The story begins when Nelson stars in the YouTube video BKK 1st Time (Bangkok First Time), produced by his friend Benz, a Thai videographer. The script is about cursing, common in Thailand. Nelson follows the script, and to his amazement, the show goes viral, with over four million hits! Seventy-seven-year-old Nelson suddenly finds himself a celebrity in Bangkok. He is mobbed by viewers of the video who address him as John, John, John, Nelson? when they approach him for selfies. This is only slightly less bewildering than the bows from hotel personnel whenever hes entering or leaving the lobby. As a celebrity, he finds himself in a new world halfway around the planet, enjoying adventures he could not have imagined and living a life beyond his wildest dreams. Thousands pour into the National Book Fair to meet him and obtain his autograph. Nelsons life in Bangkok, on camera and off, is filled with crazy adventures and hilarious stories. The unforeseen and the extraordinary became everyday experiences. These wild stories could only have happened in Bangkok. Complete with the authors cartoons, this volume is part memoir, part hilarious accounts of an American abroad and partly a love letter to the vast planet of his new friends.
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.
In the colorful tradition of Orwell and Hemingway, Jerry Hopkins recalls his first decade as a Bangkok expatriate by profiling twenty-five of the city's most unforgettable characters. In 25 vivid profiles, Hopkins explores what motivates people to leave home and the unforeseen adventures that can befall them once abroad. Hopkin's knack for the biography is evident in his coverage of individuals ranging from famous performers to ordinary businesspeople. The 25 true stories include the lives of: The Real Colonel Kurtz? --An American soldier who allegedly was the model for Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now. The Oscar Winner --An acclaimed screenwriter who moves to the city of Bangkok to die. Urban Gorilla Priest --A Catholic priest who founded Mercy Centre in one of the city's harshest slums. The Odd Couple -- A circus clown turned computer programmer turned restaurateur. Professor Elephant-- A documentary filmmaker living with elephants. All of these individuals "escaped" to Thailand to re-invent themselves and live out their fantasies in one of the world's most notorious cities. Bangkok Babylon shares their exciting true stories, many of which are stranger than fiction.
When Crystal’s husband, Brian, suddenly announces that his company is sending him to manage its Bangkok office and that he expects her and their children to come along, she reluctantly acquiesces. She doesn’t want to leave the job she loves and everything familiar in their small Oklahoma town; it’s 1975, however, and Crystal, a woman with traditional values, feels she has to be a good wife and follow her husband. Crystal finds beauty in Thailand, but also isolation and betrayal. Fighting intense loneliness and buffeted by a series frightening and shocking events, she struggles to adapt to a very different culture and battle a severe depression—and, ultimately, decide whether her broken relationship with her husband is worth saving.
Here is a guide to the most amazing city in Thailand, perhaps in all of the Far East - Bangkok - and to all the surrounding sites. This is based on sections extracted from the more comprehensive Hunter guide to the number-one tourist destination in Southeast Asia. The finest hotels, with impeccable service, cost a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere, and shoppers will never tire of the vast selections, from silk scarves and designer gowns to exotic jewelery. Try elephant trekking, sea canoeing or Thai massage. Taste the exquisite cuisine, explore mystic temples (30,000 of them!) and sail to unspoiled islands. "The Adventure Guides" are about living more intensely, waking up to your surroundings and truly experiencing all that you encounter. The regional chapters take you on an introductory tour, with stops at museums, historic sites and local attractions. Places to stay and eat; transportation to, from and around your destination; practical concerns; tourism contacts - it's all here! Detailed maps feature walking and driving tours. Then come the adventures - both cultural and physical - from canoeing and hiking to taking dance or cooking classes. This unique approach allows you to really immerse yourself in the local culture.
Lonely Planet: The world’s number one travel guide publisher* Lonely Planet’s Thailand is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Learn to cook authentic Thai dishes in Chiang Mai, rock-climb the limestone karsts (or watch from the sugar-white beaches) of Railay, and trek through dense jungle and stay in tree-top bungalows in Kanchanaburi – all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Thailand and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet’s Thailand: Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights provide a richer, more rewarding travel experience - covering history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics Covers Bangkok, Central Thailand, Ko Chang, Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand, Hua Hin, Southern Gulf, Ko Samui, Lower Gulf, Phuket, Andaman Coast The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet’s Thailand is our most comprehensive guide to Thailand, and is perfect for discovering both popular and offbeat experiences. Looking for just the highlights? Check out Pocket Bangkok and Pocket Phuket, our handy-sized guides featuring the best sights and experiences for a short visit. Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet’s Thailand’s Islands & Beaches and Bangkok guides for an in-depth look at all these regions have to offer. eBook Features: (Best viewed on tablet devices and smartphones) Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience Seamlessly flip between pages Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash Embedded links to recommendations’ websites Zoom-in maps and images Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world’s number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we’ve printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You’ll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, video, 14 languages, nine international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more. TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 winner in Favorite Travel Guide category ‘Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.’ – New York Times ‘Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.’ – Fairfax Media (Australia) *Source: Nielsen BookScan: Australia, UK, USA, 5/2016-4/2017 Important Notice: The digital edition of this book may not contain all of the images found in the physical edition.
With clarity of thought and realism, Rev. Ross Cribb sets out to provide an alternative vocabulary with which to describe significant events, human nature and spirituality, with the goal to empower individuals to have happier and more meaningful lives. His highly readable combination of Zen, philosophy, psychology and science makes a compelling case for his view of spirituality. Explaining that we often refer to different parts of ourselves as independent, he takes this a step further by invoking the New Age concept of Energy Bodies (specifically the Physical, Emotional, Mental and Spiritual Bodies). With these he explains Enlightenment, Being in the Moment and Energy Healing—an effective method for releasing blockages that take us out of the moment.
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.
"An Exceptional Novel" - President Obama.This day by day account of a man in the world is something everyone should read. You may laugh, you may cry, you may pay off your credit card bills. The key is this! BooBaggins is one of the greats. He is who we should all strive to become.
"Forget You Had a Daughter" is the extraordinary story of an ordinary British woman who made a mistake that changed the rest of her life. Sandra Gregory seemed to have the perfect life in Bangkok until illness, unemployment and political unrest turned it into a nightmare. Desperate to get home by any means possible, she agreed to smuggle an addict's personal supply of heroin. She didn't even make it onto the plane. In this remarkably candid memoir, Sandra Gregory tells the full story of the events leading up to her arrest, the horrific conditions in Lard Yao prison, her trial in a language she didn't understand and how it feels to be sentenced to death. Sandra finally resumed her journey home some four and a half years later, when she was transferred to the British prison system and had to adapt to a new, yet equally harsh, regime. Following relentless campaigning by her parents who refused to forget they had a daughter she was pardoned by the King of Thailand and released in 2000."
