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It's Only the Himalayas
“Wherever you go, whatever you do, just . . . don’t do anything stupid.” —My Mother
During her yearlong adventure backpacking from South Africa to Singapore, S. Bedford definitely did a few things her mother might classify as "stupid." She swam with great white sharks in South Africa, ran from lions in Zimbabwe, climbed a Himalayan mountain without training in Nepal, and watched as her friend was attacked by a monkey in Indonesia.
But interspersed in those slightly more crazy moments, Sue Bedfored and her friend "Sara the Stoic" experienced the sights, sounds, life, and culture of fifteen countries. Joined along the way by a few friends and their aging fathers here and there, Sue and Sara experience the trip of a lifetime. They fall in love with the world, cultivate an appreciation for home, and discover who, or what, they want to become.
It's Only the Himalayas is the incredibly funny, sometimes outlandish, always entertaining confession of a young backpacker that will inspire you to take your own adventure.
During her yearlong adventure backpacking from South Africa to Singapore, S. Bedford definitely did a few things her mother might classify as "stupid." She swam with great white sharks in South Africa, ran from lions in Zimbabwe, climbed a Himalayan mountain without training in Nepal, and watched as her friend was attacked by a monkey in Indonesia.
But interspersed in those slightly more crazy moments, Sue Bedfored and her friend "Sara the Stoic" experienced the sights, sounds, life, and culture of fifteen countries. Joined along the way by a few friends and their aging fathers here and there, Sue and Sara experience the trip of a lifetime. They fall in love with the world, cultivate an appreciation for home, and discover who, or what, they want to become.
It's Only the Himalayas is the incredibly funny, sometimes outlandish, always entertaining confession of a young backpacker that will inspire you to take your own adventure.
- GenresTravelNonfictionMemoir
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 12, 2016
6 people are currently reading
494 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 24, 2020
"Here in this dizzyingly thin-aired world, up was not so much a direction as it was a philosophy, a way of life, or, in our case, a four-letter word."
From that single, perfect example, you now know everything you need to know about S. Bedford and whether or not you'll love this book. The subtle but profound moments of wisdom and insight are layered with reality in a way that strips away the pretentiousness that usually follows this style of narrative. From the most instagram-worthy of trips, gone are the facades, the quiet moments of dishonesty that too often give this lifestyle its illusions of perfection in the first place.. and kept, rigidly, are the moments of reality that are traditionally so thoroughly hidden.
S. Bedford unabashedly shares her experiences, up to and very much including why you should definitely skip the Black Noodle Soup on the side of the mountain, and what it means to go to the bathroom on a boat that doesn't have a bathroom. The kinds of details that are usually cut out of this kind of narrative to keep it perfectly picturesque are always kept in, and for that, the adventure we're brought along on is so much more authentic.
It’s a bit of a wild ride, but it is well worth the read, and will be staying on my shelf for the long run.
From that single, perfect example, you now know everything you need to know about S. Bedford and whether or not you'll love this book. The subtle but profound moments of wisdom and insight are layered with reality in a way that strips away the pretentiousness that usually follows this style of narrative. From the most instagram-worthy of trips, gone are the facades, the quiet moments of dishonesty that too often give this lifestyle its illusions of perfection in the first place.. and kept, rigidly, are the moments of reality that are traditionally so thoroughly hidden.
S. Bedford unabashedly shares her experiences, up to and very much including why you should definitely skip the Black Noodle Soup on the side of the mountain, and what it means to go to the bathroom on a boat that doesn't have a bathroom. The kinds of details that are usually cut out of this kind of narrative to keep it perfectly picturesque are always kept in, and for that, the adventure we're brought along on is so much more authentic.
It’s a bit of a wild ride, but it is well worth the read, and will be staying on my shelf for the long run.
