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Fred's Diary 1981: Travels in Asia
Have you ever wanted to read someone else’s diary?
Would you like to experience travelling in Asia without leaving home?
Then this book is for you. Fred’s Diary 1981 is a fascinating insight into a young man’s travels around Asia in the early 1980’s. This is a unique opportunity to delve into Fred's daily diary, which details the 158 days he spent travelling around Asia. Follow Fred throughout his extensive travels to Hong Kong, Thailand, India and Nepal.
Appreciate the many friendships formed along the way with fellow-travellers.
Relive the highs and lows that he experienced during this fascinating journey.
Recognise the huge differences in technology, particularly communications.
Become immersed in the different cultures, peoples and surroundings of Asia in the early 1980's.
Understand more about the drug culture of the 1980's, especially in Thailand and Nepal.
Learn from Fred's youthful mistakes, especially if your dream of travelling to Asia becomes a reality.
Not only a time-capsule but a cautionary tale of gems, drugs, and jail time as he explores waterfalls, Buddhist temples, and snow-capped peaks. Doug E. Jones
Fred’s heart-felt awe towards the beauty and the intensity of the place, his appetite for living the adventure, the mishaps and his clear narrative “takes you there”. Richard Klein
I came to this diary with some expectation, having written a very similar diary myself…and only a few years after this one. And I was not disappointed. Frank Kusy
A real rollercoaster of a read written in a very clever and informative style. This really would make a fascinating movie. Caryl Williams
This book is written with respect and so is not about an Englishman patronisingly describing his trials in another country. Graham Higson
Robert Fear has written a masterpiece. Writing a story in the form of a daily diary is always a challenge but Robert Fear has shown how well he has mastered the art. Pankaj Varma
This book allows for reflection and thought whilst experiencing the culture of Asia in full technicolor. Rukia the Reader
I was attracted to this diary as I was backpacking through some of the same places 33 years later, and I love travel writing. From start to finish I was hooked. G. Hughes
What a wonderful throwback to the 80s. Colour, sounds & sights of Asia are detailed, thoughts dissected which makes this book both fascinating and real. Paul Johnson
I learned what it is to be a traveler as opposed to a tourist. Well written and interesting, and at times, harrowing and turbulent. Bonni Morrison
Would you like to experience travelling in Asia without leaving home?
Then this book is for you. Fred’s Diary 1981 is a fascinating insight into a young man’s travels around Asia in the early 1980’s. This is a unique opportunity to delve into Fred's daily diary, which details the 158 days he spent travelling around Asia. Follow Fred throughout his extensive travels to Hong Kong, Thailand, India and Nepal.
Appreciate the many friendships formed along the way with fellow-travellers.
Relive the highs and lows that he experienced during this fascinating journey.
Recognise the huge differences in technology, particularly communications.
Become immersed in the different cultures, peoples and surroundings of Asia in the early 1980's.
Understand more about the drug culture of the 1980's, especially in Thailand and Nepal.
Learn from Fred's youthful mistakes, especially if your dream of travelling to Asia becomes a reality.
Not only a time-capsule but a cautionary tale of gems, drugs, and jail time as he explores waterfalls, Buddhist temples, and snow-capped peaks. Doug E. Jones
Fred’s heart-felt awe towards the beauty and the intensity of the place, his appetite for living the adventure, the mishaps and his clear narrative “takes you there”. Richard Klein
I came to this diary with some expectation, having written a very similar diary myself…and only a few years after this one. And I was not disappointed. Frank Kusy
A real rollercoaster of a read written in a very clever and informative style. This really would make a fascinating movie. Caryl Williams
This book is written with respect and so is not about an Englishman patronisingly describing his trials in another country. Graham Higson
Robert Fear has written a masterpiece. Writing a story in the form of a daily diary is always a challenge but Robert Fear has shown how well he has mastered the art. Pankaj Varma
This book allows for reflection and thought whilst experiencing the culture of Asia in full technicolor. Rukia the Reader
I was attracted to this diary as I was backpacking through some of the same places 33 years later, and I love travel writing. From start to finish I was hooked. G. Hughes
What a wonderful throwback to the 80s. Colour, sounds & sights of Asia are detailed, thoughts dissected which makes this book both fascinating and real. Paul Johnson
I learned what it is to be a traveler as opposed to a tourist. Well written and interesting, and at times, harrowing and turbulent. Bonni Morrison
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2013
11 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
About the author
Robert Fear
19 books37 followersBorn in Leicester in 1955, Robert's family moved to Surrey when he was 11. He was educated at Reigate Grammar School. After this he worked in a bank in the city for several years before getting the travel bug. Fred, a nickname he got at school, stuck throughout his travels and has remained with him to this day. His travels took him to Ibiza for the summer of 1977, hitch-hiking around Europe in 1978 and the USA and Canada in 1979. During this time he also settled and worked in Germany. Fred's Diary 1981 was written during the 158 days he spent travelling around Asia.
These days Robert is happily settled in Eastbourne, East Sussex where he lives with his wife and three cats. He works as a software consultant and has been able to combine work with some travel during the past fifteen years, having visited countries as far apart as Australia, Singapore, Ghana and Suriname.
Additional background information can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/fredsdiary1981
These days Robert is happily settled in Eastbourne, East Sussex where he lives with his wife and three cats. He works as a software consultant and has been able to combine work with some travel during the past fifteen years, having visited countries as far apart as Australia, Singapore, Ghana and Suriname.
