Thailand's Russian invasion
It's hard not to notice that there has been a rather sudden influx of Russian tourists to Thailand. It may be that there are more Russians in Phuket than Bangkok, but this increase is not just my imagination – the Russians are coming.
At the risk of offending my Russian readers – I know that I used to have at least one – I've been thinking about these Russian visitors a lot recently because they're everywhere. You go to any nightclub in Phuket and there will be a group of Russians there dancing until the sun comes up.
They're an interesting bunch, the Russians, but I worry about the reputation that some of their countrymen are earning. I have now lost track of the number of times that I've been told stories about Russian tourists coming to Thailand and wreaking havoc on bars and clubs. Just as Britain and Australia have their lager louts, so Russia has its vodka louts.
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has made it clear that it is keen to tap into new markets, such as Russia. TAT's global roadshow touring has already seen an impact on tourism numbers.
One point of interest that I have noticed is that the Russians coming to Thailand have a lot of money. Furthermore, property developers have now cottoned on to this and are beginning to translate their websites into Russian.
I was told by a major property developer that Russians weren't buying property in Thailand before for the simple fact that they couldn't read any of the websites. While there have been Russian girls hanging out at Novotel Siam Square for as long as I can remember, there are now more Russians making their way to Thailand than ever before. There are even Russian clubs and bars beginning to surface.
To any Russian readers, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on what is now attracting you to Thailand. As for everyone else, what have your experiences with the Russian masses been like?
I hope I haven't offended any Russians by writing this.
I think the visa and/or stamp on arrival rules were recently changed to be more easy for Russians to enter/stay/invest in Thailand. That is what has caused you to notice them more. There are more to notice…
It is a trend. When I was still teaching the students who were going to Pattaya hotels for their work experience were given a 1 week crash course in Russian due to the influx of Russian tourists. They spent 4 years learning English but then were expected to use Russian for their intern.
I also notice many signs in Pattaya written in Russian last time I was there.
Some years ago, Russions took over Turkey and not to the delight of many people as I understand.
Many travelagencies in Europe now offer "guaranteed Russian free hotel holidays".
I have heard that Russians control a part of the downtown district in Seoul, South Korea.
I could possibly see this happening to other parts of the world… hint hint
Especially considering you say they are rich and love to party… hint hint
Time will only tell…
I think there are a few Russian heavies in Samui.
If they wouldn't talk so loudly and wouldn't treat staff so roughly and wouldn't surround themselves with so many beautiful young women they'd look more like the rest of us.
My friends went to Pattaya last year and ended up in the part of the beach they dubbed "Little Moscow".
I guess when you're country is so darn cold, any country with sunny beaches that you can afford, you'd flock to.
Somebody has to make up for the big decline in the newly destitute "Ugly American" tourists. Might as well be Russians. The Thais really only care about the money, not where it comes from.
Russian culture is really not all that much different than Thai culture. The men drink, smoke and whore around; the young women have tight bodies, like money, and soap operas; they both love gold and flaunting wealth; and they'll both kill you when drunk and mad, etc., etc..
And then there's politics…
I think perhaps we're being a bit hard on the general Russian population, but it's interesting to see people's opinions.
OK, lots of good Russians, too! And they deserve a nice vacation in the Land O' Smiles! Is that better?
You can delete my last comment if you like…just my attempt at reinforcing badly worn stereotypes…yadayada.
I am a Canadian that noticed the increase in Russian tourists when I was in Pattaya. I was surprised to see a seafood restaurant on the beach with menus in Russian/Thai…..The Russians are coming!
Don't sweat it mataho.
Just don't call the Pattaya branch of the St. Petersburg mafia, OK?
Hello Matt,
I am from Slovakia, but have lived in Ukraine and Russia for the past 3 years. I have been travelling to Thailand before and also recently with my Russian and Ukrainian friends.