February 7, 2017
I kind of have no idea how I feel. This book is great, it's light and fun and easy to read. The author is a good writer, she clearly has a way with words and her analogies are so on point all the time, but I still couldn't completely love it. Yes, it made me want to travel, yes it gave me really interesting stories, but Sue Bedford feels soooo high on herself a lot of times, even though she claims to be making fun of how clueless she is. The dialogues seem really fake, like she edited the conversations to be more "hollywoody", it feels like she thinks her "hippie" way of life is so much better than everyone else's. That being said, she truly does laugh at her naïveté often and the story is nothing if not honest (I could never write about a friend's flaws like she does Sarah's knowing my friend would read it) and man it got the travel bug back in me again. I think it's completely worth a read, if not for an unforgettable experience, at least for a really entertaining one.
October 23, 2017
I thought the first half of this travelogue was quite good except for the writing style being rather "smart alecky" ie. too much effort put into being entertaining and not enough effort in relating the travelling which I thought was the main object of the story. The 2nd half just went down hill with way too much information about her drunken partying and sexual exploits.
May 31, 2023
I’ll admit to cracking a smile once or twice but found most of the book painful. I get that it was supposed to be a funny tale of misadventure but mostly found it whiny and ridiculous. Who honestly goes trekking Annapurna without googling it first?
May 9, 2016
"Going from the jungles of Zimbabwe to the streets of Katmandu was like doing a line of cocaine and then getting hit in the face with a frying pan".
Great travel read....honest, funny, realistic, and exciting. I think every backpacker in the world can relate to some aspect of Sue Bedford's year long trek. I hope she continues her journey and continues to give us more wonderful reading to enjoy!!! We have all struggled to find our way at some point in our life, but who says we have to follow a direct path? I think in searching for some version of herself Sue Bedford has emerged a talented travel writer!!
Great travel read....honest, funny, realistic, and exciting. I think every backpacker in the world can relate to some aspect of Sue Bedford's year long trek. I hope she continues her journey and continues to give us more wonderful reading to enjoy!!! We have all struggled to find our way at some point in our life, but who says we have to follow a direct path? I think in searching for some version of herself Sue Bedford has emerged a talented travel writer!!
February 2, 2017
I think too many years separate me and Sue for this book to be funny. I thought she was trying too hard and was disingenuous with the facts she chose to share.
December 2, 2017
It's Only the Himalayas is Sue Bedford's debut travelogue which regales us with her outrageous tales during a year spent backpacking with her bestie around the world. Packed full of hilarity, this is a book that will delight both older backpackers looking back nostalgically at misspent youths and those thinking about embarking on their own wild travels themselves.
Aged 23 and living with her parents after dropping out of university for the second time, Bedford isn't so much at a crossroads in her life but seriously questioning how things have gone so badly. When her best friend calls her and half-jokingly suggests that they both chuck everything in and head off for a year's travel, Bedford weighs up her not so many options and jumps in with both feet.
Planning to spend 12 months living out of their backpack with US$20,000 each, their itinerary is whittled down to a bunch of countries that are heavily frequented by backpackers, including Southern Africa, the Indian sub-continent and South East Asia. The mostly familiar spots where they travel, means that for those of us who have gone before, it's a welcome trip down memory lane and which makes it very easy to be swept along with the fun of it all.
Whether cage diving with great white sharks in South Africa, finding herself in an Ashram in India, trekking in the Himalayas with their Dads in Nepal or feeling the powdery white sand between their toes in The Philippines, there are plenty of awesome travel spots covered off to bring out the wanderlust in all of us. As you'd also expect from free-willed twenty-somethings, It's Only the Himalayas isn't short of other adventure stories of the more explicit kind. These include a combination of planes, toilets and the opposite sex, taking part in male underwear TV commercials and tons of other drunken escapades all to ensure that Bedford's backpacking year racks up loads of Facebook status points.
That's not to say that the writing gels in every instance. Some of the stories are a mite stilted/cliched and as the book progresses it does tend to degenerate towards mostly being retellings of drunken R-rated antics. However, these are told with such unrestrained excitement that I'd challenge all but the most cynical and boring of souls to not get caught up in them.
