Download or read book Bangkok Babylon written by Jerry Hopkins and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2011-04-11 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Download or read book Bangkok Days written by Lawrence Osborne and published by North Point Press. This book was released on 2009-05-26 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Download or read book Modern Babylon written by Heather Montgomery and published by Berghahn Books. This book was released on 2001-12-01 with total page 206 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Child prostitution became one of the key concerns of the international community in the 1990s. World congresses were held, international and national laws were changed and concern over "cemmercially sexually exploited children" rose dramatically. Rarely, however, were the children who worked as prostitutes consulted of questioned in this process, and the voices of these children brought into focus. This book is the first to address the children directly, to examine their daily lives, their motivations and their perceptions of what they do. Based on 15 months of fieldwork in a Thai tourist community that survived through child prostitution, this book draws on anthropological theories on childhood and kinship to contextualize the experiences of this group of Thai child prostitutes and to contrast these with the stereotypes held of them by those outside their community.
Download or read book Modern Babylon written by Heather Kate Montgomery and published by Berghahn Books. This book was released on 2001 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Child prostitution became one of the key concerns of the international community in the 1990s. World congresses were held, international and national laws were changed and concern over "cemmercially sexually exploited children" rose dramatically. Rarely, however, were the children who worked as prostitutes consulted of questioned in this process, and the voices of these children brought into focus. This book is the first to address the children directly, to examine their daily lives, their motivations and their perceptions of what they do. Based on 15 months of fieldwork in a Thai tourist community that survived through child prostitution, this book draws on anthropological theories on childhood and kinship to contextualize the experiences of this group of Thai child prostitutes and to contrast these with the stereotypes held of them by those outside their community.
Download or read book Thailand Deadly Destination written by John Stapleton and published by A Sense Of Place Publishing. This book was released on 2014-11-17 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The daily robbing, bashing, drugging, extortion and murder of foreign tourists on Thai soil, along with numerous scandals involving unsafe facilities and well established scams, has led to frequent predictions that Thailand's multi-billion dollar tourist industry will self-destruct. Instead tourist numbers more than doubled in the decade to 2014. The world might not have come to the hometowns of the many visitors fascinated by Thailand, but it certainly came to the Land of Smiles. While the Thai media is heavily censored, and bad news stories about tourists suppressed, nonetheless there is more than enough evidence to demonstrate that something has gone seriously awry with the nation's tourist industry. In 2014, just as in the years preceding it, there were train, bus, ferry, speedboat, motorbike and car accidents, murders, knifings, unexplained deaths, numerous suicides, diving accidents, robberies gone wrong, anonymous bodies washing up on the shores and a string of alcohol and drug related incidents. Thailand had a dying king and serious succession problems, weak democratic institutions, an economy slipping into recession, faced issues of corruption across many of its key services and was host to international crime syndicates, awash with despised foreigners and drifting perilously towards civil war. Tourists choose one destination over another for a number of reasons, most of which Thailand scores highly on. But on the core issue of tourist safety, Thailand scores very badly indeed.
Download or read book Bizarre Thailand written by Jim Algie and published by Marshall Cavendish International Asia Pte Ltd. This book was released on 2011-04-15 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bizarre Thailand takes readers off the well-rutted road of tourist hotspots into the darkest and sexiest hinterlands. Welcome to a twilight zone where travellers become soldiers and cowboys, a black magician courts politicians and film stars, sacred tortoises mate on the streets of a small town, and Fertility Goddesses are wooed with massive phalluses.In this strange land, nothing is what it seems: a prison becomes a tourist attraction, a 20-storey robot is a building, a man becomes a beauty queen, a Buddhist temple turns into hell on earth, a loving wife is immortalized as the most famous and ferocious of all phantoms, and a serial killer’s corpse is reincarnated as a museum exhibit.Bizarre Thailand takes an irreverent look at how the profound, profane and frankly quite odd intertwine with the rhythms and flows of everyday Thai life, paying homage to the quintessential culture of one of Southeast Asia's most captivating destinations.
Download or read book To Thailand With Love written by Nabanita Dutt and published by ThingsAsian Press. This book was released on 2013-10-01 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Most tourists in Thailand clutch their Lonely Planet guides and follow a well-worn path: a quick stop in Bangkok, trekking outside of Chiang Mai, cocktails on the beach in Phuket. They see so little; they miss so much. To Thailand With Love tells where to eat cobra salad, where to find ghosts in Ayutthaya, where to spend an evening among fireflies, where to meet sea gypsies or hear the songs of gibbons, where to spend a day on a rice farm, where to learn to make paper from elephant dung. Add to this shopping tips, restaurant recommendations, secret sanctuaries provided by expats and frequent visitors—and an unforgettable trip is guaranteed.