There is no mystery in the influx of Russians and Ukrainiands to Thailand:
a) The economies of Russia and Ukraine have been developing very positively in the past 5 years. That is people have more money and are starting to enjoy holidaying. The combined population of RU and UA is over 200 milion.
b) Russians and Ukrainians need visa for most countries and obtaining visa is a painfull process in most cases. The holiday countries that do not require visa are the most popular holiday destinations. They are Egypt, Turkey and Thailand. During the winter period, only Thailand qualifies as holiday destination.
c) There are direct flights to BKK from Moscow, Kiev, and Novosibirsk. Also from many capitals of ex soviet republics. This favors Thailand over Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia, where visa are also not required.
Hope this explains the situation a bit.
to mataho: your observations regarding similarities between Russians and Thais are correct. But there are dramatic differences in their nature: while Thais are polite and smiling, Russians are just the oposite. This is their character and the way they like it. As my Moscow friend put it on the last day of our holiday in Vietnam: "I can stand the artificial smiles any more, I am looking forward to land in Moscow tomorrow and recognize at first glance that all the people around me genuinely hate me and do not try to hide it."
the rusians spend good mony and we have neverproblem with then,when rusian girls read this the gen contackt my.
I was told by few thai people who live and work in Pattaya that they do not like Russians as they are rude and tight with their money. I think they are nothing like Thai they seem unfriendly and cold compare to English or German tourists.
I have been to Thailand 4 times and I'm glad I haven't met any Russians in the resort I go to. I won't even mention it just in case they see this and invade it. I have developed a rather negative attitude towards them recently due to their unpleasant behaviour. I have been to Egypt this year and only just returned from Turkey. They are unfriendly, arogant, won't speak to anyone who is not russian, rude, very serious, greedy (all inclusive), they don't ask politely they demand things and of course there's the drinking. Local and hotel staff alike do not like them. I have asked. Someone from the hotel told me that all the Russians do is drink all night and get up ti all sorts of things and sleep all day. That seemed to be the case except for families with children. I think much of what shaped my feelings is that I stayed in a hotel where everyone was Russian except for just one English family. Won't do that again. I do enjoy talking and interacting with people from other cultures but I found it impossible with them. I heard that Americans have been getting leaflets that told them how to behave when they go abroad. The problem being they are very loud and full of themselves. Maybe the Russians need a bit of education and manners to go along with their money.
Russians aew rude, vengeful, disrespectful people
I met a lot of them.
balena, ivvn, sad to hear that being Russian as who I am.
During the Soviet time it was impossible to go oversees and probably we don't have the culture of communication with foreigners. Many Russians don't speak English, especially who are older then 30 but it's changing..
As for Thailand and the Russians. As someone mentioned above there are a few reasons of the increasing amount of tourists from Russia. Direct flights, no visa required and cheap prices for accommodation.
Cheers folks and don't be so negative to the Russians. There are good people among us too.
Hi Balena,
I can understand where you are coming from. I know it could be hard for a person to all of a sudden find themselves in a hotel where guests cannot speak your language, especially if you are an extravert. Like Pavel said, the only problem is that the Russians do not really speak English. And to be honest, they do not feel good about it, either. Every time my mom comes to visit me here in BKK, she really feels lost, as she is "older" generation. But luckily, she has me to help her.
Regards drinking of Russians, I will also agree. Every time I go home (my work is very international and I move around a lot), I am so surprised how much people drink. It is the culture.
However, I will again have to agree with Pavel and others who have a good opinion of Russian tourists — there are a lot of normal, nice, gentle, well mannered Russians as well. Just most of the times, you would not even know they are Russians. They would speak perfect English and like you, also avoid places with "noisy" Russians. I guess it is just a matter of overall social upbringing and culture and we cannot just put all Russians under the same denominator.
As a last remark, please think if you have ever had similar thoughts of Germans or Brits or Aussies? Thinking how low class they were and how bad you felt having to share the same space with them (perhaps, they were drunk, rude, tatooed…, etc)
I think such things are universal, can be met in any culture and are not a make-up of one particular country.
Regarding the comment on similarity of Thai and Russian women: I do not want to offend any Thai girls, but from what I see, Russians are much better educated/intelligent than the Thai.
Just an observation. I could be wrong. We need to ask men who prefer to be with Thai girls why this is so. lol
Also forgot to add — someone said Russians are tight with the money/tips.
