Thailand’s Seven Amazing Wonders
Thailand’s government’s latest campaign to boost tourism in Thailand is the unveiling of the country’s “Seven Amazing Wonders”. What are those wonders? you might ask. Wat Pho? Jatujak weekend market? Vensus Flytrap, Thailand’s all-ladyboy pop group? Not quite. Thailand’s Seven Amazing Wonders, according to the Bangkok Post today, are:
- Thai hospitality
- Historical sites
- Beaches
- Natural attractions
- Health services
- “Trendy” spots such as boutique hotels
- Festivals
Those guys at TAT aren’t exactly the most creative bunch. After previous campaigns like “Amazing Thailand” and “Visit Thailand Year 1988” tourist will now be told of the wonders that await them in Thailand, like spas… and hotels… and nice people. Sounds like a blast.
I was thinking of ways to spruce up TAT’s campaign and its lack of pizzaz. My Seven Amazing Wonders of Thailand would be:
- Spooky Hello Kitty pendant dolls hanging off the rear bumpers of pickup trucks
- Mum Jokmok – star of every Thai movie in history and owner of a great face
- Scraggly street cats with no tails
- Five-baht packs of dried cuttle fish from 7-Eleven
- Farang beggars making 30,000 baht a month on the streets of Bangkok
- The man with no legs who amazingly drags himself around Jatujak market every weekend
- A national army that “does not encourage their men to act like hooligans”. (Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont)
I think my campaign would draw a few more people to Thailand than TAT’s ideas. What would your seven wonders be? What would attract new tourists to come to Thailand for their vacations?
July 20th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Are you kidding about the farang beggars? Now, honestly, I never saw that!
I’m not sure I want to see more tourists in Thailand. Have to think about that one. :)
Peace,
~Chani
July 21st, 2007 at 8:53 am
1 falang tourists wanting to use drugs even tho they’re easier to obtain at home, and without trouble with the cops.
2 falang becoming an attraction for local thais on khao san, turning it all around
3 a coup doesn’t provoke a big riot, but is initially seen as beneficial
4 falang coming to thailand to get “girlfriends” in pattaya and similar spots, and the local men don’t want to kill them for it. this actually makes thailand the least racist country in the world
5 thai and khmer beggars making much less than 30000 baht for sure
6 18 yo not allowed to drink by their parents
7 10 yo kids allowed to drive motorcycles by their parents
mh you can go on and on, thailand is amazing indeed, i had a tha guest just today in my home, and it took her less than five minutes to persuade me to go to thailand next year, and not try nothing new like africa or latin america. damn i miss thailand
July 21st, 2007 at 9:49 am
Fingers are itching to tap at this point but I don’t want to put more negative comments on your site. I agree though, their list is laughable.
July 21st, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Chaiyo has reminded me how glad I am not to be there.
You said - falang (this juvenile term is in itself racist) tourists wanting to use drugs even tho they’re easier to obtain at home, and without trouble with the cops.
Me - 8 years in Thailand and the only people who have ever “pushed” drugs (and I mean pushed) in my direction have been Thai.
You said - falang becoming an attraction for local thais on khao san, turning it all around
Me - Really, foreigners seen as an attraction, like animals in a zoo. What does that really say about the locals?
You said - a coup doesn’t provoke a big riot, but is initially seen as beneficial
Me - Don’t you remember the other coups? They always end in innocent death and immunity for the corrupt thieving generals and politicians who instigate the coup in the first place. That fact that you seem to favour strict military rule over a democracy says a lot about you.
You said - falang coming to thailand to get “girlfriends” in pattaya and similar spots, and the local men don’t want to kill them for it. this actually makes thailand the least racist country in the world
Me - I met my wife at work, she’s not from Pattaya or the type of girl you are insinuating but still we get no end of verbal abuse from small minded Thai men. And check your facts, just see how many foreign men have lost their lives because of their involvement with Thai women over the years.
You said - thai and khmer beggars making much less than 30000 baht for sure
Me - Given the perfect “share the wealth” system in place in Thailand surely there are no Thai beggars!
You said - 18 yo not allowed to drink by their parents
Me - So you’re saying that no one in Thailand under the age of 18 drinks because their parents have banned it. Open your eyes mate!!
You said - 10 yo kids allowed to drive motorcycles by their parents
Me - And this is such a good thing, really? If I got a dollar for every time I’ve had to swerve to avoid a kid on a motorbike riding the wrong way up the road and not really in control I’d be soaking up the sun on a beach (not in Thailand) and not bothering about work on Monday. Go to casualty and see what a 10 year old looks like after a collision with a car! Oh, the 10 year old wouldn’t be in casualty because there is no free of charge casualty or free ambulance service in Thailand.
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Woah! So much negativity!
I ‘m really missing Thailand - I’ve only been gone ten days and wishing I can come right back….
July 24th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
relax leo
matt just came up with a “fun” list of amazing thai wonders. look, i just wanted to draw attention to stuff i find ironic in thailand, not what i think is great in thailand.
but why am i explaining this, you’re obviously a complete moron if you think “that i think” (love that) that its cool for 10 yos to ride a motorbike or have a military coup.
check out the word irony, sarcasm. it is called humour
look its funny when tourists think locals are exotic then take fotos of them, looking at khao san its almost completly the opposite. arghhh i am wasting my time