Review

Review Ten Years to Bangkok by Ivy House Publishing

I enjoyed reading Edwin Kime’s Ten Years to Bangkok. It is an entertaining autobiography/love story/travel memories that is filled with adventure and romance and lots of fun to read from the beginning to the end Edwin Kime has done a good job in this chronologically written manuscript which is very easy to understand and follow along with. Mr. Kime shows a good attention to detail in his vivid descriptions of scenery, the tourist attractions he has gone to and the many exotic foods that he has eaten. All of these wonderful descriptions he has gone to paint a clear picture for readers to see.

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No only is this an entertaining manuscript but an educational one as well. It was interesting to learn that Thailand is the only country in Asia which was not colonized by any of the European countries. Although Thailand did lose a lot of its land to Europe, the country was able to escape colonization. The countries surrounding Thailand: Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Viet Nam, and Malaysia, were all colonized. Because of this, all of the customs and traditions in Thailand are its own.

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Just the fact that Mr. Kime worked in Saudi Arabia and Panama, and who knows where else, point out the fact he likes adventure in his life. Further proving this point is the fact that he chose Thailand as the place to go to on his vacation rather than back home to the States. Mr. Kime paints such a colorful picture of Bangkok that I found myself on google looking at tourist sites to Thailand thinking that I would like to see some of these sites myself some day.

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Thailand is called the “Land of Smiles” because the people are known for their friendliness. This is immediately shown on Mr. Kime’s first full day in Bangkok. He is driven to the address given to him ten years earlier by Emma, whom he is looking for. Emma does not live there anymore but an elderly woman who knew him invites Mr. Kime and the taxi driver into her house and give him Emma’s address Rather than just give him address, she serves the two strange men tea in her home. Mr. Kime writes that friendliness, hospitality and politeness are very much a part of the Thai culture.

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The politeness shows when Mr. Kime writes about how the taxi driver politely allows cars to cut in front of him, and other cars do the same for the taxi driver. Another place where politeness shines is when Mr. Kime goes to pick up his tailored shirts. Because they do not fit, the clerk drives Mr. Kime over to the seamstress, in another part of town, on his scooter. Then he waits with him has lunch while the shirts are being altered to fit him. That would never happen in the US. Neither would the polite driving, especially with taxi drivers.

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A custom that I found odd, or rather unsettling thought not unheard of, was the girls for sale in the different bars. Although we have prostitution in the United States, it is not legal. However, in Bangkok, prostitution was all out in the open and accepted as normal. It is a business. A man can just go into a bar and purchase a girl. If he does no like her then he can bring her back and take another girl in return. It is kind of like a human library system. Mr. Kime did not like the idea either and left both of the bars. The taxi driver could not understand why Mr. Kime did not choose a girl. Mr. Kime tried to explain that he likes to court a woman, but the taxi driver told him that could be a waste of time and money. Whereas his way you choose a petty girl, spend some money on her, and end up having a good time. If you do not have a good time you choose another.

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Another practice I found not to my liking was that the Thai’s have a 100% import duty on items brought into the country for personal use. So when Ed and Dow returned from their trip to Singapore with Dow’s stereo, which she purchased there, they had to pay the entire price again to the Thai government. So basically, they paid two whole times for the same stereo.

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An example of a really good description is Mr. Kime’s recollection of some trucks they passed on their way to visit Dow’s parents. The trucks have two front fenders, hood and windshields which are from Isuzu. The back of the truck is handmade of wood. They do not have doors, only bench seats for the drivers and the passengers. “These trucks are the beasts of burden in Thailand. They seem to haul everything, rice, people, fill dirt,…pigs, bananas, oranges…” What a wonderful picture this would have made!

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Another wonderfully vivid description is when Ed and Dow are with Dow’s parent in the village of Nongkhal. After they have had dinner a sheet is hung between two trees in an empty lot and a movie projector is set up to show a film on the sheet to whomever comes to pay. The movie is shown in a different village every night. They have to find a house that has electricity to show the movie but since most houses in little villages do not have electricity, they also have to bring a generator.

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I enjoyed the wonderful side trip to Singapore that Ed took Dow On. Singapore also sounds like a great place to visit, as well as a beautiful city. The fact that they strive so hard to keep it clean says a lot about how beautiful the city must be. Singapore also sounds exotic and since it is the place where the “Singapore Sling” became famous, Ed and Dow made sure to have one while they were there.

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Mr. Kime repeatedly points out the cleanliness of the Thai people in contrast to the sloppiness of the American people. He writes that even though Americans have showers, hot water, etc… often times they are seen wearing their sweats and smelling unclean. The Thai’s on the other hand, usually have to make due with a bowl of water and a bar of soap, yet they smell fresh and dress with dignity. It is interesting observation and I do agree that the wearing of sweats as a regular outfit is one that is apparent in today’s lifestyle in America.

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I enjoyed reading this manuscript and feel that there is something in it for everyone. There is adventure, drama, and romance. Whether you want to be an “armchair traveler” or get into some good adventure with romance, this book will deliver.