Unfortunately, you cannot be further from the truth.
Just ask anyone from Siam City hotel in Bangkok. They are so happy to have Russian guests, as usually, they order expensive drinks (not just a Singha) and leave $100 for a tip.
Unless, of course, you think it is being 'real tight' with the money. I don't know your tipping practice. lol
I am not going to discuss the comments of "lost" boy and others. They seem to be very intellectual:) people(my guess is that most of them are from United States).
I'd like to address Lena and/or Pavel. Ja nedavno perejehala v BKK. Hotela by pointeresovatsia kakogo roda russkoje obchestvo ja mogla by vstretit i gde. Zaranee blagodariu.
I am not American.
Hey folks. This is turning into some kind of fight. What was the author's point originally? To select Russian people into some category and gossip around? I strongly disagree with some comments here, as well as I hate the author's phrasing – I really had the impression of "selection" of my nation into some sort of a caged bird and baing all superior.
Just like ANY nation in the world, we have good and bad people, well-mannered and rude, generous and tight with money. Originally it was our national feature – yes, we are generous. But it's logical that if you are generous by nature but have just enough to live on, you won't go around throwing money away.
And please stop being so negative! We are a Russian-American couple and started having issues about some British men – I'm talking about our new neighbours who truly believe they are the only ones in the world and allow themselves to bring hookers to the quiet family area, drink and speak really loudly at the balcony, disturbing everyone's sleep. And still, in the morning I go out to the pool to meet my really great friends – a British couple. So… draw your own conclusions. Can't judge everyone by the behaviour of a group of people.
Who has ever managed to get laid with one of these hot Russian tourists in Pattaya or Phuket ? (not professional)
These bxtches look so hot, I would like to get one on top, but I don't know if they are really opened ?
Thanks for your help !
What a bunch of ignorant fools. You judge a country's people by a percentage of holiday makers. You know nothing about their country, the history that has formed their attitudes and culture. I have a wonderful caring respectful Russian girlfriend and there are millions of people just like her in Russia.
as a thai and has not spent much time in pattaya like during the past severa months where i had chance to meet so many russians in pattaya. and this started my wondering why they came to pattaya and had searched web for answer that made me came agross to this website. it helped me a lot to comprehend why they chose ptaaaya as their destiantion. fortuantely for the country this hlps brigns a lot income and money to thai people. russians might be tough emlotionless not friendly and mgit he rude but that was understandable if we thought of their difficulties during communist era. i been once to moscow where i found people there wont smile even to foreigneres. during my one week stay there my smiling drew much surprise from local people and my russina friends said this kind of thing shocked the people. it was really difficult for them to smile back totally different from thai people.
thakns for coming to thailand be reminded if u saw smingly thais in pattaya please smile back. that is our national greeting to all foreigners whose coming help bring income to our people..thanks .
I am an American who's been living in Russia for three years. I've also visited Turkey and Thailand for vacations.
I can assure you that while there are plenty of loud, drunk, 'all-inclusive' type Russian tourists in Turkey, Thailand is not on these boor's itinerary.
In fact, Phuket is so obviously overrun with drunk, obnoxious Brits and Australians, I can't even begin to imagine how one could ever start singling out the Russians for loutish behaviour.
Russians in Thailand are normally in couples, or have come as a family. They are staying in decent hotels, spending good money, and their behaviour is polite enough.
Americans in Thailand are also in general a quiet, staid bunch. It is 'Ugly Brits' who have overrun Phuket. As for the Russians, more please!
rimma my russian (tatar) wife and i recently spent 10 days in pattaya. we enjoyed the open minded life the sites and sounds of what has to be the number one sex centre of the world. the combination of a 5 star hotel and street food does it for me. but the russians (couples)were an endless source of amazment to me with their reluctance to smile or make any form of socail connection with thai people, us or even other russians.
these russians are the new lower middle classes , no culture only money and
pretence, no sence of adventure no sence of anything. back home in russia they live in a life of fear and suspition where even looking at someone could lead to problems. one day i hope they will get the point, but first they must learn respect to others and even themselves, learn to smile at anothers and even say thank you or please.
the interesting thing is that there are many russians with culture (my wife included) who will not travel to anywhere if the there are ASHAMED russians there.
