The CIA Tried To Recruit Me For A Job In Thailand (Joe Cumming's Life Story)

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I interview Joe Cummings, an American who first came to Thailand in 1977. Joe is known as the travel guru of Thailand and South East Asia after writing Thailand's first Lonely Planet guidebook as well as many other books on SE Asia. In this interview Joe is going to tell us about a near death experience he had in a fisherman's boat off the coast of Java, his relationship with Mick Jagger from The Rolling Stones, how Joe wrote Thailand's first Lonely Planet guidebook as well as how the CIA tried to recruit him when he was studying Thai in America.
#thairishtimes #interview #lifeinthailand
timestamps
00:00 - Why I Came To Thailand
08:42 - Writing Thailand's First Lonely Planet Guidebook
13:50 - Near Death Experience
21:13 - What Inspired You To become a writer?
23:34 - Relationship with Mick Jagger
30:12 - Working with Anthony Bourdain
31:40 - CIA Recruitment
40:33 - The CIA In Bangkok
42:42 - My Life In Thailand
Amazon link for Joe's books: www.amazon.com/Joe-Cummings/e...
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Опубликовано:

5 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 388

@jjwr99 Год назад

As a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand in the late 70s, I knew of Joe as a legend. Never met him, but many of my fellow volunteers calimed his acquaintance and friendship. And we all had his LP guide to Thialand in our hip pockets as we spent our time off exploring the kingdom. Later, when our commitment was done and we were free to wonder SE Asia, me and the missus used LP and Joe's contributions to the series to guide us as we plied the "Hippie Trail" from Katmandu to Bali. Glad to see he's still active on the expact scene, and upon our relocation to Thailand this November, we will become Midnight Ramblers groupies. Great interview, great stories and quite a life! Thanks Pete. 😊 You da man.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Very cool story Joe. Sounds like you had great adventures

@Photojouralist123 Год назад

My brother in law was PCV and sister in Malaysia in early and mid 70's.

@2gethersomewhere Год назад

I've been a fan of Joe Cummings since I first started coming to Thailand in the 1980s. I relied heavily on his Lonely Planet writings every time I visited Thailand. Loved his stories about hanging with Mick Jagger and Anthony Bourdain, and about getting recruited by the CIA! One of your best interviews!

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Fantastic, i’m glad you liked it👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

@senianns9522 Год назад

I used the Joe's Lonely planet in the early 80's when I first started living here. It was great as I was in Phuket and travelling the south of the country! Sadly It got lost over the latter years! Truly a real treasure before the age internet or even mobile phones! Kudos to Joe.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Sadly I was the generation who used the internet as my main resource when traveling. That being sad I did have a LP book on arriving in Thailand but I left it in a taxi in my first week in Bangkok 😞😞

@isarasakpatumanon1489 Год назад

ดีมากบทสัมภาษณ์ชีวิตชายท่านนี้ ขอบคุณที่ทำคลิปนี้มาให้ชมครับ จากเกาะสมุย

@ThairishTimes Год назад

You are very welcome!!!

@tonybaloney6656 Год назад

Great work Pete , you hardly had to say a word . Joe is an affable fellow , a real quiet achiever and a natural story teller. I enjoyed that vlog.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks Tony

@richardjohnwhite4971 Год назад

An excellent interview with a most interesting subject (to say the very least). It is nice to watch an interviewer just ask questions rather than claim to be an expert on Thailand. And, of course, Joe Cummins is indeed an expert, but not a person who boasts or lies.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Absolutely! Cheers

@jdavies212msu Год назад

I have to be honest. I thought your video title was clickbait, and this guy was going to be one of those bogus stories from the barstool: “Oh yeah, I was in Special Forces….blah, blah, blah.” Almost didn’t watch it, but the guy’s name kept ringing a bell-so I did. Partway thru, I had to stop the video, walk into my study, and run my fingers over a number of Joe’s books I’ve used for years, just to verify your interview subject was one and the same. Amazing interview, with a guy who’s my contemporary and has been my travel/culture mentor via his books. Pete, just when I think you can’t possibly top your own past fascinating interview subjects/personalities, you go and knock another one out of the ballpark! So wonderful to get the background story(s) behind a well-known, well-read author.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks mate, I knew the title would trigger a few people. Thanks for clicking and giving it a chance

@kevinreily2529 Год назад

I’m so glad that you finally hooked up with Joe. He told me he would do it. Awesome interview.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks to you for putting us in contact Kevin

