HBO’s – The White Lotus – Season Three

One of the things The White Lotus captures so well this season—set in Thailand—is the quiet but ever-present dissonance between its wealthy American guests and the culture surrounding them. Having lived in Thailand, I recognize the subtleties: the way Western entitlement brushes up against deeply ingrained customs, the moments of misunderstanding that go unnoticed by one side but speak volumes to the other. This tension is something I explore in my own novels, where an American protagonist must navigate the complexities of Southeast Asia, often unaware of the deeper histories and traditions shaping their journey. The clash between perception and reality—what we think we understand versus what’s actually unfolding—creates a layered, suspenseful experience.

Author Lawrence Osborne

More Dark Encounters in Exotic Places

This same captivating tension between beauty and unease also defines the work of author Lawrence Osborne. His novels, steeped in lush, atmospheric settings and an undercurrent of quiet menace, follow Westerners drawn into cultures far older and more complex than they can comprehend. Beneath the surface, the mirage of privilege begins to fracture, revealing a world where control is more elusive than they imagined. The result? Stories that are as hypnotic as they are disquieting—where paradise is an illusion, and every choice ripples with unseen consequences.

Author’s Life – Finding Inspiration

Cocktails in Yangon?

Sarkies Bar at the historic Strand Hotel in Yangon has reopened, reviving its old-world charm and storied past. Writers and wanderers have long been drawn to its teakwood elegance—Kipling, Orwell, and Maugham among them—finding inspiration over stiff drinks and quiet intrigue. I spent many evenings there myself, sipping whiskey sours and Singapore Slings, absorbing the atmosphere that seeps into my writing. But there’s always an unsettling contrast—inside, the bar hums with nostalgia and colonial echoes, a world suspended in time. For some, that elegance is a lingering relic, a bitter reminder of a past built on privilege