Exeriences of Thai culture: backpacking versus 'resort tourism'

Ha Ha well backpacking the quality of the booz you drink is likely to be much worse. but comming into contact with locals well not much of that going on if you take out the beach bums and bar girls but hell they are locals to of course. still you can probabally meet them on a package as well.

Even the regulars dont want to get into yea ime an authentic traveler man. its just so out of date your only allowed to think it to yourself now.

They are all holidaymakers some sensative some not some short stay some long.

Foreign tourists staying in top-end resorts might actually meet Thai people there who are also guests in the same resort, albeit that they would be very rich Thai people (of whom there are many).

Backpackers staying in cheap accommodation will probably not meet any Thais staying there at all....

hmm, so would the difference then not be between backpacker and tourist (different shaped bags ?) and instead be on the nature of travelling? Agreed we're all tourists, but personally I like to have a vague idea of what I want to see and do, and plan more when I actually get somewhere, after talking to other travellers and locals. Depends what you want from a trip really,sometimes it's nice just to have a holiday, sometimes there's a wish to see something of interest, sometimes you might want to live and work somewhere to see what it's really like. That pretty much takes you from the suitcase to the rucksack .

oh lord, this is a university assignment??

Old farang backpacker woman told me backpackers spread STDs because they not very smart and sleep with each other think they no STD but surprise. Thais lady once laugh at me and say backpack what the matter you cannot afford suitcase with wheels?

My approach is that you get a better experience of the culture and people when you backpack.

Well, so much for objective, unbiased university research. ;)

Yes I'm naive, I know.

Backpacking is culture. Nothing much to do with Thai culture however.

"I'm doing a university assignment on the different experiences you get of the culture and local people when you backpack through Thailand"

Which no star unis accept these crappy assignments?

Must be doing some arty farty degree

I am a backpacker planning on being a real traveler by riding on an elephant and rafting downstream on a bunch of bamboo twigs lashed together.

You guys staying at posh resorts just wouldn't understand.

I was talking about it with a buddhist monk and he knew where i was coming from.

dp

OP, you are wrong. resorts can be very cultural. a siamese spa is obviously different from a balinese spa. and people eating in thai restaurants in these resorts know what they are paying for.

make a questionaire and test the 'backpackers' and resort tourists before jumping to a conclusion.

Don't forgeting brothel for true Thai experience, but not many backpackers too cheap they busy boinking themselves and talking of true Thai experience, heeeheeee then going on LP and "where Javier my friend I boinked, I cannot find hime please email me, I am carrying your child, I think" Anyway, I will call him Full Moon."