Tony Wheeler

Travel disaster stories were promised but the only disaster were the stories…

Since I stumbled upon “Kamikaze Kangaroos!” by Tony James Slater several years ago, I sometimes like to read travel memoirs - especially when there’s disaster involved!

By now, I’ve read all of Tony’s books (and those of many other travellers!) and it seemed a logical next step to take a famous travel guide’s collection of supposedly funny travel stories…

Sadly, the promised “disaster stories” here are mostly of the following variety...

“Look, I did this and this is why: (long-winded explanations)”
“I could have died from that long walk, the road traffic, my inability to overcome inertia, (blah blah)!”
“And, lo and behold, I dangerously sprained my ankle!”

This is neither very entertaining nor does it make for a good read which is why I’m abandoning this for good.

One star out of five.

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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam… (mere)

In this beautifully illustrated celebration of rickshaws, author (and founder of the Lonely Planet series), Tony Wheeler has teamed up with photographer Richard I'Anson to present a contemporary view, and admiration for, an ancient and unique mode of transport. During their travels to 12 Asian cities, Wheeler and I'Anson spoke with rickshaw drivers and passengers, visited workshops and factories to view the construction of rickshaws, and rode a few to simply test them out. This book is the result of Wheeler and I'Anson's efforts to provide a unique portrait of how rickshaws are currently used, or in some cases, to lament their diminishing use across the Asian cities they have frequented for centuries.… (mere)