Customer Reviews

Travelers' Tales: Thailand

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Great fun to read. I highly recommend if you're thinking about goin there, or even traveling in general. It's puts you right in the mind of the adventurer, and more than anything, lets you realize the world around you.

I read this book after my first trip across Thailand and found it to capture the essence of the country better than anything else I've read. By looking at this fascinating place from so many angles and points of view, you can really get a rounded view. A great read to gain insight before you go, or to understand what you've seen and experienced after being there. Everyone will like some stories more than others, but that's part of the charm--you're bound to find more than a few stories that really carry you away, make you laugh, or make you see the people, places, and religion in a new way.

Tim Leffel, author, The World's Cheapest Destinations

I have read the original publication and not this updated version, however, if it's anything like the original (which I'm sure it is in addition to some extra essays), then it's worth buying.

The beauty of the original book is the 'every day-ness' quality of the stories - and it's not located specifically in the tourist culture. So the reader moves beyond temples, Patpong Rd and the like to get a better idea of greenies abroad, farang's forming special and unusual relationships and the power of indigenous religion/practise (yep the noun) in every day life.

I admit that it's a hard read at times as some of the stories get bogged down in fairly dense narrative, whilst others flow. Still, it's worth pursuing and the cover has been changed from the original. Anything with a comment by/from Ian Baruma is worth buying, he's a top quality writer and despite his Japan associations, he does travel to other parts of Asia and perceptibly discusses their 'ins' and 'outs' (ie Angel Dust: An Asian Journey/Odyssey).

I'm off to Thailand yet again and will enjoy picking this up and selling my old copy.