Comments on: You Haven’t Seen “The Real Thailand”

By: Richard Dillon

Richard Dillon — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:19:22 +0000

Great post! I like the humor and yes I too wonder “where is the real Thailand”, if I am mistaken I too reside in a location that people often refer to as not being the real Thailand. I guess, what they mean is if we consider the entire country, then these pockets of western influence is effecting how people view Thailand. The provinces that do not have frequent visitors and tourists are in essence some years behind the progress of Pattaya, Phuket and so on. Though is this not true of any country? New York compared to a small town in Texas,is still a cross representative of the USA. So is Phuket the real Thailand? It certainly is, “same same”, but different!

By: Talen

Talen — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:01:00 +0000

Martyn, I like the way you put it ” natural Thailand” but if you leave soi 7 in pattaya and go beyond third road or sukhumvit I think you would find areas that are just as natural.

By: Martyn

Martyn — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 11:39:18 +0000

Talen I am guilty of using the term ‘The Real Thailand’ vocally but on BTMJ I believe I have only ever wrote the words natural Thailand. I believe there’s a big difference between the two.

If you are stood in a Soi 7 bar in Pattaya surrounded by tourists then you are indeed in the real Thailand. However I wouldn’t call it natural Thailand. That’s terminology reserved for the likes of Isaan and Bangkok’s shanty towns.

Right now I’d settle for a slice of ‘The Real Thailand’.
Martyn´s last blog ..Soi Dogs and The Bucket Truck Man

By: ChuckWow

ChuckWow — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 05:12:33 +0000

I have always thought it was the other way around – if you haven’t been to Pattaya you haven’t seen the real Thailand.

By: Camille

Camille — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 02:54:02 +0000

Hi Talen,

Greetings from definitely ‘Not the real Thaialnd’ or Koh Samui, at least if I must believe the connaissuers on certain travel forums.

Although I can see where they’re coming from, I can only laugh about it and it has been remarked already, the real Thailand is where you are comfy, for some that is far away from touristy parts for some that can’t be near enough of the well beaten track.

For me it’s where my family is and that happens to be in a rather quiet corner on Samui. My wife is local Samui folk as well….. It’s as much Thailand here as anywhere else in this country, although my wife and her fellow Samuians contradict that sometimes Just kiddin’
Camille´s last blog ..Koh Samui- Thailand daily weather update 4th September- 2010 delicious

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:39:58 +0000

Great post! Sounds to me like you’ve definitely been to the “real” Thailand.

I think the issue is more that people want to impress others by helping them to discover something. Kind of like when you hear a new, unknown band and have to find a backhanded way of turning your friends onto them.

I think the first time you have to sqaut to go to the bathroom you’ve been to the “real” Thailand.
Josh´s last blog ..Translating Manee- Part 1

By: Talen

Talen — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:07:24 +0000

Lloyd, everything you mentioned is representative of Thailand and much more.

My first trip to Thailand I was in Bangkok…I’ve also been to provinces in Issan and the north. Pattaya consists of quite a bit more than Beach road, soi 6 and the like…it’s all in what you choose …some choose to only partake in the party while others such as myself know there is much more going on.

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:46:09 +0000

But just what is “representative” of Thailand? Is it concrete and whores, buffalos and rice fields, mountains and ethic tribes or beaches and limestone?

How could Pattaya be representative if Thailand?

People who like and defend Pattaya tend to be those who went to Pattaya on their first visit and have returned not those who have seen other parts of Thailand first.

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Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:34:59 +0000

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By: Talen

Talen — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:20:34 +0000

Lloyd, While I would agree that “the real Thailand” is a very subjective thing I would disagree that Pattaya couldn’t be representative of Thailand and it’s people.

Unfortunately many people believe all Pattaya is a cess pool of iniquity filled with whore and whore mongers and that just simply isn’t true.There are very nice aspects of Pattaya and very nice Thai people in Pattaya as well.