@strangetv4635 Год назад

Yes, great score Pete - Joe is a real legend, and his Lonely Planet book is the reason many of us came to the Kingdom.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Cheers James, the start if a great adventure no doubt

@PauloGaetathe_original Год назад

The first LP I read, was indeed the Thailand one by Joe Cummings in the mid 90's and it changed my perspective on Thailand and Southeast Asia, I became aware of many possibilities I had no idea about. This was a great interview.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Fantastic, thanks for watching

@stephenmonash821 Год назад

Great interview - it had it all. What a rich and charmed life he has led. I used his guides back in the day - so knew the name. Lonely planet books were the bible especially before the days of the internet. As many backpackers carried them as they do mobile phones and IPADS today. He certainly is a wealth of knowledge - and good on him for keeping on rocking.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Glad you enjoyed it Stephen

@Bangkokguitar Год назад

Wow Pete! It appears you keep upping your game. Joe it's such an amazing person, with such amazing stories. I was glued to my seat. Thank you for this. What a life this individual has had! Simply amazing.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks Jack I was the same during the interview

@paulseoighemcgee5772 Год назад

I'll second that .

@LeoLang Год назад

Really enjoyed it again. You do very good Paddy in selecting your Interviewpartners. Live is marvellous and people are living it. You let us be a part to know about theirs. Thank you. 🙏😎🇨🇷

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks mate. Life is marvelous!!

@mussen1876 Год назад

Great interview Pete. Joe Cummings was a name that I used to see regularly when I first travelled to Thailand in the 90s as my guidebook was one of his. I used to marvel at the knowledge he has of SEA. Fantastic to be able to see an interview with him. Thanks Joe, and thanks Pete.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Cheers Ben

@AbroadInThailand Год назад

Fascinating story about Mick Jagger. Great interview! Cheers from Koh Samui. 🏝️

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Glad you liked it👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

@senianns9522 Год назад

At the time of the concert I had tickets along with several pals living here! We had booked a mini bus from Rayong to BKK and return. I really wanted to see that gig! The cancellation of the concert was supposed to be because of the merchandizing? The Stones were reputedly 'ripped off' over the sales at the proposed concert, some others had 'moved in' --- so it was called off! I heard about the aircraft issues in Mumbai --I really never got to the truth! The good news is I got my ticket money back! Shame the concert never happened!

@keepitrollin3977 Год назад

Hey Pete.great job again.ask a question & let the person talk.amazing man.would of love to walk in his shoes wow.keep it rollin

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks, we’ll keep it rollin’

@Ned88Man Год назад

Joe is a legend. He deserves Thai citizenship, infact, I am surprised he hasn’t had it awhile already

@ThairishTimes Год назад

He does deserve it for sure

@johndandrea5067 Год назад

By far one of your best !!! Great interview !!!

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks John

@andydawson5341 Год назад

You'll do well if you top this interview Pete. Joe is seriously up there!!

@ThairishTimes Год назад

I know Andy. I’ve a few more in the pipeline

@britzman9905 Год назад

Wowzer, that interview had me on the edge of my swat, you find some very interesting guests!

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Cool! Thanks for watching. I’ve more interesting people coming up

@tomoconnell2858 Год назад

Another great interview Pete. Big fan of Joe Cummings. Thanks.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Glad you liked it Tom

@groberogier Год назад

Wonderful when people let life lead the way...and looking back things only get sweeter. They do...so live life.

@packageism Год назад

Your best interview thus far. Amazing guy

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks ☺️☺️☺️

@trevorosborn7411 Год назад

Pete what a sensational interview. Difficult to back that one up. Thank you for finding such interesting people and topics. I have that tattoo book in Bangkok so will be giving it another read when I am next back. Cheers

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Cheers Trevor

@jasonbeedon9867 Год назад

The most interesting man in the world.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

@jasonbeedon9867 Год назад

@@ThairishTimes love your channel!

@joefarang Год назад

Wow, what a scoop getting Joe Cummings in for a chat! Fascinating, thanks for posting mate.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks ☺️☺️☺️

@zacharyferreira2469 3 месяца назад

Pete - this is my favorite Thairish Times interview so far, even though I am only 1 minute in. Joe Cummings’ LP guide was my first inspiration to visit Thailand as a teenager in the late 1980s. Fantastic storyteller.

@cryptoslacker-464 11 месяцев назад

Great interview, I think his edition was an essential part of my first trip to Thailand back in 2013. Not so much reliance on the internet back then. Ps would love to catch one of his gigs when I'm back in Thailand next time ❤

@mickm.2724 Год назад

Fascinating interview, loved it. Long live coffee 😆

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Absolutely!!