Additional background information can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/fredsdiary1981
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 17, 2022
'Fred's Diary 1981' is a extremely captivating & interesting travel diary that can make excellent reading no matter where you are from. With the meticulousness of a well experienced & seasoned traveler, Robert Fear tells his South-East Asia journey story which can make you travel back to a time very different from our own. The book is well written, well edited, divided into chronological short diary entries & is true to the spirit of tourism. Places like Bangkok, Hong-Kong, Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, Kathmandu, Jammu & Kashmir, Agra etc., are all included in this neat & crisp book. The people encountered in the diary by the author are real & come alive with their eccentricities, their comradely spirit, their stoicism, their belief in inclusion & their tenacity. The book contains the sights, smells, colors, atmosphere & the very soul of these regions in 1981. Fear's friends like Stan, Andy, Rita, Sharon et al., come alive in the reader's mind & consciousness every time the page of the diary is turned. One will tend to wonder where are all these travelers now, what are they up to & what other interesting memories can they share with the world. Fear has an extremely good sense of humor making the book highly entertaining. Travelers, tourists, lovers of memoirs & even recluses will find the book excellent reading. South-East Asian individuals & residents will especially find this book by well accomplished writer Robert Fear to be a sensational & fantastic read. Those who also lived during that time in these countries will feel highly nostalgic & will love this trip back into the past. The book has it's many surprises & one can never know what can happen next. From street food disasters in Mumbai to long cycle rides in Nepal, from visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra to trying to locate a houseboat in Kashmir, from motivating friends in Bangkok to uplifting nights travelling in Indian trains - 'Fred's Diary' is the best thing you can read if you love South East Asia with it's bazaars, traditional street restaurants, heritage structures & it's people. And read on also about the many mysteries contained in the book - will Rita reach India finally? What actually happened to Fred in Bangkok? Will the Agra gem stones sell in Nepal? And what will Fred's final analysis of his one year journey will be? - this & more in Robert Fear's bestselling & excellent non-fiction memoir cum travel book 'Fred's Diary'. Grab your copy of this book today! Being an Indian, I especially found the travels of Robert Fear in India to be fantastic, accurate & very truthful. I especially loved his travels in Mumbai my own city & the way he describes the locals, their preoccupations & the delicious food that Mumbai is famous for. I highly recommend this book to every reader. 'Fred's Diary 1981' undoubtedly gets 5 stars from me! I look forward to reading more travel memoirs by Robert Fear in the coming days.
October 14, 2015
I came to this diary with some expectation, having written a very similar diary myself…and only a few years after this one. And I was not disappointed. ‘Fred's 1981 Diary’ is a fascinating time capsule from the heyday of backpacking round Asia, when Dylan and Marley blasted from tinny tape machines, everybody headed north to the trekky north of Thailand or the funky houseboats of Kashmir, and dope was cheap and plentiful. Though in Fred’s case, the dope gets him into an awful lot of trouble, and after a slow-burn of a start in Hong Kong, where he finds work as a TV extra, we are suddenly plunged into a ‘Midnight Express’ scenario where he is flung into a hellhole of a Thai jail for possession. This section is riveting, and is the stuff of which films should be made. His ‘lucky’ escape – or rather deportation – leads him on to Nepal, where he somehow negotiates a gruelling week of trekking on a whole cornucopia of drugs (respect!), then on to India, where he survives a number of near-death bus journeys, witnesses (and beautifully describes) a Kashmiri wedding ceremony, and battles with his feelings for girlfriend Rita, who has joined him from Germany. This latter part of the book I particularly enjoyed – far less straight reporting, far more reflection on the nature of relationships, and indeed of the nature of life itself. Okay, an awful lot of illicit substances have gone down by this point, but Fred – as honest and revealing as ever – tells it how it is: “I feel I’ve learned a lot, using hash and grass to set me thinking, not just to get blasted.” And it is this honesty, coupled with a very engaging and readable writing style, that ensures that this diary reads as fresh today as when it was first written. Highly recommended.
July 8, 2019
A very enjoyable and very detailed diary.
I was lucky enough to win a signed paperback copy of this book in a competition. I also have the kindle editions of both the new edition and the older edition, and, at various times, I did read parts of all of them to compare-eg: when I was at a hospital appointment, rather than taking my precious signed copy, I read on the original kindle version-I later got the brand new kindle version and continued reading from the two new editions.
I like diary format-this is kept very simple, it feels as if it would be very authentic to the original diary. Some of it is almost just notes then some sentences are fuller. I like how it is as it was then-it's not been written years later and things tried to remember-this is the actual diary he kept at the time. It's now all in one volume and I still re-read and enjoyed the first two sections I'd read previously in his two shorter books (£99 to Hong Kong and Time in Thailand).
We’re soon exploring India. This is the kind of writing I love to read; informative, describing the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of the area. We have climate details, these happen throughout his trip and I found it welcome information. It’s very interesting finding out all the places he plans to visit: Agra, Nepal, Sri Lanka. Also very interesting is reading about the night bazaar with all the stalls selling their wares and the food stalls too where the food is cooked on-site. This is a very detailed diary-there really is everything in here-both of local interest etc, the foods he had, how much it cost and right down to the times he woke up and went to bed! A very open, honest and revealing diary which appeals very nicely to my nosey nature.
I love reading of other people's travels to far flung destinations. It means I get the feel of going there without all the inconveniences. There are great examples and descriptions of his seeing the sights to be seen-the first bit of the diary doesn't have this because of his unexpected detour to prison! Contained in this book are the author’s adventures, the people he meets: other travellers and locals, the foods he eats, the sights he sees. It's all a very interesting log of a memorable trip of a few months from many years ago. Apple crumble?-I was somehow amused to hear that they do this pudding here! It seemed so out of place and unexpected! Eg: fried rice, daal, vegetable curry......Apple crumble!!!!!
Of course, this is in the days before email and he keeps checking if he has any post-only to find there is frequently none. There are news events from the time included-e.g., mention of The Ripper sentenced to life imprisonment. I like how he tells of the books he is reading at various times throughout his trip. One of particular interest, I wondered if this book was still available? It was amazing to think that here was a type of travel book which was interesting ‘Fred’ back then-and he was to end up writing such a book himself. I found this book is still available so this introduced me to yet another book! This is the kind of thing I do-I don’t just read quickly through something-for those few days or week etc. when I’m reading a book such as this, I live it!-I enjoy looking things up and finding out more about the places mentioned etc. I love lots of detail and I get so much out of it. I realise that, for some people, the detail may be a bit exhaustive and indeed, this new edition has quite a few pages less than the original one-but, it’s just my sort of thing. I loved the intrigue about whether Rita would reply, what was going on? Was it on or off with her? Fred certainly keeps us guessing with the Rita aspect!