Download or read book Thai Stick written by Peter Maguire and published by Columbia University Press. This book was released on 2013-11-12 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The untold history of the underground marijuana trade in Thailand—from surfers and sailors to pirates. Located on the left bank of the Chao Phya River, Thailand’s capital, Krungthep, known as Bangkok to Westerners and “the City of Angels” to Thais, has been home to smugglers and adventurers since the late eighteenth century. During the 1970s, it became a modern Casablanca to a new generation of treasure seekers, from surfers looking to finance their endless summers to wide-eyed hippie true believers, and lethal marauders left over from the Vietnam War. Moving a shipment of Thai sticks from northeast Thailand farms to American consumers meant navigating one of the most complex smuggling channels in the history of the drug trade. Many forget that until the mid-1970s, the vast majority of marijuana consumed in the United States was imported, and there was little to no domestic production. Peter Maguire and Mike Ritter are the first historians to document this underground industry, the only record of its existence rooted in the fading memories of its elusive participants. Drawing on hundreds of interviews with smugglers and law enforcement agents, the authors recount the buy, delivery, voyage home, and product offload. They capture the eccentric personalities of the men and women who transformed the Thai marijuana trade from a GI cottage industry into a professionalized business moving the world's most lucrative commodities, unraveling a rare history from the smugglers’ perspective. “Highly recommended for anyone who loves adventure, cannabis, surfing, or all of the above. It’s every single bit as heady, energetic and captivating as the title implies.”—Cannabis Now
Download or read book The 38 Million Dollar Smile written by Richard Stevenson and published by ManLove Romance Press. This book was released on 2009 with total page 287 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Gary Griswold goes missing, and his ex-wife wants to know what's happened to him and his $38 million in cash. Religious dilettante Gary and his money have disappeared into Thailand. Gay P.I. Don Strachey is out of his element, and his lover Timmy is way out of his comfort zone as they comb the Land of Smiles for a man with an unerring weakness for the poorest choice possible.
Download or read book Fodor s Bangkok 25 Best written by Fodor's Travel Guides and published by . This book was released on 2015-11-17 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book identifies and explores in depth the top 25 sights in Bangkok in a compact, pocket-sized guidebook that also covers other popular spots and major neighborhoods all over the city, including shops, entertainment options, restaurants, hotels, and useful details like helpful web sites and travel information to make your short trip to Bangkok a great trip. This guide is updated annually. This travel guide includes: - A useful, weather-resistant pullout city map and a metro map for easy navigation - Full-color photos and full-size street maps of major neighborhoods. - Neighborhood walks that show off the best of the city with self-guided tour ideas - Essential info - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, and more - Popular day-trip destinations. - A two-day itinerary to explore the top attractions and what's off the beaten path. - Many hotel, restaurant, and entertainment recommendations - Major sights covered include the Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall, Baan Jim Thompson, Baan Kam Thieng, Wat Traimit, Wat Saket, Wat Ra Kang, Wat Prayoon, Wat Phra Kaeo, Wat Pho, Grand Palace, Khlong Bangkok Yai, Mae Nam Chao Phraya, National Museum, Prasart Museum, and Royal Barges Museum. With its full-color photography and top 25 to do lists, Fodor's 25 Best books are the perfect companion for any traveler. A pull out map with major sights marked, is included. About Fodor's: Written by locals, Fodor's travel guides have been offering expert advice for all tastes and budgets for over 80 years.
Download or read book Another Bangkok written by Alex Kerr and published by Penguin UK. This book was released on 2021-07-01 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the author of Another Kyoto and Lost Japan, a rich, personal exploration of the culture and history of Bangkok, and an essential guide for anyone visiting the city Alex Kerr has spent over thirty years of his life living in Bangkok. As with his bestselling books on Japan, this evocative personal meditation explores the city's secret corners. Here is the huge, traffic-choked metropolis of concrete high-rises, slums and sky trains; but also a place of peace and grace. Looking afresh at everything from ceramics to Thai dance, flower patterns to old houses, Kerr reveals one of Asia's most kaleidoscopically complex cities. Another Bangkok will delight both those who think they know the city well and those visiting for the first time.
Download or read book Romancing the East written by Jerry Hopkins and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2013-03-26 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Profiling individual, legendary authors, best-selling author Jerry Hopkins combines his research and his own experiences as a longtime expatriate with an intimate knowledge of Asia and offers us a unique perspective on the impact of Eastern culture in Western literature. From the time of Marco Polo's trek across the Central Asian desert to the empire of the mighty Kahn, no other place on earth, not the languid South Pacific or even deepest, darkest Africa has so challenged and enchanted the Western imagination as have the fabled lands of the East! However soaked in blood its history and no matter how unsettling its social conditions and poverty, Asia has never lost its irresistible attraction or mystic. It has long been an inspiration for Western novelists, so much so that more than 5000 novels have been set in Asia in the English language alone. Storied names like Rudyard Kipling, Joseph Conrad, Pearl S. Buck, George Orwell, Graham Greene, E.M. Forster and many more have used their experiences in Asia as a vibrant backdrop for some of the world's most famous works of literature.