What also is refreshing, is that It's Only the Himalayas is told in an open and honest fashion and not all experiences are sugar coated. Hurling over the side of boats, killer hangovers and constantly having to deal with doses of the runs - all these normal gross out backpacking moments are not edited out.
It's Only the Himalayas is sort of like a backpacking Eat, Pray, Love spent with your bestie instead of searching for love. Actually, it's not really anything like it at all - it's much better and a real hoot. The books scales the heights of the best of backpacking books out there and is not found wanting. Whilst it is a quick and light read, there is so much fun packed into it, that the only disappointment is knowing that the end is rapidly approaching. Hopefully, Bedford has more material which she can share with us either from this, her first backpacking trip, or from her next. Full Review Here
Aged 23 and living with her parents after dropping out of university for the second time, Bedford isn't so much at a crossroads in her life but seriously questioning how things have gone so badly. When her best friend calls her and half-jokingly suggests that they both chuck everything in and head off for a year's travel, Bedford weighs up her not so many options and jumps in with both feet.
Planning to spend 12 months living out of their backpack with US$20,000 each, their itinerary is whittled down to a bunch of countries that are heavily frequented by backpackers, including Southern Africa, the Indian sub-continent and South East Asia. The mostly familiar spots where they travel, means that for those of us who have gone before, it's a welcome trip down memory lane and which makes it very easy to be swept along with the fun of it all.
Whether cage diving with great white sharks in South Africa, finding herself in an Ashram in India, trekking in the Himalayas with their Dads in Nepal or feeling the powdery white sand between their toes in The Philippines, there are plenty of awesome travel spots covered off to bring out the wanderlust in all of us. As you'd also expect from free-willed twenty-somethings, It's Only the Himalayas isn't short of other adventure stories of the more explicit kind. These include a combination of planes, toilets and the opposite sex, taking part in male underwear TV commercials and tons of other drunken escapades all to ensure that Bedford's backpacking year racks up loads of Facebook status points.
That's not to say that the writing gels in every instance. Some of the stories are a mite stilted/cliched and as the book progresses it does tend to degenerate towards mostly being retellings of drunken R-rated antics. However, these are told with such unrestrained excitement that I'd challenge all but the most cynical and boring of souls to not get caught up in them.
What also is refreshing, is that It's Only the Himalayas is told in an open and honest fashion and not all experiences are sugar coated. Hurling over the side of boats, killer hangovers and constantly having to deal with doses of the runs - all these normal gross out backpacking moments are not edited out.
It's Only the Himalayas is sort of like a backpacking Eat, Pray, Love spent with your bestie instead of searching for love. Actually, it's not really anything like it at all - it's much better and a real hoot. The books scales the heights of the best of backpacking books out there and is not found wanting. Whilst it is a quick and light read, there is so much fun packed into it, that the only disappointment is knowing that the end is rapidly approaching. Hopefully, Bedford has more material which she can share with us either from this, her first backpacking trip, or from her next. Full Review Here
July 18, 2018
It's clear the author is not or was not a college/University graduate when she went on this trip and wrote this book, the book is juvenile at best.
The attempts at humor fall flat. S. Bedford seems to be experiencing a mid-life crisis in her 20's and thinks that traveling the world and getting drunk with strangers is going to solve her 20 something angst.
I cannot recommend this book and it took me a long time to finish this book because it was so uninteresting.
The attempts at humor fall flat. S. Bedford seems to be experiencing a mid-life crisis in her 20's and thinks that traveling the world and getting drunk with strangers is going to solve her 20 something angst.
I cannot recommend this book and it took me a long time to finish this book because it was so uninteresting.
January 3, 2022
Sara and Sue took a year and a half to save 20k and plan their trip abroad. They were 23 years old when they left Toronto, Canada on January 31st, 2010.
Sara is a nurse and Sue is a waitress and honestly the entire length of the book it just feels like Sue secretly hates her friend Sara for having her life together while she is going nowhere fast. It honestly made me wonder if the two are still friends?
