Bangkok

In the colorful tradition of Hemingway's A Movable Feast, Jerry Hopkins recalls his first decade as a Bangkok expatriate by profiling 25 of the city's most unforgettable characters. Among them are the man thought to be the model for Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now, an advertising executive who photographs Thai bargirls for Playboy, an Oscar-winning screenwriter who moved there to die, a Catholic priest who has lived and worked in the Bangkok slums for 35 years, a circus dwarf turned computer programmer turned restaurateur, three Vietnam war helicopter pilots who opened a go-go bar, a pianist at one of the world's best hotels who ended up on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list, a detective who tracks runaways who fake their deaths and a documentary filmmaker who lives with elephants. All of them "escaped" to Thailand to reinvent themselves and live out their fantasies in one of the world's most notorious cities.

In recent years, Bangkok’s image has been transformed from that of a chaotic free-for-all into a confident city brimming with design and sophistication — but one that still retains a vibrant street life rarely seen in the developed world. This comprehensive travel guide chronicles the city’s new identity, dynamic popular culture, exciting clubs and restaurants, and rich cultural heritage, as well as its gorgeous nearby beaches. Bangkok’s lively gay and lesbian scene is covered in depth.