I had a friend in LA who had done some anthropology fieldwork in Thailand and she described it as the ideal place to vacation – you want beaches, they got that. Rugged nature, modern nightlife cities, historical sites, picturesque rural tranquility, everything. And the location on river systems important for inland travel leaves the culture and economy deeply, especially hospitality-focused, and the price levels and exchange rate are such that with enough money to not be actively falling behind in America you can live pretty comfortably there.

Which makes it particularly irritating that if I announce a solo trip to there I look like I’m gonna go blow money on hookers