Page 8:
“Finally, we settled on southern Africa, Nepal, Tibet, India and South East Asia, and allotted ourselves a year and $20,000 each.”
Page 113:
Sue’s thoughts after her fifth day at an ashram in India.
“We all live inside our heads. We have no clue what everyone else experiences. The notion of union with another is false; the idea that we can even begin to understand who someone else is - on a level so fundamental that it is indescribable - is a delusion. Our consciousness is just a pod, and aquarium from which we pier out at a world we can never truly touch. We are all utterly alone.”
Day 6 at the ashram:
“I couldn’t decide if it felt like I was on drugs, or coming off of drugs, or in need of drugs, or what.”
Page 144:
Robert the pirate: This is real life, mate. This is as real as it gets: not worrying about anything beyond the moment. Everything you do back home: the 9 to 5, the rat race, whatever- that’s just waiting for a real life to begin. And for some people, it never does.
The girls start their year off by shark diving in Gansbaai, South Africa before embarking on an African Safari with their friend Kendra. From Africa, they head over to the Himalayas where their father’s meet them to trek to Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal. From there, they head to Tibet and India and then spend the remainder of their year in SE Asia.
Some of the stories sound like awesome adventures but I feel like the writing style is underwhelming. Everything she says is either an analogy or a joke so the entire books feels very superficial. I feel like a stronger story would have emerged from a better writer.
The ending also just falls flat for me.
“Actually, looking back, my grand expectations of self realization seemed almost… stupid. I had left home with the idealistic notion of “finding myself” as if the person I was wasn’t adequate and I would find somebody better to be… where? Hidden beneath the orange sand on a Namibian dune? Buried beneath a stack of dusty books in a Tibetan monastery? It seemed so ridiculous now. I was still the same neurotic, paranoid person that I had been a year ago. What I had discovered on the road was that being afraid of sharks, monkeys, strenuous exercise, self-reliance, and India didn’t make me any less capable than Sara of rising to their challenges. I just did so with a little less grace and a little more complaining. And hey, who is comparing us, anyway?”
It’s almost like Sue is angry at every other backpacker who does come home enlightened and with a better sense of “self” or a better idea of who they want to be and where they want to go.
Sara is a nurse and Sue is a waitress and honestly the entire length of the book it just feels like Sue secretly hates her friend Sara for having her life together while she is going nowhere fast. It honestly made me wonder if the two are still friends?
Page 8:
“Finally, we settled on southern Africa, Nepal, Tibet, India and South East Asia, and allotted ourselves a year and $20,000 each.”
Page 113:
Sue’s thoughts after her fifth day at an ashram in India.
“We all live inside our heads. We have no clue what everyone else experiences. The notion of union with another is false; the idea that we can even begin to understand who someone else is - on a level so fundamental that it is indescribable - is a delusion. Our consciousness is just a pod, and aquarium from which we pier out at a world we can never truly touch. We are all utterly alone.”
Day 6 at the ashram:
“I couldn’t decide if it felt like I was on drugs, or coming off of drugs, or in need of drugs, or what.”
Page 144:
Robert the pirate: This is real life, mate. This is as real as it gets: not worrying about anything beyond the moment. Everything you do back home: the 9 to 5, the rat race, whatever- that’s just waiting for a real life to begin. And for some people, it never does.
The girls start their year off by shark diving in Gansbaai, South Africa before embarking on an African Safari with their friend Kendra. From Africa, they head over to the Himalayas where their father’s meet them to trek to Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal. From there, they head to Tibet and India and then spend the remainder of their year in SE Asia.
Some of the stories sound like awesome adventures but I feel like the writing style is underwhelming. Everything she says is either an analogy or a joke so the entire books feels very superficial. I feel like a stronger story would have emerged from a better writer.
The ending also just falls flat for me.
