Thailand Is Unique!

[khunpa]

Was sitting near a large shopping area today and enjoying a cup of coffee, when I started thinking that Thailand in many ways is quite a unique place.

There I was in the middle of a city, which had just declared being in “State Of Emergency” while looking around me, I could see nothing special or out of order. People where just walking around like always and at the table next to me, I could see two Farang-tourists clearly enjoying the great weather, their coffee and their holiday.

I mean, what the hell is “wrong” with this place? Tsunami’s, Flooding, Demonstrations, Military Coups, State Of Emergency… Nothing really seems to matter to anyone (including myself). You will still see Thai-people walking around, relaxed and Tourists will still be coming here. And there seems to be just no limit to what can happen and it does not really matter.

At current moment there are protests many places in town. And what happens? These have more or less even become new tourist attractions. Foreigners party on the street with the Thais and run around taking pictures, although advised to stay far away.

Where else in the world can you find countries in a total political mess and with large demonstrations (including shootings and bombings), where other countries would not quickly say: “We do not advice you to travel there!” Does this happen to Thailand? No! Here foreigners still come and could really care less about e.g. the political problems, demonstrations or whatever.

What is it that makes Thailand this unique and special? No matter what, you just seem immune to anything when you are here. And life just goes on like nothing is wrong. I myself am a part of that and feel just like that. I think the only thing that could really make me consider moving away from here, would be an A-bomb explosion or something in that scale. And I would properly only be considering...

Thinking about it and witnessing all the “problems” during the past years here in Thailand, I just have to conclude that Thailand really is a special and very unique country. They for sure can keep people coming here and loving this place (myself included)... No matter what! Is this not really strange (and unique) or what?

[Thai at Heart]

Mai bpen arai

[ukrules]

I don't think it's that unique. It's a big city which is hard to move around quickly so something happening in one part of the city won't directly affect other parts of the city so quickly.

While demonstrators were being shot by snipers at Khao San Road in 2010 I was out having beers in Sukhumvit and you wouldn't have known anything was happening.

I might add that things would have been very different if I had chosen to go for a drink in the Khao San Road which I didn't because :

1) - It's full of <deleted> and

2) - I knew there was an ongoing demonstration there.

Don't think this can't happen again : http://observers.france24.com/content/20100413-unknown-snipers-kill-bangkok-protesters-red-shirts-dead-thailand-abhisit

Just make sure you're not in the same area when it does.

[khunpa]

I don't think it's that unique. It's a big city which is hard to move around quickly so something happening in one part of the city won't directly affect other parts of the city so quickly.

While demonstrators were being shot by snipers at Khao San Road in 2010 I was out having beers in Sukhumvit and you wouldn't have known anything was happening.

I might add that things would have been very different if I had chosen to go for a drink in the Khao San Road which I didn't because :

1) - It's full of <deleted> and

2) - I knew there was an ongoing demonstration there.

Don't think this can't happen again : http://observers.france24.com/content/20100413-unknown-snipers-kill-bangkok-protesters-red-shirts-dead-thailand-abhisit

Just make sure you're not in the same area when it does.

Not really my point. My point is that you are still here (as all the rest of us), although in theory all hell could break lose.

I doubt many other countries would still attract the amount of tourists that Thailand does, if they were in the same situation.

[wym]

1 Don't sweat the small stuff.

2 It's all small stuff.

[Donnie Brasco]

Was sitting near a large shopping area today and enjoying a cup of coffee, when I started thinking that Thailand in many ways is quite a unique place.

There I was in the middle of a city, which had just declared being in “State Of Emergency” while looking around me, I could see nothing special or out of order. People where just walking around like always and at the table next to me, I could see two Farang-tourists clearly enjoying the great weather, their coffee and their holiday.

I mean, what the hell is “wrong” with this place? Tsunami’s, Flooding, Demonstrations, Military Coups, State Of Emergency… Nothing really seems to matter to anyone (including myself). You will still see Thai-people walking around, relaxed and Tourists will still be coming here. And there seems to be just no limit to what can happen and it does not really matter.

