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PACIFIC DASH: From Asia Vagabond to Casino King by [Chet Nairene]

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Chet Nairene

PACIFIC DASH: From Asia Vagabond to Casino King Kindle Edition

by Chet Nairene (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

56 ratings

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"ENDLESSLY ENTERTAINING! He is 'Dash in a Tropical Wonderland' in this offbeat adventure with equally quirky characters. A fun journey -- don't miss it!" -- James Roby, The UrbanKnights Series.

PACIFIC DASH is the colorful new novel tracking the vagabond life journey of Dashiell Bonaventure, a young American who roams Asia for decades, visiting beaches, vice dens and casinos, all in pursuit of thrills and truth. This vivid work of gaudy fiction transports readers to exotic worlds and is designed to satisfy all fans of armchair global travel, adventure fiction or romance.

In 1968, a job transfer catapults young Dash's family across the globe, leaving the cornfields of Illinois for far-flung, scintillating Hong Kong. In his youthful innocence, the teen believes his expatriate high school adventure will just be temporary but he is mistaken. For thus begins his lifelong odyssey as Dash drifts between continents, crisscrossing Asia in an adventure of self-discovery.

For several decades, he roams across Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Thailand, Myanmar and more. Eccentric and flamboyant personalities roll through his life while he explore the jungles, beaches, and cities of the Far East.

Along the way, he falls desperately in love while also making bitter enemies. He saves lives and also nearly loses his own while backpacking and motorcycling across Indonesia and then working in an illegal floating casino, offshore from Singapore. As the decades pass, he eventually becomes wildly wealthy as he pioneers the VIP gambling junket trade in Macau, hosting 'whale gamblers' from around the region.

But that's when his troubles REALLY begin.

PACIFIC DASH is the next best thing to taking your own journey down the colorful back alleys of Asia. Sparkling with anecdotes and color, this story is designed to charm readers by parachuting them into the festivals, culture, and vice dens of the Far East. Exhaustively researched and historically accurate, this book was written by a veteran "Old Asia Hand" and is an education in itself as to cultural practices and the astounding sites of SE Asia.

The story unwinds at a furious pace and is truly a mad dash: From a sudden disaster at international high school in cosmopolitan Hong Kong … to fantasy years jetting around the globe as the collegiate protégé to the world’s reigning literary rock star … From a dreamlike backpacking idyll through culture-lush Indonesia … to an unplanned decade riding a sleazy floating casino in the Straits of Malacca … and finally on to Dash’s stunning rise to power as the wealthiest Westerner in Asia and king of Greater China's casino business.

With PACIFIC DASH, readers experience life amongst Asia's elite, the young princesses and princelings at the international high school in 1960s Hong Kong. They hang out with Aussie surfer dudes in Bali and go tromping down the 1970s hippie trail to Afghanistan, Nepal and beyond. They thrill to illegal high-stakes baccarat tables on the high seas and gorge on spicy foods eaten by hand off banana leaves. And they fall in love with the gorgeous Fiona Lo Ting-Ting and make friends with intriguing characters like Snakehead Goh, PY (Little Fatty) Lee, Chickie Schmidt and Jackson Toh.

This karma-laced tale is akin to a mash-up between a Paul Theroux travel narrative and Alex Garland's 'The Beach’ ... with a pinch of Forrest Gump tossed in, too -- the latter because amazing, truly unexpected adventures just keep happening to good old Dash. Many readers liken it to the infamous “Flashman” series by George MacDonald Fraser.

PACIFIC DASH is the newest offering from BANANA LEAF BOOKS, a new imprint specializing in the adventures of Westerners adrift in Asia.

Print length

396 pages
Language

English
Publication date

April 27, 2021
File size

3626 KB
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B093QYS47V
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Banana Leaf Books (April 27, 2021)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 27, 2021
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3626 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 396 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ B098CTVTPD
Lending ‏ : ‎ Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #932,332 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #822 in Historical Asian Fiction
- #1,675 in Travel Writing
- #1,979 in Travel Adventure Fiction

Customer Reviews:
56 ratings

About the author

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Chet Nairene

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Chet Nairene is an American writer who truly qualifies for the honorary title of "Old Asia Hand".

Chet resided in Southeast Asia nearly three decades, during which time he ran barges and tankers up the coasts of Malaysia and directed retail businesses in the Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Thailand.

During his youth, fresh from college, he worked as a journalist at a midwestern USA daily newspaper.

"We've all read books that were so good that we didn't want them to end," says Chet. " Among my favorites are many by my hero, Paul Theroux, all set in far-away lands. In many ways, he inspired me in life and now, as a writer. My goal is to utterly delight my readers, taking full advantage of the many astounding things I've witnessed during my long stay in Asia. I attempt to parachute my readers directly into alien experiences in those exotic lands and always keep the fascination level high. Here's hoping my readers all enjoy my first offering, PACIFIC DASH, and the amazing travels across Asia by intrepid young Dash Bonaventure!"

Chet will soon be following up PACIFIC DASH with more travel adventure novels set in Southeast Asia.

