MONKS AND MOTORCYCLES: From Laos to London by the Seat of my Pants 1956-1958

by Franklin E. Huffman

In 1956, 22-year-old Frank Huffman embarks on a journey that will take him from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia to the exotic Orient, and eventually around the world. In this fascinating tale of adventure, Huffman shares his experiences and emotions during two years as a French interpreter for a community development team on the Plain of Jars in Laos, Indochina. At the end of his tour in Laos, he buys a motorcycle and sets out for Europe, with only a National Geographic map of Asia and the optimism of youth as his guide. He takes us along for the ride as heclimbs the fabled Angkor Wat in Cambodia, cycles up the road to Mandalay in Burma, floats up the Chindwin River on a river boat, is chased by a motorcycle-hating cow near the Taj Mahal, participates in a mutiny on a ramshackle bus in the Pakistani desert, thumbs his way across Iran to Turkey, and carouses through Europe in a Simca with pilfered sleeping bags and C-rations.Throughout this marathon, Huffman offers keen insights on the culture and society of Laos and the some 25 countries he passes through, and also provides trenchant commentary on subsequent events in those countries. Huffman's self-deprecatory humor and his undisputed mastery of the English language make Monks and Motorcycles a delightful read.

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2004

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I have met the author. I worked briefly with Frank when he was posted to the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh in 1995 and I am forever grateful for his arranging my trip to Angkor Wat. It was magical as I practically had the place to myself. The adventures in this book took place in the 1950s giving the book a nostalgic quality. Imagine being able to hitchhike from Pakistan into Iran! Recommended to lovers of travel books.