Meet John Harris, author of 'The Trial of Maximo Bonga', probably one of the craziest true stories I've read about expat life in Southeast Asia. I reached out to discover more
I'm surprised 'Saigon Beer' wasn't mentioned in the reference to Ho Chi Minh ! It's curious how some of us go in search of an unconventional lifestyle though I appreciate it's not everyone's cup of cha, I agree with him though on most of those points.
I think it can be harder to make the jump later on in life - it helps if you take the plunge in your 20s. Everything that comes after seems less daunting (at 24 I moved to Shanghai on my own).
Absolutely, perhaps as youngsters we are more prepared to take risks, or maybe at that age we don't view them as such. I was also quite young (26) when I took my first plunge going off to Nigeria.
I've only been to the Philippines a handful of times, would really like to go back and get a local's take. I imagine the cuisine must be hugely varied throughout the archipelago?
Yes, quite. You can get a bit of an idea of the diversity by eating in Manila, but after that it’s best to go out of town and visit different provinces.
I would have passed over this one but after your interview am looking forward to reading it ! Theres always loads of Thailand fiction at airport book stores but none set in the Philippines.
So true! There's innumerable Bangkok set private detective stories, or expat guys behaving badly autobiographies. The Philippines doesn't seem to get much of a look in.
I'm surprised 'Saigon Beer' wasn't mentioned in the reference to Ho Chi Minh ! It's curious how some of us go in search of an unconventional lifestyle though I appreciate it's not everyone's cup of cha, I agree with him though on most of those points.
I think it can be harder to make the jump later on in life - it helps if you take the plunge in your 20s. Everything that comes after seems less daunting (at 24 I moved to Shanghai on my own).
Absolutely, perhaps as youngsters we are more prepared to take risks, or maybe at that age we don't view them as such. I was also quite young (26) when I took my first plunge going off to Nigeria.
Exactly that. When we’re young we don’t even think about the risks. Just the adventure.
Oh no! 66.5 years old, about to retire & full of angst.
Time for an adventure!
If he thinks Filipino food is awful and the culture non-existent, he’s not doing it right.
I've only been to the Philippines a handful of times, would really like to go back and get a local's take. I imagine the cuisine must be hugely varied throughout the archipelago?
Yes, quite. You can get a bit of an idea of the diversity by eating in Manila, but after that it’s best to go out of town and visit different provinces.
I would have passed over this one but after your interview am looking forward to reading it ! Theres always loads of Thailand fiction at airport book stores but none set in the Philippines.
So true! There's innumerable Bangkok set private detective stories, or expat guys behaving badly autobiographies. The Philippines doesn't seem to get much of a look in.