Thailand is the Costa Rica of the eastern hemisphere, and here are the reasons why:
1. The tour packages--the experiences offered are almost the same, and the ubiquity and convenience of the tour packages are the same in both places.
2. Easy ATM access--both places want your money, and make it easy for you to get it to give to them!
3. Backpacker culture--big in both places
4. Lots of beach and non-beach mountain beauty available
5. The persistent, not highlighted but present underlying presence of marijuana and other undesirable elements
6. So much English everywhere, English kind of assumed wherever you go
7. Good toilet experiences most places
8. Stable in comparison to the surrounding countries
9. Pleasant tropical climate in both places
10. Both places' tourist spots are overrun with Americans, Europeans, and Australians alike.
Top 10 things I LOVE about coming to Thailand after being in China awhile:
1. The mango sticky rice with condensed coconut milk. Oh baby.
2. People smile at you here!
3. Drivers, although crazy, will stop to let you cross the street!!
4. Facebook is legal and not blocked here!
5. They have American TV news and shows on satellite! (China blocks those too)
6. The banana chocolate sweetened condensed millk with sugar on top rotee (fried dough). It should be illegal to NOT eat this every day.
7. Thai coffee. Layer of sweetened condensed milk, layer of espresso. Whoa.
8. They have cheese readily available here, in addition to yummy Thai food.
9. I don't need to mind my p's and q's quite so much in what I say when I'm talking to others.
10. Tons of used book stores, brimming with English books!!