At the time of writing my comment I am spending part of my winter months is Phuket near Kamala Beach. I am renting a beautiful apartment in a new complex on the hill. I chose this location roughly about 1,5-2 kilometers from the sea side in order to have a very quiet and relaxing few months with my husband. The place would be extremely quiet if there would be no Russians also renting apartments within this very complex. It is absolutely disgraceful what these people are doing. They have no respect for anything or anyone. The pool is officially open from 8 am to 10 pm. The Russians virtually sleep all day (because they party all night) Those couples that come with children throw the kids out by the pool and let them linger alone all day without anyone taking care of them. The kids are rowdy, loud and misbehaved children. The parents usually start gathering around the pool after 10 pm and stay there most of the night, drink like hell and then they try to over shout each other. These up heated conversations between 8-12 adults by the pool usually happen most nights anywhere between 2 am and 5 am. Just when most other people would like to enjoy their sleep. We’ve complained to the management but there is nothing they can do as the Russians become very aggressive when they are asked to leave the pool area as it is closed for the night.
When we go down to anyone of the lovely beaches during the day we always know who the Russians are. They are not only loud. They are dirty. At the end of the day when they leave the beach they leave all their rubbish in the sand (water bottles, bear bottles, ice cream wrappings empty cigarette packs etc. and of course a huge quantity of cigarette butts). They drink and smoke in the ocean then throw their cigarette buts in the water. Disgusting people!!!!!!!!!!!!
The other day we saw 3 Russian girls picking up European males on the beach. They then took them in the water and jerked them off or perhaps even f……d them. We bumped into the 3 girls also on another beach and they were up to the same thing there as well. They had a boy with them, not too big in size but very athletic. Perhaps he is their body guard or pimp??? Who knows?
Last year we did a grand tour of Thailand with my husband. We spent a few days in Pattaya. Originally we wanted to stay for one week. After 2 days we literally fled from there because of all the loud mouthed and disgracefully behaving Russians.
I know you cannot judge a nation on account of the small percentage of vacationing people. But why is it that a French, a Swedish an Austrian or a Polish etc. can behave and the Russians cannot. We see quite a number of Americans and Australians and they too behave very normally – as would be expected.
Otherwise Thailand is one of the most fantastic countries. The people here are very nice, friendly and always smiling. I wish the Russians would learn to behave and not ruin this idyllic country’s atmosphere. I wonder. Is it too much to ask????????
hello! i am from Russia. Live in St Petersburg. I dont like drink alcohol and very courteous in communicating. I was in Phuket 1 time. I very love your country and all thai peoples. becouse you smile and then i smile too. not all russian peoples is bad. Please dont think it.
Hi, I just come back home after my 5th visit in beautiful Thailand. I have to agree with many opinions about Russian tourists. They are noisy, rude, not friendly, sometimes even aggressive. During our recent holidays we witnessed few situations of their bad behaviour. But what about tourists comming from other countries? We sow so many Brits and Aussies behaving the same way. Maybe they smile a bit more but are often drunk, noisy, rude, aggressive, badly dressed, heavily tattoed and surrounded by prostitutes. Russians are more noticable bacause of their large number. I agree that Russians should learn to smile but not only Russians should learn haw to behave. In our private life we have a choice to be with kind of people we like, on holidays we sometimes don't have that choice at all. Everywhere you can meet nice and rude people. We shouldn't judge the book by the cover. I met many nice Russians just enjoing their holidays with families and kids. I am personally not very happy of "Russian invasion" in Thai. Its not the same, quiet place like it used to be. We can only hope that Russians, who now can travel and see other countries, learn a bit and change themselves.
