Americans on Khao San Road

"I told my friend, please earmark this conversation, I want to hear you repeat it to me three years from now, after you have traveled the planet. I want you to say to me again,
- I have a list of books to read. -"

Andy, consider this conversation bookmarked! It was so interesting meeting you in person after reading your blog for years -- you have great advice. Travis anotheryearoff.blogspot.com

I was thinking I should add a comment to this post before you read it Travis.

I love talking with these American, however with a Americans and all tourist there is often a need for me to back off. My other two American friends ask me to go to JJ Market today.

I said,
NO WAY.

People ask you to go do their itinerary with them, and often are offend when I say no. I am not a tourist here, today I live here, tomorrow I live in a different city.

So I love talking with Americans I meet as long as I can negotiate to not go with them to look at tourist attractions.

I do know many long-term travelers that look at tourist attractions every day and are also nuts. And when not looking at them, they drink.

"Amerians make a legal pad list of things to do…"

Guilty as charged, but it is a list of things that I might want to do, not what I WILL do. I use these lists to help me when I get in an area, there are usually only a few things that are high on the list, and I may not do any of them.

"look at tourist attractions every day and are also nuts. And when not looking at them, they drink."

Guilty as charged, at the start of a trip. After that, I calm down and go at what is a comfortable pace for me. Much faster than most and WAY faster than a longterm traveler, but then my trips are usually only 2 to 4 weeks and I am crazy anyway.

Bob L
USA

Now, I pick on Americans as it is bad form to talk about all culture, however the reality it is all tourist do this. However, American are the classic, I am not ok unless I have a long-list of things go do champions.

Americans GET IT DONE.. aagh

Bob ---- Tourist versus Traveler, I am traveler and under a year for sure is probably tourist.

The operante question is this, are you on vacation to relax, and does the tourist have a clue what this word means?

Walk Slow as Wade says.
Plan, hmm is that included in the word relax.

If they say, I am on a trip to see something new everyday, this is what Vacation is, not Vacation from work, most people have to go back to work, where they do not work to relax.

So you don't consider soi Cowboy and Nana Disco a tourist spot Andy ?