In Reply to: I tend to agree with clovis on this! posted by trayden on Saturday, 11. July 2009 at 17:28 Bali Time:
for a number of years. five of those years i was based in bangkok (fantastic city - full of fun and never sleeps), and i spent the last two years of my time there on Phuket.
Phuket did my head in! inflated tuk tuk prices, agressive drivers, and sex tourism in my face (i worked in Patong so there wasnt much escape). having said this, i do have to say that i met and made some good friends whilst there.
it is not fair to compare thailand with bali, one being a kingdom, and the other being an island. the north of thailand is absolutely fascinating. the hilltribe culture, elephants, arts and crafts, scenery, markets.....i could go on and on.
i now live in Bali and, although i do prefer to live here, i miss many things about thailand - the main one being the food! the fact that you can eat from a street vendor and feel comfortable with the hygiene is something that just doesnt really happen in Bali.
i miss the fact that booze is so cheap there, and that you can sit in the street and drink (nasty) cocktails for just a couple of dollars.
but would i go back to live there? no, i dont think so. the country is in a real state at the moment politically, and i am glad i left when i did. i could see it going down hill and it hasnt reached the bottom yet. i fear that when HRH passes away that thailand will be in a state of chaos for a long time, and i would not want to be there when it happens.
give me bali for living, but i still go to thailand for holidays!