Despite Thailand's popularity as a tourist destination, there are still villages in the Northeast where things have changed little for hundreds of years. Ten years ago, the author made an unexpected sojourn to this corner of the country, and his misadventures are recorded in this book. He recounts his experiences with farmers, fishermen, spirit doctors, and Thai boxers and comes to terms with the unaffected community and way of life in a rural Isaan village. By turns funny, touching and occasionally tragic, this book takes the reader into the heart of Northeast Thailand, and provides insight into a traditional way of life and a culture that is fast disappearing.