Traveller or tourist?

I recently given this blog a little revamp and though i'd reveal the insight to its new name. Whilst travelling around SE Asia i found some pretty pretentious people who constantly debated the traveller over the tourist. Apparently the tourist is a superficial holiday-maker looking to move around a country in a whirlwind, see the biggest and most expensive historical sight, stay in the most packed out area, and probably hunt out an irish bar. A traveller, on the other hand, somehow manages to go to a country and avoid the most popular areas, sights and restaurants, whilst seeing the most authentic side of a country.
Well, quite honestly, its just rubbish.
No sane person would go to Bangkok and not visit a temple, see Angkor Wat in Cambodia or ride an elephant in Laos, but apparently doing so makes you a tourist. If you have a truly authentic experience and see a country with a local they will undoubtedly take you to the best, and therefore most popular places. Some of my best experiences were definitely touristy- i drank a bucket in Koh Phangan, climbed a waterfall in Luang Prabang, went snorkelling in Malaysia- i even bought fake Prada in Kuala Lumpur!
In my experience, the true traveller was the person who was avoiding incredible experiences in an attempt to appear unique and was so worried about looking superficial all they did was sit around discussing the do's and don'ts of SE Asia. The essence of travelling is supposed to be enjoying yourself, letting yourself go and having complete freedom!
So, if that's a traveller, i certainly want to be a tourist.