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Canadian travel host: Thais 'most gentle people on the planet'
Thailand gets a much-needed bit of positive press, earning a spot in the host's top 10 list of the world's friendliest destinations
Though photos like this can be found in any given travel brochure, Thailand’s ‘land of smiles’ rep is not just a carefully cultivated cliché. With news of violence in the streets of Bangkok and angry protesters continuing to make world headlines, this bit of positive press couldn’t come at a better time. Chris Robinson, host of Canada’s top rated radio travel show, put together a top 10 list of the world’s friendliest destinations for the country’s popular MacLeans magazine, with Thailand coming in at number 2.
“I was once picked up on the streets of Bangkok by a local who took me to his family temple and then to his home to meet his family -- all without a word in common,” he recalls.
So what country could possibly be friendlier than the so-called ‘land of smiles’? In Robinson’s opinion, the top honor goes to Ireland, where “total strangers treat you as close friends and the ‘craic’ -- party spirit -- of the Irish pubs is legendary. Maybe it’s the magical properties of a pint of Guinness?”
For Robinson’s full list of ‘friendly people,’ click here.
“I was once picked up on the streets of Bangkok by a local who took me to his family temple and then to his home to meet his family -- all without a word in common,” he recalls.
So what country could possibly be friendlier than the so-called ‘land of smiles’? In Robinson’s opinion, the top honor goes to Ireland, where “total strangers treat you as close friends and the ‘craic’ -- party spirit -- of the Irish pubs is legendary. Maybe it’s the magical properties of a pint of Guinness?”
For Robinson’s full list of ‘friendly people,’ click here.
