Posted on 12/30/2004 7:39:57 AM PST by dob
It's all about economies -- and snow and sun. It is COLD now up North.
True... actually I used to work in the hotel industry and many of my friends worked in some luxury resorts in Phuket. In fact, alumni from my college are still working there.
It is a crude and ignorant slang appellation used mainly by North Americans.
Lots of missing families. FYI - Phuket does not have the reputation that Bankok has. It is a very family friendly resort area and is also one of the top 5 scuba sites in the world, so it draws alot of scuba divers as well.
Think about the many tourist beaches in Florida that draw many families for vacations, and pick your favorite. Then compare that spot to the Bourbon Street in New Orleans on a typical night. Same country, but the two destinations are totally different in character.
These tourists -- whole families and couples -- were just trying to enjoy some warm weather with their loved ones at Christmastime.
Put another way, Sweden has lost more people in a freak accident of nature than in fighting international terrorism.
You can call me a Brit. We call outselves Brits. And when we gang up together overseas we are happy to call ourselves 'Brits Abroad'.
Must say I am bothered at the above stereotyping of Thailand as a Sex Tourism resort. Sure it exists and is a real, problem - but then it is in Las Vegas too! I deffo got more flyer for hookers in my vegas hotel than I did in Bangkok!
Stay away form the Pat Pong area in Bangkok and you find incredible islands hosted by relaxed people who understand what service is, incredible diving, outstanding jungle - real culture, mouth watering food, and all very, very cheap. Add to that the contrast between the weather there and the weather here in Europe and you don't need to go look for sinister motives for so many Europeans to be in that fantastic country. I have had two vacations there and (before the damage) recommended it to anyone who asked!
Out of curiosity, why so many so far away?
A cheap family place to go for the AMERICANS to enjoy sun and sand?
A cheap sex tourist spot for male AMERICANS?
Are the missing families or young single men?
I use it with affection to my Brit friends here on FR..and they use Yanks..
As stated above - but it seems it bears repeating:
1.) US perceptions of Thailand seem to be roughly where European ones were 15 years ago or so - I.e: "It's that place where the hookers are cheap!"
2.) Thailand is, as stated above, one of the world's premier scuba areas.
3.) The Thais are a very hospitable people - even the salespeople are quite bearable.
4.) The weather is great.
5.) It's cheap.
6.) It's clean. (Relatively of course - but Thais get hygine - not a factor to be underrated.
7.) Thailand is *the* backpacker hub of SE-asia. Anyone travelling around in the region usually go to Thailand first.
And so on... so please, please drop the "Only Johns go to Thailand" attitude.
Not true. I still remember the cute picture of Arafat with a needle in his arm so that he could donate blood to the victims of the WTC bombing...
Sorry, I forgot to put in the sarcasm tag in my post.
Heh, sorry for misunderestimating ya ;)
Probably several factors, cheap local economy, georgeous beaches, holiday season.
My son was born in England
part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
I never would think of calling him a 'Brit'.
I guess I am an old-fashioned, proper Canadian.
Not to sure about the Buddhists.
Gee, my English penpal never said anything about it.
How about "canuck?" How acceptable is that? My Canadian sister-in-law (who is maddenly PC) never took exception to the term.
Regards,
a Yank
I don't think that anyone over here would be upset by being called a "Brit" by an American. It's just that the term was never used at all in the UK until fairly recently when it was adopted by some of the younger generation, just like many other "Americanisms". My pet hate is the increasing use of the term "Train Station" instead of the traditional British usage "Railway Station". You have train stations; we have railway stations.
P.S. Our beer isn't "warm", it's normal!
Happy New Year to everyone from Bonnie Scotland where we are about to consume lots of beer (and whisky).
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