[darkwater]

No, backpackers in SE Asia are still mostly on the expat side. Even if they are broken students on a sabbatical year, they mostly have families home that can back them up in case of need. (Exceptions apply, YMMV etc etc.)

[fxtentacle]

I agree with you that most westerners who travel to SE Asia will still be considered as "expats" by the locals.

What I meant to say is that those people who the locals consider not "expat" anymore, but "backpacker" instead, must really have fallen low.