The Twilight Soi dwells on the dangers of one of the world's most beautiful and intoxicating cities, Bangkok. It is named after one of Bangkok's more infamous small streets, or sois as they are known. <br><br>Soi Twilight runs off the main thoroughfare of Surawong in the centre of Bangkok's oldest entertainment district Patpong and is known to travelers around the world. It is here where touts from go-go boy bars such as Ocean boys, Bangkok Boys and Classic Boys hustle for the attention of local and international tourists.<br><br>The Twilight Soi began in an angry place – over theft and deception. But applying Western, or in the author's case Australian, notions of loyalty, honesty, fairness, decency and an abhorrence of deceit do not apply in a country as profoundly different as Thailand. For historical reasons Australians intensely dislike personal treachery or the betrayal of friendship. Standing on these principles in a city like Bangkok marks you as a fool. Ultimately being angry both at your own foolhardiness and the actions of others embitters and harms yourself, no one else. This book ends with more understanding than it began. <br><br>Many of the problems experienced by foreigners in Thailand come from the extreme cultural differences with the West. In Australia a man's word is his honor. A liar is the lowest form of life. In Thailand only a foreigner would be so rude as to point out that the story told in the morning bears little or no resemblance to the story told in the afternoon.
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William John Stapleton. The Twilight Soi
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE. LOWH TEH KOON - UP TO YOU
CHAPTER TWO. GASSAP GASSAI - RESTLESS
CHAPTER THREE. MANY MISTAKES: TAHM PEET MAK MAK
CHAPTER FOUR. GASSOP, KAMOY, LOHP LUHEN MAK MAK – LIE, STEAL AND DECEIVE VERY MUCH
CHAPTER FIVE. PNOM PENH: INTO THE HEART OF DARKNESS
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The Twilight Soi dwells on the dangers of one of the world’s most beautiful and intoxicating cities, Bangkok. It is named after one of Bangkok’s more infamous small streets, or sois as they are known.
This revised edition of The Twilight Soi became necessary because the first edition was published prematurely under extremely stressful circumstances.
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The propriety or otherwise of his private life would have been little known if not for the the grotesque invasions of his privacy and the propagandizing efforts of Bangkok’s mafia and their willing media cohorts. Part of this propaganda was propelled by the spy cameras Aek installed in his computer and later he realized were placed throughout the house, even in his bedroom and bathroom.
“You should see what he looks like with his shirt off,’’ was one comment he would sometimes overhear. No, he didn’t look terrific with his shirt off. Most people his age don’t, but nor do they have their physical imperfections broadcast to the world.