Just came from phuket 17 days of holiday, with my husband and i was shocked because there were so many russians, rude bitches over there who loves to shop the generic things in life. I lived in america for 15 years NZ for four years but i havent seen so many russians at all. But when i came to thailand 3 weeks ago, too many we stayed in patong ang karon and theya er all over the place, i hate them, becvause they are very rude, no english, dressed very well, even tho its all fake, and they act like a prostitute. i womdered why, they are in thailand. As far as i know they are gold diggers. they want to be treated like a queen, so iam guessing that maybe they are in thailand because they are looking for expats with money so they can be spoiled. And they look like really a prostitute and a hoar…. sorry but its good to be true.
I am russian turned into Australian 10 yrs ago, who dont like his mother country and Russian people much, but have a bit of an understanding why is that all happenning with Russian overseas being arrogant bastards.
1. English language ability – like someone mentioned here previously – is a one of the biggest showstoppers for all of us – not to like Russo Touristo much. They cant talk, they dont talk. Back in russia – they dont talk to each other anyway.
I loved that comment of Christopher's russian friend: "I am looking forward to land in Moscow tomorrow and recognize at first glance that all the people around me genuinely hate me". That is so true! They do hate each other, they sorrounded themselves with heaps of problems (which are all actually true problems, given the politics situation in a country and so forth…), and if you are smiling back to them – they are likely to think "what a bastard, he does not have much problems in his life – i HATE HIM". Why would they learn english, if they virtually dont speak russian to themselves back in russia?
2. Drinking – well, they drink vodka yes, but Poms and Aussies are all about beers, right? Result is the same – heavily drunk people misbehaving in all possible means. I hate to call this a famous Russian culture of vodka drinking. But have to admit – that they have nothing else to do back home, and drinking is the only option for entertainment. Coming overseas, they are limited in their ability to find some better ways of spending time, but drinking. I was visiting some of my friends in russia some time ago – who I havent seen for a rather long period of time. At some time we were discussing how we spend our free time, and they just could not understand why I back in aus do so many different things (surf, kite, paraglide, 4wd offroad … rather versatile set of things I and many of my russian australian friends do). They kept telling me how stupid I was, and I should rather sit with a bunch of frieds and drink vodka. Thats it – full stop – back home – they drink, only drink. Why would they change this habbits overseas? They just cannot.
3. General attutude to show off (thy way girls are dressed, facial expressions of men etc …) – thats how they are behaving back in their country. They had NOTHING before – and just about now – a lot of people can allow themselves to have at least SOMETHING, like traveling overseas for example. They are wealthy people in eyes of their own friends/neighbours just for the simple fact they can go overseas – thus these individuals are showing off to everyone – including fellow tourists overseas. Thats how you see them dressed in "expensive" even fake clothing, girls in stilettos in airports (my personal favourite). Imagine the whole nation raising after SU collapse from communist mentality (all the same) into market relationships (i produce/buy/sell more and better – I will be more successfull) Well some of them done it perfectly (llook at mr Abramovich with his Chelsea club, and his US300 mil boat) The reast are copying it.
Haha – someone told me about iPhone problem in Russia. Those damn gadgets costs up to 2x/3x time more than official Apple pricing policy all over the world. Still – it is prestigeous for russians to have it. If you have an iPhone – you are an respcted "individual" (similar mentality like Garlem dwellers really). So basically – they are taking a credit in banks for the iPhone costing US2K +, just to show everyone they can be respected. Show of in Russian EQUAL to Respect.
Overall russian mentality is – if i have good expensive clothing, and other expsive attributes – im regarded as a success. If I am success – i do what ever i want. Shit over other hotel guests, mistreat staff and so on.
4. Many of russian who go there – dont travel much at all! To many of them it is first trip ever overseas, and likely the last one :(
If its their first trip – they just DO NOT KNOW what to expect and how to behave.
If its the last one (they might have been saving for a long time some cash to try out that beautiful Thailand everybody is talking about – so it highly unlikely they'll travell anywhere again) – they wanna make a ball out of it. They tight with money/tip – exactly these kind of people. If you dont want them to be tight – go to Siam City in BKK – as Lena advised previously. They waste money there – big time.
PS: I never go to places where russian are. As russian, walking down beautiful asutralian street, whenever i hear russian conversation – im trying to ignore it/prended it im not russian. If im touring around – i do my research to ensure i will not have such "pleasant" people around me during my trip. But it all can be explained by those 4 points above. I dont blaim them.
