Behind The Smile the Story of Lek, a Bar Girl in Pattaya: Daddy's Hobby (Book) - 3/24/2013 10:30:50 PM
This book is very popular among visitors to Thailand, expats and their friends and relatives, because it gives a lot of factual information about life for the bar girls in Thailand by means of the moving story of one girl, Lek, and some of her friends and colleagues.
Behind The Smile the Story of Lek, a Bar Girl in Pattaya: Daddy's Hobby (Book) - 8/3/2012 4:22:32 AM
I like what you’ve written here, Owen! But as for smile, it’s nice to smile, whether giving one or getting one. Even so, we have to watch out for what’s behind some of those big broad smiles, as they can be very deceptive, coming from most people! Blessings to you and prosperity with your books!
The Ghouls of Calle Goya (Short Story) - 12/19/2016 7:22:50 AM
This well-written introduction doesn't give me interest to read the book (I'm not a book reader), but I might watch the movie.
In the opening you describe the, "… Ice cracking on the lake." And then, "birds foraging for small fish…," In a form of contradiction because if the lake is frozen the birds can't forage.
I also was having trouble with the Norwegian/German/Danish connection. Perhaps it will be explained later.
Your note at the bottom that it is a true story surprises me from what I read from this small excerpt. If it is true, the story certainly becomes more compelling.
Ron
The Ghouls of Calle Goya (Short Story) - 12/19/2016 6:15:17 AM
Based on a true story that my wife and I are still living.
Economic Improvement (Article) - 7/3/2015 5:21:49 PM
Hi Ron,
That would have been about forty years ago, right? I got here ten years ago and I can see big changes (TL is more prosperous), but I know some who have been coming here for 20-25 years and they say that I wouldn't recognise it from back then, so I reckon you probably wouldn't either.
Pattaya, the GI's favourite was then a fishing village, now it is a big city with a million visitors a year.
Regards,
Owen
Economic Improvement (Article) - 7/3/2015 9:09:36 AM
Thanks for the snapshot of Thailand's economy today under the military junta.
I was only there 20 days just after the American troops pulled out. The country appeared quite prosperous, but the places that catered to GIs on R&R were hurting and relatively empty of customers. My host, a high official in education (and, a consultant and spy for the military) purposely kept me from any sin, that probably abounded in that day. Bangkok was filled with refugees from Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Labor was very cheap. There was martial law at that time, as well.
Ron
