Bangkok Babylon

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.

Author: Jerry Hopkins
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Published: 09/10/2009
Pages: 224
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 7.90h x 5.20w x 0.50d
ISBN13: 9780804840774
ISBN10: 0804840776
BISAC Categories:
- Travel | Asia | Southeast
- Travel | Essays & Travelogues
- History | Asia | Southeast Asia

About the Author
Jerry Hopkins has published best-selling biographies of Elvis Presley, Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix and was an editor and correspondent for Rolling Stone for 20 years.