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So, my ex-wife is Filipina, and I've been there more than 50 times, including 2 weeks ago.
The Filipinos, in a survery about 6 months ago, proved to be the happiest (and poorest) people in Asia. What that means is they are generally good humored and like a good laugh, and that is my experience.
There are many nice Ladyboys there, and more and more are getting surgery. I went with 6 in Boracay, and all were pleasant and fun, and 2 of the six had the typical Thai surgery (cheeks, chin, breasts, hips).
Where it is not so fun, is the poverty, which causes virtually everyone and his brother to ask you for money. Leaving Boracay last weekend to Manila, I paid a total of 8 people minor pittances, but it is just aggravating to do it.
Manila is dangerous and is well known for being so. I have never heard of other places being unusually dangerous except Mindanao where the Muslim insurgents are (er, maybe like the south of Thailand?).
For safety, what Thailand is really great at, is hiding the crime. It just does not show up in English newspapers. Look at a Thai newspaper and you get quite a different perspective of what life is really like here. And note the 4th British tourist in 18 months was murdered in Koh Samui last week.
All that being said, Thailand, despite the incredible corruption (one of worst in Asia), it's frustrating, twisted business practices (rated 77 out of 144 for ease of doing business, like near Palestine or so), it's well published human rights excesses (1200 people murdered during Thaksin's drug campaign in 3 months, and was it 77 muslims killed on a truck last year?), it's suppression of free press (one of worst in world), it is a great place for a dumb farangs like us who don't get involved in all that crap. But for those who do get involved in business, it sure ain't paradise...except for the Ladyboys.
The Filipinos, in a survery about 6 months ago, proved to be the happiest (and poorest) people in Asia. What that means is they are generally good humored and like a good laugh, and that is my experience.
There are many nice Ladyboys there, and more and more are getting surgery. I went with 6 in Boracay, and all were pleasant and fun, and 2 of the six had the typical Thai surgery (cheeks, chin, breasts, hips).
Where it is not so fun, is the poverty, which causes virtually everyone and his brother to ask you for money. Leaving Boracay last weekend to Manila, I paid a total of 8 people minor pittances, but it is just aggravating to do it.
Manila is dangerous and is well known for being so. I have never heard of other places being unusually dangerous except Mindanao where the Muslim insurgents are (er, maybe like the south of Thailand?).
For safety, what Thailand is really great at, is hiding the crime. It just does not show up in English newspapers. Look at a Thai newspaper and you get quite a different perspective of what life is really like here. And note the 4th British tourist in 18 months was murdered in Koh Samui last week.
All that being said, Thailand, despite the incredible corruption (one of worst in Asia), it's frustrating, twisted business practices (rated 77 out of 144 for ease of doing business, like near Palestine or so), it's well published human rights excesses (1200 people murdered during Thaksin's drug campaign in 3 months, and was it 77 muslims killed on a truck last year?), it's suppression of free press (one of worst in world), it is a great place for a dumb farangs like us who don't get involved in all that crap. But for those who do get involved in business, it sure ain't paradise...except for the Ladyboys.
I give up! 
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