Thailand - beautiful paradise or ugly hole?

[Smeg]

Apart from places such as Phi Phi (which has been ruined by greedy people but still clings onto its charm) I think that the UK has far more attractive buildings, countryside, cleanliness etc. I'm sure that most thais, if they had the resources and ability to visit the UK, would agree.

The way that so many thais leave pavements half built, rubble, trash, and stray dogs around their homes, and the lack of town planning etc sums the place up for me.

What do you think?

According to Stickman this week:

I often hear folks talking of the beautiful scenery in Thailand and it being one of the main attractions to the country. Having travelled all over the country, and being in possession of two perfectly good eyes, I have yet to find the aforementioned beautiful scenery. Would those of you who have found these beautiful places please let me know just where said areas are! It makes you wonder where these guys live where it obviously is so ugly that Thailand looks beautiful to them.

[tjyflhol]

Totally agree, in fact I was just mentioning this on another forum.

I know many Thais that have visited Europe and it's always an eye opener for them to see how clean we manage to keep our countries.

[madjbs]

There are many very scenic places in Thailand. Can't really blame the sex tourists on stickman for not knowing about any of them though.

Not much good architecture in Thailand, but, what do you expect in a developing country?

[melvbot]

Ive seen both extremes in Thailand, the worst poverty stricken shitehole you can think of with rubbish everywhere then some of the most stunning scenery Ive seen.

I sort of thought that the UK was quite clean (arrived back on Sunday) until I pulled into a Halfords car park and was greeted with empty MacDonalds containers and rubbish strewn around the carpark.

I think in general the UK is cleaner but only by the virtue that we bury all our rubbish in a big hole in some nice place in the countryside and take better care of it than Thailand does.

[tjyflhol]

There are many very scenic places in Thailand.

True there are some, but there are also a lot of scenic places messed up with litter and trash that is more often than not left there by Thais.

My pet hate is broken glass on beaches, why can't they just hire some people to keep them clean? It's not expensive and makes the world of difference.

Not much good architecture in Thailand, but, what do you expect in a developing country?

Colonisation might have helped with that.

[madjbs]

Actually most of the places I have been which have been really scenic were so out of the way that litter was never a problem.

I have found other more popular places to have some bad litter problems though. That is an education issue and will change with time I think. You don't see groups of well off, educated Thais leaving bags load of trash at the waterfall.

Colonisation might have helped with that.

Does Burma have good architecture?

[Happyman]

Colonisation might have helped with that.

That will open a whole new can of worms here

Maybe you should start a new thread to discuss this point !

[tjyflhol]

^^ India does. Not been to Burma, wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have some nice architecture there from the colonial days too though.

[Loy Toy]

Thailand is certainly not a picture post card unless you know where to look.

In fact my home garden is my favourite place in Thailand and thats why I probably spend most my spare time at home these days.

[madjbs]

To be fair though, Bangkok does have some nice European style architecture, as well as some nice Thai stuff.

[Propagator]

Probably for the many first time visitors to Thailand it would seem like a paradise. Booking their two or three week tour, deposited in a 3 star hotel, which to many would appear to be 5 star and having their tour guides organise everything for them.

It is usually not until the second visit that the more murkier sides of Thailand are discovered. Much the same for me when I first visited in 2002 with some mates. My mates still enthuse over the place, but they have not been back since that time, I have.

Don't get me wrong I still like Thailand, but the litter and gereral mess of towns and cities leave much to be desired. I am not a beach person and love exploring the countryside and there are numerous unspoilt spots well off the beaten track.

[tjyflhol]

And to think Bangkok was once called the Venice of the East with all it's lovely canals crisscrossing the city. Until some twat decided to fill most of them in, and let the others become terribly polluted as a result.

[DrB0b]

Perhaps people are living in the wrong places? There is no shortage of beautiful scenery in the mountains of the north - one of the reasons I came to live in this part of Thailand. In answer to the OP Thailand can be both, depends where you are and what you do.

[dirtydog]

Even being on the right side of the street can make a difference, I look out my window and see some nice looking condos and Pattaya Park Tower and a bit of a sea, the ones facing me get the view of mine and my neighbours crappy old tatty buildings

[Spin]

There is no shortage of beautiful scenery in the mountains of the north

Indeed, and also the North-East. Mostly off the beaten track though.

[mooncake]

Well….
It depends if one comes from the paradise or ugly hole……in which he/she will most likely use for the comparisons.

[withnallstoke]

Must agree with Smeg about the architecture here. It is mostly shite. As for the scenery, away from coastal and river sites, there is way to much greenery to see anything. I like bald rocks.

[Marmite the Dog]

Had a terrible time riding through boring, litter strewn Thailand last week.

[somtamslap]

For me, England is the more beautiful of the two, but Thailand is more spectacular.

^ Nice pics.

[Jet Gorgon]

^ Agree, great photos.
I loved many Thai Natl parks. Not much garbage there. Maybe if the govt fined fast food joints for litter? One reason I hated 7-11 moving to out village was the big gulp cup litter.

[FlyFree]

^^^Not trying to piss on your parade, but I honestly don't consider those pics as of 'beautiful scenery' at all. Nice, but boring, rolling green hills is all.

[Rigger]

^^^Not trying to piss on your parade, but I honestly don't consider those pics as of 'beautiful scenery' at all. Nice, but boring, rolling green hills is all.

I guess you need to be there to injoy it or your just not a country type person or a motorcycle rider as them rolling hills are some really excellent biking roads

[Marmite the Dog]

but I honestly don't consider those pics as of 'beautiful scenery' at all.

Your loss.

[FlyFree]

^^^Not trying to piss on your parade, but I honestly don't consider those pics as of 'beautiful scenery' at all. Nice, but boring, rolling green hills is all.

I guess you need to be there to injoy it or your just not a country type person or a motorcycle rider as them rolling hills are some really excellent biking roads

Very much a country type person actually. As I said, nice, but not noteworthy. Maybe I'm spoilt. Sure, i agree, nice biking roads. The emphasis on nice, not really noteworthy.

The title was about beautiful, not nice though.

[sabang]

I've yet to find a country that does not possess both great beauty, and ugliness- and I have been to many. Thailand has more than enough to keep the tourist happy.

Silly thread.