When you live in rural Isaan and take a trip to Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai and other places, you become a tourist the same as if you were coming here from your own country.
It doesn’t matter how many years you have lived in Thailand, in the cities and tourists areas, all foreigners are tourists.
One thing that always shocks me when visiting a city or a tourist area is the cost.
Thai food for example.
It is hard to see 120 baht price for street food, knowing you routinely only pay 40 thb for the same exact dish, (probably larger), in Isaan.
It is very easy to see how high the costs are outside of Isaan.
For some reason, the high cost seems to be a ripoff aimed at tourists, if the exact same thing is 66% cheaper in Isaan.
The hotel costs are to be expected.
We understand if we want to stay somewhere nice we have to pay for it.
However, almost everything else you see is going to be way more expensive.
It is good to get out of Isaan once in a while.
It makes us realize how well we have it with low costs, no traffic and no crime.
After a couple days in Bangkok, that is more than enough for me.
I will take nature, and peace/quiet over the city anyday!