Beer, Tears & Broken Veneers

Author(s): Lewis Friend

Location(s): Cambodia

Genre(s): Autobiography/Memoirs

Era(s): Modern Time

Intrigue and adventure collide with hilarity and pandemonium in this insane true story about living and working in the Kingdom of Wonder as a foreigner.

Cambodia is a vibrant and exciting country; teeming with culture and an alluring social scene which makes it a popular destination for many expats. Unfortunately, what people fail to mention, are the dangers of being an alcoholic degenerate in this country—when disaster strikes, it can happen quickly and violently. Scottish author and full-time party animal, Lewis Friend, discovered this fact the hard way.

In 2012, Lewis relocated to Phnom Penh, and his eight-year residency was filled with misfortune and bedlam—fighting with fellow expats, being threatened with an axe, getting shaken down by a corrupt police officer, crashing his motorbike, being violently assaulted by locals, getting robbed countless times, having backyard surgery on an exposed bone, and, of course, breaking his prized porcelain veneers on several occasions.

Miraculously, he was able to source full-time employment as a film producer and attempted to sustain a normal existence. But inevitably, Lewis allowed his chaotic social life to interfere with his employment, which resulted in a slew of ridiculous mistakes while trying to coordinate numerous expensive productions. And then, Lewis embarked on his most diabolical venture yet—buying a hostel and bar in Phnom Penh. For one long year, Lewis dealt with a conveyor belt of carnage: drunk customers, a soiled mattress, disgruntled locals, a multitude of frugal backpackers, staffing issues, his crazy ex-girlfriend, and fighting with his beleaguered business partner. Lewis tackled these problems in the only sensible way he knew how: he increased his alcohol intake, which in turn led to even more problems and chaos.

Beers, Tears & Broken Veneers is Lewis Friends’ incredible journey into the cesspit of his own soul; a collection of hysterical, crazy, and entertaining true stories that culminate in hope and redemption.

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