So he mentions he did take plenty of pictures-I would have liked some in here. Oh my goodness! But oh my how interesting where they see the bodies burning and about what they do with the ones not cremated. And another thing-he's brought out this new edition-and this year 2015-has exactly the same days and dates as 1981. I do like how things tie in like this-what a great idea to bring out a new edition in a year which mirrors the original. It's great, it's just written in normal, everyday language-a genuine, authentic, REAL diary. Just read it like that, it's not meant to be an action novel! Just real, true, raw. And I like that. Oh my goodness, SO interesting-the bit about the Hanging Gardens.
I was reading this book whilst waiting for a hospital appointment and was so engrossed in it that I jumped out of my skin when the doctor called my name out! This is a record of an experience, a moment in Fred's history, it tells it like it was. It doesn't need any dressing up. I really enjoyed it. The diary has engrossing moments and more 'normal' moments too-this is real life. This is an edited and updated edition and I noticed on comparing my different editions that some bits are missed out-I loved all the details but I accept he may have been recommended to take some excess out. There’s still plenty of detail and info in here-a great record of Fred's trip, very enjoyable.
I was lucky enough to win a signed paperback copy of this book in a competition. I also have the kindle editions of both the new edition and the older edition, and, at various times, I did read parts of all of them to compare-eg: when I was at a hospital appointment, rather than taking my precious signed copy, I read on the original kindle version-I later got the brand new kindle version and continued reading from the two new editions.
I like diary format-this is kept very simple, it feels as if it would be very authentic to the original diary. Some of it is almost just notes then some sentences are fuller. I like how it is as it was then-it's not been written years later and things tried to remember-this is the actual diary he kept at the time. It's now all in one volume and I still re-read and enjoyed the first two sections I'd read previously in his two shorter books (£99 to Hong Kong and Time in Thailand).
We’re soon exploring India. This is the kind of writing I love to read; informative, describing the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of the area. We have climate details, these happen throughout his trip and I found it welcome information. It’s very interesting finding out all the places he plans to visit: Agra, Nepal, Sri Lanka. Also very interesting is reading about the night bazaar with all the stalls selling their wares and the food stalls too where the food is cooked on-site. This is a very detailed diary-there really is everything in here-both of local interest etc, the foods he had, how much it cost and right down to the times he woke up and went to bed! A very open, honest and revealing diary which appeals very nicely to my nosey nature.
I love reading of other people's travels to far flung destinations. It means I get the feel of going there without all the inconveniences. There are great examples and descriptions of his seeing the sights to be seen-the first bit of the diary doesn't have this because of his unexpected detour to prison! Contained in this book are the author’s adventures, the people he meets: other travellers and locals, the foods he eats, the sights he sees. It's all a very interesting log of a memorable trip of a few months from many years ago. Apple crumble?-I was somehow amused to hear that they do this pudding here! It seemed so out of place and unexpected! Eg: fried rice, daal, vegetable curry......Apple crumble!!!!!
Of course, this is in the days before email and he keeps checking if he has any post-only to find there is frequently none. There are news events from the time included-e.g., mention of The Ripper sentenced to life imprisonment. I like how he tells of the books he is reading at various times throughout his trip. One of particular interest, I wondered if this book was still available? It was amazing to think that here was a type of travel book which was interesting ‘Fred’ back then-and he was to end up writing such a book himself. I found this book is still available so this introduced me to yet another book! This is the kind of thing I do-I don’t just read quickly through something-for those few days or week etc. when I’m reading a book such as this, I live it!-I enjoy looking things up and finding out more about the places mentioned etc. I love lots of detail and I get so much out of it. I realise that, for some people, the detail may be a bit exhaustive and indeed, this new edition has quite a few pages less than the original one-but, it’s just my sort of thing. I loved the intrigue about whether Rita would reply, what was going on? Was it on or off with her? Fred certainly keeps us guessing with the Rita aspect!
So he mentions he did take plenty of pictures-I would have liked some in here. Oh my goodness! But oh my how interesting where they see the bodies burning and about what they do with the ones not cremated. And another thing-he's brought out this new edition-and this year 2015-has exactly the same days and dates as 1981. I do like how things tie in like this-what a great idea to bring out a new edition in a year which mirrors the original. It's great, it's just written in normal, everyday language-a genuine, authentic, REAL diary. Just read it like that, it's not meant to be an action novel! Just real, true, raw. And I like that. Oh my goodness, SO interesting-the bit about the Hanging Gardens.
I was reading this book whilst waiting for a hospital appointment and was so engrossed in it that I jumped out of my skin when the doctor called my name out! This is a record of an experience, a moment in Fred's history, it tells it like it was. It doesn't need any dressing up. I really enjoyed it. The diary has engrossing moments and more 'normal' moments too-this is real life. This is an edited and updated edition and I noticed on comparing my different editions that some bits are missed out-I loved all the details but I accept he may have been recommended to take some excess out. There’s still plenty of detail and info in here-a great record of Fred's trip, very enjoyable.
February 4, 2016
I really enjoyed this travel diary which Fred kept as he journeyed firstly to Hong Kong then on to Thailand where he regrettably ended up in jail. After being deported he records his time in both India and Nepal. If you are looking for a travel guide this is not the book for you but it does give an insight into the reality of how it was for young western travellers over 30 years ago. Every day Fred would jot down all the details of what he did and saw or even ate. It was so interesting to see how he kept a note of exactly how much he spent on drinks and food etc I bet it’s a whole lot more expensive now! In Thailand he was charged with possessing grass and thrown into jail. This was a particularly difficult experience but even there drugs helped to while away the tedium and anxious waiting for release. In fact drugs feature prominently throughout. It’s amazing what a young body can withstand! We learn of his exploits in Nepal and in India and of the friendships and camaraderie among fellow travellers. In among the minutiae there are also some beautiful descriptions for example of leaving Kathmandu Overall he had a marvellous and life changing experience which he has written about very honestly.