@nwils6944 Год назад

Best interview so far.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks!!☺️☺️☺️

@onalonan Год назад

Wow Joe, your Thai is very very good, very Thai I have to say. Bangkok accent. สุดยอดเลยครับ!!!😊

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Yes Joe’s Thai sounds amazing

@onalonan Год назад

@@ThairishTimes yes, his sounds really like Bangkok and middle part of Thailand accent. Thai language have very high and very low tone up to the accent of that part of Thailand but Joe know's how to control where you have to high and where you have to low and controlled those high and low to just 10%(not much high not much low) and that's Bangkok accent. If you speak this accent all people in Thailand would easily understand you even hill tribe people.

@sugarcane9425 Год назад

Great stuff again I started to follow your Chanel. Joe’ Thai accent is so clear like Thai .

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks ☺️☺️

@karlhammerl1420 Год назад

Really enjoyed the interview. Joe is a brainiac! I think we all could listen to him for hours as he has so many interesting stories!!. Good work Pete!

@ThairishTimes Год назад

I’m tempted to do a part 2 & 3

@katherinewagoner741 Год назад

WOW!!! LOVED this interview. Most fascinating and intriguing!!! I am here in Bangkok for 2 months and would love to hear him and his band. Thank u for ur total presence with ur guests. U are a superb interviewer. Really talented and respectful and ask great questions. Great channel. Thank u.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Hey Katherine check out the band’s Facebook page called Midnight Ramblers. You can find out the schedule for their gigs

@katherinewagoner741 Год назад

Yes, I was on that right after I watched yall. And, to my surprise, Joe replied kindly to me. I told him about my enjoyment of yalls interview. Fascinating man. If u have not already, u might want to watch his presentations regarding the sacred tattoos. I sure like ur interviews with fascinating people. Thank you.

@Roland_Rohrle Год назад

Great story, cool guy

@user-tt5xj5ib1e Год назад

He has so many great stories, it would be great to have him on again. Thank you again for another great interview :) 😃😍😃

@petermkelly Год назад

Another fascinating interview, loved every minute of it. What a life!

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Cheers Peter, I loved making this one. Especially the near death experience story

@GerardoTrilobites Год назад

Fantastic interview, ...maybe you could do a "part 2" video.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

I would certainly do a part 2 down the line

@sunchildtine Год назад

awww, the good old Lonely Planet, no wonder it struck a chord when you say the name Joe Cummings. back in the day, travel was pretty much influenced by this publication and the TV series, Globe Trekker. hosts like Ian Wright, Megan McCormick, Justine Shapiro and the most famous of all, Bradley Cooper before he made it big in Hollywood. a gentle reminder of "Everyone has to start somewhere!" cheers Pete! you are back to the normal outdoor intro.👍

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Cool I had no idea that’s where Bradley Cooper started. Glad you liked it

@jamesbarclay8430 Год назад

One of your best interviews.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks James

@poorlybuffalo555 Год назад

Another fascinating guest Pete.

@zentravel1515 Год назад

I seldom comment on any of these Thailand oriented YT channels but this was an absolutely epic interview 🙌

@krk111761 Год назад

Excellent interview with a very interesting and educated man. I'm now interested in reading some of his books. Thank you.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Glad you liked it Kurt

@andrewmiles8852 Год назад

One of the best interviews you have done. A very interesting man.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks ☺️☺️☺️

@scottDchicago Год назад

Gold!

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Glad you like it Scott

@kb3809 Год назад

Great interview 🤙

@marinelines Год назад

I think this is my favourite interview on your channel since I've started watching couple weeks ago. Well done! 45 minutes seems like 5.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Fantastic, this is up there as my of my favorites too

@danielanderson888 Год назад

Wow - unbelievable story. Thanks for this Pete, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

You’re very welcome Daniel

@llttf Год назад

Another good one Pete. You have a way of relaxing your guests and they seem to enjoy telling their stories.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Cheers mate🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

@williammit1332 Год назад

Pete... another out of the park interview. (American Baseball home run)

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks William👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 i’ll take home runs all day

@thaitalkwithdan Год назад

Great Character to have on your channel, great work with this one Pete 👍

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Cheers Dan 🙏🙏

@nnnnnie Год назад

Just happened to stumble upon this because of a link from "Thai58" at Blogspot. Joe and I were in the same Peace Corps Group 58 in Thailand, March 1977. We all trained together for a couple months or so until we went to our assignments. Some of us would occasionally get together thereafter for a little R&R. I've always liked Joe, very pleasant fellow. He seems a little more intense these days... hmmm.

