Why a Booktrail?
2000s; Clueless in South Asia – but one very funny and life changing adventure
How Not to Travel the World: Adventures of a Disaster-Prone Backpacker
What you need to know before your trail
This book really does have the most apt title of a travel book ever. There are so many lessons here of what not to do, and not to travel, what not to eat, which places are best to avoid and the various local scams to catch tourists off guard. But Lauren admits she is clueless when it comes to culture so that’s why she’s decided to do something about it. And fair play to her she does. She gets that backpack and heads off to South Asia – plans are to go to Shanghai, Bangkok and all the way to South Korea and Hong Kong.
As well as being new to this travelling lark, Lauren has other obstacles to overcome – anxiety, and eating disorder and a broken heart. But what she didn’t lack was guts.
Locations
ResetTravel Guide
A very funny and self effacing journey into South Asia. The journey backpacking around Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’ian, Southern China, South Korea and then Hong Kong is quite something. With Lauren as your (im) perfect guide, this is a tour with a difference.
Ever fallen into leech infested rice paddies, been caught in a Tsunami, had a rather strange massage in Thailand and recovered from so many incidents and accidents it’s a wonder she ever got out alive. But she did as this girl has guts and a will to have an adventure.
It’s like going on a backpacking adventure with your best accident-prone friend and if we’re honest someone that does things we would do but are too scared to admit. You really get a sense for what it must be like to travel in Asia
There’s a few disappointments:
“Shanghai didn’t feel anywhere near as foreign as I’d expected.In fact, it reminded me of London.”
And moments when it all seems too much:
‘What am I doing?’ I muttered , crouched beside a row of suitcases at the airport in Chiang Mai”
But then she finds a hunky New Zealander and the next adventure begins.
Where Next?