“Actually, looking back, my grand expectations of self realization seemed almost… stupid. I had left home with the idealistic notion of “finding myself” as if the person I was wasn’t adequate and I would find somebody better to be… where? Hidden beneath the orange sand on a Namibian dune? Buried beneath a stack of dusty books in a Tibetan monastery? It seemed so ridiculous now. I was still the same neurotic, paranoid person that I had been a year ago. What I had discovered on the road was that being afraid of sharks, monkeys, strenuous exercise, self-reliance, and India didn’t make me any less capable than Sara of rising to their challenges. I just did so with a little less grace and a little more complaining. And hey, who is comparing us, anyway?”
It’s almost like Sue is angry at every other backpacker who does come home enlightened and with a better sense of “self” or a better idea of who they want to be and where they want to go.
April 2, 2020
This book was one I felt was much stronger (i.e. funnier) in the first half than it was in the second, but it was perfect for what I wanted at the time. This is the perfect story to pick up during a trip on the train, bus or whatever transportation you’re stuck on. The book is broken up into sections of various countries and goes into varying deep dives into each. In fact, the only reason I picked it up was because it was on some time of listicles about fun travel writing.
Bedford is naïve, unprepared, but ready to go with the flow. Being spontaneous is not something that is my forte so it was fun to see how things worked out and who she met throughout the trip. I’m biased so I would have enjoyed more writing about the Himalayas, but the southeast Asia stories will definitely stick with me!
Warning: Contains repeated sexual content and drug use.
Who should read it? Folks who love travel and/or will be traveling soon – this would be a great light plane book.
See all my reviews and more at Reading to Distraction @Read2Distract
Bedford is naïve, unprepared, but ready to go with the flow. Being spontaneous is not something that is my forte so it was fun to see how things worked out and who she met throughout the trip. I’m biased so I would have enjoyed more writing about the Himalayas, but the southeast Asia stories will definitely stick with me!
Warning: Contains repeated sexual content and drug use.
Who should read it? Folks who love travel and/or will be traveling soon – this would be a great light plane book.
See all my reviews and more at Reading to Distraction @Read2Distract
October 1, 2018
I don't remember who recommended this book to me, but I had it on my to-read list & picked it up without reading the summary. My mistake - this isn't the type of backpacking I do! I tried to power past the profanity and just enjoy the adventure and compelling writing, but when the author started writing about sexual encounters with random strangers and MULTIPLE experiences of drinking till she blacked out, I had to start doing serious skimming. Bummer, as I had enjoyed reading about all the adventures she & her friend went on. This is one of the few books that's going into recycling now, as I can't in good conscience pass it on to a friend.
May 28, 2020
I read this after coming back from my own first backpacking trip a few years ago, and it immediately made me want to get back on a plane!
I especially enjoyed her hilarious tales of traveling on group game drives and sleeping under the stars. 😍
I totally connected with the idea that I CAN DO ANYTHING... I want to trek the Annapurna Circuit!! No big deal, right? 😂
I especially enjoyed her hilarious tales of traveling on group game drives and sleeping under the stars. 😍
I totally connected with the idea that I CAN DO ANYTHING... I want to trek the Annapurna Circuit!! No big deal, right? 😂
October 8, 2022
This was a really fun, quick read that had me laughing out loud! This reminds me of a similar travel memoir (that I absolutely adore) called “The Lost Girls. Apparently, I love reading about peoples’ travel adventures! I only wish that this book was a little longer, and more in-depth. I want more!
September 17, 2017
great to step back into the world of backpacking and traveling. fun, but basic anecdotes of traveling life in Asia.
October 17, 2017
Actually LOLed
November 12, 2017
If you've ever traveled with great freedom in your heart and mind, you'll love this book!
February 1, 2018
Funny -she was young. Not my kind of trip but fun to read hers!
January 1, 2019
Hilarious and irreverent. Fast and fun read.
April 12, 2016
A must read for all young women, travelers, those with wanderlust, and those who have a pulse.
