Trying to decide where to go on holiday this year and it's down to either Sri Lanka or Thailand.

Has anyone been to either or both?

I've heard Sri Lanka WAS dangerous a few years back but the civil was is over..but it has put me off slightly but some of the ancient sites over there look amazing....Im buggered if I can pick lol.

Sri Lanka is save now.

The government reveived a lot of money after the tsunami. They used that to expand their armed forces and killed all tamils. The rest of the world was too caught up with the middle east and journalists just pretended there was nothing going on. So the Sri Lanka government got a free pass to get rid of the Tamils for good.

Now that the Tamils have been removed, you all can savely go and enjoy the beauty the island harbours. Ondaatje has written very good novels, inspired by Ceylon. I recommend reading it!

dJJ said:

Sri Lanka is save now.

The government reveived a lot of money after the tsunami. They used that to expand their armed forces and killed all tamils. The rest of the world was too caught up with the middle east and journalists just pretended there was nothing going on. So the Sri Lanka government got a free pass to get rid of the Tamils for good.

Now that the Tamils have been removed, you all can savely go and enjoy the beauty the island harbours. Ondaatje has written very good novels, inspired by Ceylon. I recommend reading it!

wait seriously ??

No, that was an exaggeration. There are still tamils in Sri Lanka. And spread all over Europe.

However, the tsunami money has been utilized by the government against the tamils.

Battles over recources and land on Sri Lanka by tamils and singalese has been going on and of for abouth 1.000 years now. So, nothing to worry about. It will last for the next 1.000 years.

And just like every conflict, there is no one without blame. Ondaatje his books are a good read.

EYE WENT 2 SRI LANKA ON MY HONEYMOON IT WAS CRAP!! STAYED IN KANDY WHAT A DUMP!! NEVER BEEN 2 THALAND BUT IF EYE HAD A CHOICE NOW IT WOULD B THAILAND! BETTER ACCOM & MUCH BETTER FOOD PLUS SAFER DRINKING WATER.

Thanks for the input...booked for Sri Lanka this morning...

I would have chosen Thailand.

you don't see many sri lankan restaurants...i'd go thai one on

muirdo said:

Thanks for the input...booked for Sri Lanka this morning...

have plenty of loo roll at hand & lots of diarrhoea tablets, good luck hope u have a great time.

I'm sure it'll be great (though I've never been), but of course I would've said Thailand. Hands down just the most fun place you can be at any given time. Thailand's just more fun than other places.

dJJ said:

Sri Lanka is save now.

The government reveived a lot of money after the tsunami. They used that to expand their armed forces and killed all tamils. The rest of the world was too caught up with the middle east and journalists just pretended there was nothing going on. So the Sri Lanka government got a free pass to get rid of the Tamils for good.

Now that the Tamils have been removed, you all can savely go and enjoy the beauty the island harbours. Ondaatje has written very good novels, inspired by Ceylon. I recommend reading it!

Are you Sri Lankan?

thailand

muirdo said:

dJJ said:

Sri Lanka is save now.

The government reveived a lot of money after the tsunami. They used that to expand their armed forces and killed all tamils. The rest of the world was too caught up with the middle east and journalists just pretended there was nothing going on. So the Sri Lanka government got a free pass to get rid of the Tamils for good.

Now that the Tamils have been removed, you all can savely go and enjoy the beauty the island harbours. Ondaatje has written very good novels, inspired by Ceylon. I recommend reading it!

Are you Sri Lankan?

No

BlackAdder7 said:

you don't see many sri lankan restaurants...i'd go thai one on

exactly!!! if im not eatting a home cooked sri lankan meal at some ones house

im not eatting sri lankan

eye went 2 sri lanka on my honeymoon & hated it!! the food the runs the transportation everything was awful!!columbo is a mad house but eye did go when the tamils were all over the place and had an xtra week in kandy!never again!! I have a mate who goes thailand 4 times a year 4 the girls & ive seen the photos its a wonderful place very modern & hip & the food is fantastic & very cheap as r the girls so ive been told!!So id go thailand!!!Good luck with ur discision.

old thread?? went 2 sri lanker????why why why lordy.

davetherave6767 said:

old thread?? went 2 sri lanker????why why why lordy.

Ancient thread.

My friend has been to Thailand 3 times and didnt want to go back.....Sri Lanka was a compromise.

I would have preferred Thailand but i'm getting excited about Sri Lanka now.

your posts have planted doubt in my head tho lol..

Was it really that bad?

muirdo said:

davetherave6767 said:

old thread?? went 2 sri lanker????why why why lordy.

