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Old 04-11-2015, 02:42 AM
 
622 posts, read 525,500 times
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A car bomb exploded in the underground car park of the Central Festival shopping mall in the resort island of Koh Samui late last night injuring seven including one foreigner. Koh Samui car bomb: seven people hurt on Thai tourist island | World news | The Guardian

Southern Thailand has been experiencing an upsurge in the separist insurgency in the provinces of Narathiwat, Pattini and Yala which started in the 1960s with an estimated death toll of 6,300, but the violence has never escalated further north.

If the insurgency has indeed decided to change tactics and target popular tourist destinations like Koh Samui and Phuket, it could deal a significant blow to the country's economy. Tourism accounts for approximately 19% of GDP and shows no sign of slowing in spite of the economic crisis worldwide. Thailand Tourism Statistics for 2013 and 2014. Arrivals by Region and Countries of Origin.

The island is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand and attracts around 20 million visitors a year. Ko Samui travel guide - Wikitravel
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Old 04-11-2015, 03:24 AM
 
Location: Between the Alps and the North Sea
309 posts, read 257,310 times
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Why do people insist on going to these third-world hellholes when there is so much beauty in Europe and America to explore?
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Old 04-11-2015, 08:10 AM
 
622 posts, read 525,500 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SiegendesLicht View Post
Why do people insist on going to these third-world hellholes when there is so much beauty in Europe and America to explore?
I wouldn't describe Samui as a hellhole exactly. It does have its merits such as a tropical climate and fantastic beaches.

I can't speak for America since I've never been there, but with Europe at least, it's touch and go with the weather once outside the normal high season months of late May, June, July and August. Or at least that's the case in Northern Europe, But from November to March, the weather is generally quite dismal.The trees have all lost their leaves and the landscape can be pretty bland.

At least in the Tropics, you're guaranteed temperatures of 34-38C (93-100F) during the day and around 24C (75F) at night regardless of which month you travel in.
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Old 04-11-2015, 10:58 AM
 
Location: City of Angels
2,923 posts, read 5,597,251 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SiegendesLicht View Post
Why do people insist on going to these third-world hellholes when there is so much beauty in Europe and America to explore?
Samui a third world hellhole? What a joke. Samui is a world class beach destination with nicer resorts and better tourist infrastructure than any beach city in the US. It's also a hell of a lot more beautiful than any beach city in the US. And it's close enough to the equator that you don't have to deal with typhoons.
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Old 04-11-2015, 01:10 PM
 
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My son and his buddies are headed there(various locations in Thailand) next month for several weeks. Momma ain't happy to read this.
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Old 04-11-2015, 07:40 PM
 
Location: University City, Philadelphia
22,634 posts, read 14,905,500 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SiegendesLicht View Post
Why do people insist on going to these third-world hellholes when there is so much beauty in Europe and America to explore?
They are not hell holes.

You do not know what you're talking about.

I've been to Thailand several times and I will tell you that there are many beautiful places there. The food, shopping, entertainment and culture is fabulous.

I have been all over Europe scores of times since my teens and served in the UK's Royal Merchant Navy. Yes, there is plenty of beauty in Europe but in recent years the service is poor, most places are way overpriced, the food - this should be unbelievable in countries renowned for their cuisine - is usually mediocre, and there is plenty of crime. Yes plenty of filth and security concerns in Europe too.
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Old 04-11-2015, 09:29 PM
 
2,563 posts, read 3,670,184 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SiegendesLicht View Post
Why do people insist on going to these third-world hellholes when there is so much beauty in Europe and America to explore?
First of all, it's hardly a Third World hellhole. Secondly, price is a factor for some people. In Thailand, you can find a nice guesthouse to stay in for usually around $30 a night. If you eat Thai food, it can be had for as little as a dollar meal . You can't do that in Europe.
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Old 04-12-2015, 04:25 AM
 
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There does appear to be some connection between the insurgency in the south of the country and the bombing according to this site: Car Stolen From Deep South Used in Samui Mall Bombing

It's a little odd in a way though that the terrorists didn't wait a week for the annual Songkran festival due to take place from 14-17 April to begin since there will be a lot more tourists around then.
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Old 04-12-2015, 05:12 PM
 
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,661 posts, read 57,789,143 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John7777 View Post
First of all, it's hardly a Third World hellhole. Secondly, price is a factor for some people. In Thailand, you can find a nice guesthouse to stay in for usually around $30 a night. If you eat Thai food, it can be had for as little as a dollar meal . You can't do that in Europe.
and... Europe needs to go to Asia 1x/ yr for affordable healthcare tune-ups!
]
the world is a 'war-zone'. get used to it.
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Old 04-12-2015, 08:39 PM
 
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
10,348 posts, read 7,936,317 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xircal View Post
It's a little odd in a way though that the terrorists didn't wait a week for the annual Songkran festival due to take place from 14-17 April to begin since there will be a lot more tourists around then.
Let's be grateful for small favors.
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