Who better to recommend travel books than real Intrepid travellers. Darren White reflects on a great read that was an inspiration…
“My pick for a travel book is Road to Oxiana, by Robert Byron. I read this book many years ago but it left me with a yearning for a road less travelled. The description from a popular web site says it all:
It’s a big wide world out there, in fact so big and inviting that sometimes we forget to explore our own back yards. Intrepid’s Katy Rockett put away her passport for this trip and felt on top of the world in her homeland…
“Though I’ve been a Canadian resident since birth, it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I actually started to take the time to explore the diverse and incredibly vast country in which I live. And what a mesmerizing journey it was!
We had to include this book in our holiday reading list, as it’s one of the most frequently recommended by Intrepid travellers. And Lisa Connor is amongst those who give it the big thumbs up…
“My most favorite book ever is Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts. He was a heroin user and bank robber in the 1970s, escaped from an Australian prison and then went to Mumbai, India. This book is the story of his life there, from living in the slums, adventures with the Mafia, overland travel and more.
Colour – Travels Through the Paintbox, by Victoria Finlay, is a great kaleidoscope of colour, tales and travels. It chronicles Finlay’s pursuit of colour, not just colour but its alchemists, its villains and its conquests. Finlay spans the globe, delivering to the reader adventures in the name of a rainbow of colour from the ancient lands of Arnhem Land in Northern Australia to regional Spain and Taliban-occupied Afghanistan.
My Intrepid Thailand trip was an amazing experience – thanks for the great time and good memories. I took several books with me, but the tour was so good that I had barely a chance to read at all. The one book I did read and enjoyed while on the tour was The Travels of Marco Polo.
Below sea level, at the lowest point on earth, the water is seven times more salty than a normal ocean. It’s here that Sarah Johns enjoyed splashing about in Jordan…
“I visited the Dead Sea whilst on a trip in Jordan with Intrepid. It was incredible to float so easily and to revel in the thickness of the water – kind of like wading through smooth jelly that hasn’t yet set. As a regular beach-goer at home, I had to fight the urge to dive under and swim about, the water holds you so buoyant that it forces you to just relax.
Stray off the regular tourist route and you’re bound to experience the willingness of locals to meet you. In fact, in Turkey the people are so friendly that, as Lyndall Partington discovered, you can expect an instant feast to be shared by your new friends…
“While travelling through Turkey I was astounded by the hospitability of the people. Their enthusiasm and eagerness to show you their country from their perspective and offer you a traditional home-cooked meal was amazing. Our Intrepid group was invited to join family picnics and try the local specialities, such as ice-cream that you eat with a knife and fork. Bizarre but tasty!
Taking a trip over Christmas can be a wonderful way to discover how the festive season is celebrated around the world. In Malaysia, while the food might be different, it’s a delicious feast for the senses and Sandra Jones won’t forget her special Intrepid-style Christmas holiday…
“Early in the afternoon we arrived at our hotel in Melaka, and it was quickly decided that we should all go out to celebrate Christmas with lunch. We left it up to Carol, our group leader, to decide where and she organised a wonderful meal at a local restaurant that served traditional Nonya Baba cuisine.
Ask Intrepid’s Chotie Moloney to recall her most favourite traditional feast and it’s sure to be this amazing banquet in Japan…
“We were in the Alps township of Takayama for the summer fireworks festival when our local ryokan chef prepared an evening banquet for us. What a treat! After dressing in yukatas and indoor slippers, we entered the private dining room with a great sense of excitement. A long low table was already laid out with 8 place settings for our Intrepid group. It took a little time to settle in a comfortable position with satin cushions on the tatami floor, but I managed to cross my legs without pointing my feet at anyone and was ready to feast.