@carverbob54 Год назад

Better and Better Pete!

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks ☺️☺️☺️

@robertgraham1088 Год назад

Best interview yet. Thanks you.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks Robert

@TWCH Год назад

Wendy was one of my yoga teachers back in the states. At a small party at my home, Wendy got a little drunk and said something that prompted me to ask, tongue-in-cheek, are you a spy with the CIA? A little shocked and defensive she replied: "I was just a consultant". Wendy was a writer for Lonely Planet and got a graduate degree from UC Berkley.... in Russian language studies.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Hmmm I think we need to do some investigative reporting on UC Berkley and its CIA connection

@prasitsupkosarak7084 Год назад

This is another amazing stories in your interviews.This guy gained a wide ranges of experiences special in many area of Thailand. One of the most Thai people beloved and trusted monk in small town Surat Thani(Suan mok), Cia, Mick Jacker of Rolling Stones which I never heard of coming to Thailand for concert few amazing from this gentleman and holded degree from UC Berkley.

@arg888 Год назад

This is by far one of the best interviews I've seen on your channel.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks Arthur

@gregoryian123 Год назад

I'll admit he's talking about my experiences in the late 1980s. The trink page.

@donjordan8174 Год назад

Great interview… Thanks

@Beyonder1881 Год назад

very interesting interview with a Thailand legend, and who knows...maybe Joe did some gigs for his Berkely friend John after all ;)

@mixalis6168 Год назад

Only so called celeb i wanted to meet, was Anthony Bourdain RIP !! Been to one of his gigs, awesome !

@williamhartz8707 Год назад

Great interview. Interesting how we “Boomers” that live overseas usually have interesting stories/ experiences. Joe ( among others you have interviewed) erases the stereotype of Western farangs being on the shady side. One can tell Joe is a well spoken & educated fellow.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Yes it is interesting. Something tells me in 30 years the stories won’t be so interesting. The generation before the internet have edgy and thrilling adventure stories

@TheOriginalNiceGuy Год назад

Yes we did

@richardevans3801 Год назад

Great interview what an amazing life Joe has had. I was glued to the screen.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Glad you liked it Richard

@nikkimclay5474 Год назад

What an interesting guy

@ThairishTimes Год назад

For sure Nikki

@scrunchy72 Год назад

What a legend, by far the most interesting and genuine person on this channel yet, out of all the amazing interesting things jo said it was writing the 1st ever thai lonely planet that blew me away, I couldn’t of travelled back in the 90s without that book and I’m sure many people would agree who travelled pre internet 🙏 what a lovely bloke so we’ll done and great interview 👋

@michelecrouse5284 Год назад

quality content Pete keep it up. thank you

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks very much Michele

@BangTaoBeach Год назад

The first LP book I had was Joe's on Thailand. I was living in Tokyo at the time and I was like Joe, if it was Thai I loved it. I ended up marrying a Thai and I have three adult Luk khrueng daughters, they live in Hawaii now, so does their mom. Me? Divorced and rambling. I left Phuket about a year ago to live in Mexico and in July I am going to Cambodia for a year. I know I will eventually live in Thailand again. It's in my DNA.

@jk-hn6go Год назад

Joe is an amazing human being, a legend. What a life! Thanks for including some of his old pics. It let me see something new about him.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Glad you liked it 🙏👍🏼

@HiChewMango Год назад

Your channel is a real gem! Awesome interview Pete.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks so much

@gertdrok Год назад

👍 Interesting Interview Pete, with a nice guy. I was read already one of his books. 🙏

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Glad you liked the interview and Joe’s stories Gert

@neildutton8077 Год назад

Next level stuff Pete, brilliant. I've run into loads of "CIA" undercover operatives in expat Pattaya bars......LOL.

@Ned88Man Год назад

I always wonder what it is about Thailand that made it a hub for CIA activity, maybe because it is the closest American ally in the region?

@kittenastrophy5951 Год назад

@@Ned88Man We try to keep some safe distant nowaday unlike in the past. Don't be misled, Thai doesn't lean toward China either.

