Adventures of a Continental Drifter: An Around-the-World Excursion into Weirdness, Danger, Lust, and the Perils of Street Food

by Elliott Hester

One year. Six continents. Twenty-two countries. Endless stories to tell.

In October 2002, Elliott Hester sold his car, abandoned his apartment, and took off alone on a trip around the world, during which he drifted to more than fifty destinations. Elliott’s tales about his travels range from the bizarre to the hilarious to the flat-out shocking. Travel with him as he:

* Chases off transvestites in the South Pacific

* Gets drunk on Estonian moonshine at the maker’s eightieth birthday party

* Impersonates Samuel L. Jackson at the 38th International Film Festival in the Czech Republic

* Ponders the Finnish tradition of sprinting from steamy sauna to plunge into the frigid Baltic Sea---naked!

* And much more

Only an around-the-world excursion could produce such outlandish, hair-raising, hysterical adventures. And only Elliott Hester could make such vivid observations and write such vibrant insights about life---and people---on the road.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Humor, Memoir, Adventure, Autobiography, Comedy

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Matthew Mckinney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was light fare, consumed quickly, and related some dude’s travels around the world solo while on a tight budget. Nothing particularly interesting happens to him, and his writing, while adequate, is completely journalistic and mostly devoid of art. He does have a bit of a “horny bent” at times in his prose, veering off course occasionally almost to the realm of a “Penthouse letter,” before righting himself and getting back to the travel narrative.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am going to get my complaints out of the way first. And regarding all things Australia, of course as that was pretty much the only place this author went to that I had been. First off, you can't take the train in Sydney all the way to Bondi Beach. CHECK YOUR FACTS. And also, how do you now know how to pronounce Bondi?! Oy, that drove me crazy. And his spelling of Macquarie (not MacQuarie as it's spelled in the book) drove me batty too. Oy, doesn't anyone edit these things? Okay, whew, that is out of the way!

Okay, so this book was about a dude who took a year off from his job to travel around the world. A little bit of a rarity back in like 2002 when he went, but not so rare now. Or maybe I just read more stuff about people doing it, I don't know. The things that made this story a little different then the blogs I read on a daily basis is that this guy was a little older it seemed, maybe in his late 30's or so and he didn't stay at hostel but in fairly swank places and the fact that he is African American. It was interesting so see how people reacted to him based on his skin color and it was a little bit of the book, but not a major part. I felt it was mentioned and brought into the story just the right amount.

Otherwise, this book was okay. I think I would have liked it more if I had read it years ago, instead of where I am in my life. I have lived abroad. I read blogs on a daily basis about people, even Americans, who are doing round the world trips like this. But it reminds you that up until really fairly recent, people just didn't do that. Especially older people. A decent read.

[Talia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book of short travel stories follows Elliot Hester, who quits his job as flight attendant and sells all of his personal belongings so he can fly around the world for one year. His travel locations run from the familiar (Argentina, Barcelona, Australia) to the unusual (Ethiopia, Estonia, Lithuania), and the author pretty much describes not really what he did in all of these places, but the crazy, weird things that happened to him while on his journey. In some of the locales, Hester describes locations beautifully, like the Taj Mahal. Other places, he just gives a dopey story about the odd thing that happened to him. What I learned from the chapter on Barcelona: it’s noisy at night. Bring earplugs. Unlike other travel memoirs, Hester makes no real personal journey, as we never really learn about him as a person, except for the fact that he used to be a flight attendant. The short chapters make this an easy read for people who can only read for short bursts, and also because none of the chapters are really connected to each other. In short, this is not a good book for insights to various countries, but a memoir of crazy stuff that can happen while traveling around the world (like peeing on yourself in an Argentinean airport, or getting food poisoning in India).

[Patti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying that I am a middle school, special ed teacher and I fit in very well with the middle school age group. My mind is that of a 12 year old boy (despite being a 39 year old woman) and I do find fart jokes funny. That said, I couldn't stand this guy. I really don't need to hear your stupid fantasies about women, your comments about your turd smelling breath or your bowel movements. This is odd because I will talk about farts and BMs in mixed company but I just couldn't stand this guy. Perhaps I couldn't stand him because I feel like he has nothing else to say and so he is talking about his shits. If you have something to say (as I do, usually) and throw in some stuff about poop, well then sure, go for it. But I felt like he was just talking about this stuff because he really had nothing else to say...and he should have! He traveled around the mf'ing world for Christ's sake!!!!