Right off the bat I connected with S. Bedford – an aimless Canadian twenty-something wanting more out of life. Bedford’s descriptive and whimsical prose paints a familiar picture. Her need for self-discovery is something we’ve all felt at one point in our lives, but she actually had the courage to pursue it. While the first half of the book is full of delightful tales of trekking and local tradition, the second half is what really sold me on this book. Bedford comes across as a young woman exploring the world and her limits all at once. Anyone who is able to write a chapter called “Ninja Pussy Blow Darts and Other Misadventures” is OK by me.
One of my favorite things about Bedford’s writing was her lack of sugar coating. So much of travel writing focus’ on nothing but the magical wonders of the world. Don’t get me wrong, I like to hear about cherry blossoms and clown fish as much as the next gal, but it's just as important to write about the bed bugs and altitude sickness to provide context.
Bedford made me proud to have a Canadian writer representing our nation overseas, and she uses a delightful sprinkling of Canadian references (Tim Horton’s, our nation’s nipple freezing winters, and curling) throughout the book. Not only is Bedford one tough bitch, but she is also great representation of Canadian travelers. I hope to read more from S. Bedford in the future!
Right off the bat I connected with S. Bedford – an aimless Canadian twenty-something wanting more out of life. Bedford’s descriptive and whimsical prose paints a familiar picture. Her need for self-discovery is something we’ve all felt at one point in our lives, but she actually had the courage to pursue it. While the first half of the book is full of delightful tales of trekking and local tradition, the second half is what really sold me on this book. Bedford comes across as a young woman exploring the world and her limits all at once. Anyone who is able to write a chapter called “Ninja Pussy Blow Darts and Other Misadventures” is OK by me.
One of my favorite things about Bedford’s writing was her lack of sugar coating. So much of travel writing focus’ on nothing but the magical wonders of the world. Don’t get me wrong, I like to hear about cherry blossoms and clown fish as much as the next gal, but it's just as important to write about the bed bugs and altitude sickness to provide context.
Bedford made me proud to have a Canadian writer representing our nation overseas, and she uses a delightful sprinkling of Canadian references (Tim Horton’s, our nation’s nipple freezing winters, and curling) throughout the book. Not only is Bedford one tough bitch, but she is also great representation of Canadian travelers. I hope to read more from S. Bedford in the future!
April 19, 2016
When 23 year old Sue set off with her friend Sara on a year long trip through Southern Africa, Nepal, Tibet, India and Southeast Asia, she was hoping to “find herself”, and to find a path to a lifestyle that doesn't involve waitressing while living with her parents. And that's why so many of us go on the road, isn't it? Because all that time staring out the windows of buses and trains gives us time to reflect. On the road, what seemed to matter so much back home doesn't matter anymore. You get closer to your core.
But don’t pick up It’s Only The Himalayas expecting a naive, “isn’t it lovely” gloss on the backpacking experience. Bedford avoids the naivety which undermines so much of the travel genre, while capturing the highs and lows of the experience in an honest, self-deprecating, and often hilarious way. She has a great eye for the ridiculous, and for finding that one perfect image or metaphor that captures the absurdity of a situation.
S. Bedford brings a fresh and recognizable voice to travel writing, and one that is funny, observant, original and enjoyable. I look forward to reading her next book, and uncovering the next chapter of her story.
Give It's Only the Himalayas to anyone you know who is thinking of doing their first trip, and to anyone who needs to rekindle that fire and get back out there again.
But don’t pick up It’s Only The Himalayas expecting a naive, “isn’t it lovely” gloss on the backpacking experience. Bedford avoids the naivety which undermines so much of the travel genre, while capturing the highs and lows of the experience in an honest, self-deprecating, and often hilarious way. She has a great eye for the ridiculous, and for finding that one perfect image or metaphor that captures the absurdity of a situation.
S. Bedford brings a fresh and recognizable voice to travel writing, and one that is funny, observant, original and enjoyable. I look forward to reading her next book, and uncovering the next chapter of her story.
Give It's Only the Himalayas to anyone you know who is thinking of doing their first trip, and to anyone who needs to rekindle that fire and get back out there again.
April 14, 2016
I received this book for review purposes as part of the Goodreads first-reads program.
