I am in Thailand for the first time, which is the furthest east I have ever been next to Muscat, Oman, or Moscow (too lazy to check a map), or the furthest west I have been next to Vancouver.
As a well traveled dude, I thought I would share my impressions of the place for the benefit of the the unwashed denizens of the RIA:
This place is very distinctive, with an oddball culture that is true to itself. People here don't try to give the impression that this place is something it is not. On the one hand, it possesses clusters of true beauty, art, and exceptional architecture. People are kind, humble, genuine, and friendly.
On the other hand, Bangkok is basically the sphincter of humanity. In fact, it gives you such an impression of being a sphincter, that you quickly come to see people as little more than autonomous jumbles of sphincters. The sphincters that are common to us all, and the sphincters unique to each sex. It is often hard to tell which particular jumble an individual represents. It is filthy, polluted, crowded, hot, muggy, and corrupt. Strangely enough, it seems quite safe, as long as you keep your cock in your pants. Where Amsterdam has legalized prostitution, it appears that Thailand has forgone any legislation on the matter at all. Young herpes-faced women abound.
People talk a lot about child prostitution here, and I have not seen any evidence of it. Not that I am looking, but I guess I had the impression that I was going to be propositioned by hoards of 13 year-olds like some Beatles movie. I can't exactly go up to the hotel staff and ask, "So, where do you keep the children?", so I will leave my research where it is.
Unfortunately, once I am done delivering my training, I fly back to Europe, and won't see the rest of the country, which I understand is quite beautiful. Which must surely be the case when compared to this dirty sphincter-populated cesspool of despair.
Anyone have another view of this place?