The only reason that I am giving this two stars is because I love the idea of this book...just taking a leave from your job, cashing it all in and going. I could never do it myself, but I admire those who can and do. So instead of reading this book, just meditate on the *idea* of this book, think of something interesting to say and then, throw in a fart joke.

[Tom Darrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and have suggested it to several friends. If you are in to travel writing this book is an alternate take... It's the story of a guy who sells his stuff and goes on a year long trip to random places in the world. It is graphic, sophomoric low-brow, but the stories are funny and memorable. The chapters are fairly short, so you can knock one out before bed each night. Very quick read.

[Chrisolu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. If you've ever wanted to dump everything, and abadon the rat race,to run off to visit all of those places you've seen on the travel chanel, this is your book.

[Mrs.Chardonnay · Rating 5 out of 5]

More hilarious tales from a veteran flight attendant and seasoned world traveler. One of my favorite writers! Highly recommend.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. It took a while to finish, only because I kept stopping to look up the locales he visited. I love that he picked some unusual stops along the route!

[Mark- · Rating 3 out of 5]

Other than the occasional true crime novel, I rarely read nonfiction books. But, I picked up this book on a lark, because it looked like a fun read. Having done some traveling myself, I thought, I could possibly relate to the writer's point of view.

The author, Elliot Hester, rather than become the victim of a company layoff from his job as a airline flight attendant, he took a year off voluntarily to visit places around the world that interested him, and that he only had brief layovers at before.

So, off Mr. Hester went visiting country after country and continent after continent. He made friends and experienced things, that may never be experienced again in exactly the same way by another human being.

Being a true free spirit and with an African American travel writer's unique prospective he battled illness, hangovers and being flat broke in some of the worlds most exotic places.

This book made be smile at several passages. As a lighthearted, change of pace book, I would recommend "The Adventures of a Continental Drifter."

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is hard to rate this book, because, for me, it was a bit uneven. First, I love to read about travel, especially to places off of the beaten track. The stories that discussed exotic locations and touched on the people, history, and culture of those locations engaged my interest. The focus of the stories tended to be on misadventures, and that's a tricky line to walk. On the one hand, people learn more from mistakes than from things going smoothly, and conflict makes for interesting narratives and opportunities for humor. On the other hand, sometimes the focus on the negative felt like it discouraged travel, and some of the humor was a bit too scatalogical or sophomoric for me to actually find it funny. I'd say if the premise of the book interests you, pick it up and read just the stories that grab you.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elliott Hester an award winning travel writer sets off alone on a trip around the world. Making his way off the usual tourist routes. Meeting an array of adventures,and illness, that only the bravest adventurous seasoned traveler would keep going. How many ways can you describe beautiful sunsets in various countries? Elliott manages to make each one unique.

[Kalie Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the books I have read that were written by flight attendants this one is the best. Elliott is a great writer and very funny which I unfortunately can't say about other flight attendant authors.

[Crystal R Seeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

Even if you never get to travel to these places Elliott takes you with him on the most amazing adventures. This is definitely a must read book!!

