Six Months on a Train (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781681819273)

I started writing this when I was sleeping on a park bench in Hong Kong. My book takes place in the later part of 2013 to the beginning of 2014. During that time, I lived in Mainland China. I moved all over and became familiar with several parts of the country.

Before I started to travel, I taught at a college in New York and worked for a tour company. My business venture ended badly. I left New York with the intention of going to Beijing and studying Mandarin for six weeks before returning home to start graduate school. I never made it to grad school, and six weeks turned into six months.

Due to financial problems, legal/residency, and spiritual issues, I kept changing jobs. I worked in and around Beijing and also in the far south. I was able to interact with the immigrant communities that are springing up in that region.

I took a job deep in China's interior and wrote this book as a travel guide for China, as the same scenarios apply to most of Asia. My book gives unique insight into things a traveler may encounter in this fascinating country.

China is still a bit of a mystery to the rest of the world. My journey took me to places deep in the heart of China that remain untouched by outside influences. I also write from the perspective of a black man. I give my own explanations of spirituality, especially regarding religious practices in cultures that are considered taboo. I met some fantastic people along the way.

Richard Bess grew up in St. Albans in Queens, New York. He teaches English to ESL students.