Ancient thread.

My friend has been to Thailand 3 times and didnt want to go back.....Sri Lanka was a compromise.

I would have preferred Thailand but i'm getting excited about Sri Lanka now.

your posts have planted doubt in my head tho lol..

Was it really that bad?

soz had a month off!

Restaurants, culture.......let's get real people: one only visits these places as a savvy sex tourist

elmer said:

Restaurants, culture.......let's get real people: one only visits these places as a savvy sex tourist

honestly if eye ever went 2 thailand it would b 4 the food not how many bart 2 get with u?? the women r lovely but eye aint paying 2 b with one!! that aint how davetherave rolls!!

elmer said:

Restaurants, culture.......let's get real people: one only visits these places as a savvy sex tourist

davetherave6767 said:

muirdo said:

Thanks for the input...booked for Sri Lanka this morning...

have plenty of loo roll at hand & lots of diarrhoea tablets, good luck hope u have a great time.

Fauxie said:

elmer said:

Restaurants, culture.......let's get real people: one only visits these places as a savvy sex tourist

Thailand has the image of a spot on the Brit and Aussie backpacker's trail and as a sex tourists paradise, in thrall to sweaty old fellas looking for young brides under the convenient delusion that 'Thai women love older, western men' or some such. Whether exaggerated by journo sensationalism or not, it's there.

Tamil's Ghost by Ondaatje hardly makes Sri Lanks seem any more appealing.

Oh that would be tough to decide.

I have only been to Sri Lanka, got married there in 2008.

Fell in love with what I saw and will be going back someday to see more of the beautiful country.

We stayed at 2 hotels

http://www.bluewatersrilanka.com/

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g297896-d302888-Reviews-Jetwing_Lighthouse-Galle_Galle_District.html

The Lighthouse Hotel in Galle is stunning!

The Bluewater arranged a local driver to take us around during our entire stay. He was wonderful and showed us so many spectacular sights.

Food was great, locals were so amazing and friendly.

No problems with drinking water or diarrhea.

Have fun!

elmer said:

Fauxie said:

Thailand has the image of a spot on the Brit and Aussie backpacker's trail and as a sex tourists paradise, in thrall to sweaty old fellas looking for young brides under the convenient delusion that 'Thai women love older, western men' or some such. Whether exaggerated by journo sensationalism or not, it's there.

Tamil's Ghost by Ondaatje hardly makes Sri Lanks seem any more appealing.

I don't know about all that. My wife just loves me for my giant white man's penis.

elmer said:

Tamil's Ghost by Ondaatje hardly makes Sri Lanks seem any more appealing.

Someone actually noticed that book!

It's just reality. I don't expect a lot of people would prepare for their holidays by reading about the history and culture of the country they are visiting

There are novels about Thailand that show the reality of it too. And for those who aren't into reading, there are movies based on the book. Hasn't there been made a movie with cute Decaprio about one of those backpacking-hippie-reality check? And there must be a book about the human trafficing of Thai women?!

dJJ said:

elmer said:

Tamil's Ghost by Ondaatje hardly makes Sri Lanks seem any more appealing.

Someone actually noticed that book!

It's just reality. I don't expect a lot of people would prepare for their holidays by reading about the history and culture of the country they are visiting

There are novels about Thailand that show the reality of it too. And for those who aren't into reading, there are movies based on the book. Hasn't there been made a movie with cute Decaprio about one of those backpacking-hippie-reality check? And there must be a book about the human trafficing of Thai women?!

I'm not sure reading books like that would really be a worthwhile thing for someone coming to vacation in Thailand to do. For a start, those thrillers and shock-value type books like 'The Beach' tend to massively exaggerate certain aspects of Thailand and its culture. It's good to know a few things about where you're visiting, but even pointers about behaviour (dos and don'ts of etiquette - of which most either are rarely an issue or are common sense anyway) might be unnecessary if you're just coming here for a couple of weeks of sun, sand, seafood and a few temples. Ppl can get hung up on things like that (I know my mother did, about crime and pickpocketing, always clutching her purse like every person was trying to swipe it) when they should just be relaxing and enjoying themselves and taking in the experiences. You can just come here with an open mind and process all the experiences as they happen, better without a bunch of child abuse stats or wound up into a frenzy by murky tales of prositution and corruption. The history and culture of Thailand is complex and not something a holidaymaker need delve too far into, I think. You're never going to 'get' Thailand in 2 or 3 weeks, not in any way so as to be able to make sweeping judgments about 'how Thailand is', and it would be a waste of time and energy to use that time to try. Reading a few books won't give the full picture without a wealth of actual personal experiences so I think it's best just to come here for a vacation with a smile on your face, a friendly attitude, ready to have some fun.

