Dear Mark,

Thanks for the compliments.

Here is an excerpt of 'Thompson' which was featured in my book's Epilogue:

'Thompson' -- the taxi driver who fetched Jim and Constance from Tapah to Moonlight -- has not only mellowed with age; equally intriguing, he has also accepted the nickname Thompson despite the fact that he has a given Chinese name. To date, many things have been said about him -- some true, some false. For instance, just after it became known that Jim was lost, there has been this talk that Jim hired his taxi and instructed him to stop and wait for him near the T-junction of Jalan Kamunting. This account, sad to say, is not true. According to 'Thompson', Jim never made use of his services while he was residing at the chateau. What actually transpired was this: when it became clear that Jim was missing, 'Thompson' decided to go into the woods to look for him. While doing so, he got lost along the way. Much later, his family members were informed that his unattended vehicle was spotted near the T-junction of Jalan Kamunting. Sensing that something was not right, they engaged the services of a few aborigines to go out and look for him. A couple of days later, he was discovered in the jungles of Gopeng. After this episode, he became known to one and all in the neighbourhood as 'Thompson'.

Dear Mr De Souza
I visited bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php/number/736923
I must say that the satellite view of cameron highlands was indeed impressive.
In short it was like being in a helicoptor in search of Jim Thompson.

best regards

mark

Dear Mark,

Thanks for the posting.

There is a write-up on Jim Thompson in today's edition of the Star newspaper. The article is featured on pages T11 - T12; the online story is available on thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=...mp;amp;sec=lifefocus

Regards and best wishes.

Edward Roy De Souza

Dear Mr De souza,

why did the rest opt for three thirty pm when it is pretty obvious that Jim left the villas at 1.30 pm?

Dear Mark,

Thanks for the posting.

As mentioned in my book, 'there are two reasons for this: one, it could be that the authors were not at all aware that Jim actually left the Ling's estate at 1.30pm; or two, they chose not to know about it. Of the two, the latter seems to be more the case. As such, his eclipse from the retreat has not only gone on to be an unsolved mystery; it has also led many to go on a wheel spin'

Best regards.

Edward Roy De Souza

Dear Mr.De Souza,

Do you have any plans of visiting the Highlands in the near future?
If so, please do keep us informed.

Gordon Dennis

Dear Gordon Dennis,

Sorry for the late reply.

If all goes well, I should be at the Highlands come December 2007.

I'll keep you informed when the time draws near.

Best regards.

Edward Roy De Souza

Dear Mr Edward,

I was so glad I found one last copy of your book at Kinokuniya Singapore few weeks back. I finished it in 1 day and 1 night.

I don't think I managed to piece what your book attempted to communicate and really eager to uncover the mystery...

Hi Angel,

The mystery still lives on and is still not solved yet, every author who wrote about JT has their own opinion as to what happened, and so were the members of the public at that time when JT dissappeared it was all coffeeshop talk but the truth is still out there and is still uncovered, so Angel how do you plan to uncover the mystery?

Although I never read the book Mr. De Souza wrote but reading the extracts that he wrote in this forum is really fluid and interesting.

cheers!!

Angel and Quacks,

If you have the time, please visit the following website:

thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=...mp;amp;sec=lifefocus

Cheers!

Hi again,

I just came back from Cameron and this time visited Moonlight and Jln Kamunting. It was quite an experience. Moonlight looked completely empty inside, but the garden was well kept. There was an exit in the garden that you could take to get to a path that looks like a trail.

Jln Kamunting is indeed quiet - I couldn't stay much longer as it was already drizzling...

Although Mr Jim Thompson disappeared, he left behind more long lasting traces of himself - there is actually a Jim Thompson boutique in Cameron Hghlands Resort, besides the Jim Thompson tea house.

Thank you Mr Edward for writing your book.

Dear Angel,

I'm glad you took the opportunity to visit Moonlight while you were on holiday at the Highlands. It is also pleasing to note that while you were at the cottage, you came across an exit that one could take to get to a path that looks like a trail.

The exit which you saw brings back a lot of memories. For a while, there were many who were of the view that Jim took this exit after he walked past Dr. Ling's bedroom door at about 3.30pm. They were later to be proved wrong.

What actually happened is this: according to Helen, Jim 'appeared nervous (while they were at the picnic)... and he seemed anxious to get back early.' Dr. Ling remembered their returning to their holiday home at about 2.30pm. He was later quoted in The Straits Times as saying that he '... heard footsteps pass by my bedroom door (at) about 3.30pm and (I) presumed it was Mr. Thompson taking a stroll.'

Helen, however, had something else to say: she informed the widely circulated Eastern Sun that Jim told her and Constance 'Good night, sweethearts' at 1.30pm. When asked why the 'good night' bit during noon, Helen remarked that 'it has always been our practice despite the time of the day or night to say good night whenever we wanted to retire for the night or for a siesta'. The report concluded, 'with the wave of his hand, he was gone'

In short, Jim did not take the exit which you saw while you were at the villa; he left by the main entrance and made his way for the Lutheran Mission bungalow via Jalan Kamunting. What you mentioned about this road is true: Jalan Kamunting is indeed quiet. It is a pity it was drizzling while you were at the precinct. If it wasn't the case, it would have been more than an experience had you chosen to walk on to the Lutheran Mission bungalow. A scholar who recently visited the area had this to say of the bridle path: 'Jalan Kamunting? Well, it can be pretty eerie at some places....'

I'm indeed happy he travelled this road. At least for now he knows why Jim was on this road for more than two hours and on it again for a questionable period of time.

Dear Mr.De Souza,

Will you be coming over to the Highlands this Christmas? If so, please let me know.

Best regards.

Dear Mr Edward,

Thank you for your reply. The exit was probably taken by many who searched for Mr Jim Thompson in the jungle. It feels like being taken back in time.

Indeed it was somewhat regretful that I did not get to cover Jln Kamunting adequately during my last visit. I would be visiting the highlands again in the coming months and would definitely cover Jln Kamunting fully this time.

Cheers !

Dear Gordon Dennis,

Thanks for the posting.

I'll be visiting the Highlands at the end of this month.

Come rain or shine, I'll be at Moonlight on 28/12/07 at 12.30pm.

I'll leave the cottage for the Lutheran Mission bungalow at 1.30pm.

I certainly look forward to my meeting up with you. It's much the same for those of you who can make it at the appointed day and time.

Regards and best wishes.

Edward Roy De Souza