I Walked Away: An Expatriate's Guide to Living Cheaply in Thailand [Paperback]

Michael Ziesing (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 142 pages
• Publisher: Breakout Productions (June 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559501391
• ISBN-13: 978-1559501392
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #816,552 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Goods!, October 10, 2000

By 

Dr. Michael Trend - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Walked Away: An Expatriate's Guide to Living Cheaply in Thailand (Paperback)

"I Walked Away" is a heads-up guide for anyone who wants to relocate in Thailand to live as an "ex-pat". It is written from the perspective of a middle-aged white male, so politically correct types are here forewarned that they will be offended by the section on how to find sex. The rest of the book should bother no one, and it is chock full of accurate and useful information on how to find decent affordable housing, how to acclimate oneself to Thai culture, and how to find work.

Most ex-pats who relocate aren't rich and a common dream is to set up a business--usually a bar--to keep afloat and protect what funds that haven't already been dissipated in riotous living. The author rightly points out that the road to becoming a sucessful barowner is perilous indeed. If you don't follow his advice, as a naive "farang" (foreigner) you risk being taken to the cleaners and winding up flat broke or embittered by the high tuition costs of the Thai-style School of Hard Knocks.

The section on visa requirements is very detailed and useful. However, as the author points out, these things change, so it's best to check with the appropriate consulate, so you'll know before you go.

I didn't find any serious flaws in the book, so if you're thinking seriously about going, take "I Walked Away", even if you take along no other.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NO sugar-coating here! An honest look @ Thailand!, February 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: I Walked Away: An Expatriate's Guide to Living Cheaply in Thailand (Paperback)

I ordered this book in the spring of '99. I was searching for a place to go in Asia. After reading this book, I made up my mind to move to Thailand. The book is extremely informative and honest about the pros and cons of living in South-East Asia. I followed the recomendations in the book, and have now been living in Thailand for 6 months. I have bought a house, and have a beautiful Thai wife named Benjaporn! Thanks Mike!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good guide for Westerners living long-term in Thailand, September 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: I Walked Away: An Expatriate's Guide to Living Cheaply in Thailand (Paperback)

I remember Michael Ziesing from the days when he and his brother, Mark, ran the Ziesing Bros Book Emporium in Willimantic, CT. It came as a surprise to me when ran across _I Walked Away_ while researching Thailand and Thai culture for a long trip to Thailand a few years back. And, yes, the author was the same Michael Ziesing I remembered. Small World. _I Walked Away_ is not a travel guide, by any means! But if you want to live and work among the Thai people, there's no better guide...