| Often described as the "Pattaya Bible" Neil | | | | While the North West is dominated by Chiang Mai, |
| Hutchinson's "Money Number One" is the flagship of | | | | the North East also boasts several big cities including |
| his collection of very humorous stories and insights | | | | Udon Thani and Kon Kaen which has one the largest |
| into life and the interrelationships between the | | | | universities in the country. |
| average male visitor and the bar ladies of Thailand. | | | | Chiang Mai is the cultural centre where much of the |
| The books in the series including "A Fool In Paradise" | | | | "arts and crafts" seen being sold in the many |
| "The Fool is Back" and "A Fools Diary" are a collage | | | | markets found in every major city are manufactured |
| of short stories about the sometimes hilarious, | | | | and is also the area in which much of the countries |
| sometimes tragic antics of what many of the male | | | | fruit and vegetables are grown |
| visitors to Thailand have experienced in their dealings | | | | The North West is often called Issarn and the |
| with these lovely creatures, and are a MUST READ | | | | predominant language spoken is actually a version of |
| for all who wish to cast fate to the wind to enjoy | | | | Lao. It becomes confusing to the traveler who has |
| the pleasures offered by these delectable ladies. | | | | taken the time to learn a few words of Thai, when |
| In reading the books I realized that while the books | | | | his new found love meets a friend or family member |
| are truly a great introduction to life in "SIN CITY" | | | | and starts to speak a totally different language. |
| they also teach something of the culture of this | | | | However ninety percent of the girls in Pattaya can |
| beautiful country and it's equally beautiful people. | | | | speak sufficient English for the tourist to be able to |
| Thailand is steeped in Buddhism which becomes | | | | enjoy a very pleasant interlude with them and indeed |
| obvious to the first time visitor on arrival by the | | | | many tourists find themselves married to a Thai lady |
| number of Monks seen daily almost everywhere in | | | | and raising a family. |
| the streets and the amount of "Wats" (Monasteries) | | | | In the "Money Number One"series Neil also offers the |
| sprinkled through out the country. | | | | reader an insight into some of the customs practiced |
| Like all countries which have a dominant religion, | | | | by these people who we of the west tend to find |
| many of the Thais are willing to "bend the rules" | | | | very strange indeed and are often in complete |
| somewhat in order to be able to survive in a country | | | | contrast to our Christian upbringing and can |
| which has no dole queues or free handouts from the | | | | sometimes be seen as even repugnant to some. |
| government as many of the Western societies have. | | | | Neil Hutchinson has written the books from his own |
| They are also extremely family orientated. Most of | | | | experiences and those of others who have visited |
| the bar ladies are supporting at least one child and | | | | Pattaya, however the same principals apply to all the |
| quite often a Thai husband. | | | | areas of Thailand which supports beer bars ,go-go |
| It's the Thai girl's duty to support her parents | | | | bars etc and even some that don't. |
| financially and who, quite often will be raising the | | | | The "Money Number One" series can now be |
| lady's child or children in a village somewhere in the | | | | purchased online in PDF format for instant download. |
| North or South of the country. | | | | |