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Lesser Known Travel Tips #1
How to Start a Riot in a Brothel in Thailand by Ordering a Beer and Other Lesser Known Travel Tips.
Book 1 of the hilarious book series that those in the know will want to read on the train to work so they laugh so freaking hard that they scare away the other commuters allowing them to have two seats to themselves.
Life was not meant to be easy, Simon Yeats’ father used to tell him. Well, it sure as hell was not meant to be this crazy and funny. Australian ex-pat Yeats, as all he has ever been called since High School, shares his stories of travel misadventures and dubious personal introspection with comedic insights into the unusual and uproarious elements of living his life abroad. All while having a sense of Wanderlust as pervasive as the Spanish Flu in 1918.
From how to keep yourself entertained when unwittingly forced to watch 11 hours of live sumo wrestling in Japan, to surviving heartbreak in India at the hands of a French flight attendant, to 48 hours spent in Nepal that qualify as the funniest most gut wrenching travel experience since Captain Bligh was set adrift in the Pacific, to his unsuccessful attempts at avoiding going to a brothel in Thailand.
Simon Yeats has gone into the world and experienced all the out of the ordinary moments for readers to sit back and enjoy the experience without the need to pay for overpriced drinks in Bora Bora, break a leg trekking in the Dolomites, or rupture a pancreas diving on the Great Barrier Reef.
Life was not meant to be easy, Simon Yeats’ father used to tell him. Well, it sure as hell was not meant to be this crazy and funny. Australian ex-pat Yeats, as all he has ever been called since High School, shares his stories of travel misadventures and dubious personal introspection with comedic insights into the unusual and uproarious elements of living his life abroad. All while having a sense of Wanderlust as pervasive as the Spanish Flu in 1918.
From how to keep yourself entertained when unwittingly forced to watch 11 hours of live sumo wrestling in Japan, to surviving heartbreak in India at the hands of a French flight attendant, to 48 hours spent in Nepal that qualify as the funniest most gut wrenching travel experience since Captain Bligh was set adrift in the Pacific, to his unsuccessful attempts at avoiding going to a brothel in Thailand.
Simon Yeats has gone into the world and experienced all the out of the ordinary moments for readers to sit back and enjoy the experience without the need to pay for overpriced drinks in Bora Bora, break a leg trekking in the Dolomites, or rupture a pancreas diving on the Great Barrier Reef.
- GenresTravelHumorNonfiction
216 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2023
22 people are currently reading
842 people want to read
About the author
Simon Yeats
5 books74 followersSimon Yeats has lived nine lives, and by all estimations, is fast running out of the number he has left. His life of globetrotting the world was not the one he expected to lead. He grew up a quiet, shy boy in Australia teased by other kids on the playgrounds for his red hair. But he developed a keen wit and sense of humor to always see the funnier side of life.
With a maniacal love of travel, a propensity to find trouble where there was none, and passionate advocacy of mental health, Simon’s stories will leave a reader either rolling on the floor in tears of laughter, or breathing deeply with relief that he was willing to state honestly what many will not.
No one has laughed longer or cried with less restraint at the travails of life.
With a maniacal love of travel, a propensity to find trouble where there was none, and passionate advocacy of mental health, Simon’s stories will leave a reader either rolling on the floor in tears of laughter, or breathing deeply with relief that he was willing to state honestly what many will not.
No one has laughed longer or cried with less restraint at the travails of life.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 6, 2024
How to Start a Riot in a Brothel in Thailand by Ordering a Beer and other lesser known travel tips is a mostly light-hearted and fun travel memoir.
Taking us through a range of memoirs from a visit as a 12-year-old to New Zealand to a 39-year-old retracing those steps with his wife, we are regaled with tales mostly taking place in Oceania throughout the author's adult life. Some of them are amusing, some of them a little horrifying, and all told with some introspection to place the stories into context. That said, the funniest story (the bath one) is about Yeats travelling home to visit family and the joys of nieces and nephews.
As someone who doesn't like to travel (at all), this might seem like a strange memoir to read, and indeed, it assures me that I'm probably quite happy staying at home if these stories are based on real experiences, but I'm always keen to read something sprinkled with light humour. How to Start a Riot fits the bill nicely.
I would caution that there are some elements of these memoirs that are not totally PC, and that we are treated to a bit of a tirade to begin with, but once beyond that point, the tales are engaging and connect together well.
This travel memoir will appeal to those who share the same Wanderlust, offering a snapshot from the 1980s onwards. And perhaps those looking for some reassurance that they are, indeed, quite right to stay at home where they need not concern themselves with learning the art of haggling.
Taking us through a range of memoirs from a visit as a 12-year-old to New Zealand to a 39-year-old retracing those steps with his wife, we are regaled with tales mostly taking place in Oceania throughout the author's adult life. Some of them are amusing, some of them a little horrifying, and all told with some introspection to place the stories into context. That said, the funniest story (the bath one) is about Yeats travelling home to visit family and the joys of nieces and nephews.
