Pattaya Undercover: Includes Bangkok, Saigon and Kl

by Ewe Paik Leong

Promising sun, sea, sand and more, Pattaya beach resort in Thailand lures eight million foreign tourists annually. However, behind the glitter lurks broken dreams, ethereal ecstasy and, often, tragedy. And behind every bargirl's smile and every foreigner's beer glass lurks a happy, touching, heart-wrenching. The author interviews bargirls, mamasans and customers, who reveal true stories of sex scams, doomed relationships and tragic suicides. The author's investigation takes him to the capital, Bangkok, as well as to an Isaan village in northeastern Thailand, and further afield to Saigon in Vietnam and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. He returns to Pattaya with a You enter the manipulative world of the Pattaya bargirls at your own risk!

208 pages, Paperback

Published December 31, 2019

Reviews

[Deckard Ra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind every pretty face, a story sad enough to fill a river. Truly eye-opening.

[Andrew Tran Nam Hung · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories presented in the book are quite interesting and intriguing. However, there are too many grammar and word choice mistakes, and the way the author tells the stories is not engaging. It's more like a collection of separate life stories, with no main theme to tie them together so they are quite disjointed. It's an interesting read, but a forgettable one, and I don't think I will re-read it.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reveals the dark side of Pattaya. Suicides and scams lurk in this beachfront city. The interview with the ping-pong show dancer was an eye-opener. A must-read for the adventurous bachelor seeking to paint the town red in Pattaya.

[rushrosemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Immediately snatched this when I saw it laying on Big Bad Wolf book fair. Finished it in two seating & nothing really special, the same revelation of the theme with other rest in the series. An alright read.

[Paula Pecorella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating. I bought this book in the airport and read it cover to cover in one flight. Incredibly fascinating stories — some funny, some tragic — and the authors writing style really sucks you in. Highly recommend this book especially if traveling in Southeast Asia

[Kuyelie lakshmanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it very hard to brain certain incident from the book. 🥺 Dark and poignant mystery behind of ever happening Pattaya.

[Aniket Bhoir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit unsatisfying but some stories are really intresting. Feels bit dragged out

[Mona · Rating 3 out of 5]

​Rating: ⭐⭐️⭐ (3/5 Stars)

Exceeds Expectations

​This is a quick, sobering dive into the underbelly of Pattaya. The book is essentially a collection of true, often heartbreaking, stories from bargirls and others about the reality behind the "sun, sea, and sand" facade just think scams, tragedy, and broken dreams.

​For me it was a "Good, not Great" three-star territory, I really enjoyed the narrative style and found it easy to follow.

It does a good job of giving a voice to the overlooked and is fascinating and eye-opening for anyone curious about the scene.

Loved: the engaging writing and numerous stories with varied backgrounds. From the rich to middle class to the poorest of families. Including both sides of transactions... the bargirls and the customer.

Hated: nothing to hate really. Its non fiction and unfiltered. Maybe the authors own reactions to certain goings ons. You know what the journey is about... and why act so surprised about what you hear?

​Verdict: Pick it up if you want the unvarnished truth presented in a compelling way. It's a quick and informative read.