Fauxie said:

dJJ said:

Someone actually noticed that book!

It's just reality. I don't expect a lot of people would prepare for their holidays by reading about the history and culture of the country they are visiting

There are novels about Thailand that show the reality of it too. And for those who aren't into reading, there are movies based on the book. Hasn't there been made a movie with cute Decaprio about one of those backpacking-hippie-reality check? And there must be a book about the human trafficing of Thai women?!

I'm not sure reading books like that would really be a worthwhile thing for someone coming to vacation in Thailand to do. For a start, those thrillers and shock-value type books like 'The Beach' tend to massively exaggerate certain aspects of Thailand and its culture. It's good to know a few things about where you're visiting, but even pointers about behaviour (dos and don'ts of etiquette - of which most either are rarely an issue or are common sense anyway) might be unnecessary if you're just coming here for a couple of weeks of sun, sand, seafood and a few temples. Ppl can get hung up on things like that (I know my mother did, about crime and pickpocketing, always clutching her purse like every person was trying to swipe it) when they should just be relaxing and enjoying themselves and taking in the experiences. You can just come here with an open mind and process all the experiences as they happen, better without a bunch of child abuse stats or wound up into a frenzy by murky tales of prositution and corruption. The history and culture of Thailand is complex and not something a holidaymaker need delve too far into, I think. You're never going to 'get' Thailand in 2 or 3 weeks, not in any way so as to be able to make sweeping judgments about 'how Thailand is', and it would be a waste of time and energy to use that time to try. Reading a few books won't give the full picture without a wealth of actual personal experiences so I think it's best just to come here for a vacation with a smile on your face, a friendly attitude, ready to have some fun.

You are right, I guess. I do like to read up about a country, just because for me that's half the fun. It's a personal choice how to prepare and enjoy your holidays I guess.

I don't think child- and women trafficing isn't Thai culture alone. It's the western pedophiles and 'old' men that buy these women who are making these choices.

dJJ said:

Fauxie said:

I'm not sure reading books like that would really be a worthwhile thing for someone coming to vacation in Thailand to do. For a start, those thrillers and shock-value type books like 'The Beach' tend to massively exaggerate certain aspects of Thailand and its culture. It's good to know a few things about where you're visiting, but even pointers about behaviour (dos and don'ts of etiquette - of which most either are rarely an issue or are common sense anyway) might be unnecessary if you're just coming here for a couple of weeks of sun, sand, seafood and a few temples. Ppl can get hung up on things like that (I know my mother did, about crime and pickpocketing, always clutching her purse like every person was trying to swipe it) when they should just be relaxing and enjoying themselves and taking in the experiences. You can just come here with an open mind and process all the experiences as they happen, better without a bunch of child abuse stats or wound up into a frenzy by murky tales of prositution and corruption. The history and culture of Thailand is complex and not something a holidaymaker need delve too far into, I think. You're never going to 'get' Thailand in 2 or 3 weeks, not in any way so as to be able to make sweeping judgments about 'how Thailand is', and it would be a waste of time and energy to use that time to try. Reading a few books won't give the full picture without a wealth of actual personal experiences so I think it's best just to come here for a vacation with a smile on your face, a friendly attitude, ready to have some fun.

You are right, I guess. I do like to read up about a country, just because for me that's half the fun. It's a personal choice how to prepare and enjoy your holidays I guess.

I don't think child- and women trafficing isn't Thai culture alone. It's the western pedophiles and 'old' men that buy these women who are making these choices.

Again though, how many westerners do you think there are in Thailand at any given time? Thailand has a population of over 60 million people. Sure, if you hit the well-known red light areas in Bangkok like Patpong, Cowboy and Nana you'll see they're crawling with foreigners looking to partake in various aspects of the sex industry, but think of the other areas of Bangkok. The bath houses, massage parlors, that you only really notice at night, in all of the city's many districts. The karaoke bars out in the sticks. In towns and villages up and down the country, some being places where there are hardly any ex-pats and certainly no tourists. The sex industry wasn't created by foreigners and it isn't anything like majoritively sustained by them. I've actually never been to bars in those well-known roads in Bangkok I mentioned, but I've been to a few karaoke bars just outside of Bangkok with a friend, and we were the only foreigners there (and they were surprised to see us). Thais are mainly selling sex, and children, to each other. It's just usually a bit more below the radar.