January 6, 2016
A Fascinating Journey!
Fred's Diary 1981 is based on Fred's actual hand-written diary as he travels to Hong Kong, Thailand, India and Nepal. Jotting daily notes, he records the mundane and the marvelous!
In Hong Kong, he finds work as an extra in a TV production, then picks up his backpack and moves on to Thailand. Being stoned is a big part of Fred's travel adventures and being in possession of drugs gets him thrown into a Thai jail. Seemingly hell, I felt anxious while reading this chapter. But Fred handles it well, thanks to smoking more grass. Oh the folly of youth! Luck is on his side, and he gets deported to Nepal where he explores waterfalls, treks snow-capped mountains, and visits Buddhist temples. Then on to near-death bus rides, a wedding in Kashmir, and beyond—Fred discovers what works and what doesn't in his journey.
As a world traveler, I enjoyed Fred's reflections of the different cultures, the new foods he enjoyed, and the special friendships he formed with fellow travelers as he backpacked through Asia in the early 1980’s.
Fred's Diary 1981 is based on Fred's actual hand-written diary as he travels to Hong Kong, Thailand, India and Nepal. Jotting daily notes, he records the mundane and the marvelous!
In Hong Kong, he finds work as an extra in a TV production, then picks up his backpack and moves on to Thailand. Being stoned is a big part of Fred's travel adventures and being in possession of drugs gets him thrown into a Thai jail. Seemingly hell, I felt anxious while reading this chapter. But Fred handles it well, thanks to smoking more grass. Oh the folly of youth! Luck is on his side, and he gets deported to Nepal where he explores waterfalls, treks snow-capped mountains, and visits Buddhist temples. Then on to near-death bus rides, a wedding in Kashmir, and beyond—Fred discovers what works and what doesn't in his journey.
As a world traveler, I enjoyed Fred's reflections of the different cultures, the new foods he enjoyed, and the special friendships he formed with fellow travelers as he backpacked through Asia in the early 1980’s.
April 5, 2019
Robert Fear Fred’s Diary 1981, Travels in Asia
Long periods of travel of the sight-seeing variety inevitably involve much that is routine, unremarkable and, occasionally downright boring. Travel writers and diarists often make this explicit as does Bruce Chatwin in “In Patagonia” and William Fiennes even more eloquently in “The Snow Geese”.
Robert Fear, in “Fred’s Diary 1981”, Travels in Asia also records the humdrum, the unexceptional and the ordinary – until, that is, he finds himself swept up by Thai police in a drug raid in Northern Thailand. It is then that this book changes gear and the commonplace becomes the extraordinary, the nightmare from which there is no relief in wakening up. The author becomes embroiled in the chain of corruption that may or may not lead to his release.
After reading and enjoying “Fred’s Diary 1981”, I am glad that my own exploratory travelling was conducted in a much earlier and more prudent and period where temptations were few and far between and temperance and self-discipline was more the norm.
Long periods of travel of the sight-seeing variety inevitably involve much that is routine, unremarkable and, occasionally downright boring. Travel writers and diarists often make this explicit as does Bruce Chatwin in “In Patagonia” and William Fiennes even more eloquently in “The Snow Geese”.
Robert Fear, in “Fred’s Diary 1981”, Travels in Asia also records the humdrum, the unexceptional and the ordinary – until, that is, he finds himself swept up by Thai police in a drug raid in Northern Thailand. It is then that this book changes gear and the commonplace becomes the extraordinary, the nightmare from which there is no relief in wakening up. The author becomes embroiled in the chain of corruption that may or may not lead to his release.
After reading and enjoying “Fred’s Diary 1981”, I am glad that my own exploratory travelling was conducted in a much earlier and more prudent and period where temptations were few and far between and temperance and self-discipline was more the norm.
December 4, 2022
A BRAVE MAN TO RELEASE SUCH A PERSONAL DIARY
Firstly it has to be noted that this is a Dairy and not a memoir, which I found hard to come to grips with especially in the beginning. There is a lot of trivia, like Fred’s diligent recording of exactly when he goes to bed and gets up again, I would love to know what this is about plus, I had many unanswered question because of the lack of description especially when he was in Thailand.
However, as the story progressed so did Fred’s enthusiasm for his surroundings which then kept me well entertained in amongst the normal rigmarole of life which obviously follows you wherever in the world you travel.
Fred’s lifestyle in the 80’s was far removed from my own, and it was interesting to learn about an alternative approach to life, and I live in wonder how his body survived the abuse.
A ENLIGHTENING READ
Firstly it has to be noted that this is a Dairy and not a memoir, which I found hard to come to grips with especially in the beginning. There is a lot of trivia, like Fred’s diligent recording of exactly when he goes to bed and gets up again, I would love to know what this is about plus, I had many unanswered question because of the lack of description especially when he was in Thailand.
However, as the story progressed so did Fred’s enthusiasm for his surroundings which then kept me well entertained in amongst the normal rigmarole of life which obviously follows you wherever in the world you travel.
Fred’s lifestyle in the 80’s was far removed from my own, and it was interesting to learn about an alternative approach to life, and I live in wonder how his body survived the abuse.
A ENLIGHTENING READ
February 21, 2015
I am enjoying something of a renaissance I feel at the moment delving into travel memoirs of the 1980's and this one certainly does not disappoint. Written in a diary format it not only takes you on a journey, but delivers a reality experience from a time when social media did not insist on delivering your story in real time. This book allows for reflection and thought whilst experiencing the culture of Asia in full technicolor. Some of the scrapes that he gets into by today's standards would be breaking news! This is a large book and the format means you get all the detail warts 'n' all, as a diary dictates. I love this because I am nosey and intrigued about other people's lives and the choices they make. This is not a travel guide selling the dream of backpacking in Asia. Instead it is a true, sometimes brutally honest account of one man's adventure. However, if you can relate to a version of the 1960's set in Asia in the 1980's added to a spirit of 'he who dares wins' then this is a journey to be enjoyed. I know work on this book is in progress and I look forward to finding out more by following his new blog page :)
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December 31, 2014
This fascinating book in diary format about the author's travels through Asia back in 1981 started off quite quietly, and I wasn't sure about the writing style where every detail was recorded but I soon got into it, and my goodness did it pick up. A real rollercoaster of a read written in a very clever and informative style. This really would make a fascinating movie, as one reviewer has already stated. Kept me hooked and reading until the end. I don't want to give too much away by revealing all that happened but I highly recommend this book for anyone, like myself who is fascinated by travel in Asia, what not to do whilst there, Asian travel back in the 80's, or for anyone who just enjoys a good read
April 9, 2021
An open and thought provoking read.
