I came across these Shugart articles, and having spent 2 months in Thailand as a solo traveler, his article is spot on and a great read.
His observations of the smells, pollution, corruption, the strange inconstancies and of course the women are spot on.
I would not read it however, if I were planning to go to Thailand for the first time. I think it would spoil the surprise so to speak. But it’s great to read and get nostalgic.