While I am old enough to be her mom (and would probably have been as annoyingly protective if they were my own daughters), I enjoyed reading about the journeys of this twenty-something and friend. While today's youth are journeying to locations we would have never dreamed of visiting in our youth, their adventures brought back fond memories of backpacking through Europe many years ago. My inclinations to skip India and hiking the Himalayas were reinforced. Instead I'll begin researching options for that sailing trip through crystal clear snorkeling waters we haven't gotten around to booking yet. And I've added Angkor Wat to my bucket list in Asia joining Thailand.
Unfortunately, as their journeys progressed, the author focused more on their adventures with sex and drugs with other foreign travelers than on exploring the sights and culture in the new locales. The epilogue, written a mere week later, offered few insights into impacts the journey may have had on their lives as they returned home to Canada.
Recommended as a fun, quick read for those experiencing wanderlust.
While I am old enough to be her mom (and would probably have been as annoyingly protective if they were my own daughters), I enjoyed reading about the journeys of this twenty-something and friend. While today's youth are journeying to locations we would have never dreamed of visiting in our youth, their adventures brought back fond memories of backpacking through Europe many years ago. My inclinations to skip India and hiking the Himalayas were reinforced. Instead I'll begin researching options for that sailing trip through crystal clear snorkeling waters we haven't gotten around to booking yet. And I've added Angkor Wat to my bucket list in Asia joining Thailand.
Unfortunately, as their journeys progressed, the author focused more on their adventures with sex and drugs with other foreign travelers than on exploring the sights and culture in the new locales. The epilogue, written a mere week later, offered few insights into impacts the journey may have had on their lives as they returned home to Canada.
Recommended as a fun, quick read for those experiencing wanderlust.
April 16, 2016
Following Sue on her year long adventure had me laughing every few pages. I have never read a book that I could relate to as well as this. A twenty-something female, living at home with her parents, feeling lost in the world. She perfectly sums up the highs and the lows of travel & after reading this book i'm now itching to get backpacking again.
This book has been great at showing me that you may not have your future set in stone in front of you, but it doesn't mean you can't have fun meandering your way through, enjoying every moment. (Unless you're throwing up after eating dodgy soup whilst climbing a mountain!) Your twenties are the time to explore the world, to create memories & to "find yourself" (or to learn to love yourself, just as you are). I've come away from reading this book feeling like I'm ready to grab life by the balls and start living it. As Jack Kerouac famously once said "climb that god damn mountain" - although I'm not going to bite off more than I can chew, I'll probably start with a hill before I tackle the Himalayas.
I'm hoping this isn't the last we hear from Sue. I'm sure she has plenty more hilarious antidotes to share with us!
This book has been great at showing me that you may not have your future set in stone in front of you, but it doesn't mean you can't have fun meandering your way through, enjoying every moment. (Unless you're throwing up after eating dodgy soup whilst climbing a mountain!) Your twenties are the time to explore the world, to create memories & to "find yourself" (or to learn to love yourself, just as you are). I've come away from reading this book feeling like I'm ready to grab life by the balls and start living it. As Jack Kerouac famously once said "climb that god damn mountain" - although I'm not going to bite off more than I can chew, I'll probably start with a hill before I tackle the Himalayas.
I'm hoping this isn't the last we hear from Sue. I'm sure she has plenty more hilarious antidotes to share with us!
May 18, 2016
I like that Sue and Sara took the bold step to send themselves out into the world to see what they could learn. Turns out, they learned that wearing jeans to hike up Annapurna base camp is a bad idea. They learned that large carnivores really do lurk in the dark in southern Africa. They learned that the super-budget tour, while affordable, can be crappy (in all meanings of that word).
They were brave enough to go on some awesomely iffy boat cruise in the Philippines where they received this advice -- "...everything you do back home- nine-to-five, the rat race, whatever- that's just waiting for real life to begin"
If you are a 20-something with an itch to get out of dodge, this book could be the thing that inspires you to save your allowance and get out the door. So 4 stars for that.
