Maya - Illusion

The Story of Lek, A Bar Girl in Pattaya

By: Owen Jones

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Paperback | 14 February 2025

At a Glance

Paperback
328 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
22.86 x 15.24 x 1.75

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RRP $31.89

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The Behind The Smile Series is the story of Lek, a bar girl in Pattaya, Thailand. Lek was born the eldest child of four in a typical rice farming family in the northern rice belt of Thailand. A catastrophe occurred out of the blue one day - her father died young with huge debts that the family knew nothing about. Lek was just twenty years of age, and the only one who could prevent the foreclosure of the family farm, and allow her younger sister and two brothers to continue their education. However, the only way she knew how was to go to work in her cousin's bar in Pattaya.

Can a Pattaya bar girl ever go back to being a regular girlfriend or wife?

'Behind The Smile' is a look into one part of Thailand, a country known around the world as 'The Land of Smiles'.

Maya - Illusion: Maya - Illusion refers to the Buddhist concept that life on Earth is not real. More than 95% of Thais are Buddhist, and so have a totally different outlook to most Christian Westerners. Lek and her best friend Ayr go into business together, when she retires from Pattaya, and brings a surprise Australian fianc© with her. A natural disaster occurs in the village but the two friends come up with an innovative form of help. Ayr proves to be quite a business woman, and teaches Lek, a willing student, how to make money and fit into the community, while Craig plods along with his books and websites.

Industry Reviews

"This is the third book, in the Behind The Smile series. Again, as in the first two books, Owen Jones writes in a manner which keeps you interested in Craig and Lek's lives and how they are now managing to keep their relationship together". Phil Crozier

"Really enjoyed the lek trilogy. Having lived in Thailand and having had (bar girls) amongst my friends, I can honestly say that the storyline reads very true for thousands of them". Kindle Customer

"Just loving the trilogy - It Is a really easy read and a reflection of what I have and what may come I love the villages of Thailand..." Mark Reeves

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