Travelling is one of our biggest pleasures in life; and although we are limited by time and money, our mind can travel whenever it likes. Close your eyes and imagine a beautiful spot you’ve visited, imagine your next trip or take a travel book in hand and prepare for your next journey. Always a favourite.
The book I’ve been reading over the last couple of days is a diary about a journey through New Zealand; the country I live in. The fun thing about reading stories that describe the places you know so well is that you can relate to them and often you’re surprised by the similar thoughts you and the author have about various aspects of the journey.
One example is the mysterious settlement called ‘Paradise’ in the South Island. So many expectant tourists are drawn by the signs only to be left totally disorientated and confused. Neither the author nor I ‘think’ we made it to the place; she gave up and made a u-turn and I ended up at a remote, if quite picturesque, reserve complete with a river and snow covered mountains. I have a suspicion that the inhabitants of this place want to keep ‘paradise’ to themselves and hence don’t provide meaningful signs as you draw near.
The book I’m talking about is called ‘Kiwis might fly’ and is written by Polly Evans who spent several months travelling through New Zealand on a motorbike, only weeks after she got her drivers license. It’s a fun read whether you live here or plan to travel through New Zealand.
Whenever you feel like leaving a familiar place behind – with some imagination or a good travel book you’ll have a long exciting journey to the unknown.
Read also: THE POSITION BY MEG WOLITZER
EVER THOUGHT ABOUT LIVING OR WORKING INTERNATIONALLY
Back HOME
October 28, 2007 at 9:01 am
I thought it was a great read too but Fried Eggs with Chopsticks about Polly’s travels on public transport in China is better. It’s laugh out loud funny!! As a kiwi living in Singapore (after living in Samoa for 3 years) and some of it was very familiar. To the outsider Singapore has a reputation of being full of rules and laws, clean etc but in reality it is a lot like China especially when you use public transport everyday!!