But 3 starts for the overall writing and story thread. The book isn't a travelogue. It gives you a great sense of Sue's comically calamitous experiences, but not a great sense of the places that she visited.
(I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are all mine)
They were brave enough to go on some awesomely iffy boat cruise in the Philippines where they received this advice -- "...everything you do back home- nine-to-five, the rat race, whatever- that's just waiting for real life to begin"
If you are a 20-something with an itch to get out of dodge, this book could be the thing that inspires you to save your allowance and get out the door. So 4 stars for that.
But 3 starts for the overall writing and story thread. The book isn't a travelogue. It gives you a great sense of Sue's comically calamitous experiences, but not a great sense of the places that she visited.
(I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are all mine)
August 23, 2016
Anyone who has travelled will appreciate this book and its humorous descriptions of Sue's adventures during a year of world exploration with her friend Sara. A funny moment was described during her time in Africa:
Just because we were in the middle of the desert a gazillion miles away from anything, where the only rules are that of the wild, of hunter and prey, to eat or be eaten, didn't mean we were necessarily in danger. After all, we were in a nylon tent! It would take the jaguar forever to figure out the zipper.
Just because we were in the middle of the desert a gazillion miles away from anything, where the only rules are that of the wild, of hunter and prey, to eat or be eaten, didn't mean we were necessarily in danger. After all, we were in a nylon tent! It would take the jaguar forever to figure out the zipper.
July 8, 2016
A young women and her BFF went on a great adventure around the world. Sounds awesome. I bought the book and started right away. I really liked the beginning. Really funny and alot of details about the way she traveled and what she experienced.
The second half though...detailed descriptions of drinking and partying, and nothing about the countries she visited. It is fun to expirience and might look good in your diary, but it is boring to read. I skiped a lot of it and was very disappointed, especially after the amazing beginning.
The second half though...detailed descriptions of drinking and partying, and nothing about the countries she visited. It is fun to expirience and might look good in your diary, but it is boring to read. I skiped a lot of it and was very disappointed, especially after the amazing beginning.
June 5, 2017
“Wherever you go, whatever you do, just… don’t do anything stupid."
–S. Bedford
Book No. 13 of 2017
This was a fun read. Nothing fancy. Just a fun, simple travel-logue that I blitzed through in two sittings.
A sense of humor carries throughout the book, and the stories are interesting in their own right. It successfully made me pretty ready to get up and travel somewhere remote.
⭐️⭐️
–S. Bedford
Book No. 13 of 2017
This was a fun read. Nothing fancy. Just a fun, simple travel-logue that I blitzed through in two sittings.
A sense of humor carries throughout the book, and the stories are interesting in their own right. It successfully made me pretty ready to get up and travel somewhere remote.
⭐️⭐️
August 2, 2016
OMFG... There were moments I had to put down the book because I was laughing so hard. I have tears in my eyes now from the last few pages. More than anything else lately, this book has really pushed me to look into traveling internationally again. But I could do without some of Sue's adventures. I strongly recommend this book to everyone, especially those who have been bitten by the travel bug.
May 9, 2020
Honestly, loved this book! It was a super easy read and made me want to jump on the plane and do a half-year trip as soon as possible! Bedford is very easy to read, and quite relatable. I loved reading about her experiences! I know I will definitely be reading this again, and always recommend to those who are itching with the travel bug!
April 11, 2016
This was the first travel book I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
It was a quick and entertaining read. Comical stories about backpacking adventures and representative of many experiences of life on the road. Overall, lots of giggles and inspiration for further travels.
It was a quick and entertaining read. Comical stories about backpacking adventures and representative of many experiences of life on the road. Overall, lots of giggles and inspiration for further travels.
June 28, 2016
LAUGH OUT LOUD good. And now all I want to do is travel.
Inspiring and funny this was such a great read, especially for those whose wanderlust can never be quenched. I love this book dearly.
Everyone read it.
Inspiring and funny this was such a great read, especially for those whose wanderlust can never be quenched. I love this book dearly.
Everyone read it.
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