Thailand

Thailand. My first association of Thailand is an old, small, bald, sleazy guy with a young girl. And only then beaches and paradise on earth. Unfortunately, Thailand is still that, a magnet for sleazy guys. And fortunately much much more in a positive way…

When you step over the border from Cambodia you are hit with a shock. From a country where development is forgotten, to the country who looks like the most developed western countries. Beach is nice, overrun with expensive speedboats and backpackers who are looking for some fun and easy sex.

Still, Thailand is more. Bangkok really has two sides. A developed one, with huge skyscrapers and the newest metro, and the one less developed, more traditional. It is still ruled by the king, and one can observe that everywhere. Though the most intriguing question is, how old is the king? Nobody really knows, and you are observed by him from huge billboards, being aged from 25 to 60 years old…

And than Khao-San road. Backpackers headquarters in SE Asia. Short, bustling street, where foreigners feel like at home. Cheap drinks, food and lots of familiar faces. And nothing thai behind the façade. Like anyone there cares about Thailand…

North of the country is better. Though as touristy as touristy is Bangkok. Still, unbelievable how and where people live. Far away from tourist trails and civlization.

Yes, I will probably come back some day. Probably not alone, just to enjoy at one special beach… Yep, beside everything, beautiful beaches and romantic places are still the highlight… just to forget the everyday hustle and bustle of the western world…