What I Read When I Travel

When packing for a trip, apart from making sure I pack light, I also consider which book to bring to read along the way or whenever I have the time.

I would not know what to do if I did not have a book with me while waiting (especially in airports), I am certainly not one who can sit still and twiddle my thumbs.

Nowadays I choose only one book, as I've made the mistake of bringing along 2 books at one time and that proved a poor decision. Not only it added to the bulk in my bag, I ended up reading only one anyway and left the other untouched.

So, what do I read?

I usually - and consciously, I guess - choose travel-related books; am currently much into Bryson's works as they are vivid, detailed and hilarious at the same time. His writing style is fresh and light, peppered with punchlines where you least expect them, and easily conjures colourful images in my mind of places I've never been.

The books Long Way Round and Long Way Down, by Ewan Mc Gregor and Charley Boorman are great reads; I hope to find the DVD on sale one day. I think all real men should read these books!

And any book from good ol' Tony Bourdain, of course :)

For this weekend's trip I've decided to bring forward Bryson's A Walk In The Woods, which I had earlier reserved for another coming trip.

Will just have to find another book by then.

Book : Anthony Bourdain - No Reservations (2007)

Blurb : What happens when you give a bad-boy chef an open ticket to the world?

I got this book from the library last night and enjoyed what Tony wrote about his travels for this Travel Channel programme. The book however, is not a companion book to the series; it's not wordy at all and you can read it easily in under 2 hours.

Having said that, whatever little he wrote describes his experiences succinctly. Less is definitely more in his case.

With his 'trademark wit and soulful charm', Tony shares his adventures across Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America, soaking in local culture and seeking the culinary delights that each destination offered. A chapter is dedicated to their Beirut ordeal, where Tony and the gang were stuck for 10 days during the Civil War.

Tony also shares some useful tips for the intrepid traveller too : where to eat, bathrooms around the world (the worst was in Uzbekistan, the best in Japan - no surprises there), hazards and equipment.

Loved the colourful candid pictures!

Be Still and Soak in the Moment

An excerpt from the aforementioned Shapiro's book A Sense of Place :

"When seeing a new place, I often think : I am going to come back here later - when I am rich, or when I have more time, or when I have a purpose, or when I am with someone I love - and do this right. But it is self-deception. More often than not, my feet lead me somewhere new rather than somewhere I've already been. And as I sat at that window watching the train bore through the heart of China, I had a different, more probable thought, and I wrote it down : I better remember what this place looks like. I will never be back."

- Brad Newsham, All the Right Places

Don't we all think like that most of the time? I'll come back when _________ (insert whatever). This thought crossed my mind a few times during my travels. Most notably, I am reminded of my first trip to Bali.

Standing on the cliff off the fairways of Nirwana Golf Resort, overlooking the sea and Tanah Lot; the evening skies starting to filter in the various shades of gold and crimson, making me squint; the warm salty breeze blowing in my face; the waves splashing on to the rocks in some kind of rhythm; I thought to myself : I must come back here when.....

Then, I couldn't finish the sentence.

Because I don't know when I will come back. Or why.

It was then that I understood what a seasoned traveller meant when we had a short unexpected encounter. He has travelled to many exotic and historic places around the world - Egypt, North and South America, all over Europe, Asia and so on. He's done almost everything from climbing mountains and bungy jumping to riding camels and swimming with sharks.

I asked him : How come you didn't bring along your camera? His answer : It is all up here (pointing to his head). It took me a few seconds to respond : I get what you mean. He said : Besides, I don't have room for all the pictures and wouldn't know what to do with them.

Now, what I really want to do when I'm struck by the awesomeness of God's creations, is to be still, soak in the beauty of the moment, and let my heart have conversations with itself. Let the moment be imprinted in my mind.

I want to remember how each place made me feel.

Who knows, I might not be back.

Book : A Sense of Place

Currently reading :

Michael Shapiro's A Sense of Place -

Great Travel Writers Talk ABout Their Craft, Lives and Inspiration

Blurb:

Michael Shapiro's illuminating conversations with the world's great travel writers reveal deeply-held views about the craft of writing, the world, and home. Go with him and ride over dusty Montana roads to Tim Cahill's writing cabin, step into the Dickensian clutter of Redmond O'Hanlon's house in Oxford, visit Frances Mayes in her Tuscan villa, gaze at Peter Matthiessen's rustic zendo on Long Island, and empty a bottle of wine with Jonathan Raban in a Seattle study that seems like a ship's cabin.

So far I am enjoying this book immensely!