My heart says BRAZIL but the one thing that makes me pause and reconsider is my lack of language skills. I'm (sadly) unilingual. English-speaking only. And I think that to really soak up the Brazilian experience i'd have to know some Brazilian Portuguese (or at least some Spanish.) But i'm not a language guy. (My ears are shot.) So I see Thailand as a "safer" choice just because it's such a popular backpacker's destination for Americans, Canadians, Aussies and Brits that communication will not be as much of an issue. I guess if i'm traveling with a "wingman" (haha) then it'll be Brazil, but if i'm goin' solo then I might chicken out and choose Thailand.