@lewilu2506 Год назад

I ran into one nearly recuited "cia" guy in a gym in a patong phuket last week. aparently he declined it wasnt in line for his life path. Lol

@pepelemoko01 Год назад

@@Ned88Man The Americans spent millions in Thailand during the Vietnam war , there is still JUSMAG in Bangkok,I just looked it up there is a restaurant, that Americans can use.

@Ned88Man Год назад

@@pepelemoko01 apparently the black site that they used to waterboard some of those Al Qaeda guys was in Udon Thani. However, since the end of the Vietnam war and the whole undertaking to rid the region of communism, I can’t see exactly what the purpose of having a large presence in the area would be. Places like Afghanistan, Iran, Korea, even China I could see.

@jonnduesterhaus5342 Год назад

Fantastic interview with incredibly interesting guest. I met you and your wife on Bangla Rd in Patong beach, Phuket in April '22. I was glued to this video to hear his stories. I've been a subscriber for a long time and told you in April I love your interviews and interesting guests, keep up the great work Pete!

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Hey John we remember meeting you. I hope you’re doing well. Take it easy

@fulltimeforeigner5640 Год назад

Sorry Pete I watch all your videos but never comment. And sometimes I forget to ‘like’ these videos I enjoy so much. This one is no different. Absolutely fascinating interview. You’re great at getting guests with not only exciting stories but also incredibly unique and raw ones. Well done. I’m just making a point to let you know that you do great work and I love your channel. I know you put a lot of energy into it so I’m wishing you all the best. Frank in Bangkok

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thank you very much Frank. I really appreciate it

@LEObondTraveller Год назад

The great thing about RU-vid is you get to hear amazing stories from people who might not be famous enough to be on the likes of Parkinson but they have great stories anyhow. I have watched the Anthony Bourdain Chiang Mai episode numerous times as I find it portrays the whackiness of Thailand so well. I have always found the Karaoke guy section quite humourous as the microphone falls non chalantly to the floor. Small world as here he is in your vid! What movie is it a send up of? Keep digging up the gems TT.

@slimturnpike Год назад

It's homage to a scene where actor James Caan is singing at a karaoke bar in Cambodia in the film CITY OF GHOSTS.

@JBW-Phuket Год назад

Wow!

@matthewturner6342 Год назад

Loving these interviews, and the production was super slick. I don't even have a connection to Thailand but I'm hooked into the the channel now!

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks Matthew. Super cool that you like these interviews even with no Thailand connection

@kensmith8415 Год назад

Really great interview.

@simo787c Год назад

Another great interview, Pete ! Still have my old Thailand Travel Survival Kit by Cummings.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

It’s a relic at this stage. I loved Joe’s story

@soldiermick Год назад

Really interesting. One of the best so far. Just about to get the train to London to fly to Bangkok. Off as soon as I’ve watched this to the end. I’ll be there on Sunday evening.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

You’ve probably arrived by now Mick

@soldiermick Год назад

@@ThairishTimes yes here now. Had a nice evening on soi 11 and 13. Chill day today.

@ThailandThomas Год назад

Life with out coffee would be almost unbearable Pete. Can not imagine being lost at sea. Joe is an interesting guy. Great video Pete.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks Thomas

@dhart001 Год назад

Wow...another excellent interview! You're on a roll!!!

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Cheers Dave

@zacharyferreira2469 3 месяца назад

Joe Cummings is a legend!!!

@jomontanee Год назад

So many astonishing stories to tell!! 👍👍 Ps. I am more than willing to hear you talk about Thai coffees anytime, Pete my man! 😆🥰

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Cheers Jo, I love my coffee!!!

@Mozzermarr10 Год назад

Fascinating stuff Pete. Another top notch interview. Really enjoyed this.

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Thanks mate 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

@stuartmearns2627 Год назад

What a great interview with a very intelligent individual. Joe has obviously had some amazing life experiences and met some very interesting people along the way. What would you give to be a fly on the wall during a night out with Mick Jagger? Fascinating stuff this. Well done Pete. Encore 👏👍

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Absolutely and a night out with Mick Jagger in Bangkok of all places!!

@stuartmearns2627 Год назад

@@ThairishTimes That would be awesome

@The_Drifter_13 2 месяца назад

Wow, definitely a different level of guest. Fascinating!

@lightgearwire Год назад

Mick Jagger on Cowboy now that's a buzz. Great interview!

@ThairishTimes Год назад

Absolutely, thanks for watching

@stevenhull5025 Год назад

Great Vlog with Joe and thanks to his in depth contribution to the travel scene countless backpackers have enjoyed life changing experiences throughout South East Asia.