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I’m not well traveled and that’s a fact I plan on changing.  When I landed in Chicago for the first time in July of 2009, I felt like a real cosmopolite jetsetter.  I was only there for 48 hours.  But every time I go somewhere new, I’m increasingly more aware of how few things I’ve seen.

From time to time I check out a Lonely Planet book or read one of the Rough Guides.  Then I sigh and dream and…

No more!  I’ve made a goal to hit at least two countries in 2010.  These wonderful, affordable books helped me choose.  Oh, who am I kidding?  I’m a cheapskate librarian.  I checked them out at the library.

In A Sunburned Country

Most of my blogging mentors live in Australia.  But somewhere in between watching Crocodile Dundee and meeting my cyber-pals, I read Bill Bryson’s book In A Sunburned Country.

I was first exposed to Bryson by his epic tragicomedy A Walk In The Woods, about his ill fated, under prepared effort to hike the Appalachian Trail.

Sunburned feels similar, but is set in Australia and contains fewer disasters.  Bryson’s facts are funny and informative without being pedantic or condescending.  What I mean by that is: sometimes I read a travel book and feel like not only have I not been anywhere, I’m not interesting enough or smart enough or wealthy enough to travel.

But that’s my issue.  Above all, Bryson’s writing is passionate.  His love of travel is obvious and infectious.  I’m easily swayed when I hear someone rave about something.  Bill raves about Australia the way I talk about libraries and kettlebells, although he’s got a lot more skill in getting people to buy in than I do.

Hilarious, educational without being stuffy or boring, and absolutely perfect—In A Sunburned Country is helping me to take a big step.

I’m A Stranger Here Myself

This book is a fun crash course in the United Kingdom and modern-ish America.  After living in England for 20 years, Bryson comes home and settles in New Hampshire.

His description of how the British give directions was worth the price of the book for me, but I’m someone who can’t read a map.  Oh—I keep forgetting that I didn’t buy the book.  But I would!

His description of how much Americans eat is also perfect and sad.

Stranger wasn’t quite as funny for me as some of Bryson’s other work.  There’s a lot of contemplation and introspection here.  But it doesn’t hurt the book.  The wonderful thing about Bill Bryson is that his fans are never disappointed.

Whether he’s talking writing about the English language, science, Shakespeare, Australia, bears, wombats, crumpets, or what it means to be married, he’s always himself.

My favorite books are always the ones where I can tell the author had a blast writing them.  Bill Bryson loves to write, travel, and have a good time.

And with that, I’ve got to figure out how to get some money and time together and hit the road next year.  I imagine I’ll be back here at the blog often, pestering people for advice and asking questions about dingoes and English muffins.

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About the Author: Josh Hanagarne writes World’s Strongest Librarian, a blog with advice about coping with Tourette’s Syndrome, kettlebells, book recommendations, buying pants when you’re 6’8”, old-time strongman training, and much more. Please subscribe to Josh’s RSS Updates and Stronger, Smarter, Better Newsletter to stay in touch.

Photo credits:  Barnes & Noble (book covers), Josh Hanagarne (headshot)

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Learning about people and cultures that are not like our own, often helps us find a new world view – one in which we find an interconnectedness with others rather than a separateness.  When that happens, travel is more about experiences and memories, than about great hotels and restaurants.  Not that those latter things aren’t important, but when we travel with a larger picture in mind, things sort into sense a little differently.

Travel as a Political Act, by Seattle-area travel writer and producer Rick Steves, is totally different from anything else that you may have read by him.  This isn’t a guide book, and you won’t find hotel or restaurant information.  What this book contains is a series of field reports from around the world, and how his experiences with the people in various parts of the world have shaped his political views and perspective.

Steves made his start with Europe Through the Back Door, both as a guidebook and classes, encouraging his readers to travel close to the ground and spend less money by doing what locals do.  While that is still good advice, those first readers are now Baby Boomers with a bit more time and money, and are now demanding travel with a slightly different focus.  Those Boomer travelers will enjoy this book, as it forces the reader to look at world events through different eyes, and not just through our US-centric lens.

