Hardship Posting vol. 1

by Stu Lloyd

For centuries, expatriates from all corners of the world have come to Asia, seeking wealth, opportunity and adventure. From this cultural relocation has sprung much misadventure - some of it intentional, some of it accidental - in any case the stuff of legend.

'Hardship Posting - true tales of expat misadventure' Volume 1 for the first time documents 400 amusing and amazing anecdotes from those that lived to tell their tale, and a few who almost didn't!

It covers the whole of Asia, with 42 contributors telling their side of the story…digging up what Rachel Farnay, editor of The Expat Magazine in Singapore, describes as 'a mighty collection of tales…' Including:

* swapping a Rolling Stone magazine for a Vietnam visa
* the group that posed as Air Supply to get through an Indonesia roadblock
* the bloke that posed as the British High Commissioner in Bangkok bars
* the English lady shot by Macau gangsters
* the helicopter pilot they wanted to use as a case-study for VD research

These were compiled and edited by Stuart Lloyd, adman, writer and musician, who spent over 12 years in Asia, keeping his ear to the ground for a good story on the streets, in bars, airports, taxis, the office, the country clubs, and the media… high-profile expat 'misadventures' involving the likes of Nick Leeson in Singapore and Michael Wansley in Thailand made news worldwide.

'I found it was only really once I had left Asia that the full extent of that halcyonic weird and wonderful existence hit me,' says Lloyd. 'Expatriatism can be a very extreme lifestyle, and this book has really captured ordinary expats in some very extraordinary situations. But at the end of the day - or at least a few years later - it's all good for a laugh,' he says.

And the laughs come thick and fast with central narrator Colonel Ken's beer-soaked observations from the barstool weaving all the chapters together. As a seasoned raconteur, Col Ken adds a colourful and bawdy spin to every topic - the perfect caricature of the expat that's 'gone troppo' under the Asian sun.

'Hardship Posting' is many peoples' story of the triumphs and tribulations of living thousands of miles from home and living life to the fullest in Asia.

Genres: History

241 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2001

About the author

My life story goes something like this: conceived in California, born in Zimbabwe, schooled in South Africa, emigrated to Australia, worked in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, China and now living in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

With a background in psychology, and a career as a copywriter and creative director in the Mad Man world of multinational ad agencies, people watching and understanding the human spirit have always come naturally to me.

10 books published to date, with sales over 100,000.

I write military history (WW 2 books), business behaviour (especially creativity and cognitive skills), Asia expat books, and travel.

My bucket list is mostly comprised of two-wheeled motorcycle adventures in remote parts of the world. Riding and writing - that's my thing.

Reviews

[Amedeo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious. If you have ever lived as an expat in Asia you can surely relate with some of the stories written in this book. For people who have never lived in Asia, yes, it can get even crazier than that down (or up, depending on where you live) there.