Mcdonald’S Opens 165Th Branch At Star Avenue

[nikster]

Would like to see a correlation study if child obesity vs number of McD restaurants in a country...

Thais are getting more fat - talking about kids here, almost all well off Thai kids I see are overweight, thanks to crap food like snacks and fast food chains. Heavily processed food makes you fat, its not rocket science. Has nothing to do with what, its all about the how. A burger with all natural ingredients is not only great tasting, its also healthy, same for pizza, etc, the opposite is true for the fake foods sold at the big chains.

That said should be everyones choice to fatten themselves up at McD. Go for it! Up to you as they say here .... And som nam naa

[uptheos]

Thais are getting more fat - talking about kids here, almost all well off Thai kids I see are overweight, thanks to crap food like snacks and fast food chains. Heavily processed food makes you fat, its not rocket science.

There are still many Thai parents who consider fat kids a sign of affluence and being well fed.

Fast and processed food has simply allowed them to speed up the process, a bit like blowing up a balloon.

[hml367]

Would like to see a correlation study if child obesity vs number of McD restaurants in a country...

Thais are getting more fat - talking about kids here, almost all well off Thai kids I see are overweight, thanks to crap food like snacks and fast food chains. Heavily processed food makes you fat, its not rocket science. Has nothing to do with what, its all about the how. A burger with all natural ingredients is not only great tasting, its also healthy, same for pizza, etc, the opposite is true for the fake foods sold at the big chains.

That said should be everyones choice to fatten themselves up at McD. Go for it! Up to you as they say here .... And som nam naa

What are you comparing this to?

MSPain

[AnkertilBrewer]

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.

[amexpat]

Would like to see a correlation study if child obesity vs number of McD restaurants in a country...

Thais are getting more fat - talking about kids here, almost all well off Thai kids I see are overweight, thanks to crap food like snacks and fast food chains.

I think such a study would show that

as countries become more "modernized" and affluent, the people get more food, more high fructose corn syrup, less labor, more leisure time, video games, and

more McDonalds move in.

I go out in the sticks hours away from the nearest McD, KFC, etc and see plenty of fat people waddling around.

Still, I agree that McD and WalMart have been disasters for the US.

[transam]

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.

Theres a McD's discretely hidden away near the entrance to the Tower of London. It is not in your face so it can be done discretely if the town planners control applications as in UK.

[ableguy]

Wendys!!!! Give me Wendys!!!!

We could get a Carl's Junior (which I prefer to the rest) They have them in Pattaya and Bangkok now. The only problem is that many of these places do not use the same quality of beef that they use in the US, so not nearly as good as back home.

I really regret Popeye's Chicken folding in the 97 downturn. I really liked the New Orlean's style biscuits and side dishes.

Do you remmember in the 90s when they were caught importing beef from Australia that was 50% kagaroo meat ? never eaten there since

[ableguy]

Would like to see a correlation study if child obesity vs number of McD restaurants in a country...

Thais are getting more fat - talking about kids here, almost all well off Thai kids I see are overweight, thanks to crap food like snacks and fast food chains.

I think such a study would show that

as countries become more "modernized" and affluent, the people get more food, more high fructose corn syrup, less labor, more leisure time, video games, and

more McDonalds move in.

I go out in the sticks hours away from the nearest McD, KFC, etc and see plenty of fat people waddling around.

Still, I agree that McD and WalMart have been disasters for the US.

I wish they would let wallmart run the postal service in the usa and run the national health in the uk,

[wales01]

I don't know, for me Burger-King somehow has the edge over McD's, possibly due to the quality of the salad-stuff or less salt on the fries ?

OMG, it's another burger/chicken/food-thread, Way To Go !

You go to Burger joint but you worry about the quality of salad....and salt on the fries..

[amexpat]

I wish they would let wallmart run the postal service in the usa and run the national health in the uk,

Doctors earning 20K GBP per year dispensing medicines made in China - yep, that would be brilliant.

[hellodolly]

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.

Been here over 5 years and havent had the squirts for 4 years. Its like this nitz, if u live in a hospital your entire life completely sanitary you are more susceptible to viral and bacterial infection. I happen to have immunity and I don't share my wife in the expat moo ban orgy of Pattaya either, sorry....

I agree McDonald's will make you more susceptible to viral and bacterial infection. It's cleanliness and quality of food are similar to a hospitals. Although they have found ways to make the food more appetizing.

So I take it you have never strolled through a Thai market and really only know about places that have higher standards of quality and preservation.

At a guess I would say you only shop at Western markets.

[JcCarlin]

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.

Been here over 5 years and havent had the squirts for 4 years. Its like this nitz, if u live in a hospital your entire life completely sanitary you are more susceptible to viral and bacterial infection. I happen to have immunity and I don't share my wife in the expat moo ban orgy of Pattaya either, sorry....

I agree McDonald's will make you more susceptible to viral and bacterial infection. It's cleanliness and quality of food are similar to a hospitals. Although they have found ways to make the food more appetizing.

So I take it you have never strolled through a Thai market and really only know about places that have higher standards of quality and preservation.

At a guess I would say you only shop at Western markets.

Assumptions are the mother of all douche bags and NO I ONLY shop at Thai Markets to help the local Thai's compete with the corporate colonialism here in Thailand. I also am trying to stay out of Department stores and crowded cities of pollution.

MCDonalds, BK, Swensens is all Poison to me and one step closer to killing myself.......

Now did that Big Mac Smack you in the mouth or was that my sack of shat?

[transam]

@JcCarlin.

You are an amazing green chap. Soooooo, suggest your use of the Internet is not very green eh . AND, chuck that mobile in the bin. Big money earner for the folk you don't like.

[OriginalPoster]

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.

Edited August 21, 2012 by OriginalPoster

[transam]

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.

[DaamNaam]

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.

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.

[hellodolly]

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.

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.

[AnkertilBrewer]

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.

[transam]

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.

Same anywhere, when l look back at my childhood where we had nothing, really we had everything. BUT, not in the eyes of the last few generations, in their eyes we were poor, did not have a mobile phone .

[AnkertilBrewer]

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.

[transam]

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.

Think you have got your eyes wide shut.

[AnkertilBrewer]

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.

[AnkertilBrewer]

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.

[Ulysses G.]

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.

[AnkertilBrewer]

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.

[Geekfreaklover]

There's a macdonalds inside of Thailands leading international hospital. Inside the hospital!

Now, don't be telling me their food aint good for you.

165 branches in Thailand. Feels like there's 165 in Bangkok alone.

[sbk]

Alright, this thread has gotten nasty enough. If you don't drop the mud slinging, name calling and just generally abusive behavior then suspensions will be handed out.

[hellodolly]

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 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.

No McDonald's in My Hong Son or Pai or the hill tribe villages.

You are mixed up about people who come to see the culture. As to those who come to see what it was.

You will not find the former in the tourist areas but you will find the later group in the tourist areas. They will take a one day tour of past Thai accomplishments then retire to a nice hotel with a sit on Toilet. The last thing they want is to get out into the real Thai Culture. Unfortunately most of the tourist's who come here are coming for one day tours of various past accomplishments. Then off to a nice western or upscale Thai restaurant for a meal. Some even go to McDonald's or Burger King possibly a Subway. All three are located in very few areas of Thailand.

You will find the ones who come to see the culture eating at a road side cart or some cheap noodle shop.

[AnkertilBrewer]

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…

Edited August 21, 2012 by AnkertilBrewer

[hellodolly]

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…

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 have revolutionized 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