Having recently returned from Croatia, I enjoyed the segment about the impact of war in Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.  After being there, seeing areas that had been bombed out, and getting to know residents, that part of the world has come alive for me.  No longer will it remain a mere spot on a map or inches of news reporting.

But I was unclear about how we can really empower ourselves in making travel a political act.  Is it a mind thing, where it’s about expanding our personal viewpoint?  Is it talking with people and sharing out experiences?  Is it about visiting places that are less touristy?  Is it about disdaining creature comforts and traveling to third world countries?  Is it about voting our expanded consciousness, and supporting leaders and political causes that are in line with our new world view?

I can’t answer those questions.  The title of this book really seems to implore a call to action, but I was sadly left without one.

I enjoyed the book, the stories, the people, and a chance to look at things differently.  Maybe that needs to be enough for now.

You can find Travel as a Political Act at your local book store or through Amazon.com ($11.53).

Photo credit: Amazon

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

That’s part of the reason why I was so excited to read the 7th Edition of Africa’s Top Wildlife Countries, by Mark W. Nolting.  Of course I LOVE to read travel books of all types, and I enjoy sharing them with all of you.  But this was more than just another travel book.  This was personal research!

First off, let’s answer the question that the title asks:  What are Africa’s top wildlife countries.  That would be:  Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.  Of lesser note:  Burundi, Congo, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Mauritius, and the Seychelles Islands.

Some of those were obvious choices to me, and I’d heard about safaris in Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania.  But in reading this book, I was going beyond the obvious, and discovering a lot more options that I had first imagined.

The guide opened with good, in depth, and practical information about Africa and planning a wildlife trip.  It explains a little bit about what to expect, does a little myth busting (you don’t have to stay in grass huts and sleep in the mud), talks about the environment and eco-tourism, and sets out some practical information about security, choosing accommodations, and selecting the best type of safari.  There’s even a helpful packing list.  This opening section provides a solid framework for what’s to follow, and it will help you narrow and shape what you want your wildlife experience to be.

With the basics under your belt, you’re ready to explore the continent.

The remainder of the book is organized by geographical sections of Africa,with the major wildlife sections first, then the lesser ones.  This geographic organization makes sense for someone familiar with the continent, but I found myself flipping around, back and forth, too frequently.  Alphabetical listings would have been much easier for me to use.

Entries for each country included the best time to visit, what wildlife you can expect to see, weather information, a list of the top wildlife reserves and other attractions, maps, hundreds of beautiful photos, accommodations of all types and classes, and tons of practical information and tips.  You’ll find details about photo safaris, mountain climbing, gorilla and chimp watching, bird watching, canoe safaris, diving, hot air balloon safaris, night game, horseback riding, family trips, elephant safaris, and more.

All the resources that you could need are included here, including simple things like money, shopping, health concerns, and travel, to more specialized information like Latin and scientific names of animals, and an extensive reading list.

The guide ends with a section called “Bush Tails” a testimonial section full of feedback and recommendations on places visited.  Rather than just blah quotes and PR hype from strangers, these felt like real stories from real travelers, people who had been charmed by Africa, its people, and its wildlife.

When I started reading this guide, I didn’t know what I wanted much beyond wanting to go on a safari in Africa and see animals.  Very simplistic.  After reading this guide, I’ve narrowed it down a lot.  I still don’t know exactly what’s right for me, but I’m a lot farther along my research journey.  (And to help me narrow it down a little bit more, I have another book sitting here on my shelf that should help me a bit more.)  I had no idea the depth and breadth of what was offered, and how it will all shape my travel experience.

The strength of this book is its extensive practical information, the lure of the book is the beautiful photos.  Whether a safari is in your near future, or you are merely an arm chair traveler, Africa’s Top Wildlife Countries will open the door to a world that few have experienced.

You can buy Africa’s Top Wildlife Countries through The Africa Adventure Company ($17.95), from Amazon, or your local book store.

Photo credit: The Africa Adventure Company

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

First of all, this is both a coffee table book, oversized and full of beautiful photos, as well as a practical road travel book, with entries by state giving you the where and why of what you should see. 

