Into India, Out of Africa

From the word go, the style and tenor of this book is set. And it doesn't take long before we realise we are in for a raunchy, realistic, roughish ride; so seat yourself comfortably. Be transported from the relentlessly chaotic assault on the senses that is India to the cool Himalayan magnificence of trekking to Everest Base Camp. Through the vastness of Australia, unable to escape the predictably painful experiences of England's cricket team, before plunging into the outdoor activity challenges of New Zealand. Then, perhaps most compelling of all, the continent of Africa from the bottom up. An ambitious journey overland encompassing Africa's most extreme tip right up to its snow-covered top, Mt Kilimanjaro. Here it is not so much the final destination as all that is entailed to get there that informs and entertains. With a refreshing attitude, this book doesn't try to be the great African travel book drowning you with its intensity; Bruce Chatwin it is not. But it is a breath of fairly fresh air (excluding a lot of dust and some graphically described indigenous odours). The tone is conversational and intimate; the author takes the reader along with him on his (slightly) bumpy travels, and there is a splendid lack of any sort of political correctness, although Alistair is actually broad-minded and unprejudiced (minus a few Australians). He understands the people he meets. Without wanting to be remotely serious-because he isn't-this is a book that is kind and understanding of different places and people. The author observes, records, and attempts to shed light on people, places and experiences that are not of the everyday variety. The traveller-both experienced and of the armchairvariety-could have many a worse companion than this book.