[Karen Beutler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes

[Jeff Mikules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like many a wandering soul, I've always loved to travel. I grew up watching movies with exotic locales, readings tales of adventure in foreign lands, and making grand plans to backpack Europe, mountain bike the Great Divide, and otherwise filling my life with fantastic experiences and amazing stories to share. Alas, life gets in the way, as it often does, and my best laid plans fell by the wayside. Despite my financial mishaps, and a host of unreliable people with which plans were made and subsequently abandoned, I've luckily been afforded the opportunity to see a few places here and there. My wanderlust is never fully sated, however, and I continually yearn to make a reality of the grand plans of my youth.
Until those dreams come to fruition, I live vicariously through the shows of the Travel Channel, my college studies, and the occasional book like Adventures of a Continental Drifter. Elloitt Hester does a great job of communicating what traveling is like for the average person. So many of us don't have the means to stay at 5-star hotels, or dine at restaurants where a single dinner costs as much as an average car payment. Hester is now a travel writer, and is able to make a living while traveling, but he still manages to convey the types of down-to-earth experiences any of us might encounter while on the road or in the air. He deftly weaves entertaining tales with confidence, mixing artistic description with common, relatable language. He finds unique and entertaining ways to make even the most seemingly mundane of experience enjoyable to read. While not necessarily the outlandish tales of copious drugs and sex of other travel writers, Hester's honest insight and anecdotes make for an entertaining excursion. They might even inspire you to one day sell all your belongings and go on your own globetrotting adventure. I'd sure love to.

Happy Reading!
JAM

[Aaron Hursr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventures Of A Continental Drifter
It was a really good book. I enjoyed reading it. My favorite character would have to be between 3 people. One of them would be the main character because as he was describing everything that happened to him it was like I was right there. One of the other characters that could be my favorite is Carolina. She does not speak English except 3 words “Son of bitch”. She is the kind of person that will get up in your face and tell u what is up. She is really funny because even though she only says 3 English words “Son of bitch”, u kind of know what she is doing and sometimes saying. The third and last person(s) the bus driver and his girlfriend (does not say their names) in French Polynesia. The reason I like them is because when they are on Le Truck (the bus) the bus driver and his girlfriend stopped at a mini-mart and bought a 2 liter bottle of 7 Up and a pack of smokes. What person do u know who would do that? What kept me reading this book was all the places, all the stories, all the different kinds of people, all the different adventures. The parts of the book that caught my attention were the ones that described how/what the places look like, and the different kinds of people. The emotions that this book caused me to feel were: happy, silly, sad, mad, and ready to go out into the word. I was kind of able to predict the ending of this book because at some point it has to end and he has to go back home. The people who I would recommend this book to are my mom, my family, my friends, my teachers, and my neighbors.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Elliott Hester's stories are a look into a man's adventures while traveling around the world in the early 2000s. While entertaining, the details included leave one wondering how Hester afforded the trip. Sure, he had a budget, but he never talks about where that money comes from after the first sale of all his possessions. After a year of traveling, he indicates that he continued to travel. Was his initial sale so great as to allow for years of traveling with no other income? Maybe the reader also wants to travel around the world, living the life of a drifter, but is practical enough to realize that shorter trips are all he can afford. Hester's stories give the impression that all it takes is an undeniable desire to travel and the rest falls into place, no work or sacrifice involved. Researching Elliott Hester gives some answers, but the book feels like all play and no work. Instead of being inspiring, it is depressing.

This book contains swearing, drinking, and sexual descriptions.

[Jrobertus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hester is an engaging and humorous travel writer. He is an ex airline steward and logged many miles before traveling for adventure and to back his blog. As a novel twist to the genre, he is black and this effects the way he interacts with people in distant lands and cultures, sometimes helping and sometimes hurting. In this book he reports a year long jaunt across six continents with little money and only a duffle bag of material possessions. He meets some interesting folks and sees a lot of teh world I will never see. He attends a soccer match and riot in Argentina, lives underground in Cobber Pedy Australia, visits a nearly vacant amusement park in Brunei, suffers Delhi Belly and worse in India, and attends several hedonistic parties in the Baltic. He relates his thoughts and observations in a bit earthier tones than some, but it works well.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Elliot Hester's book of travel articles. Elliot had a good job as a flight attendant and I assume after saving up a bunch of money, he decided to quit and do some traveling on his own time. He wasn't really clear on why he left his job. Since he is African American, sometimes that can be interesting in itself, with people's reactions towards him. I liked when he met with a beautiful young woman (who was topless on a beach in fact) who asked him to room with her. As it turned out, her generosity had more to do with finding a constant Scrabble companion, than wanting him as a boyfriend or friend. Hester's travel articles are funny and insightful; however, we don't really learn much about Hester himself, other than his observations.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book for one of my book clubs. Rather than being a true travel narrative with a flowing story, the book is pretty much a collection of vignettes written as the author traveled around the world. Some of the stories were amusing and some kind of horrifying. I was annoyed at several parts in the book though where he would divulge into these fantasies about women. I don't really care about his wet dream version of his trip that didn't actually happen, but apparently that is what he would like to offer me on a number of occasions. There are much better travel writers out there, so unless you're desperate for a travel writing book and this is the only one available I would find a different one.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up at my local thrift store for 10 cents and for that price, it was a fun and quick read. Yes, as many of the other reviews mention, the author is a wee bit sophomoric, driven by sex and prone to describe his stomach issues in great detail. But not to the point where he (or his stories) are unlikeable. The book really does span the globe, with each short chapter describing a new place: Argentina, French Polynesia, Australia, Southeast Asia, India, Northeast Africa, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe. Whew. If you're the adventurous type, his stories will make you want to travel yourself. Which will also keep you wondering how in the world he is able to keep paying for all the travel expenses.

[Okvegascowgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hilarious! So much more than a "travelogue," Elliot almost overshares his experiences, good and bad, while taking the leap of quitting his job and literally becoming a drifter of sorts. If you've ever had a trip from hell, caught the local form of turista, or alternately, stumbled upon an extraordinary sight or experience that you could never have planned, you will feel as if you are on this journey of a lifetime along with the author. Hands down, one of the best travel books I've ever had the pleasure to read.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a male flight attendent who in a post 9-11 world decides to take a leave of absence from his job, sell most of his belongings and begin globe hopping. I really enjoyed it because when i am unable to travel myself i am constantly reading on places to go and other peoples stories of where they have been. Elliots stories are very descriptive and humorous. Among the stories are him being mistaken for Samuel L. Jackson in the Czech Republic, (soley based on the fact that he often wears a Kangol hat), and just about everyone in Thailand assuming he is a boxer.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a collection of columns the author wrote while on an around-the-world trip. While it was amusing enough, because each chapter was so short, you felt like he was just skimming the surface of the places he visited. The book was a bit on the raunchy side -- descriptions of illness and fantasies about women he encountered on the road -- which I could have done without. Overall I would say this is a nice light read for sometime when you know you'll be picking up and putting down a book a lot, as the chapters are short and there's no overarching narrative thread.

[Austin Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

He is an amazing writer, his wit comes out of the pages. However his stories always seemed to take a turn for the worse or be complaining in general. While I get bad travel stories sell and they are the most memorable, I don't feel like that is why you travel. If he could write the entire book like the epilogue I would have been ecstatic. We get a feel for how much he loves travel and what a great impact it had on him, I would have loved to see the cities through the same bright and excited eyes.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title says it all. A great book for those with Attention Deficit tendencies as each brief chapter describes a new adventure in a new country. Slapstick at times, yet still an interesting read of international travel tales. The most memorable tales include those of wild sex, sea turtle hitchhiking, impersonating a movie star, and diarrhea of epic proportions. All and all an entertaining book.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very well-written book about a year-long trip around the world. I especially enjoyed the fact that the author spent very little time in western Europe but instead chose out-of-the way places in Australia, India, the Middle East, eastern Europe and parts of Africa. His description of the churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia made me want to go there, and I both laughed and marveled at the chapter on his visit to Coober Pedy, an opal mining town in Australia.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hester, former flight attendant and author of Plane Insanity, quits his job and takes an around-the-world journey. I read Plane Insanity and enjoyed it very much. This book felt a bit more forced with some rather mundane stories. A few chapters were lightly entertaining, but for the most part I wasn't entertained by most of his "adventures."

[Kai Rush · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I ever read and used many of snippets for my students to use in class. I loved the humor and his celebration of rituals within each society. Have written the author many times and he has responded kindly. I wish he would write more books. He publishes his travel stories on his website.

[Xanthi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt exhausted just reading this book! The author did a lot of travelling, as some of it was rather gruelling. The south pacific chapter was probably my least favourite, due to all the violence and killing of animals. Urgh. The rest of the book contained a lot of humour, some danger, and oh so much sickness. Just as well the author was a seasoned traveller (flight attendant).