Download or read book Imagining Gay Paradise written by Gary L. Atkins and published by Hong Kong University Press. This book was released on 2012-01-01 with total page 335 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This look at gay paradises in Southeast Asia and the men who created them considers the obstacles gay men have faced in securing a voice as citizens, and how they have used images of paradise in Bali, Bangkok and Singapore to create a sense of refuge, construct homes for themselves, and dissent from typical notions of manhood and masculinity. It focuses on Walter Spies, a gay German painter who in the 1930s depicted Bali as an ideal male aesthetic state; Khun Toc, who founded an architectural paradise called Babylon in Thailand; and the "cyber-paradise" of Fridae.com created by a young Singaporean named Stuart Koe. Collectively, Atkins examines their pursuit of sexual justice, the ideologies of manhood they challenged, the different types of gay spaces they created (geographic, architectural, online), and political obstacles they have encountered. Gary Atkinsis professor of communication at Seattle University. He is the author ofGay Seattle: Stories of Exile and Belonging.
Download or read book Queer Bangkok written by Peter A. Jackson and published by Hong Kong University Press. This book was released on 2011-03-01 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Thai capital Bangkok is the unrivalled centre of the country's gay, lesbian and transgender communities. These communities are among the largest in Southeast Asia, and indeed in the world, and have a diversity, social presence and historical depth that set them apart from the queer cultures of many neighbouring societies. The first years of the 21st Century have marked a significant transition moment for all of Thailand's LGBT cultures, with a multidimensional expansion in the geographical extent, media presence, economic importance, political impact, social standing, and cultural relevance of Thai queer communities. This book analyzes the roles of the market and media - especially cinema and the Internet - in these transformations, and considers the ambiguous consequences that the growing commodification and mediatisation of queer lives have had for LGBT rights in Thailand. A key finding is that in the early 21st Century processes of global queering are leading to a growing Asianisation of Bangkok's queer cultures. This book traces Bangkok's emergence as a central focus of an expanding regional network linking gay, lesbian and transgender communities in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines and other rapidly developing East and Southeast Asian societies. Peter A. Jacksonis associate professor in the School of Culture, History and Language at Australian National University. "The myriad faces of Thai gender/sexuality culture have been an attraction for both pleasure-seekers and researchers/scholars/activists. Exploring the rapidly changing LGBT cultures and Thai queer identities, the essays collected here provide insightful analyses of historical continuities as well as developing variations within the highly complex erotic/economic texture of Thai society. A must-read for anyone in the booming field of gender/sexuality studies." -Josephine Ho, Chair Professor, Center for the Study of Sexualities, National Central University, Taiwan
Download or read book Bangkok written by Joe Cummings and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Lonely Planet City Guide is packed with information. It is a smart, street-wise city guide in two-colour format with full-colour maps and written by authors intimate with the city.
Download or read book Lonely Planet Bangkok written by Lonely Planet and published by Lonely Planet. This book was released on 2018-07-01 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lonely Planet: The world’s number one travel guide publisher* Lonely Planet’s Bangkok is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Shop for anything and everything at Chatuchak Weekend Market, learn to make zesty Thai dishes at a cookery school, and give thanks for your good fortune at the giant golden Buddha at Wat Pho – all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Bangkok and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet’s Bangkok: 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, religion, cuisine, politics Over 35 maps for easy navigation Covers Ko Ratanakosin & Thonburi, Banglamphu, Thewet & Dusit, Chinatown, Siam Square, Pratunam, Phloen Chit & Ratchathewi, Riverside, Silom & Lumphini, Sukhumvit, Northern Bangkok, Ayutthaya Historical Park, Ko Samet, Amphawa, Phetchaburi, Kanchanaburi, Khao Yai 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 The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet’s Bangkok is our most comprehensive guide to the city, and is perfect for discovering both popular and offbeat sights. Looking for just the highlights? Check out Pocket Bangkok, our handy-sized guide featuring the best sights and experiences for a short visit. After more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet’s Thailand guide for a comprehensive look at all the country has to offer. 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.
Download or read book Obituaries in the Performing Arts 2018 written by Harris M. Lentz III and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2019-06-03 with total page 440 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The entertainment world lost many notable talents in 2018, including movie icon Burt Reynolds, "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin, celebrity chef and food critic Anthony Bourdain, bestselling novelist Anita Shreve and influential Chicago blues artist Otis Rush. Obituaries of actors, filmmakers, musicians, producers, dancers, composers, writers, animals and others associated with the performing arts who died in 2018 are included. Date, place and cause of death are provided for each, along with a career recap and a photograph. Filmographies are given for film and television performers.