At current moment there are protests many places in town. And what happens? These have more or less even become new tourist attractions. Foreigners party on the street with the Thais and run around taking pictures, although advised to stay far away.

Where else in the world can you find countries in a total political mess and with large demonstrations (including shootings and bombings), where other countries would not quickly say: “We do not advice you to travel there!” Does this happen to Thailand? No! Here foreigners still come and could really care less about e.g. the political problems, demonstrations or whatever.

What is it that makes Thailand this unique and special? No matter what, you just seem immune to anything when you are here. And life just goes on like nothing is wrong. I myself am a part of that and feel just like that. I think the only thing that could really make me consider moving away from here, would be an A-bomb explosion or something in that scale. And I would properly only be considering...

Thinking about it and witnessing all the “problems” during the past years here in Thailand, I just have to conclude that Thailand really is a special and very unique country. They for sure can keep people coming here and loving this place (myself included)... No matter what! Is this not really strange (and unique) or what?

Beautifully expressed.

My thoughts have run to this from time to time but I have never been able to put it so well.

In fact you have expressed it SO beautifully that I am going to transfer it to my phone/notes app so that next time some hook-nosed busy-body commissar type corners me at a neighbourhood BarBQ back in The Old Country I can lay it on him/her.

Thank you, khunpa

And, bless you ;-)

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

[Deserted]

Many of the problems Thailand has are common to many developing nations, I don't see there being anything unusual about it. The Philippines has difficulties which are far more severe and much longer lasting yet it continues to attract many, as does much of the Caribbean. Thailand maybe unique to you but natural disasters and political instability are quite common throughout the world. Life still goes on.

[NeverSure]

Yeah, I hear there's been quite a bit of Unique used in demonstration areas already.

[CharlieH]

Dont tell evetyone ! For god's sake its hard enough keeping the numbers down without you spilling the beans!

(Nice article)

[Ulysses G.]

Many of the problems Thailand has are common to many developing nations, I don't see there being anything unusual about it. The Philippines has difficulties which are far more severe and much longer lasting yet it continues to attract many, as does much of the Caribbean. Thailand maybe unique to you but natural disasters and political instability are quite common throughout the world. Life still goes on.

<snip> The Philippines is a lot more dangerous than Thailand and attracts many fewer tourists. If a State of Emergency was declared there, most tourists would leave.

I was there in the coup in 1989 and the rebels were threatening tourists. There were machine guns, grenades and aircraft doing bombing runs for days. Most of the tourists got out of the country as soon as they could, when the airport finally opened. I have been through a number of coups in Thailand and they were nothing like that. There is no legitimate comparison.

[Deserted]

Many of the problems Thailand has are common to many developing nations, I don't see there being anything unusual about it. The Philippines has difficulties which are far more severe and much longer lasting yet it continues to attract many, as does much of the Caribbean. Thailand maybe unique to you but natural disasters and political instability are quite common throughout the world. Life still goes on.

<snip> The Philippines is a lot more dangerous than Thailand and attracts many fewer tourists. If a State of Emergency was declared there, most tourists would leave.

I was there in the coup in 1989 and the rebels were threatening tourists. There were machine guns, grenades and aircraft doing bombing runs for days. Most of the tourists got out of the country as soon as they could, when the airport finally opened. I have been through a number of coups in Thailand and they were nothing like that. There is no legitimate comparison.

I'm not actually referring to what happened in 1989 there. Try re-reading the post.

[jackr]

It's all an illusion.

[yourauntbob]

not sure this is unique, but it does show that even under extrodinary circumstances people feel safe in Thailand. some of it is due to the nonviolent nature of Thai's and also the mai pben rye attitude.

[Deserted]

Why wouldn't they feel safe? The current violence is contained within very specific areas. Just avoid them and you'll be fine.

[Kangawallafox]

I'm sure the incidents bother people but how do you want them to look when walking around the mall, bullet proof vests, floaties on their arms in case of tsunamis.

You do what you do, regardless of what happens you don't walk around looking terrified, what should they look like.

Sitting in the mall you realised Thailand was unique, most get that impression before they even leave the airport.lol.

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