While I agree with you for Labor and Costs and Taxes, I beg to differ about the travel part. With all due respect, the knowledge you and your "french or english friends" have about Asia is obviously limited, and equating them to the culture and history of many Asian countries is ridiculous. It is like saying "what does Europe offer other than museums?"
I don't think you read my comment correctly. The author was saying there were more interesting places to see in Asia than Europe, then proceeded to list the same asia-pacific beach circuit everyone else wants to go see. Maybe he really is interested in those countries, maybe he is only interested in those beaches. Most of my friends when they come back from SE Asia only talk about the beaches and how cheap everything is. It's hard to make a meaningful connection to a place on 1-2 weeks vacation.
