Farang In Chiang Khong

Met some nice farang (westerners) here today, talked to 3 French men, 2 of who had travelled for over a year and a half in New Zealand and Australia before arriving in Thailand a few days back. Invariably the farang here dress in 1970s hippy style, dreadlocks, tattoos, loose cotton tye dyed clothing and baggy pants or skirts with flip flops and a cloth bag are the norm. I always feel the farang I see in places like this are on their way to Woodstock. Most I meet are nice friendly and people. I rarely see the backpacker farang interact with local people, they are a distinct tourist group that tends to only hang with others from the same sub species. Its like they are in Thailand but not in Thailand.