Martin Oliver is a 63 years old Dubai-based writer and traveler who was born in Coventry, England. In this interview he talks about his book, his love for traveling, what makes Thailand a special place, and his future projects.
Voicu Mihnea Simandan: You’ve recently returned to Thailand for a short holiday but you’ve been to Thailand so many times. Why do you return? What’s so special about Thailand?
Martin Oliver: During my earlier career at sea as an engineer and later in the offshore oil business, together with travels during vacations, I visited many countries. But I do enjoy exploring big cities. I return to Thailand mainly to spend some time in Bangkok. I never tire of Bangkok, although the city changes with new buildings, shopping centers, hotels, and entertainment places but the general day to day life and feeling of the place does not change at all. I have always felt relatively safe in Bangkok and always been made to feel welcome by the locals. Apart from the well known tourist attractions such as the Grand Palace, Jim Thompson’s House, etc. there is so much off the tourist’s tracks to do and explore whereby one experiences daily life in the city and how people live and make a living. There are so many choices of restaurants, hotels shopping centers and markets that provide value for money and friendly service for any budget. Also, for me, Bangkok is strategically located from my home in Dubai as from Bangkok I can slip off and visit the many interesting exotic locations around Thailand and neighboring countries.
Martin Oliver signing my book on the terrace of Hemingway’s in Bangkok (October 2013)
VMS: Your first book, The Never Lonely Planet (Book Guild Publishing 2012), is now being distributed in Thailand too via the Asia Books and Kinokunia bookstores. How does it feel to see your book on the shelf?
MO: Not really considering myself an author (I have only written one book), I felt a sense of achievement seeing my book on the shelves in the airport and bookstores in Thailand. After the excitement of seeing one’s book on display, the next feeling is that you want to see it on the recommended or bestseller’s shelves. (I am smiling). As the royalties of this book will be donated to ECPAT – End Child Prostitution and Trafficking, a global organization working to stop sexual exploitation of children world wide, I would feel it a bigger achievement if the book gained ECPAT greater recognition of the work they carry out and provide them with some funds however modest they might be.
VMS: It took you quite a while to finish this book. How did you write it?
MO: I did not sit down to write a book. By that I mean starting at the beginning and ending at the end. It began some time ago when I was with my daughter Melany Oliver in a book store complaining that I could not find a suitable book to read that interested me. She looked at me and said “then why don’t you write one yourself?” I started making notes from memory of my experiences in Brazil. I then followed by compiling short chapters of life and work around the Middle East. When I started traveling around South East Asia I wrote notes as I went and collected material that I thought may be of interest. The contents were everywhere, stored on floppy disks, computer files, hand written notes, cuttings and in my head until one day I decided to put them all together. I then needed an introduction so I compiled the first chapter and a conclusion the last chapter which resulted in the book.
Together with travel writer Marin Oliver and his daughter, holistic therapist Melany Oliver
VMS: The book has quite a catchy title. Do you think it will be successful?
MO: On reflection, I am not sure about the title and if it will help to make the book successful or not. I just wanted to link the book to travel stories and travel writing so as it not to be perceived as an autobiography. The stories are supposed to be about people places and events not about myself. I don’t believe anybody would be interested in the memoirs of Martin Oliver.
VMS: When we met just a while ago in Bangkok, you said that you’re not a “writer” but only “just another person who published a book.” Can you elaborate?
MO: As I mentioned above, having written just one book I don’t consider myself a writer. However I did enjoy the experience of compiling the book, the challenge of getting it accepted by the publisher and the process of editing and cover design, etc., prior to the book being launched. Promoting the book however is not easy and is a continuous process as thousands of books are published every year and it is difficult to get attention for a single book from an unknown author. One thing I learned from the experience is not to expect too much of a response from purchasers and distributors and their ability to respond or even acknowledge attempts to promote and or display your book. If I write and have another book published I will have no reservations in referring to myself as a writer.
VMS: We were also talking about retiring. Why would you consider retiring in Thailand?
Autographed copy of ‘The Never Lonely Planet’ by Martin Oliver
MO: At the moment I am comfortable and happy living in Dubai, but the time will come when I will have to think about retirement. Obviously I want to continue as much as possible with the quality of life that I am accustomed to. When I look at Thailand with regards to health and medical, climate, cost of living, security, ex-pat community, etc., it ticks all the boxes and, most importantly, golf is popular and not expensive.
VMS: You’ve been to quite a few places around the world. Which are the three most memorable locations you’ve seen?
MO: In regards to locations I cannot think of any view more spectacular than the 360 panoramic view from the Statue of Christ the Redeemer top of Corcovada Mountain in Rio de Janeiro. The view takes in the entire city, beaches, forests, botanic gardens, favelas, Guanabara Bay, the Sugar Loaf and distant Mountains.
The Golden Rock in Myanmar (Kyaik-htiyo, which means Pagoda on a Hermit’s Head) is an extraordinary natural feature in that it is a very large gold gilded boulder about 25 ft high with an 18 ft pagoda on top. The boulder defies gravity by balancing over the ledge of a cliff on top of a mountain and looks like it could topple over and fall down the mountain at any time.
The Plain of Jars in Laos which is one of South East Asia’s most mysterious tourist attractions was memorable as much for the secrets that historians are trying to uncover as to the vestiges and destruction of the Vietnam War left by the Americans.
For me it is not all about tourist attractions, it is also about people and places. Working in an offshore oilfield is exciting with the beautiful sunrises and sunsets and the gas flares at night lighting up the sky in amongst the drill rigs, ships and construction barges fitted with cranes that can lift up to 3,000 tons all lit up like Christmas trees.
Talking with the ex-politic prisoner guide as he showed me around the prison on Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held and who himself spent 18 years there. A visit to S-21 or Tuol Seng the interrogation and extermination centre in Phnom Penh where the Khmer Rouge exterminated as many as 20,000 of there own people consisting of whole families also are emotional rewarding experiences.
VMS: What writing project are you working on at the moment?
MO: I am not sure if I have another book in me. I have however recently started working on some short fictional stories that are based on or around places I have lived or traveled. If I continue with these and feel that the stories could be of interest to readers I may consider compiling a book of short stories.
VMS: This sounds like your next book… Why do you write? Do you think there’s a story in each one of us waiting to be told?
MO: Once I started writing and putting the book together it became a bit of a hobby and a form of relaxation. I also enjoyed re-living some of my past experiences which I had forgotten about. I believe anyone can write a story if they focus on something that really interests them and use their imagination.
VMS: Thank you for your time and I hope to see you again soon.
MO: Thank you too Mihnea and I should give you some credit for the ECPAT opportunity. I was thinking about donating the royalties of my book to charity when your article appeared on the net.
October 4, 2013