I know lots of Russians who live in Asia & they are nice, normal people who like to have fun on occasion.
Like the Brits & Aussies you get the ones that make their fellow countrymen feel ashamed but that is the nature of tourists the world over.
Russians are lovely, friendly people in the main, no different from their Western counterparts.
This is just the beginning, the Russians are coming in their droves – the government actually pays for civil servants flights. In 5 years there will be millions more of them holidaying in Asia, it is their back yard after all. And not just in the whoremonger, sad old men enclaves like Pattaya but EVERYWHERE.
I for one can't wait for this influx as I have a beautiful Russian fiancee & it is a pleasure to know Russian people. Perhaps Some people here should be more openminded.
Relax nice, well mannered,fine feathered people of the WEST. For most Russkies,Thailand as exotic destination lost its attraction some time ago. However be beware of some middle class rednecks, who still take their amazoness monsters with tastless makeup to get a bit of Thai sun.
They come and go. They won't stay, won't take your bussinesses. They simply won't survive over there, and will go back to dull ghettoes of modern Russian Cities like New York, Montreal or London:))))
Why my innocent comment has been deleted?..Anyway..after reading some posts, I've come to a conclusion that some audience here, like zBoris are just…premature ejaculators, no?
Well hello! i am russian too and i live in thailand and working at a hospital actually. Not ALL russians are like that! i loooove thailand so much as well as the people altho i do at time still feel like an outsider, tho i try to fit in. The only reason some russian people are like this is becaue their lack of english skills as some of u mentioned tht they are demanding. and yeah they go on holiday why not and party? n i wouldnt say they are stingy with money, once they drink they will leave big money on the table. They just have a different mentality as all different countries do. SO STOP BEING SO AGAINST THEM! as they might think the same abt some other countries as well.
Hey Jullie! I'm living in Bangkok as well..I'm afraid you're wasting your breath here. Nobody reads the post anylonger..How's life?
People do read it. Why do you think it's still being found three years after posting?
Oh..sorry The Lost Boy. it was just a wild guess.
No worries! It's a hot topic and people seem to keep searching for it.
Can't really relate my "premature ejaculation" problem, kindly pointed out to by mr Dimitri, to the whole topic, and 100% disagree on his opinion that Thai lost it attraction to most russians whatsoever.
How would you explain then proportion of business and land owned by them overthere. on my memory > then 25% advertisement and business related promotion material are for Russian crowd and in Russian language. I didn't see same story happenning anywhere else in russia.
They come and go? Yes. They return back for more. Hell yes.
That spit of yours, zBoris in previous post is full of hatred. I found it insulting. I might not be living in Russia, but I’m still proud of my people, my country, my heritage. My strong beliefs help me to maintain my self-identity, and at the same time appreciate and respect other cultures and values. Sure there are rotten apples on every tree, and I see a lot of drunken idiots on daily basis, be it Russians, Brits or Dutch , but I’d prefer face them directly and deal with them in my fashion, without spilling tons of dirt on the whole nation. You shy away from any bloke speaking your mother tongue. That makes me think, you are immature and can’t stand for yourself. Should any farm boy from Queensland spill his beer on your shirt in a bar, and you’d probably start bitching about that nation too. Nothing wrong in changing citizenship, but what makes you good citizen is what you can add to your new society, how you can enrich and enhance it by bringing bits of your culture, and how you can protect it. I have loads of friends, proud Australians of Russian origin. They’ve done a lot for their new country, business wise, culture wise and in sports. They are core of Australian Society with strong attachment to their roots. Remember that. Unless you realize that, you’re not an Australian. You’re just a plastic aussie, another refugee jumping the boats. Be a Man.
Dimitri, mate, we are not meant to get our posts personalised, like you've just done, so please do not go on this way. Nevertheless I trully admire your appreciation of your culture and people and how proud you are of your origins.
Still, looking on whats happenning in Russia (at the moment, and for the last 20 years), and as a result of it, what kind of people Russia produces as a tourist material scattering all around the world, one can develop some very clear and definite opinion on what the whole nation look like, and behave like.
