Curious Encounters Of The Human Kind - Southeast Asia: True Asian Tales Of Folly, Greed, Ambition And Dreams [Paperback]

Whats the attraction of coffee thats been digested by a civet? Can 200-million-year-old fossilized freshwater shark dung bring you good luck? Why do boys like to make things go bang  hey, lemme try the AK-47!? Why is the belching and slovenly widow of Laoss first president so possessive about the animal she considers her white elephant? How did Vietnams last elephant hunter, at the age of 90, get a lucrative sponsorship deal for a tonic that makes men more powerful? Did a love potion help a Filipino politician become governor? And what role did an absurdly rich, secretive American businessman (who enjoyed deflowering virgins) have in creating Vietnams golf boom?

This is Southeast Asia as youve probably never imagined, full of memorable people, startling happenings, and unexpected moments of humanity and introspection, giddiness and solemnity, avarice and ambition.