In 1981 Fred takes leave from his bank job to travel to Asia.
The account of his journey and experiences is written in a diary format giving day by day descriptions of his travels in Hong Kong, Thailand, India and Nepal.
It was certainly different kind of read for me, but I found it hard to put down.
In 1981 Fred takes leave from his bank job to travel to Asia.
The account of his journey and experiences is written in a diary format giving day by day descriptions of his travels in Hong Kong, Thailand, India and Nepal.
It was certainly different kind of read for me, but I found it hard to put down.
Want to read
October 25, 2017FREE on Amazon today (10/25/2017)!
August 6, 2014
Fred’s Diary is just that, a diary. This book is a compilation of the daily writings of Robert Fear describing his travels through Asia, his personal experiences, thoughts, and growth.
It will take you a while to get into the cadence of the work. It is a daily diary, some days extremely monotonous, others documenting fascinating events. Just like life. Some entries are explicit in description of interesting places, others are a simple indication of having gone somewhere, visited a city, or taken a ferry. Personally, I’d have appreciated more description of these excursions. For example, the author mentions a visit to the Taj Mahal … a place that would merit a poetic description. But, this isn’t the intent of Fred’s Diary, it is not a novel … but simply a non-fiction journal of events. A most interesting part, for me at least, describes Fear's experiences following arrest and imprisonment for a drug bust in Thailand. The uncertainty, bribery temptation, surprising availability of drugs while in this prison, fairly liberal visitation permissions, etc., … are all educational. The story will bring forth some dèja vu regarding late 70s and early 80s technology, a fun walk down memory lane. For example, the Sony Walkman was a big thing, and there is no cell phone, and people still wrote letters - not emails.
No need to suspend any beliefs, this is a true story. Enjoyed.
It will take you a while to get into the cadence of the work. It is a daily diary, some days extremely monotonous, others documenting fascinating events. Just like life. Some entries are explicit in description of interesting places, others are a simple indication of having gone somewhere, visited a city, or taken a ferry. Personally, I’d have appreciated more description of these excursions. For example, the author mentions a visit to the Taj Mahal … a place that would merit a poetic description. But, this isn’t the intent of Fred’s Diary, it is not a novel … but simply a non-fiction journal of events. A most interesting part, for me at least, describes Fear's experiences following arrest and imprisonment for a drug bust in Thailand. The uncertainty, bribery temptation, surprising availability of drugs while in this prison, fairly liberal visitation permissions, etc., … are all educational. The story will bring forth some dèja vu regarding late 70s and early 80s technology, a fun walk down memory lane. For example, the Sony Walkman was a big thing, and there is no cell phone, and people still wrote letters - not emails.
No need to suspend any beliefs, this is a true story. Enjoyed.
October 8, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Robert's accounts of his travels in Asia. It's a great insight into what was the standard 'pilgrimage' for young people in the 1970s and 1980s: to experience the exotic cultures and the breath-taking landscapes of south-east Asia, India and Nepal. Robert's diary is both a pithy travelogue and also a reality check in a way for what can also go wrong and the consequences of being in a different culture with different ways.
I definitely recommend this memoir, with one proviso. This is a diary, straight out, not a memoir in the usual sense of a carefully crafted, re-imagining of the past. The text is bare-bones and contains repetitive observations, completely in keeping with it being a diary. This strict diary-style might be off-putting for some, and I struggled in the beginning until I came to terms with the fact that this is a diary, not a fleshed out memoir. After that I enjoyed it much more, simply reading on and taking in larger sections so that I got the 'flow' of it all.
Robert has also bared himself here and for that I take my hat off. He doesn't attempt to reposition himself in a better (or worse) light, but to simply record what was happening and his immediate reactions at that time.
Insightful and stripped of any pretence of an author's 'after-market' tinkering, I found Robert's diary an intriguing and thought-provoking read.
I definitely recommend this memoir, with one proviso. This is a diary, straight out, not a memoir in the usual sense of a carefully crafted, re-imagining of the past. The text is bare-bones and contains repetitive observations, completely in keeping with it being a diary. This strict diary-style might be off-putting for some, and I struggled in the beginning until I came to terms with the fact that this is a diary, not a fleshed out memoir. After that I enjoyed it much more, simply reading on and taking in larger sections so that I got the 'flow' of it all.
Robert has also bared himself here and for that I take my hat off. He doesn't attempt to reposition himself in a better (or worse) light, but to simply record what was happening and his immediate reactions at that time.
Insightful and stripped of any pretence of an author's 'after-market' tinkering, I found Robert's diary an intriguing and thought-provoking read.
July 21, 2014
Robert Fear has written a masterpiece. Writing a story in the form of a daily diary is always a challenge but Robert Fear has shown how well he has mastered the art. On first look the presentation is simple – almost too simple. The reader is likely to be put off in the beginning with mundane details – the price of each and every item bought, the menu at every meal – but within a couple of pages the reader is mesmerized with the underlying beauty and gets hooked. The era is captured beautifully. Getting initiated into the use of chopsticks, buying a glass of water for 5 paise, asking for coke and getting a drink called campa cola, the roadside scenes and imagery, the hotels, the eating places, all produce a strong sense of déjà vu in everyone who has been in that world.
The story is beautifully woven and unfolds slowly. Right in the beginning the protagonist gets into prison and then gets deported. The story starts building up from the freedom he experiences after this episode. The whole thing is handled beautifully and the book is a must read for anyone who has lived or been to India or the Far East in the 1980s or thereabouts.
