Tasting Thailand's Tourist Trap

Taste. Starbucks Caramel Macchiatos, Dunkin Donuts Apple Fritters, Tex-Mex restaurents, Burger King Whoopers, Baskin Robbins ice cream, and 7-11 Slurpees (on every corner)! All of which I've never dreamed of the last 6 months were at my finger tips the last few weeks! To top it off, you can actually talk with people in ENGLISH whenever you want (or if you just flat out get lost)! Well, its not central Indiana or southern California. Its Thailand!

Much better than familiar tastes and restaurant signs though, were the
unique sites, including meticulously neat green rice paddies, gracefully
slothful water buffalo, and immensely clean blue water AND skies (both
of which were a sight to sore eyes). I was also warmly welcomed by
kind-hearted Thai men and women that help any group of tourists (no
matter how confused or incompetent).

But the biggest surprise to me was definitely the number of Western
tourists! Whenever I heard about the biggest industries in the country,
the one word I always heard was TOURISM! And tourism it was: riding
elephants, white water rafting, and even renting a motorbike for less
than $5 a day (if you want to know the story on that one ask me
later. Lets just say I have a few wounds that are still healing from
that one).

Now I've been to countries before where there is a mandate that every
business must have a picture of the current president somewhere in the
building. And, though a bit strange, it was quite normal compared to
what I saw with King Bhumipol Adulyadej, who has reigned in Thailand
since 1946. It seemed that literally everywhere I looked there was a
picture of the King! And not just a picture, but usually decorated with
ornamented frame and a shrine-like display. Because it's hard to make
such nice displays everywhere, the place I saw his picture most was on
the light pole banners located every 20 meters on the side of the road.
I guess when you are grateful for the work someone does it's appropriate
to show your appreciation, but this was appreciation on a whole new
level!