As someone who doesn't like to travel (at all), this might seem like a strange memoir to read, and indeed, it assures me that I'm probably quite happy staying at home if these stories are based on real experiences, but I'm always keen to read something sprinkled with light humour. How to Start a Riot fits the bill nicely.
I would caution that there are some elements of these memoirs that are not totally PC, and that we are treated to a bit of a tirade to begin with, but once beyond that point, the tales are engaging and connect together well.
This travel memoir will appeal to those who share the same Wanderlust, offering a snapshot from the 1980s onwards. And perhaps those looking for some reassurance that they are, indeed, quite right to stay at home where they need not concern themselves with learning the art of haggling.
April 7, 2024
This was a fun memoir full of hilarious travel stories from the Australian ex-pat and writer Simon Yeats. I love traveling and enjoy reading about fun travel adventures, full of misadventures and this memoir fits the bill. He’s had some crazy adventures traveling in India, Thailand, and beyond, which many times went hilariously wrong. However, he always seemed to be able to get out of his scrapes just in the nick of time with laugh-out-loud stories. This is part 1 of a 3-part series and I’m looking forward to reading more of his memoirs.
December 9, 2024
Relatable
If you traveled, these kinds of things will happen. Its funnier when they happen to someone else too. I enjoyed the book
If you traveled, these kinds of things will happen. Its funnier when they happen to someone else too. I enjoyed the book
May 31, 2024
"Wonderful friendships are the peanut butter to the grape jam of unique shared memories spread on the bread of far-flung destinations in the peanut butter and jelly sandwich of life."
"One simple concept. The combination of utter disaster and Yeats’ Law."
My bookclub's theme last month was travel and tourism, and my first choice of a travelogue did not go well at all, but I decided to try again. After all, I've read other travelogues that I enjoyed, so I wasn't going to let a bad one turn me off of the genre. So here is my next try. How could I pass up this title? And THIS WAS A FUN ONE!
This is the beginning of a series of books about Yeat's travels. Most of the adventures in this book take place in the late 90s. Yeats relates his intresting low-budget take on travel and the misadventures he encounters along the way. In every chapter things go terribly wrong but ultimately end up interestingly right. FRom India to Japan, Thailand to Nepal, Yeats laughs his way through the mistakes he's made and the lessons he's learned, encouraging you to laugh along with him. It was a refreshing way to look at travel. Things will go wrong. You will do stupid things, but in the end, it was all an adventure.
My one complaint was that he constantly drops hints of other adventures in other books and now I'm probably going to have to go read those too because, well, I have to know!
"One simple concept. The combination of utter disaster and Yeats’ Law."
My bookclub's theme last month was travel and tourism, and my first choice of a travelogue did not go well at all, but I decided to try again. After all, I've read other travelogues that I enjoyed, so I wasn't going to let a bad one turn me off of the genre. So here is my next try. How could I pass up this title? And THIS WAS A FUN ONE!
This is the beginning of a series of books about Yeat's travels. Most of the adventures in this book take place in the late 90s. Yeats relates his intresting low-budget take on travel and the misadventures he encounters along the way. In every chapter things go terribly wrong but ultimately end up interestingly right. FRom India to Japan, Thailand to Nepal, Yeats laughs his way through the mistakes he's made and the lessons he's learned, encouraging you to laugh along with him. It was a refreshing way to look at travel. Things will go wrong. You will do stupid things, but in the end, it was all an adventure.
My one complaint was that he constantly drops hints of other adventures in other books and now I'm probably going to have to go read those too because, well, I have to know!
March 1, 2024
Great book
April 25, 2024
Whether or not a horror novel is scary enough; a thriller exciting enough; a romance romantic enough; a 'funny book witty enough, its all subjective, humour perhaps most of all, right?
Sooo, speaking for myself ...
Whilst not altogether uproarious I did find How to Start a Riot in a Brothel in Thailand By Ordering A Beer And Other Lesser Known Travel Tips {what a great title} an amusing enough read in which the author's sense of humour and love of travel shone through. That at times they bought into racial stereotypes ... Hmm! Personally speaking, not something that I personally found funny but hey-ho.
Covering some twenty seven years of misadventure, a travel memoir with a difference. The author revels in poking fun at himself in any number of cautionary tales in which I found myself chuckling, wondering just how they got away with some of the things they did.
Part one in a planned series of three book. I wonder what adventures await Yeats as he once again travels the globe.
Copyright ... Felicity Grace Terry @ Pen and Paper
Disclaimer ... One of several bloggers participating in the Blog Tour of this book. Agree or disagree with me, all opinions are my own. No financial compensation was asked for nor given. Threats of violence towards my favourite teddy bear went unheeded as did promises of chocolate.
Sooo, speaking for myself ...
Whilst not altogether uproarious I did find How to Start a Riot in a Brothel in Thailand By Ordering A Beer And Other Lesser Known Travel Tips {what a great title} an amusing enough read in which the author's sense of humour and love of travel shone through. That at times they bought into racial stereotypes ... Hmm! Personally speaking, not something that I personally found funny but hey-ho.