During my travelling, I am often surprised, when being introduced to someone, after awhile they are questioning me If I really am a russian person. They say, how different russians were, they've me before. It happend to me everywhere ive been to: Europe, Asia, Latin America. For some weird reason people all around the world have completely different opinion, on what you were saying Dimitri, and that opinion is based on their personal experiences. And what is even more weird, they do not have same kind of judgement on Aussies, Poms or Yankees, like every russian I know of, and heard of (by the way) does!
By no means Im judging the nation, there are so many beautiful jewels overthere, but the whole point of this topic opened by Lost Boy, was to emphasise russian people behavior during their trips to overseas. I've got my opinion, 80% of posters in this blog, seem to share my point as well.
PS: Interesting enough – I know so many russians in here, who constantly bitch about how bad is to live in Australia, and how cool and fun, and easy to make money (if you are smart) and blah blah life is back in russia. Haha – why are they living here then? Still, none of them wants to go overthere. Dimitri – if you have couple of friends, including yourself, who are not like ones I'm talking about – it still does not change my point, on how many of them I've personally met.
Mate, do not get personal again please.
Yes, Boris. I made it personal, found hard not to. But I’m glad to see the way you responded. You are reasoning.
I got an impression of being a bit older, no offence here.. My professional trade lies in offshore engineering, running various projects around Asia, Australia, Sakhalin, etc. In my environment people are usually judged by hard work they do.
Don’t be ashamed by some of your ex-compatriots. Those people with ethics of a cockroach are very tiny minority, holiday makers, and by no means representing the great nation you came from.
Also, don’t let the misery to crawl into your soul when reading some comments above. It’s just poor judgement of some people. Their small worlds are only surrounded by three star hotel rooms and whose experience is only limited by complimentary guided tours. For them, Tom Clancy’s fictional novels are typical source of knowledge about my country, at the best. I’m not angry with them, just can’t be bothered. We see the case here when brain doesn’t have “enough data for a quality analysis”. They ARE ALSO HOLIDAY MAKERS-a random sample of their own culture, taken from the shallow end of a gene pool. What would you expect?
You should stand high here, be above such brawls. Don’t step down to that level. Proudly walk away. History of our country, country with very harsh conditions is very rich, very complicated, and yes, very dramatic. What you see these days is only pity side effect, nothing much.
Also, please bear in mind, when trying to merge into new society, poor remarks about your nation, your people, the land where your ancestors buried don’t do any good for you. Doesn’t matter what cause you have and what pain and humiliation you might have went through-still, doing so is not going to earn you respect, it only can reveal a soul with a poor, half amputated spirit. Not a good asset for any society, really. That was my point, young man.
I wish you all the best, Boris, I really do. In my line of work sometimes I come across young professionals from Russian Universities, mostly trainees under various exchange programs. You’d be surprised by dedication, professionalism and dignity of coming generation.
And those drank tourists? They’re just trailer trash, dying breed, just like dinosaurs…yesterday news.. Don’t let them to poison your good nature.
Wow! Iam glad this is not a web site about my people (black americans)But I agree with some of the stuff people said I live in L.A and will moving to thailand in the beginning of 2012 and there some of my own people who just piss me off just because I don;'t say nigga all the time and my pants are not around my ass I'am not black enough.WTF!But here is my e-mail address if anyone wants to grab a beer when I get there it doesn't matter where your from to me it's all about fun PEACE!
I totally agree with some of you that Russian people are not as bad as you think, we use to have hundred of thousand of Russian in Viet nam, even now you can find many russian in Viet nam too. but they belong to a group of well educated people . I met russian tourist too , they are nice people. All rich people from a poor country are a bunch of shit, same in viet nam and other Asian countries. they work so hard to be successful
The Russians are rude and crude. They have money but no manners, as a general rule. We have spoken to many Thais in the tourism industry who have said that they would prefer to be unemployed than deal with Russians. They are rude and disrespectful to the locals. They are becoming a blight on Thai tourism and will become the Asian equivalent of the British scum in Spain and other parts of Europe.