answers to PappyJ
I won't take up the space and don't have the time to give you the full version but here's the short answer to all your questions:
You can't compare, and shouldn't expect it, to be anywhere close to something in the western hemisphere.
Planning to come here? By all means do but do your homework, i.e. read this thread!
You can have a real good time here, but don't expect it to be anything close to what you are used to. This place is special, to say the least!