Book about Thai prisons

[jeanette1976]

Does anyone know of a true book about a british smuggler being caught with drugs and sent to Bang Kwang? I vaguely remember it being mentioned in FHM mag in the 90's and really wanted to read it...

And if there are any other books about the same kind of thing, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

[Peter Pedant]

Midnight Express - is about a turkish jail and droogs. Made into a good film with Brad someoneor theother
The book is 1973 and the film which is worth a look is 1978 or thereabouts

ALternative Childhood by Timothy Davey 1973
Tim's gormless mother sets out on an overland trip to India without the wherewithal to get back (moolah or enough money, that is)
SO Tim buys drugs in Istanbul to sell and gets caught not surprisingly and spends the next five years in kiddie gaol.
Tim 'escapes' and is sprung by the even more gormless (if that is possible) German boyfriend but is caught on the Syrian border by a Turkish guard who childishly thinks he will get thereby, promotion. He doesnt.
Tim goes back to gaol.

a DEFINITE must read.

[Peter Pedant]

Oh, there is a biog of Curtis Warren, called I think, CURTIS WARREN

he was BIG in drugs in Liverpool and Amsterdam.

He was the one after conviction that killed another Turkish drug baron in Dutch slammer (I s'pose that should be schlammer) and successfully pleaded, self defence.

It was this case that upset the international phone tapping laws as the Dutch supplied the tapes on condiition that they would beused for nothing else and fhen found they were used in Warren's murder/drugs trial

[jeanette1976]

Cheers, I know that Midnight Express is a film which is supposed to be good, but probably not as good as the book.

Two other books I've just been told about from the chaps at work are:

The Damage Done - Warren fellows about 12 yrs in The Bangkok Hilton (Bangkwang)

But this below is supposed to be better....

Marching Powder - Rusty Young - about a chap who got sent down in San Pedro, the notorious Bolivian Prison.

All systems are as corrupt as the other, so I think I'll get all three.

Thanks!!!!! X

[warpig3]

Jeanette, hope this is nothing to do with your plans for travelling in S E Asia!!!!!!

[warpig3]

Midnight Express, see here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Hayes_%28sm uggler%29

[jeanette1976]

Hahahahah!

Funny you should say that, Warpig, I was looking at a backpacking site and it brought up pro's and cons, etc and drugs was one of them.... and i remembered about the books which I reckon would make for a right riveting read....

It's actually scared me a bit as I'll be travelling on my own if I go.. and I'm sure that a single woman on her own would be a totally vulnerable and easy target.... which really does frighten me a lot......

[warpig3]

Jeanette, I have travelled many times on my own, not in Asia though, just north and south America. I stayed in hostels and met loads of people, hooked up with some and travelled on with them for a bit. So don't worry about travelling on you own, you just have to be sensible, if a situation feels wrong, leave, go with your intituition. Don't go out and get p*ssed in strange company and don't go with anyone you are not sure off, I don't mean in a bf/gf way just anyone offering to take you somewhere or whatever.


As for the drugs, they are great, oops, please ignore that remark!!!

Seriously you will have a great time and you never know by the time next April comes around you may have found some like minded person to go with you. I would love to go but don't think mrwarpig would be too keen unfortunately!

[jeanette1976]

Thanks for the advice, I'm pretty suprised that there weren't any replies to my other message, though.....

And that's exactly what I'm afraid of... is getting too pi**ed with strangers!!!

[warpig3]

Jeanette, just a thought, look out for posts on B & S from admarlow, he is an Aber and he is Vietnam at the moment having been to Thialand etc. He posts every once in a while to say hi. Next time he posts you could ask for his e-mail address, I am sure he would be happy to answer all your questions.

[Hellion]

jeanette my sister went to Thailand on her own I bought her loads of tiny padlocks and she 'locked' her badg with them so she was certain that no-one had slipped anything into her bag. Word of warning though she had a bar of chocolate in her backpack and the sniffer dog at the airport got very excited about her bag which frightened my sister to death so don't take chocolate with you!!