Backpackers

[mister_smith]

OK whats the deal here? No one on this forum as anything good to stay about these Backpackers, Can't think why myself.
Way I see it you don't see them cluttering the place up, gawping and taking snapshots round Nana or Patpong, though I can't make any opinions on Pattaya.
They don't come into the bars throwing thier money around and pricing out the merchandise
They just stick to thier Khao San Road Ghetto sitting around drinking thier 7/11 cheap beer
So come on enlighten me whats the deal?

[stogie bear]

[mister_smith]

Thanks Stogie should've put it here in the 1st place didn't think

[stogie bear]

Back packing is probably something most people here used to do. It's a young mans game, really. It's certainly beyound the realm of interest for ladyboy admirers and the ladyboys themselves I would think.

I can't think of many groups of people that I have less in common with!

[rob69in]

While backpackers    ( Sorry Donnnnny ) are not that much of a problem in NaNa & Pattaya, altho' I did see a few down there this trip, they are a nuisance in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai & occassionally Phuket.

I have found them to be poorly dressed, in many cases dirty, & unshowered, there is no excuse for a lack of cleanliness in the LOS! They buy one bottle of the cheapest beer & make it last all night between a group of them in what ever bar they congregating in. They very rarely tip, & put so little money into the Thai enconomy even the Thais's themselves have little time for them. They stare at the likes of myself who are actually spending some money, tipping, & enjoying the company of the locals. Then we have this absurd statement made by some, "I have come here to find myself", well how about finding yourself in southern Philippines, or maybe Nigeria, Chad, or maybe even Peru, Oh I forgot, no hot water, no aircon & far more dangerous, these people are laughable.

I'm sorry, but i just have no time for them.

[mardhi]

Well I have seen some ladyboys carrying designer bags that could easily pass as being big enough for a 'backpack' - does that count???

Having said that, dont seem to see many backpackers around Nana - or maybe they just seem invisible to me at least as they hold no interest.

Cheers
Mardhi

[Snick]

Bangkok is not a problem, they stay up in Khao San road

But Chiang Mai, Pai, Samui is full of 'em
In Laos, Luang Prabang seems to be mostly back packers, monks, and one or two locals

I really hate it when they go 'native', dressing up in some ridiculous idea of what a real Thai should dress like, including a neck full of amulets.

But the funniest is when they hook up with a Thai 'girlfriend' and its obvious to me that the girl is in her 30s but has convinced some poor fool that she is 22 just like him

[mister_smith]

Yeah I notice a few when I was in Chiangmai but they mostly stick to the old city in those little ratbag rooms for about 200 bhat a night, didn't see any hanging out in the lobby of the Pornping Hotel
Pai is pretty much a Hippy/Backpacker kinda place so it's understandable they're gonna go there
But yeah I know what you mean about when they go native and then you see a Thai kid wearing Jeans and Trainers with an Ipod stuck in his ear

[allstar88]

backpackers+students=            

[jellybean]

(rob69in @ Jan. 22 2007,19:29) Then we have this absurd statement made by some, "I have come here to find myself", ......

to which my reply usually is " well, fucking get lost again you stinking cunt!" said with a smile of course.

[Guest]

haha some funny posts there guys, specially like the get lost again one   but really, you can't tag all young tourists like this...i'm a student, but have a good job, and when i travel i carry a back pack, mostly out of convenience...

saying that, i always take more cash than i need, mostly because i like to enjoy myself, and i can't fathom the idea of going on a holidaqy if i don't have the money to burn...

the real fuckwits and wankers are the backpackers and expats (not all expats btw!!) who think that they're doing what's best for the place, and think their idea of thailand and what it is, or used to be...

btw, i worked in bkk for a year, as an english teacher at suaan kulaarb witiyalai near chinatown, and know that thai people are very much about appearances, not in a bad way..they wouldn't dream of going out in dirty, or dishevelled clothes, and when they go out, regardless of how little they have, money is no object!!

peace out!!  

[moe666]

Backpackers, now thats a subject one could go on for days about. My biggest problem with the is that they are cheap. Now a man can be frugal on his trip and still spread the money around because he has his priorities, ladyboys and other fun people.
Backpackers are just cheap, I like their line" I only pay what the locals pay because if I pay more I could screw up the economy". In India saw a Frenchy almost go to blows with a cyclo-cab driver over about .05 cents US .
The ones who really take the cake, decide to become vegetarians on a trip thru Southeast asia. On a tour thru Khao Yaiw National Park a few years ago a and his girl friend insist on having tofu with their noodles the guide explained in perfectly understandale english we do not have the same sort of tofu you are use to seeing( the big block). Well after much back and forth they settle on fried noodles. After eating he goes over and buys a pack of cigrettes so what is healty about that.
Last but not least in Myanamar a few years ago offered a and his girl friend a ride in my car, so they wouldn't have to take the bus. These two appeared to be a couple of good kids on a big trip not to backpackesh( they didn't smell). Well in the end they abused my hospitality and the drivers patience lookin for the cheapest room in Pae we drove them around for 2 hours so they could save 2 dollars. We finally went back to the first hotel they had enquired at.
Backpackers are trying to out do each otheir in how cheap they can travel around the world, and usually the worst of the lot are from Isreal on their leave after military service. They have signs saying Jews keepout.

[PigDogg]

I have no problem with backpackers whatsoever. I've always got on well with travellers I meet.

I think they're more adventerous than those who stay at home off. They're having fun just like we are.

[moe666]

I have met a few who were ok, but for some reason as a group and the majority who are attracted to that particular style of travel are . A New Zealander who my son went to University with came thru a few years ago after 9 months on the road. He was fed up with the scene and a lot of the people he had met.
As he described it is just a cheap way to do what most tourist pay big bucks to see and do.
As he described it everyone goes to a certain area of a town or city to find a hotel room. Then they all go to the same sites and all do pretty much the same thing.
He described the worst as those who had out stayed their funds and were constantly panhandling and stealing from otheir travelers and they were found in every country.

[daveduke007]

Looking at rob69's pics on his trip report it looks like hes been been carrying a backpacker for quite a while on his last trip