beaches, we lived in Aus for 20 years. If you want a nice beach stay in or go to Australia.

Don't tell everyone, FGS! They'll be all over it like ants at a picnic!

On a lovely Ozzie beach if you need anything EG Deckchair, drink, food, etc take it with you and take a book as you will be bored to tears

Absolutely!

[Ripple]

Perhaps this was covered in previous posts and if this is the case, please forgive me as I haven't the time to read them all just yet. But simple things in this land besides the fact that hardly anyone seems to speak English, is that the sales rep in whatever store you seem to go in can not answer any of your questions even if you have a Thai person speak to them on the phone on your behalf. They apparently receive little or no training regarding customer service. Also, frequently I have stopped in various small shops to make a purchase and even though I was the first person there and am ready to buy, if a Thai walks in I am immediately ignored. It's the stuff like this that is quite a turn off as well.

[bridge2bridge]

Thailand sold its soul a long time ago, sure many people are happy to come or live here and enjoy it ...but sadly they are oblivious to the real truth of Thais....bottom line Zenophobic Corrupt Racists

I use Thailand just as they Use me, and when I no longer get what i want I will be gone with NO regrets

VERY TRUE.

[phantomfiddler]

The single 1 thing that I find most disturbing about the "Land of Smiles" is that the farang has no rights whatsoever. An acquaintance was recentlyly attacked by 3 thais, hospitalised with severe injuries, and the police refused to accept his complaint even though the address of the attackers was known. Very sad, but unfortunately to be expected. In addition, the fact that the car containing the leader of the PTP,s opposition party (Abhisit) was attacked by redshirt thugs gives some indication as to where this place is heading. Pol Pot is back !

[royscruton]

The article mentions 'transvestite thieves'. Do I take it that there aren't any non-transvestite thieves in Thailand then?

[ableguy]

Yeah ok cute video, but really I could give a rats behind that some spoiled affluent kids might get there dreams to come true here.....most show up having paid no dues in life to teach them anything, what little they do know is usually some regurgitation of politically correct crap about social responsibility that their lefty college prof. has pounded into their mushy little heads.....they and the world they travel to would be better off if they were home washing dishes and digging ditches to unlearn all the years of crap their schooling has mis-educated them about before they venture overseas.....but hey, thats just me....always the romantic.

Goodness

[ableguy]

The article mentions 'transvestite thieves'. Do I take it that there aren't any non-transvestite thieves in Thailand then?

not many

[transam]

Thailand sold its soul a long time ago, sure many people are happy to come or live here and enjoy it ...but sadly they are oblivious to the real truth of Thais....bottom line Zenophobic Corrupt Racists

I use Thailand just as they Use me, and when I no longer get what i want I will be gone with NO regrets

So it was you the natives were applauding on your exit from swampy eh.

[sunshine51]

The single 1 thing that I find most disturbing about the "Land of Smiles" is that the farang has no rights whatsoever. An acquaintance was recentlyly attacked by 3 thais, hospitalised with severe injuries, and the police refused to accept his complaint even though the address of the attackers was known. Very sad, but unfortunately to be expected. In addition, the fact that the car containing the leader of the PTP,s opposition party (Abhisit) was attacked by redshirt thugs gives some indication as to where this place is heading. Pol Pot is back !

Phantomfiddler...

Please do not even try to compare LOS of today with what happened in

Cambodia starting 17 April 1975. I was in Cambodia from late 1972

until 10 April 1975 then returned in 1989 for the Vietnamese troop

withdrawal. You have no idea what the people suffered, I do...I lost

a fiance to the Khmer Rouge. Why was I in Cambodia? I was a

military advisor to FANK...you look up the acronym. Again please

don't ever use Pol Pot to refer to anything of this day and age.

FYI...not only here in LOS but anywhere on the planet; other than

in ones home country...one has no "rights". You accepted the laws

of your host country the moment you stepped on it's soil. Plus did

you ever think that the sales person in the shop may find it easier

to converse with another person in a common language than try

to please a foreigner who apparently may not speak the language

and get a job done easier first then deal with the farang second?

Learn the language and try again...things work much smoother.

[BarryM]

A lot of nonsense about "the realThailand" - which Thailand is that? presumably not the one where murderers never see the inside of a jail because they are too important?

tourists don't care about the real Thailand. Most just want to crash around a pool, see a few sights, go to the beach and buy some trinkets as souvenirs.

They don't like polluted beaches, aggressive mafia operated taxis, scams, criminality that rarely goes punished, stray dogs and food poisoning - attributes of Thailand tourist industry that are becoming increasingly talked about and reported worldwide.

thailands geographical location makes it ideal for new tourist markets from India, china, Russia etc so they can and will continue same as ever untill these markets realize what more upmarket Europeans already know, and simply leave Thailand for those in search of cheap sex .

[Bender]

I never heard tourist jumping in a plane, coming to thailand just to observ locals smilling.

Thailand was , is and will be remembered as the brothel of the world.

Dont you smell the sleazy? Sex addict will still come even if they have to cross a landmine, swimm in bangkok underwater, bangkok under riot, bangkok with sniper, airport closed, wat po closed, getting stabbed, food poisoned, drink spiked, got cheated, got hiv...

For them, whatever you said, Thailand will be for ever the land of the shiny smile.

Edited July 23, 2012 by Bender

[Colabamumbai]

The more the government fails to act, the worse the reputation will become.

News articles, movies such as Hangover 2, documentaries etc. Have all tilted the balance. The tourists coming here now are less and less family holiday seekers and more and more those looking to party.

Just watched Both the hangover movies enjoyed them, with the shots of Thailand in Hangover 2.