I started my review looking at what they had to saw about Washington, the state that I’m the most familiar with.  Washington has 23 entries, a respectable number for a state that has as much rural area as it does urban.  The expected places were there, in the San Juan’s, Olympic Peninsula, and much in the central part of the state.  While I take issue with Olympic Sculpture Park being classified as off the beaten path (it’s downtown for criminey sake!), it was a fair representation of nature, quirky, and charming.

Still, the book was off to a pretty good start!

Next, it’s time to call in some friends and have them take a look at the states that they’re familiar with.  It was a good way to get additional opinions and reviews, and we sat around having a class of wine playing the “have you been there?” game as we looked through the book.  We looked at Oregon, California, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, and Massachusetts.  The consensus was a big  THUMBS UP, and that there was a good job of indentifying the hidden gems of nature, science, art, culture, and the unexpected.

The book has 50 chapters, one for each state, with a total listing of over 1,000 sites.  That’s a whole lot of road tripping to do!  You’ll find lots of color photographs, detailed maps, vital details and information, and links to the attraction’s website.  Attractions come complete with a legend of visitor information (camping, swimming, hiking sightseeing, etc.),  and this year three new icons were included – pet-friendly, accessible, and wi-fi compatible.  I liked the “Did You Know” and Seasonal Events sidebars, as they packed in a little more personality about each of the states.

This book isn’t going to make it to my bookshelf; it’s one that I’m going to keep handy for regular reference.  In fact, I got a bunch of ideas for a road trip, along with spots that show great promise for future blog posts.  And I can just refer to that wi-fi compatible icon, and I’m all set!  It’s a great planner for an affordable family road trip.

Pick up a copy of Off the Beaten Path at your local bookstore.  It is also available through Amazon ($19.80).

Photo credit:  Amazon

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Recently, I was sent a copy of Quest for the Kasbah by Richard Bangs, a tie-in for his PBS series, Adventurers with Purpose.

What I know about Morocco comes from watching the movie Casablanca.  I mean, what in the heck is a Kasbah?

A Kasbah was a safe haven, a palace or fortress.  Morocco was a stopping point for travelers on the way to somewhere else, and they’d stop off at the kasbah to rest.  It was a place to exchange goods, get information, share ideas, and talk.  It wasn’t a place where travelers stayed, it was just for passing through.

Since Morocco is no longer just a way-station, but is a destination in itself, is there a modern day Kasbah? The answer to that question is part of the journey through this book.

An excerpt:

The ancient nomads of Morocco went from place to place – and they had to take a lot of stuff with them (including their livelihoods and families).  The emerging class of digital nomads also wander, but they take virtually nothing with them; wherever they go, they can easily reach people and information.  And the barriers to entry are falling.  You don’t have to be rich to be a nomad (I am evidence).  It is getting harder to find places that don’t have internet connectivity or cell service.  I’ve phoned home from the tops of mountains, while floating down deep-canyoned rivers, while sailing on the ocean, even from deep in the Libyan Desert.

Bangs is a marvelous storyteller, sharing all the details of his experiences in Morocco without ever talking down to his reader.  I felt like I was along for the journey, not listening to a lecture, which is the style of travel writing that I relate to best.  He shares the history, culture, and beauty of the country without candy-coating its flaws and shortcomings. 

Another excerpt, this one about Tangier:

Caid’s Bar, down a flight from the lobby, looks familiar, and as I belly up and order a Mahia, a fig cognac, the barkeep tells me why. . . it was the inspiration for Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca, he says.  It was Tangier, non Casablanca, which was the international zone during the war, and where the spies and expatriates mingled,.  This was the inspiration for the story, and where Victor Lazlo would have fetched his transit papers.

Bangs does what I think all the best travel writers do – he makes me want to visit the places that he’s writing about.  And yes, I want to go to Morocco.

Take a peek at the sight, sounds, and flavor of Morocco, and then check with your local television guide to see when it airs on your local PBS station.

Morocco anyone?

Book photo:  Courtesy of Open Road Publishing

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