The story is beautifully woven and unfolds slowly. Right in the beginning the protagonist gets into prison and then gets deported. The story starts building up from the freedom he experiences after this episode. The whole thing is handled beautifully and the book is a must read for anyone who has lived or been to India or the Far East in the 1980s or thereabouts.
October 13, 2016
This was a trip on many levels: in terms of backpacking in 1981 with the differences between that age and this; a trip inside a man's mind who at times grapples with emotional survival with his on & off girlfriend but also grapples with survival when he lands in a Thai jail for possession of drugs; and a psychological trip because the author smokes SO much weed during this journey. It's an odyssey in dope and other nefarious substances and I did wonder if at any stage he'd end up quitting the drugs.
I enjoyed the read a lot but did hope for some further insights to go along with the detail of his days and some of the actual conversations he had that were the most interesting. I think he's a brave guy for managing incarceration, job disappointments, girlfriend sagas (although I would have loved to know what all the arguments were about?) and how he transitioned to life back in Europe.
I enjoyed the read a lot but did hope for some further insights to go along with the detail of his days and some of the actual conversations he had that were the most interesting. I think he's a brave guy for managing incarceration, job disappointments, girlfriend sagas (although I would have loved to know what all the arguments were about?) and how he transitioned to life back in Europe.
January 9, 2016
An interesting look back at the tail end of the hippy trail of the 1980s, when Fred abandons his job with a bank and goes off backpacking round Asia from Hong Kong through Thailand to India and Nepal.
Recording his daily life meticulously, Fred's diary gives the reader an intimate account of his journey, which is about self-discovery as much as discovery of the countries he visits. The reader shares his meals (as a lover of Asian cuisine my mouth watered more than once), his lodgings, his fellow travellers and his casual use of dope, which lands him in jail.
What I most appreciated in this book is his openness and honesty in revealing his inner thoughts and feelings about himself, about his hopes for the future, and his angst regarding his complicated relationship with his on/off girlfriend who joins him towards the end of his journey.
An entertaining read.
Recording his daily life meticulously, Fred's diary gives the reader an intimate account of his journey, which is about self-discovery as much as discovery of the countries he visits. The reader shares his meals (as a lover of Asian cuisine my mouth watered more than once), his lodgings, his fellow travellers and his casual use of dope, which lands him in jail.
What I most appreciated in this book is his openness and honesty in revealing his inner thoughts and feelings about himself, about his hopes for the future, and his angst regarding his complicated relationship with his on/off girlfriend who joins him towards the end of his journey.
An entertaining read.
October 5, 2015
INSIGHT INTO ASIA
Fred gives the reader an insight into many of the places he visited a few decades ago. I suspect a lot has changed since then, but many of the most important remain. I particularly liked his descriptions of the Taj Mahal in India. I was also amazed at how brave he was still smoking grass while waiting to be deported after being locked up for the same offence. His descriptions of prison were perhaps the scenes that I will remember the most. I would have liked more description of the surroundings and less of the drug taking and smoking and the daily diary routine was a little repetitive. A book reminiscent of the times when the youth went to the far east to think about life and sort out feelings.
Fred gives the reader an insight into many of the places he visited a few decades ago. I suspect a lot has changed since then, but many of the most important remain. I particularly liked his descriptions of the Taj Mahal in India. I was also amazed at how brave he was still smoking grass while waiting to be deported after being locked up for the same offence. His descriptions of prison were perhaps the scenes that I will remember the most. I would have liked more description of the surroundings and less of the drug taking and smoking and the daily diary routine was a little repetitive. A book reminiscent of the times when the youth went to the far east to think about life and sort out feelings.
January 9, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. I have never visited Asia so I was keen to experience it through this diarised account of a young man's travels in the 1980's. A sense of honesty comes through, which is a strong influence in this format of writing as it is an open and detailed account of the people, the places and personal adventures he experienced. I applaud the author for including some of what we might call 'ordinary' aspects of travel and day to day living as it reinforces that this is true and not fictionalised. Highly recommended for travel writing fans.Fred's Diary 1981
November 7, 2014
~~~RECEIVED FOR AN HONEST REVIEW~~~
Not being able to travel to the many places that Fred's Diary talks about, I was able to enjoy the journey though Robert's writing. This book was very intriguing and I was always looking forward to the next journey he took you on!
Not being able to travel to the many places that Fred's Diary talks about, I was able to enjoy the journey though Robert's writing. This book was very intriguing and I was always looking forward to the next journey he took you on!
December 30, 2015
I won this book as a First Reads Book. Very good descriptions of travels. He enjoys the beauty of nature and other countries so much....it takes you right along with him. The many experiences, he leads you through are exciting and interesting.
August 20, 2020
uthor Robert Fear opens up the pages documenting his 1981 travels to Hong Kong, Thailand, India, and Nepal. Keep in mind this is not a fictional story nor a travel guide to use in your travels, but it is interesting.
These are the daily, detailed exploits of a young man who meets people, sees places, and records the nuances of each day. It takes discipline to register every day on a trip, but Fred’s Diary capitalizes on that effort.
In reading the details of the 158 days of adventure, I wondered how the remote destinations, costs, and interactions might differ nearly 40 years later along the same path. There are several references to towns, travel destinations, and new acquaintances made along the way, which made me wonder how much of this remains today.
“… Sped off into the traffic and within five minutes were at the office of the houseboat company. We chatted over a cup of tea to the owner, a young Kashmir guy whose father owned the houseboats. We agreed to take a place on one of the boats for our first night in Srinagar at least. This will cost R60 with breakfast for a C category room.
We were driven to the Indian Airlines office where Rita got a ticket to Bombay leaving at 8:30 p.m. on the 25th. The flight takes an hour and three quarters and should leave plenty of time for her to connect with the flight back to Frankfurt. The cost was US$81 which is expensive but saves all the hassle and time involved if she’d had to get the train down there.”
