Can't the same be said for Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi, Pattaya, these places basically exist for tourists, sure there's not the volume of Aussies that Bali gets but English is the international language. So my friends felt it was most difficult communicating with Thais in hotels, restaurants, bars & shops at Phuket & Pattaya - not Surin or Phattalung or Phayao.