Reviewed by Leonard Smuts for Readers' Favorite

Guidebooks do not always convey the full picture of a country. In 2000, Robert Wilson set out to live and teach English in Thailand, discovering its rich diversity of cultures, traditions, languages, and foods. He shares his impressions in Monks, Monkeys, and Misty Rice Fields: Journeys and Discoveries in Thailand and Southeast Asia. Rice is part of the culture and is grown everywhere, constituting the main ingredient in any dish, and is even eaten with fruit salad. Noodles are also popular. Buddhist temples and teachings are a notable feature, but the Hindu faith is also influential, and shrines abound. The author points out that while religious beliefs are respected, they are not always strictly observed. Thai culture is status-oriented, and social interaction is based on age, earnings, and profession. Disagreement means disrespect, and confrontation is avoided. Thai people acknowledge the spirit world, with its related myths and superstitions. Saving face, good luck, and charitable deeds are also embedded in Thai culture. They are a soft-spoken people with a sense of community. There are festivals, firecrackers, and candles. The author traveled by train, bus, taxi, bicycle, and on foot, making a habit of getting lost. He also visited nearby Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Brunei, and Cambodia, and was married in 2002 in a traditional wedding.

Monks, Monkeys, and Misty Rice Fields is not a conventional travelogue because Robert Wilson lived and worked in Thailand for three years and could observe and evaluate local customs firsthand. It also serves as a memoir. The narrative is a reflection on Thailand that goes beyond describing tourist attractions. It includes captivating accounts of daily life in rural areas where the pace of life is somewhat different, with beautiful scenery and friendly people. The account is interspersed with local history, while ceremonies and rituals feature prominently. The author contrasts the old with the new, questioning which provides a better quality of life. The writing style is engaging and frank. He describes his colleagues, some local and some from abroad. The colorful photographs add depth to the overall impression, while the images of his wedding are particularly charming. The author provides a balanced look at Thai culture through the eyes of a Westerner with hands-on experience, removed from the seedier side, but not ignoring it. This fascinating book is highly recommended.