Maple to Mandalay: The Adventures and Misadventures of a Young Canadian Backpacker Who Travelled to Interesting Places in the 1970s

by Vern Flaig

A backpack, a camera, and four unforgettable years on the road.

Maple to Mandalay is a true-life adventure packed with grit, wonder, and over 500 stunning full-color photos. In the 1970s, Vern Flaig left Alberta on a whim, chasing the horizon across New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas — by foot, ferry, and two wheels.

🏍️ Motorcycling through the Outback with no map and no plan
🛕 Drifting through the temples of Burma and villages of Laos
🏔️ Hiking into the heart of Nepal before it hit the tourist trail

Every page captures the raw spirit of a world before the internet, before Instagram — when travelers relied on their wits, a few coins, and the kindness of strangers.

Whether you're a dreamer, an adventurer, or just nostalgic for the 1970s, Maple to Mandalay will take you there.

➤ Buy now to relive a rare kind of freedom — and glimpse the world through the eyes of a young traveler with nothing to lose and everything to see.

768 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 3, 2025

Reviews

[Sandy Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter @thestorylinedesignandbranding led me to this true story of a journey through the authors eyes and memories of 4 years travelling the world. I loved the authentic take on this journey and the crazy stories about walking to Mount Everest and mingling with people from so many countries and cultures. I consider myself pretty adventurous and brave but can’t imagine ever trying something like this - even back in the 70’s! If you’ve ever considered learning about a journey that includes near death and near starvation experiences and the sheer determination and unwavering courage of a young man wanting to see the world - this is the story for you. If you are reading on a kindle I suggest you use the kindle app to see the many original photos in colour - they are worth the view!

[Jennifer Macfarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Instagram - @comewalkinmybooks

📖ARC review📖

Maple to Mandalay - Vern Flaig

My personal rating - 4.5/5 ⭐️

First I would like to start by thanking @vernflaigbooks for writing this incredible book and the team at @haylingbookstormltd for giving me this opportunity to read and be apart of the rerelease team for this book. It’s been an honour.

Now to the review.

I kid you not I have never read a book so fast in my life. I could not put it down.
This book has travel,new experiences and friends from all walks of life.
This book is truly about how life experience can turn an 18 year old boy leaving Canada to returning 4 years later a man.

Now when I first received this book I felt overwhelmed naturally when I found out the book was 769 pages but when I started reading I just couldn’t stop. 400 pages the first day and 360 pages the next to finish.

In this book you will travel to New Zealand 🇳🇿, Australia 🇦🇺 and all over Asia in the 1970s. You will learn about their culture at the time with 500 colour pictures to help you feel as if you were really there. It also shows you how much the world has really changed for better and perhaps for the worse. Most importantly it shows that no matter where you’re from or how you grow up you will always find people to relate to and befriend all over the world.

This is the only book by @vernflaigbooks and I’m gutted to say that. He is a natural storyteller and I do sincerely hope he writes another book one day and when he does I will be first in line to buy a copy.

Would I recommend this book - ABSOLUTELY
I will be recommending this book to everyone who is looking for a memoir or adventure book and just those I meet along this bookstagram journey. This has been a great first ARC experience and I can’t wait to do it again.

This book is available now so go pick up your copy ASAP and don’t miss out.

I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review

[M F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book and enjoyed the trek around the world seen through the eyes and words of a 1970s teenager. His interpretations of culture and customs of the time are innocent and sexually more free than journeys of today. His endeavors are heartfelt. At times gritty, this will be an interesting venture for you as well. Looking forward to this book hitting print.

[Cinthya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first memoir I’ve ever read, and oh my God, I couldn’t have picked a better one! As an adult who would love to do something like this someday, it was the perfect book. I absolutely loved reading it and learning about the author’s experiences.

