In Thailand, there is a place called Krabi where European and American tourists gather.
Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations for Asian tourists. Every year, thousands of Asian tourists flock to this tropical Southeast Asian country to bask in the sun, beaches and warm and hospitable local culture. But in this vast land of Thailand, there are indeed some places with relatively few tourists. Among them, Krabi is the most typical, where a large number of Europeans and Americans gather, forming a sharp contrast with the mainstream tourist routes.Krabi is located on the Andaman coast in western Thailand, under the jurisdiction of Krabi Province, about 788 kilometers from Bangkok. It used to be a low-key fishing village, and tourism did not gradually develop until the mid-1980s. Unlike cities such as Phuket, Krabi's "favorers" mainly come from European and American countries. Even many foreigners who have lived in Thailand for a long time have listed Krabi as a popular holiday destination.
The main reason for attracting a large number of European and American tourists here is not the expensive or luxurious tourist facilities. On the contrary, Krabi exudes a peaceful atmosphere of returning to nature and being indifferent to the world, which makes it a sharp contrast with other popular tourist cities in Thailand. It is shaded by green trees, the beach is white and soft, and the sun is warm and pleasant. In Krabi, you can enjoy relaxation to your heart's content, away from the hustle and bustle, and enjoy leisure.
Unlike the fierce commercial development in Phuket, you can hardly see high-rise buildings in Krabi. Whether it is the streets or the beaches, the pace of life here is leisurely and casual. Locals and a large number of long-term tourists stroll idly on the streets, soak in the sea, or sit in the beach taverns to enjoy fine wine and food.
Due to the lack of a strong commercial atmosphere like Phuket, Krabi is favored by "free and easy-going people" from all over the world. There are a large number of European and American retirees, artists, writers, freelancers and other groups away from the troubles of the city. This humanistic atmosphere has also invisibly affected the composition of the tourist group, which is in sharp contrast with other tourist cities in Thailand.
Arriving in Krabi, the most intuitive feeling is the high proportion of European and American tourists. Along the winding beach path, almost every tavern is full of European and American people, who are either chatting, browsing electronic products, or drinking fine wine in the sun. Occasionally, you can see a few Chinese tourists passing through, and they can't help but feel out of place.
Since the main consumer groups are mainly Europeans and Americans, the restaurants and taverns along the coast basically cater to their tastes: Western food, seafood, taverns, etc. are everywhere. Even the shops and shop signs on both sides of the main road are mostly in English. In this seemingly not very "Thai" environment, you will feel the illusion of being in a Western-style seaside town.
Even so, on some remote beaches, the local Thai style still exists. You can taste authentic Thai food at the roadside stalls on the small road next to the hotel, and you can also experience the barefoot Thai SPA in the beach hut on the island.
However, in general, the European and American atmosphere is undoubtedly dominant in Krabi. On the street or beach, you may encounter a group of white tourists walking and chatting with ice beer at any time. The way they hold cameras to shoot coconut trees on the beach and enjoy the sun is different from other beach tourists in Southeast Asia.
In addition to the coastal resorts, the city center and the old town are also dominated by Europeans and Americans. When you walk slowly on the old blue stone brick road in the old town, you can see foreign tourists wearing fisherman's hats and sandals everywhere. They are either drinking coffee and chatting in small restaurants opened by locals, or choosing souvenirs, scarves and accessories in roadside shops.
Walking into the bar street here, the extremely noisy atmosphere hits you all at once. There are many bars opened by Westerners, and music, drinks and laughter fill the streets. The bartenders are either sunny Thai boys or handsome guys from Western countries. It is not difficult to imagine that most tourists who come here go straight to the bar street to seek excitement and relaxation.
However, there are also some scenes that make people feel the presence of Chinese tourists. For example, in the local massage center, you can see some middle-aged women coming to experience traditional Thai massage from time to time. And in Rawai Beach near Phuket Province, there are also some small shops and restaurants run by Chinese.
In addition to the composition of tourists, Krabi is also different from most tourist cities in Thailand in terms of tourism projects. In places like Pu'a, driving is the main entertainment activity, and shopping and nightlife also attract countless tourists. But in Krabi, some "alternative" entertainment projects are quite popular, such as surfing, diving, rock climbing, hiking, etc.
Because of its geographical and natural advantages, Krabi has become a well-known surfing resort in Southeast Asia, and there are many world-class surfing spots on the surrounding beaches. In addition, the clear sea water makes it a diving paradise for domestic and foreign diving enthusiasts. Affected by the terrain, rock climbing has also become popular in the local area.
Unlike most Thai tourist routes that only stay at beach resorts, you can also get close to the rainforest in Krabi. For example, Pu'er Island and Wu Island are surrounded by pristine rainforests and breed rich species. Many Europeans and Americans like to come to these small islands for hiking and mountaineering, and experience the natural beauty in isolation.
Unlike most Asian tourists, European and American tourists who are keen on natural adventures and alternative experiences prefer Krabi. They are not so much looking for comfortable and luxurious resorts, but prefer to personally experience the unique natural scenery of this place where land and sea meet.
It can be said that the absence of Asian tourists has also preserved the natural flavor of Krabi to some extent. Although the tourism industry here is not as prosperous as other Thai cities, it has avoided excessive commercialization. It still maintains the original style and pace of life of the petty-bourgeois fishing village, giving people a sense of comfort in a paradise.
Such an old city scene has changed the noisy commercial atmosphere of other Thai tourist cities, giving people a sense of simplicity and simplicity. Even on the beach side, there are no crowded beach chairs and high-rise buildings blocking the way. Instead, there is a white and soft beach, which is particularly charming and peaceful under the comfort of the sun and breeze.
In general, Krabi is like a paradise in this popular tourist destination. Peace and tranquility, natural ecology are the biggest features and charms here. It is worth mentioning that although there are not many Asian tourists here, the scattered Chinese restaurants and shops opened by Chinese can still meet the basic needs of life.
In the next few years, as Krabi's "secret place" becomes more and more well-known by Asian tourists, perhaps its commercial development like Phuket and other cities will be inevitable. But we also hope that the natural environment and unique atmosphere here can continue to be desirable and nostalgic.
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