King Silk, agree with you 100%. I lived in Phuket for a while and it is fast becoming similar to Pattaya. Where I live now, Goa in India, it's on a similar road also. Especially now during the economic downturn, people in the tourist industries become desperate.

In 3 months I will return to South East Asia, probably Indonesia or Philippines, some place not too close to mass tourism.

Like I said: Location, location, location.

;-)