Has Thailand lost it?

There's no doubt Thailand isn't the same as it was 20 years ago, and the speed of ruination of some islands makes me feel physically sick (Koh Lipe, anyone?). But I still love it.

Greece depends on tourism and their eco is down the gurglar.
Certainly not because of some drop in tourism but because they're a bunch of lying, cheating scumbags that have been cooking the books for more than 30 years.
20% of the workforce are civil servants, they're angry because their 13th and 14th annual paycheck has been cancelled and they have to work longer than just up to the age of 55.

Its all relative.

I recall when I first came to Thailand hearing people tell me how I should have seen it 10 years ago and how its 'Golden Age' was long behind it.

Well if that was the case then it really must have been amazing in the 80's as I've had (and am still having) a ball from then, right up to now.

I think that what really changes is ourselves and our perceptions. As we grow more accustomed to a place, the more we see it for what it really is.
We become more aware of the negative aspects of the country and its how we cope with them that alters our perception.
It's called Culture Shock and we ALL suffer from it albeit in differing ways.

Mainwaring likes to froth out over ineptitude in the service industries.

I get dismayed by the sheeplike mentality of so many intelligent people who if they actually thought for themslves probably could really change the country, and so on and so forth.

Its an ongoing thing. Some people can cope with it and carry on, others struggle and like the OP decide its time to move on.

Oh, and for those of you who think the Thai ecomomy isn't heavily reliant on tourism...get real.

"sheeplike mentality of so many intelligent people who if they actually thought for themslves probably could really change the country" - sheep I take it being well-known for their love of change?

Except for Shawn , I can't think of another myself - but unlike you I'm not a sheep aficionado...

I am perfectly aware of the processes of settling into a culture - having done it myself in more than one culture - and of the love everyone has of saying that "things ain't what they used to be" - including nostalgia - however it is not change or perception that I object to - it is the nature and processes of change in Thailand that I find so distasteful - (and the stupid foreigners a I encounter here!)

I've repeated this enough times for the penny to have dropped I think.

for those who think Thailand isn't heavily reliant on tourism . . . get real.

tourism isn't any more important to the Thai economy than it is to the UK's. It's a resource that is being exploited, and a handy foreign exchange earner the country has come to rely on, but that's all.

as I said, if you want to take a look at economies that really are dependent on tourism as THE key foreign exchange earner, you need to look elsewhere. Thailand has plenty of other irons in the fire when it comes to earning foreign exchange. Some other countries have none.

Not as delusioned as thinking that Thailand is 8 to 10 times cheaper than Spain.

"I think that what really changes is ourselves and our perceptions. As we grow more accustomed to a place, the more we see it for what it really is.
We become more aware of the negative aspects of the country and its how we cope with them that alters our perception"

One of the more intelligent comments I've read here in awhile.

how much does a good room cost in spain? $300. $40 in thailand.

thai restaurant food $2, spain $20.

Sure, Bleak, 1200b is a lot for a room, but where are you eating for less than 60b?

Samara

At lots of restaurants most dishes are 60 baht or less. Typical one plate lunch dishes would be significantly less, also in actual restaurants.

And.. what's wrong with a 1200 baht room? I tend to spend 600-700 or so, and that's verycomfortable. I do spend 1200 or more when splurging a bit, typically when the family joins.