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Topic Date User

Thailand (not quite as epic as the China ones) 15-Apr-2010 At 3:34:25 PM billk

Message

On 15/04/2010 gordoste wrote:
>>to many people here in Australia, but I guess it takes time to see people

>Developing = 2nd world i.e. not 1st world but not 3rd world. I think that's
>a fair assessment of Thailand, it is definitely better off than a lot of
>countries but also a lot worse off than many countries.
>

It is a rich country which suffers from an obscenely wealthy elite and a big rural underclass that doesn't get their fair share of anything.

>I totally agree that they would be fine once you get to know them, it's
>just that some will seem very friendly and then try to take advantage of
>you. One example was my friend who gave 1000 baht for something that he
>agreed to pay 200 baht, and then the shopkeeper (who was all smiles) wouldn't
>give him any change. He had to yell a lot and threaten to get the police
>before he got his change. I meant that just because they smile a lot, don't
>assume you can trust them - unless you know them well.

Never yell in Thailand. Argue your point in a quiet voice. In a situation like that one, don't threaten to get the police, just get them straight away. Unless you have done something dodgy, Thai cops will bend over backwards to look after tourists.

BTW: Thais who lose it and pull a knife or gun on tourists just keep on smiling the whole way through. They don't call it the Land of Smiles for nothing.