Where is the real Thailand? - Page 2

iGotNoTime · #11 10-05-06, 08:29 PM

Anything not in active transition is dead! I love that, great stuff Peterg. Think of the many lost and extinct civilizations, they are never questioned as to whether or not they are 'real', they are simply lost. Yet the civilizations that are not lost are the one's that people question the purity of.

I think Steve's reply as humorous as it was also applies exactly to what khunlungphudhu said. As much as a mixup Thailand has evolved into, the fact that Khmer, Lao, Viet, Chinese, Burmese, and of course ancient Thai way have sort of formed together and maintained the overall happiness and tranquility --- I think that is the real Thai. As all the cities get more and more foreign owned hotels, international companies, technological overhauls and Western influence the fact that so much of these imported threats are coming in they are all painted with a coat of Thai-ness (ketchup on pizza?) that alone is what makes Thailand.

No matter what happens there is still a Thai flavor over it all. Influence does not always mean that something was taken over and changed as a whole.

PailinLovesBeam · #12 10-05-06, 10:18 PM

Another real Thailand moment of mine:

My friend and I got on the elevator to go to the top of that really tall giant temple down on Sukhumvit (I forget the name) and we saw a group of 8 monks coming towards us. I always feel a little nervous around monks...being a woman wanting to be polite as possible. Sure enough, the 8 monks come on the elevator. All 10 of us are crammed into the elevator and up we go. My (female) friend and I just stared ahead at the doors and tried not to touch them, which was quite hard because it was a small elevator. We're riding up... and up... and up... and ..... STOP. Nothing. We look around, the monks look around. Yes...the elevator is stuck. We were stuck in the elevator for two hours. My friend was totally calm and cool and was able to make conversation with the monks. I was a basketcase...nervous jitters...and when I get nervous, I giggle. I had a controlled giggle for two hours. When the doors finally opened and we got out I burst out in the heartiest laugh you could imagine. The 8 monks walk away execpt for one who lingers. I look up at him, and he says... "You are a very Happy Person"

This, of course, only added to my giggles.

So we were certainly tourists...at a temple off of sukhumvit, but that was real Thailand to me. I think real is something that you just wouldn't find anywhere else...and for me, that certainly was one.

DanD · #13 10-05-06, 10:43 PM

Neat story.

Chino1 · #14 10-05-06, 11:33 PM

Real Thai or Thailand you have find them near rice fields those are real Thais hard working people and live in the real Thai houses and always maintain their own beaty as the pictures below.

visionchaser45 · #15 10-05-06, 11:34 PM

It's all real. The big cities and tourist areas are "real modern" and more culturally diverse. The countryside is "real relaxed" and more culturally homogeneous. I happen to like the countryside, because I like the slower pace and cultural richness. The reason I don't like the cities and tourist resorts so much is you can find that sort of thing anywhere, like New York, Cabo San Lucas, Paris, Niece, etc. It's the same everywhere you go. In the USA, if you want the cosmopolitan life you go to the cities, and if you want mom and apple pie you go to the country.

Khun Don · #16 Yesterday, 05:46 AM

Nice to see one of my pics featured on the forum ! ("Hillhouse") It was taken in a Karen village between Lamphun and Lampang. Such country communities,Thai or otherwise, are the "real" Thailand for me.

Ben Kroo · #17 Yesterday, 08:41 PM

Yeah there's some good points here, Thailand is Thailand and it has evolved that way, its all real and depends what you are looking for in a country.
Due to the easier conditions in Thailand compared to all of the surrounding countries its obvious that people from those places are going to try and come here for their fortune and better quality of life, but essentially everybody is a home bird and want some of the things that they have grown up knowing so will therefore bring their cultures, having said this it has all melded with a Thai flavour making places like Yaorarat unlike anywhere else in the world, same with Khao San in its own way, I wouldn't call it real Thailand but where else could that road be. Although now I'm in the country I am definately experiencing a different side very much more laid back but already everyone knows my business, ho hum I don't mind that