A PASSIONATE, AFFECTIONATE RECORD OF ADVENTURES AND MISADVENTURES IN THE WORLD'S HOTTEST METROPOLIS Tourists come to Bangkok for many reasons—a sex change operation, a night with two prostitutes dressed as nuns, a stay in a luxury hotel. Lawrence Osborne comes for the cheap dentistry. Broke (but no longer in pain), he finds that he can live in Bangkok on a few dollars a day. And so the restless exile stays. Osborne's is a visceral experience of Bangkok, whether he's wandering the canals that fill the old city; dining at the No Hands Restaurant, where his waitress feeds him like a baby; or launching his own notably unsuccessful career as a gigolo. A guide without inhibitions, Osborne takes us to a feverish place where a strange blend of ancient Buddhist practice and new sexual mores has created a version of modernity only superficially indebted to the West. Bangkok Days is a love letter to the city that revived Osborne's faith in adventure and the world.
"A house in the center of Bangkok becomes the point of confluence where lives are shaped by upheaval, memory, and the lure of home. Witness to two centuries' flux in one of the world's most restless cities, a house plays host to longings and losses past, present, and future. A nineteenth-century missionary doctor pines for the comforts of New England even as he finds the vibrant foreign chaos of Siam increasingly difficult to resist. A post-war society woman marries, mothers, and holds court, little suspecting the course of her future. A jazz pianist is summoned in the 1970s to conjure music that will pacify resident spirits, even as he's haunted by ghosts of his former life. Not long after, a young woman gives swimming lessons in the luxury condos that have eclipsed the old house, trying to outpace the long shadow of her political past. And in the post-submergence Bangkok of the future, a band of savvy teenagers guides tourists and former residents past waterlogged, ruined landmarks, selling them tissues to wipe their tears for places they themselves do not remember. Time collapses as these stories collide and converge, linked by blood, memory, yearning, chance, and the forces voraciously making and remaking the amphibian, ever-morphing city itself"--Provided by publisher.
Bangkok is one of Asia's most interesting, varied, controversial and challenging cities. It is a city of contradictions, both in its present and past. This unique book examines the development of the city from its earliest days as the seat of the Thai monarchy to its current position as an infamous contemporary metropolis. Adopting insights from anthropology, urban studies and human geography, this is a powerful account of the city and its dynamic spaces. Marc Askew examines the city's variety from the inner-city slums to the rural-urban fringe, and gives us a keen insight into the daily life of the city's inhabitants, be they middle-class suburbanites or sex workers.
This practical travel guide to Thailand features detailed factual travel tips and points-of-interest structured lists of all iconic must-see sights as well as some off-the-beaten-track treasures. Our itinerary suggestions and expert author picks of things to see and do will make it a perfect companion both, ahead of your trip and on the ground. This Thailand guide book is packed full of details on how to get there and around, pre-departure information and top time-saving tips, including a visual list of things not to miss. Our colour-coded maps make Thailand easier to navigate while you're there. This guide book to Thailand has been fully updated post-COVID-19. The Rough Guide to THAILAND covers: Bangkok, The Central Plains, The North, The East Coast, The Northeast: Isaan, Southern Thailand: the Gulf coast, Southern Thailand: the Andaman coast, The deep South. Inside this Thailand travel guide you'll find: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAVELLER Experiences selected for every kind of trip to Thailand, from off-the-beaten-track adventures in Sukhothai, to family activities in child-friendly places, like Khao Yai National Park, or chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas, like Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. PRACTICAL TRAVEL TIPS Essential pre-departure information including Thailand entry requirements, getting around, health information, travelling with children, sports and outdoor activities, food and drink, festivals, culture and etiquette, shopping, tips for travellers with disabilities and more. TIME-SAVING ITINERARIES Includes carefully planned routes covering the best of Thailand, which give a taste of the richness and diversity of the destination, and have been created for different time frames or types of trip. DETAILED REGIONAL