English language expert Rodrigo Hernandez de Vargas is a familiar face in Jakarta's (in)famous Jalan Jaksa kampong, having lived there several years. He's got the place mapped, including where the open sewers are, is fluent in Bahasa Indonesia, got a great rooftop pad and makes enough money to look after himself, party on the weekend and take trips to various Asian destinations during term breaks. Nevertheless he gets more than a bit lonely, at times. Sure, there are plenty very attractive temporary companions to take out for a date, but this Latino prefers something a bit more romantic and long lasting, something more like a relationship. However, when he finds what he is looking for, he gets a lot more than he expected. Lots more trouble, that is. Sure, he can escape... and he does so eventually... to Bangkok... only to find his old stamping ground strewn with one fracas after the other, though admittedly not all of his own doing. But seriously... does he learn anything new and/or useful? Indeed he does, though that only becomes clear at the end of this travel-cum-living-rather-dangerously three-part saga.