Same experience. Backpacked around Thailand in the early 00's a few weeks after reading the book. I could see that it had changed, but it still had a bit of the

Same experience. Backpacked around Thailand in the early 00's a few weeks after reading the book. I could see that it had changed, but it still had a bit of the vibe from the book IMO. Very few things were "neatly packaged". Some friends went to the islands recently and it seemed more like a frat party than anything else.