Covering some twenty seven years of misadventure, a travel memoir with a difference. The author revels in poking fun at himself in any number of cautionary tales in which I found myself chuckling, wondering just how they got away with some of the things they did.
Part one in a planned series of three book. I wonder what adventures await Yeats as he once again travels the globe.
Copyright ... Felicity Grace Terry @ Pen and Paper
Disclaimer ... One of several bloggers participating in the Blog Tour of this book. Agree or disagree with me, all opinions are my own. No financial compensation was asked for nor given. Threats of violence towards my favourite teddy bear went unheeded as did promises of chocolate.
March 9, 2024
This book has something for every type of traveler. Do you crave adventure and can’t wait to learn innovative ways to get in and out of trouble? Simon will regale you with ideas. Are you like most of us and want to avoid trouble like the plague, especially in a foreign nation? This book will show you what NOT to do.
But most of all, if you like to laugh, especially at someone else’s expense, you have hit upon a winner. Honest possibly to the point of embarrassment, Simon makes mistakes so you don’t have to. But then again, if we’re honest, we will see ourselves in some of the mishaps and revel in not being alone.
But most of all, if you like to laugh, especially at someone else’s expense, you have hit upon a winner. Honest possibly to the point of embarrassment, Simon makes mistakes so you don’t have to. But then again, if we’re honest, we will see ourselves in some of the mishaps and revel in not being alone.
November 5, 2024
This might be called a travelogue by some, but it isn’t. It’s a series of books containing delightful and funny stories concerning Yeats’ travels. It’s really a book about his life and his experiences. Some are funny, some informative, others quite frightening.
I love the folksy type of writing. It makes for very easy reading, and it fits the wonderful amount of humor in the book. This is the first book I have read by Simon Yeats. I see no reason it can’t be read as a stand-alone, but I’m going to encourage everyone, myself included, to read the other books.
I love the folksy type of writing. It makes for very easy reading, and it fits the wonderful amount of humor in the book. This is the first book I have read by Simon Yeats. I see no reason it can’t be read as a stand-alone, but I’m going to encourage everyone, myself included, to read the other books.
August 20, 2025
How to Start a Riot in a Brothel in Thailand by Ordering a Beer and Other Lesser Known Travel Tips is the most boring travelogue I’ve ever read. The author repeatedly refers to stories he’s told in other books that are important context for what he is explaining in this book, but does not give any more information than I told this story previously. He clearly thinks he is funny, but most of the time he is not. His storytelling is not engaging and often just drags on and on. Pretty much the whole book was quite a disappointment.
February 17, 2024
This author’s sense of humor is just hilarious. I found myself often bursting out in laughter. His story about traveling to Nepal and then going out into the middle of nowhere to go whitewater rafting is the funniest description of a travel experience I have ever read. I was mortified at what happened, but could not stop laughing. And he does this over and over again in places like Japan, Hawaii, India, and Phuket. This man loves to travel and poke fun at himself.
April 11, 2024
I enjoyed this instalment of Yeats’ years of traveling and exploring other cultures. I did find the writing style a rather patchy travel memoir which is filled with comic excerpts, somehow it all works very fluidly. All the adventure has a humours undertone. There is times when this is rather in-PC and buys into racial stereotypes with the dad quality jokes.
There is a lot of mention of ‘My Second Life’ throughout, I have not read this but I am about to give that a go too.
There is a lot of mention of ‘My Second Life’ throughout, I have not read this but I am about to give that a go too.
May 23, 2024
This is a hilarious read of the many adventures and misadventures the author has while traveling the world. Rafting in Nepal with a bad case of diarrhea made me laugh out loud. Mixed in with the many wonderful travel stories is a great message. Travel, see the world, experience what life offers both good and bad. No one has ever looked back and said I traveled too much.
January 29, 2024
Really enjoyed it - made me laugh out loud more than a few times - and I could relate to some travel escapades. if you want to go travelling a good list of cautionary tales too. Fun read for light times
April 10, 2024
Not my idea of a funny book. DNF
April 5, 2024
What a selection of great travel tips for things you didn’t know you needed when going abroad. From who to have in your group when climbing a glacier to the best joke to tell at a dinner with strangers, this book has it all.
There are some great one-liners and anecdotes in this book, my personal favourite was the snippet about The Sound Of Music! Amazing tips on nearly every continent around the globe, and how to save money to get there.
I’m looking forward to book 2, and need to check out the memoir - now what was that called again? (Does get mentioned a fair bit tbh)
There are some great one-liners and anecdotes in this book, my personal favourite was the snippet about The Sound Of Music! Amazing tips on nearly every continent around the globe, and how to save money to get there.
I’m looking forward to book 2, and need to check out the memoir - now what was that called again? (Does get mentioned a fair bit tbh)
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews