[HakSpeame]

Yeah there's some good points here, Thailand is Thailand and it has evolved that way, its all real and depends what you are looking for in a country.
Due to the easier conditions in Thailand compared to all of the surrounding countries its obvious that people from those places are going to try and come here for their fortune and better quality of life, but essentially everybody is a home bird and want some of the things that they have grown up knowing so will therefore bring their cultures, having said this it has all melded with a Thai flavour making places like Yaorarat unlike anywhere else in the world, same with Khao San in its own way, I wouldn't call it real Thailand but where else could that road be. Although now I'm in the country I am definately experiencing a different side very much more laid back but already everyone knows my business, ho hum I don't mind that