A THAI military-beat television reporter gives a glimpse into the posh, post-coup lifestyle of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in London in her upcoming book, Thaksin, Where Are You?
The author, Lieutenant Sunisa Lertpakawat, a reporter for army-run TV Channel 5, travelled to London twice at her own expense to track down Mr Thaksin, the Bangkok Post reported.
Two interviews - altogether seven hours long - were given. One of them took place on May 30, and the other on June 12.
The 200-page book, which hit bookstores yesterday, features the ousted premier's latest 280 million baht (S$14 million) house in a London suburb and his 3-million-baht-a-month lifestyle.
Mr Thaksin lives in a two-storey, five-bedroom house in Weybridge.
He has a maid, a driver, a bodyguard looking after his needs and a Thai cook to prepare his meals.
'This 100-year-old housing estate was once home to pop stars Cliff Richard and Diana Ross,' he said in one of the interviews published.
What gives him a real headache during the exile is maintaining his hairdo.
Mr Thaksin often flew in his favourite hairdresser from Thailand when he went to Hong Kong and Singapore until he guided a local hairdresser to maintain his 'not-too-short' hairstyle.
Because it is only a short journey, Mr Thaksin often hops on a plane to France to shop and enjoy 'real wine and home-made food', the book revealed.