COVERAGE Clear structure within each sightseeing chapter of this Thailand travel guide includes regional highlights, brief history, detailed sights and places ordered geographically, recommended restaurants, hotels, bars, clubs and major shops or entertainment options. INSIGHTS INTO GETTING AROUND LIKE A LOCAL Tips on how to beat the crowds, save time and money and find the best local spots for traditional massages, yoga, cycling, trekking, rock-climbing or boat trips. HIGHLIGHTS OF THINGS NOT TO MISS Rough Guides' rundown of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Pattaya's best sights and top experiences help to make the most of each trip to Thailand, even in a short time. HONEST AND INDEPENDENT REVIEWS Written by Rough Guides' expert authors with a trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, this Thailand guide book will help you find the best places, matching different needs. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Comprehensive 'Contexts' chapter of this travel guide to Thailand features fascinating insights into Thailand, with coverage of history, religion, ethnic groups, environment, wildlife and books, plus a handy language section and glossary. FABULOUS FULL COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY Features inspirational colour photography, including the stunning Wat Phra Kaew and the spectacular Wat Phu Tok. COLOUR-CODED MAPPING Practical full-colour maps, with clearly numbered, colour-coded keys for quick orientation in Pai, Ko Samet, and many more locations in Thailand, reduce the need to go online. USER-FRIENDLY LAYOUT With helpful icons, and organised by neighbourhood to help you pick the best spots to spend your time.
From one of the most respected authorities on Thai cooking comes this beautiful and deeply personal ode to Bangkok, the top-ranked travel destination in the world. WINNER OF THE ART OF EATING PRIZE Every year, more than 16 million visitors flock to Thailand’s capital city, and leave transfixed by the vibrant culture and unforgettable food they encounter along the way. Thai cuisine is more popular today than ever, yet there is no book that chronicles the real food that Thai people eat every day—until now. In Bangkok, award-winning author Leela Punyaratabandhu offers 120 recipes that capture the true spirit of the city—from heirloom family dishes to restaurant classics to everyday street eats to modern cosmopolitan fare. Beautiful food and location photography will make this a must-have keepsake for any reader who has fallen under Bangkok’s spell.
As a commitment to witness, stimulate and record humanityÕs co-creation of paradise on earth, Jasmuheen shares her experiences and insights on this as she travels the globe during 2006 to 2012. From Russia and the Eastern Bloc countries, through Europe to the jungles of Colombia and India, Jasmuheen reports on her work with many open hearted groups that gather with her. In this journal the reader gains insight on what life is like for someone who is in full time service with this Ôparadise co-creationÕ agenda. Spending nearly half of each year on the road, living in hotel rooms, airports and seminar halls, constantly adjusting to continually changing weather patterns, all the while being nourished only by prana, Jasmuheen manages to keep herself healthy and happy regardless of the many challenges she faces for despite all of this she grows and learns and thoroughly enjoys meeting with all the beautiful light filled people that she now constantly meets in this world.
Color your way around the world as this travel-journal-meets-coloring-book guides you through the streets of Thailand, featuring 30 expertly curated sites to learn about, color, and record whether you’re already there, planning a trip, or dreaming about your next adventure. Grab your pen and colored pencils—and get ready to travel the world! Whether your flights are booked or you’ll only be traveling in your mind, Thailand: A Color-Your-Own Travel Journal takes you on an interactive, colorful tour of this majestic country. This travel journal features 30 sites within the country to discover—from bucket list-worthy must-sees in Bangkok like the Grand Palace and Wat Pho Temple of the Reclining Buddha to Phuket’s scenic coastline and the pink water lily blooms of Udon Thani’s Red Lotus Lake. Learn about each landmark with fascinating histories, fun facts, and travel tips. Accompanying journal pages allow space to record, plan, or imagine a dream vacation. Plus, all 30 landmarks feature beautifully rendered coloring pages to shade in while taking in the sites. Thailand: A Color-Your-Own Travel Journal is a perfect, portable airplane take-along or gift for those dreaming of exploring Thailand.
