Been There, Done WHAT!
Australian-born John Smith never accepted the status quo. He left home at 21 with £65 ($200) and a ticket to Hong Kong with no job prospects. From there he worked his way around the world, primarily in advertising, achieving award-winning financial success in the USA, sharing his life with beautiful women and stray dogs. Returning home at 36, he became a papaya farmer, dabbled in real estate and retired at 50 to live in Noosa, Queensland.
In 2009, at 69, he pursues an internet romance with a doctor in China, marries there and returns to Australia but separates 3 years later. Then he goes to Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, finds a new companion, and brings her home to another unfortunate relationship.
The book is based on disarmingly candid, entertaining emails and anecdotes, many with comic overtones, written to friends in 13 countries. John’s adventures and misadventures include:
- Growing up in Australia and comic military training, then years later: camping in the outback, extreme sailing offshore and other dangerous boating experiences, a family tragedy, surreptitiously burying his mother’s ashes, serious health issues in 2014 faced with fortitude and humor, kayaking with crocodiles.
- While working his way around the world, sailing an out-of-control Sampan in Hong Kong Harbor into a US Aircraft Carrier; arriving in South Africa, giving his travel-stained clothes to a washerwoman who never returned, driving a tour bus in Europe, exploring Majorca with his mother on a motor scooter, writing a book in Mexico, nearly capsizing sailing over the back of a whale in the Pacific Ocean.
- As a Senior Citizen seeking romance in the Far East encountering exotic lifestyles, ranging from rural to sleazy and potentially life-threatening experiences.
- Sharing an unusual close romantic but platonic 17-year friendship with Michi, a very special married friend.
He chronicles insightful, poignant and amusing observations about daily life in interesting and dangerous places; different cultures, customs, food, lifestyles; quirky people; medical issues; dogs; sailing, hiking, camping, ballroom dancing, and friendship. John’s compelling accounts, often written under primitive conditions, include many cliff-hangers leaving concerned friends anxious for the next update.
