Seven years ago I visited the island of Koh Phi Phi, which is probably the most popular and well-known island in Thailand. I went during peak season so there were hoards of tourists on the beach and it pretty much ruined the vibe. I remember going into the water and thinking, “Is the water really warm because it’s hot out or is everyone around me peeing?”

I want to start by saying I hate crowds. I think a beach’s ambiance is completely lost when you see a bunch of plus sized men in speedo’s laying on the beach with a severe case of sunburn everywhere. In Thailand and especially with travelers across the world, everyone is trying to find the best new thing, something hidden, a place that has been undiscovered but technology has made it hard to keep anything a secret. I have noticed that the original intent for many events and places has been skewed due to the popularity among the masses.

A good example of this is teaching English in Korea. This might be as popular as getting a bartending or waitressing job after university, all the while thinking to yourself, “that Art History major was probably not the smartest idea.” Teaching English abroad used to be unique but each year more and more ‘teachers’ start arriving, Korea as well as Japan are now inundated with western English teachers and since most of us are coming straight from university we try our best to extend those wild crazy college days while abroad, giving many English teachers a bad rep mainly because of our heavy soju/sake drinking. Don’t get me wrong, I was one of those teachers who extended my party college years but as each year passed in Korea I noticed more and more people making their way here with the opening lines of these new arrivals being “Oh my god, so I was on the subway and this old lady pushed me.” Yes, we all experience this when moving here and I have heard this sentence enough to make me puke in my mouth a little, hence why old-timers never hang out with newbies. We don’t want to hear about the trials and tribulations of turning on your floor heating and how you are going to learn Korean. You’ll figure out your floor heating and the extent of your Korean vocabulary will be “mekju ju say yo” (Can I get a beer), don’t fool yourself newbies. On the contrary if you are one of the few who do learn more than 100 words in Korean and can form a coherent sentence I will bow down and apologize but for most it won’t happen.

Upon moving to San Francisco from Asia I took on the dreaded task of finding an apartment. I heard the word ‘gentrification’ so much my ears never stopped ringing, which was then proceeded by “rent will be $1,300 a month for the room and you will be staying in the living room that has been converted into a bedroom and your door is this shower curtain, don’t make a lot of noise at night as 5 other people do live here.” I am not lying; this is really how it is. San Francisco apartments no longer have living rooms as many turn it into a bedroom in order to lower the rent. I had really wanted to live in the city, mainly because I didn’t have a car nor did I want to buy one and I didn’t know anyone in the Bay area prior to moving here so I wanted to be able to meet people easily which would be hard to do outside the city. I was extremely lucky and persistent and found a place that was extremely affordable. I have 3 other roommates and my apartment is located in the Mission on 23rd, which used to be a largely Mexican area but has slowly turned from Mexican to hipster to techie. Even my friends in San Francisco are astounded that a newbie like me found such an affordable place, which is really unheard of and it’s an actual bedroom, not a converted walk in closet that is referred to as the “hobbit hole” that is under the stairwell and listed at the bargain price of $700 a month. I have an actual room, with windows and a closet! I have never lived in a city that was cheap, so to say the least I am used to cramp conditions. Where if someone were to move out to San Francisco from say Texas or Georgia, where you can buy a mansion for $150,000, they would probably be very disappointed, as $150,000 will maybe buy you a shed here in San Francisco. I have always lived in a shoebox so I am not downgrading at all, I am actually upgrading. Korean apartments were small and thereafter I lived on a yacht as a stew and that was similar to a coffin and then to my year sabbatical where I thought myself lucky that my $3 a night room in India with mysterious stains on the walls and sheets is better than the guy who paid to sleep on the floor outside my room. Since I don’t know what I am missing by living in an actual ‘normal’ sized space, I will remain ignorant and assume my room is fancy.

Myanmar is not the secret and exotic hotspot it used to be as thousands make their way to this once isolated country. The touts have started and the child postcard sellers are in full swing. The ‘bamboo curtain’ was lifted and the world quickly ran in.

The Full-Moon party on Koh Phangan used to be a fun party but over the last couple years has turned into complete debauchery in a bad way. Dozens of people have died, girls have been raped and most have to make a visit to the overpriced Thai health clinics on the island, either for a tetanus shot from all the glass that they stepped on while dancing on the beach, dehydration or alcohol poisoning.

All of these things have been destroyed by the masses…..the cool beach party that turned into a 30,000 person shit-show, the exotic teaching job in Asia that has turned out to be the “I’m 20 something and I want to travel” position for half the western world and The Mission District with it’s original residents being forced out due to increased rent and evictions as more and more people flock to this area (me being one of them, sorry).

Are the full moon parties still fun? Yes, as long as you don’t drink 3 magic mushroom shakes along with 5 buckets of alcohol and you wear shoes. Is Myanmar an incredible country to visit? Definitely. Is San Francisco and the Mission still an awesome place to live? yes! Is Koh Phi Phi one of the most beautiful beaches in the world? It sure is. Is teaching English in Asia a life changing experience? yup

I guess we have to grow to accept that with technology nothing will remain undiscovered forever and when something is considered unique and fun it quickly becomes popular, mainstream and not so much fun. (I was going to mention Burning Man but decided to pass) No destination, party or festival will remain rare as so many are constantly searching for the next new undiscovered experience and place. Drawing on this it seems the influx of people will be a necessary evil for all of eternity! Welcome to the 21st century and the age of information.