Customer reviews

5 star		77%
4 star		21%
3 star 0% (0%)		0%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Bruce Churchill

A Riveting and Well-Developed Story of Far Eastern Adventures and Intrigue

Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2021

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This story was obviously written by someone who has traveled to the areas in the plot: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Macau and Taiwan. The detailed knowledge of the areas, cultures, languages and geography is unmistakably from the pen of an experienced traveler. The plot is a genuine page-turner that is hard to put down. The book draws its appeal from well-developed characters, a tight and believable story line and the detailed and colorful descriptions of the areas visited by the unassuming but compelling main character, Pacific Dash. I am an avid reader of the genre of "techno-thrillers" and while this book is not exactly in that genre, it delivers an equally compulsive reading experience. I eagerly look forward to any sequels to this book and its characters.

2 people found this helpful

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DX-Traveler

A Fast-Paced Romp

Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2021

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This book is a fun and fast-paced adventure story as the main character navigates through private school in Hong Kong, college back in the USA, back-packing in Bali, and then a career managing casinos in Malaysia and Hong Kong. And that's not to mention the book's final adventure.

Chet shows a in-depth knowledge of East Asia and East Asian culture that can only have come from spending years in the region himself. Perhaps some of the tales are autobiographical? The only thing missing is that Chet could have delved more deeply into Dash's romantic liaisons with the beautiful women who are mostly left in the background.

The style reminded me of the old Flashman novels. If you are a fan of those you will love Pacific Dash. Dash is somewhat rascally but very lovable character who without trying goes from one adventure to another. And no matter what happens, Dash somehow manages to come out on top - usually with the unexpected help of an old friend. If you are looking for a fun read, you won't be disappointed.

One person found this helpful

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Phil Perillo

A very entertaining story.

Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2021

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This was a very interesting story about a young man’s journey in life, including stops in Hong Kong and Malaysia. In Hong Kong, Dash learns a little about Asian culture in his prep school, meeting interesting characters like Chickie and the Slug. After returning to the US for a few years, he once again departs for Asia. Here he meets more interesting characters, including Little Fatty and Snakehead, and becomes involved in the Asian gambling culture. I found this part of the book very interesting, with vivid descriptions of the Asian landscape and customs, as well as a deep dive into the processes and politics of gambling.

This was a great read. I learned a lot and enjoyed doing it!

2 people found this helpful

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John A. Figliozzi

A tour de force of places and personalities

Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2022

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As a voracious "short subjects" reader, I have a habit -- some might call it bad -- of buying a book on recommendation or hearing an interview with the author and then reading the first few chapters. When I start I fully intend to finish, but somehow I rarely do.

This time, I did. The story the author weaves became just too hard to ignore. Yes, I'd read in installments and put it down -- sometime for day or a week or two at a time. But unlike many others, the story stuck with me. I wanted to know what the narrator, the protagonist, was going to do next. And he does a lot, in a lot of places, meeting interesting people, having interesting experiences. You may not think you're like Dash but it turns out there's a bit of Dash -- or maybe more of him -- in all of us. And just as like with our own lives, we want to find out how his is going to turn out.

Much recommended. You can thank me later.

One person found this helpful

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S. Misuta

A wild ride!

Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2022

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Chet Nairene perfectly captures the spirit and adventure of expat living in this outrageously fun first novel. The plot has more twists and turns than the Mekong river. Looking forward to further installments and adventures.

One person found this helpful

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Gerald O. Ryan

A fast paced read.

Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2021

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A fast paced read that takes a Midwest boy from the literary world to the back streets of Indonesia and to the rarified gambling world of Hong Kong and Macao.

One person found this helpful

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Richard A. Dangelo

Entertaining and Delightful Reading.

Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2021

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If you are looking for an enjoyable, fun read for the summer months, might I suggest Pacific Dash? Author Chet Nairene’s several decades in the Asian region as a business executive clearly helps provide a suitable background for these chain of off-the-wall events that launch Dash’s travels. This is an interesting, fun filled escapade of a young man as he grows into adulthood using a slightly different model than the typical youngster today.

Young Dash begins his adventures while attending school in Hong Kong where he meets several people who will play an important part of his life over the next twenty years. While his time in Hong Kong is cut short, it is the beginning of an interesting string of travel events that follow this young lad as his exotic travel soon commences. Along the way, Dash encounters one eccentric person after another as he stumbles across colorful Asian locales. As one adventure concludes, it leads to Dash’s next exotic adventure. Over time Dash matures from a young student, to an important literary assistant, to a traveler in Bali before launching a career in the gambling business. Everything has a rather humorous twist and several unexpected turns right up to the very end. This book is definitely a page turner filled with humor, exotic characters, and exciting Asian venues.

Pacific Dash is Chet Nairene’s first novel. His humorous, adventure filled pages leave you wanting for more but I suppose that is an indication that future novels will eventually be released. This is a very good “first” project and I expect the author to be a regular on my book list.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Bruce James Perry

Surprise after surprise after surprise !

Reviewed in Canada on February 26, 2022

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This story will pull you in and not let you go! Be prepared to be reading long after your normal bedtime, LOL ( ...just one more chapter...ha ha , sure...and another hour goes by !). The author has scored a winner with this one and I would recommend it to anyone who is not a humourless stick in the mud. This is one could become a movie someday, IMHO.

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