The honesty of his experiences over the length of the trip was evident. His writing is clear and concise as well as transparent. It was precisely how it was for him at the time. The drug usage isn’t my cup of tea, but it was available in many places with few regulations. I appreciate the writing as thoughts of the times from a young man who enjoyed the time he traveled.
I recommend this diary for those over 20. It is a look-see inside someone else or, indeed, watching the world through someone’s eyes. It would be interesting if Fred would make the trip again today and compare the younger to the older Fred.
These are the daily, detailed exploits of a young man who meets people, sees places, and records the nuances of each day. It takes discipline to register every day on a trip, but Fred’s Diary capitalizes on that effort.
In reading the details of the 158 days of adventure, I wondered how the remote destinations, costs, and interactions might differ nearly 40 years later along the same path. There are several references to towns, travel destinations, and new acquaintances made along the way, which made me wonder how much of this remains today.
“… Sped off into the traffic and within five minutes were at the office of the houseboat company. We chatted over a cup of tea to the owner, a young Kashmir guy whose father owned the houseboats. We agreed to take a place on one of the boats for our first night in Srinagar at least. This will cost R60 with breakfast for a C category room.
We were driven to the Indian Airlines office where Rita got a ticket to Bombay leaving at 8:30 p.m. on the 25th. The flight takes an hour and three quarters and should leave plenty of time for her to connect with the flight back to Frankfurt. The cost was US$81 which is expensive but saves all the hassle and time involved if she’d had to get the train down there.”
The honesty of his experiences over the length of the trip was evident. His writing is clear and concise as well as transparent. It was precisely how it was for him at the time. The drug usage isn’t my cup of tea, but it was available in many places with few regulations. I appreciate the writing as thoughts of the times from a young man who enjoyed the time he traveled.
I recommend this diary for those over 20. It is a look-see inside someone else or, indeed, watching the world through someone’s eyes. It would be interesting if Fred would make the trip again today and compare the younger to the older Fred.
June 17, 2022
Fred’s Diary 1981 began with him landing in Hong Kong in mid-February 1981 for a five-month adventure. He (Robert Fear) had strategically planned his Asian excursion by saving his money and packing up his courage for this great feat. He thought he could find a job in his field as a banker, but that did not pan out. So, interestingly, he got a job on movie sets as a stand-in actor for a while. Amazing!
But, he met his Waterloo in Thailand and was detained for possessing a small amount of weed. It was a long, harrowing experience but he learned a lot by watching those on the hard stuff and made a vow to never go that route. After many bribes and oodles of cash, he was finally freed and continued on to Nepal.
He fell in love with the city of Darjeeling where he could truly walk and clear his mind on a regular basis. He met countless souls along the way often chatting, smoking, enjoying highs, landscapes and good food. No matter what, he journaled and read nightly which sustained and stabilized him.
He spent the last leg of his trip in humongous India where one of his girlfriends joined him. She flew down to Bombay from Frankfurt. They took trains, buses, trishaws or walked as they explored the country and even lived on a houseboat for a stretch. Fred’s determination to always take the time to ‘sort things out,’ kept him churning on!
But, he met his Waterloo in Thailand and was detained for possessing a small amount of weed. It was a long, harrowing experience but he learned a lot by watching those on the hard stuff and made a vow to never go that route. After many bribes and oodles of cash, he was finally freed and continued on to Nepal.
He fell in love with the city of Darjeeling where he could truly walk and clear his mind on a regular basis. He met countless souls along the way often chatting, smoking, enjoying highs, landscapes and good food. No matter what, he journaled and read nightly which sustained and stabilized him.
He spent the last leg of his trip in humongous India where one of his girlfriends joined him. She flew down to Bombay from Frankfurt. They took trains, buses, trishaws or walked as they explored the country and even lived on a houseboat for a stretch. Fred’s determination to always take the time to ‘sort things out,’ kept him churning on!
March 1, 2022
A Diary packed full of Adventure.
I loved the diary format of this book, making for easy reading, very descriptive and informative, so much so you can almost taste and smell the foods whilst listening to the sounds of the area and the night bazaars. How wonderful to watch the street vendors cooking up your meal whilst you wait.
Travelling through Hong Kong to Thailand, onto Nepal and India we follow Robert, aka Fred, on his travels where he takes us through each day of his journey. This is an honest, realistic and often eye-opening account of his travels through Asia along with his imprisonment in a Thai prison for possession.
With no other way than good old post to keep in touch with family, friends and not forgetting Rita, he spends time checking at the local post offices, often to be disappointed as no letters this time.
I admire your honest account of what must have been a life-changing journey. Thank you, Robert
I loved the diary format of this book, making for easy reading, very descriptive and informative, so much so you can almost taste and smell the foods whilst listening to the sounds of the area and the night bazaars. How wonderful to watch the street vendors cooking up your meal whilst you wait.
Travelling through Hong Kong to Thailand, onto Nepal and India we follow Robert, aka Fred, on his travels where he takes us through each day of his journey. This is an honest, realistic and often eye-opening account of his travels through Asia along with his imprisonment in a Thai prison for possession.
With no other way than good old post to keep in touch with family, friends and not forgetting Rita, he spends time checking at the local post offices, often to be disappointed as no letters this time.
I admire your honest account of what must have been a life-changing journey. Thank you, Robert
September 25, 2023
Friends and letters, uppers and downers
It's always interesting to get a window into another's way of doing things, and this book is a window into another time as well. In this case the "thing" Fred is doing is traveling, and he does it very differently to me! I thought he smoked too much weed, but I found his experiences very interesting regardless, and it was fascinating for me to see how communication had to be done by travellers back then. At one point, Fred even sends a telegram! He still does manage to communicate with everyone and have a great time, and I found myself wishing for a sequel or an epilogue so I could find out what happened with Rita and Jan and if he ever saw Stan and Andy again. Fred really brought these people to life in his writing, and I found myself caring about what happened to them.