I still can’t believe how young he was when he embarked on such a crazy yet fun adventure! The book includes tons of photos from all the places he visited! Beautiful landscapes, tourist attractions, and the friends he made along the way. I loved the writing style; it made you feel like you were living each day right there with him. It also painted a clear picture of what the places you could visit, what you could do for fun, and what the people were like.

Mind you, he did all of this in the 1970s, so it offered a fascinating glimpse into how things used to be. More than once, when something unexpected happened, my instinct was to think, “I’d just use my phone” or “I’d check online”, but of course, those weren’t options back then, which the author also highlights. It was an interesting reminder of how much life has changed.

I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure and travel. I also can’t say enough good things about the photos! Combined with the author’s natural storytelling, they really brought everything to life.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to travel so this book was everything to me! It was filled with stories and over 500 photos! Vern Flaig is a great story teller! I felt like I was right there among him. The only complaint is due to me reading it on my kindle....the photos were black and white making some of them hard to see. I wrote down some of the places I learned from the memoir. Places that one day I would love to see such as: the Glow Worm Cave in New Zealand, The Devil Marbles (Karlu Karlu) in Australia, Snake Temple in Malaysia (although I would be terrified), and have a cup of tea right at the tea fields in Darjeeling, India!

Below are all the countries Vern Flaig traveled during his journey:

🇳🇿New Zealand
🇳🇿Australia
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇲🇾 Malaysia
🇮🇩 Indonesia
🇹🇭 Thailand
🇱🇦 Laos
🇲🇲 Burma l
🇮🇳 India
🇳🇵Nepal
🇵🇰 Pakistan
🇦🇫 Afghanistan
🇮🇷 Iran
🇹🇷 Turkey
🇬🇷 Greece
🇫🇷 France

[Ann Perdew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maple to Mandalay is a marvelous true life memoir of one man's world travels, complete with an astonishing collection of photo memories.

What a fun and unique adventure of one teen's journey to explore the world and find himself. Who knew that a trek experienced over 50 years ago through the eyes of an 18 year old traveler would become the most entertaining read of the year?

The author leads readers through his 4 year voyage from Canada across the globe to New Zealand and Australia, then on the backpacking journey through the East of a lifetime. Not only do we have his humorously written account of these amazing adventures, but also a collection of irreplaceable photographs that rival those of any world class photo journalist.

Tales of his teen antics and cultural faux pas meld together seamlessly with breathtaking landscapes and unforgettable multicultural scenes. This reader still remembers what the world of the 70's was like, and how it feels at 18 to find oneself in a new country experiencing a totally new culture. Through his down-to-earth story telling style, the author has made it very easy to put yourself in his well traveled shoes. For better, and for worse.

This is a definite recommend for lovers of travel memoirs, teenage coming of age stories, and rare photographic finds. Sail away on a vicarious adventure that you will never forget.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Maple to Mandalay” is a huge memoir of a young man’s coming of age travel odyssey in the 1970s. Vern Flaig left the small city of Lethbridge AB for Australia at 18 and didn’t return home until he was about 22 years old. These four years of his life are presented in chronological order and in great detail and capture an almost unbelievable time in the world. This is also reinforced by the multitudes of photos that Vern snapped of his travels.
There is a good book in its 600 or so pages. But it is not in the narrative. Vern’s story needs personalization (his own and that of others he encounters along the way).It would also benefit from degrees of separation (as reflected by the passage of time) and more considered perspective.
Some of what he encountered was fascinating. For example, the cremation rites along the Ganges in India but this event needs more context. Also, too much excrement - human and otherwise! I also learned that I never want to go to Nepal, ever.

[Della Modin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vern, you provided me with a big smile or an out loud “WHAT!” on every page. I really enjoyed reading a true life travel story from the 70’s. What a different time. The storytelling format with your photos made me feel like I was right there. It was also my first apple book read from my tiny phone. Worked out quite well.
Overall, I truly admire your accomplishment and thank you for the fun read!

[Vern Flaig]

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