Book Description:
Publisher: Matador (November 26, 2013)
ISBN-13: 978-1780883908
Category: Travel, Adventure Travel, Living & Working Abroad
Tour Dates: March/April, 2014
Available in: Print & ebook, 256 pages
From Luton to Peru to Ningaloo, a Search for Life After Redundancy
Three things happened simultaneously. The lioness charged, Alistair fled across the parched savannah and his wife screamed for him to run faster. Stuffed deep inside his tattered rucksack was a guidebook containing advice on what to do in wildlife emergencies, which he planned to read if he survived the next thirty seconds. Future plans to climb Kilimanjaro, teach English in the Amazon and live in Australia were temporarily forgotten as he turned to face the pouncing lioness, thinking back to the words of advice from his mother-in-law. “Don’t do anything silly, and look after Francine.”
From deep underground in a remote Bolivian mine to the scorched Australian outback, Round the Bend is an adventure travel story. It explores the turbulence of redundancy, the excitement of travel, the anguish of leaving home and the challenges of starting a new life in Australia.
My Thoughts:
When the plant in his home town of Luton, UK closed, Alistair McGuiness and his wife Fran didn’t fret or panic, they rejoiced and made lemonade out of the situation. First they travelled to remote parts of the world and then immigrated to Australia.
Their first stop was to volunteer in the Amazon for a month. They cleared out brush to re-forest and Alistair taught English to the village people. Then the travelled all over South America. They scaled mountains, went white water rafting, experienced culture, visited the Bolivian salt flats, braved public buses, and even saw where the final stand off was for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
After going back to Luton to pack and say their farewells, they traveled to Africa. When they were finally ready to go to their final destination, Australia, there was a glitch with immigration for Fran, which sent her to another county on her own. They both finally made it to Australia, where they still reside.
I haven’t read many travel books but after reading Around the Bend, I certainly want to read more. I would love to travel one day, while I can still get around unassisted, LOL! I have never been outside of North America. I have dreamed of going to Africa since I was a little girl. I would also live to go to Australia and New Zealand. Parts of Europe would be lovely too. I’m hoping Bill and I can go somewhere after the house is paid for!
In Round the Bend Alistair shared his travels with the reader in such a way that as times, I felt like I was there. His writing is poetic and he has a wicked sense of humour. I found my self laughing out loud many times. I didn’t want Round the Bend to end. I hope Alistair and Fran go on more adventures and share them with us. I LOVED this book! Highly recommended!
5/5
I received the ebook version for my honest opinion.
To any of my dear readers who have read travel and travel/adventure books, what do you recommend I read next in this genre? I would love your thoughts on this!
I am giving away one copy of Round the Bend internationally, here.
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