It's always interesting to get a window into another's way of doing things, and this book is a window into another time as well. In this case the "thing" Fred is doing is traveling, and he does it very differently to me! I thought he smoked too much weed, but I found his experiences very interesting regardless, and it was fascinating for me to see how communication had to be done by travellers back then. At one point, Fred even sends a telegram! He still does manage to communicate with everyone and have a great time, and I found myself wishing for a sequel or an epilogue so I could find out what happened with Rita and Jan and if he ever saw Stan and Andy again. Fred really brought these people to life in his writing, and I found myself caring about what happened to them.
July 9, 2019
When I read this book, I had to keep reminding myself that it is a diary. It is not a novel, a biography, or a travel book. I say this because my expectations were that it would read more like a travelogue. I expected to learn more about the people, geography and the culture of the regions he visited. There was definitely some of that, but not enough for my reading and learning pleasure. I learned more about the drugs taken and alcohol consumed almost daily.
The book needs an editor. There were many grammatical errors.
The book needs an editor. There were many grammatical errors.
April 4, 2018
I did not find this very entertaining. It is a basic diary informing you of when he went to bed or woke up or got on a train. You can read of what he smoked, what he ate, who he talked to and how much he paid for things. Just not my cup of tea. Some people seemed to have enjoyed this book.
March 26, 2019
Tedious but its a Diary
This Diary is what the author lived and experienced so has value to him. Has no value to this reader except drug use is stupid and using in Asia is destructive. The tone of voice is like a diary and I kept hoping for something else, but didn't happen.
This Diary is what the author lived and experienced so has value to him. Has no value to this reader except drug use is stupid and using in Asia is destructive. The tone of voice is like a diary and I kept hoping for something else, but didn't happen.
July 16, 2019
If you want to read bullet point type list of daily activity; what he ate, what time he went to bed and woke in the morning, this book is for you. I kept waiting for it to get more interesting but it didn't.
April 16, 2019
It’s been about two weeks since I completed this book. As my memory is still fresh I find it difficult to put the words down for review. I journaled for 17 years, not a day by day, blow by blow diary, yet I think I understand his intention. The story provides nice descriptions of his time spent and the wonders he encountered and the people he came to know and befriend. It was not an easy read for me. I guess I’m surprised how some reviewers loved it, not so surprised by those that also had difficulty. The book rates a three of five from my read.
September 13, 2014
I frequently found myself disinterested and skimming forward in this book. Yes, it’s a personal diary, so it can’t be expected to read like a novel — but Fred says he’s writing this diary specifically for others to read, so I think it’s fair to scrutinize the material.
Mundane information seems to get the most attention in this book. Time of day and currency exchange rates are carefully noted. The reader hears about every minor physical complaint Fred has, his aches and pains and diarrhea, and how he’s budgeting his money, and the precise list of foods he ate that day. But Fred very rarely describes the places he spends his time in, or any actual interesting aspects of his journey. He’ll tell you that he went shopping and bought shampoo. What kind of store did he visit and what did he see along the way? Who knows? He’ll tell you that he bought some lichees and ate them, and that lichees are a type of fruit. That’s it. If you don’t know what a lichee looks or tastes like, or how to peel one, well, this account certainly isn’t going to tell you.
The same few shorthand descriptions are used a lot. Nearly everything Fred eats is described as “tasty”, whether it’s a local specialty or just peanut butter on toast. And every conversation is “a nice chat”, with no hint of what was chatted about. Fellow travellers are just names and nationalities, rarely given any distinguishing characteristics. I found it all disappointingly vague for a diary that’s meant to share experience and understanding. Fred does have occasional reflective moments where he describes some striking scenery, or shares a philosophical thought in enough detail that I actually felt included, but these moments were vanishingly rare.
The blurb also promises an understanding of drug culture. But there’s no real discussion of cultural attitudes, not even when Fred is surprised to find himself in prison for drug possession. After that brief stint in prison, Fred learns nothing and casually does a wide variety of drugs with almost everyone he meets, with no consequences or difficulties. Just about every fellow traveller pulled out some weed/hash/opium to share with Fred, to my strained belief. Most days’ entries are dominated by doing drugs, feeling good, lazing around the … wherever it was Fred was staying at any given time, and having those “nice chats” with nondescript people.
This book does have a few interesting moments, and a casual tone that’s easy to read. But I don’t feel like I experienced or learned enough to make it worth my time.
Mundane information seems to get the most attention in this book. Time of day and currency exchange rates are carefully noted. The reader hears about every minor physical complaint Fred has, his aches and pains and diarrhea, and how he’s budgeting his money, and the precise list of foods he ate that day. But Fred very rarely describes the places he spends his time in, or any actual interesting aspects of his journey. He’ll tell you that he went shopping and bought shampoo. What kind of store did he visit and what did he see along the way? Who knows? He’ll tell you that he bought some lichees and ate them, and that lichees are a type of fruit. That’s it. If you don’t know what a lichee looks or tastes like, or how to peel one, well, this account certainly isn’t going to tell you.
The same few shorthand descriptions are used a lot. Nearly everything Fred eats is described as “tasty”, whether it’s a local specialty or just peanut butter on toast. And every conversation is “a nice chat”, with no hint of what was chatted about. Fellow travellers are just names and nationalities, rarely given any distinguishing characteristics. I found it all disappointingly vague for a diary that’s meant to share experience and understanding. Fred does have occasional reflective moments where he describes some striking scenery, or shares a philosophical thought in enough detail that I actually felt included, but these moments were vanishingly rare.
The blurb also promises an understanding of drug culture. But there’s no real discussion of cultural attitudes, not even when Fred is surprised to find himself in prison for drug possession. After that brief stint in prison, Fred learns nothing and casually does a wide variety of drugs with almost everyone he meets, with no consequences or difficulties. Just about every fellow traveller pulled out some weed/hash/opium to share with Fred, to my strained belief. Most days’ entries are dominated by doing drugs, feeling good, lazing around the … wherever it was Fred was staying at any given time, and having those “nice chats” with nondescript people.
This book does have a few interesting moments, and a casual tone that’s easy to read. But I don’t feel like I experienced or learned enough to make it worth my time.
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