What do you think?
Rate this book
Somewhere Found: Travels in Obscurity
For some, travel isn’t just a holiday, but an identity, a way of discovering oneself by wandering the world.
Like Robert Louis Stevenson, who said, “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go,” modern-day flâneur Kyle Battisti has circled the globe, forgoing Insta-famous destinations in favor of the offbeat and uncelebrated, from Kurdistan to Sudan, Mauritania to Lithuania.
Growing up a self-described outsider in 1980s Utah, he was awestruck by Arabian domes he’d unearthed from encyclopedias and the curiously named Yugoslavia of his sixth-grade school report, a fascination with places unknown that persisted as he stumbled into adulthood, now with boarding passes in hand. Somewhere Travels in Obscurity chronicles his far-flung explorations as he gulps down horse sausage in Kyrgyzstan, battles leeches in Sri Lanka, listens for ghosts in a decommissioned Latvian prison, and, one hot-mess Christmas Eve, makes a questionable purchase from a Moldovan at a gay Moscow nightclub.
In intelligent, insightful, and often hilarious detail that evokes the greats — Jan Morris, David Sedaris, Edmund White — Battisti’s forays in “hidden cemeteries, seductive alleys, elaborate doorways, and quiet gardens that both cats and pigeons call home” take readers on an unforgettable armchair journey to captivating places where most of us will never venture.
Like Robert Louis Stevenson, who said, “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go,” modern-day flâneur Kyle Battisti has circled the globe, forgoing Insta-famous destinations in favor of the offbeat and uncelebrated, from Kurdistan to Sudan, Mauritania to Lithuania.
Growing up a self-described outsider in 1980s Utah, he was awestruck by Arabian domes he’d unearthed from encyclopedias and the curiously named Yugoslavia of his sixth-grade school report, a fascination with places unknown that persisted as he stumbled into adulthood, now with boarding passes in hand. Somewhere Travels in Obscurity chronicles his far-flung explorations as he gulps down horse sausage in Kyrgyzstan, battles leeches in Sri Lanka, listens for ghosts in a decommissioned Latvian prison, and, one hot-mess Christmas Eve, makes a questionable purchase from a Moldovan at a gay Moscow nightclub.
In intelligent, insightful, and often hilarious detail that evokes the greats — Jan Morris, David Sedaris, Edmund White — Battisti’s forays in “hidden cemeteries, seductive alleys, elaborate doorways, and quiet gardens that both cats and pigeons call home” take readers on an unforgettable armchair journey to captivating places where most of us will never venture.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 16, 2023
3 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 26, 2025
_Discovering Yourself Through Travel_
Kyle Battisti's book, "Somewhere Found: Travels in Obscurity," is a personal and thoughtful journey that explores the connection between travel and self-discovery. Battisti takes readers on a tour of hidden places, sharing his experiences and reflections on life, philosophy, and human connection.
By penning down, Battisti welcomes readers into traveling with him along the streets and lanes of towns, villages, and all these off-the-beaten-path spots. He bases his writing to reflect more upon isolation, connectivity, and even purpose within deeper reflections in his writing. He writes so lyrical and reflective that it almost feels as though you're alongside him.
Battisti's travels make him reflect on himself as he wonders, "What am I really looking for when I get up and leave my home?" He realizes it is not the places he visits but the people and experiences that make his journey beautiful. Battisti engages himself in every place, peeling back layers of history, culture, and human experience.
The chapters are like a meditation on solitude and belonging. Battisti is introspective in personal revelations while away from the din of life. His writing is humble and thoughtful, an encapsulation of the people and places he writes about.
"Somewhere Found" is not a travel book but a reflection on the nature of discovery, written externally as well as inside. Battisti shows that the greatest discoveries often come from within and that the journey itself is just as important as the destination.
A gem of a book that will inspire you to reflect on your own life and journey, "Somewhere Found" is a treasure you should discover.
Kyle Battisti's book, "Somewhere Found: Travels in Obscurity," is a personal and thoughtful journey that explores the connection between travel and self-discovery. Battisti takes readers on a tour of hidden places, sharing his experiences and reflections on life, philosophy, and human connection.
By penning down, Battisti welcomes readers into traveling with him along the streets and lanes of towns, villages, and all these off-the-beaten-path spots. He bases his writing to reflect more upon isolation, connectivity, and even purpose within deeper reflections in his writing. He writes so lyrical and reflective that it almost feels as though you're alongside him.
Battisti's travels make him reflect on himself as he wonders, "What am I really looking for when I get up and leave my home?" He realizes it is not the places he visits but the people and experiences that make his journey beautiful. Battisti engages himself in every place, peeling back layers of history, culture, and human experience.
The chapters are like a meditation on solitude and belonging. Battisti is introspective in personal revelations while away from the din of life. His writing is humble and thoughtful, an encapsulation of the people and places he writes about.
"Somewhere Found" is not a travel book but a reflection on the nature of discovery, written externally as well as inside. Battisti shows that the greatest discoveries often come from within and that the journey itself is just as important as the destination.
A gem of a book that will inspire you to reflect on your own life and journey, "Somewhere Found" is a treasure you should discover.
January 1, 2024
Kyle decided in his 20s to only travel to obscure places in the world, and to make it his highest priority to be open to unpredictable experiences—things I would never be daring enough to try, like intentionally spending the night in a Latvian prison, or washing down a dinner of horse sausage with fermented mare's milk. With each chapter mostly self-contained, his distinctive wit comes through while also allowing time for an earnest contemplation of life’s purpose. This was the perfect book to read while I was on vacation, to remind me that sometimes the best stories come from moments of unprepared vulnerability.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews