The Perfect Journey

by David Dale

Humorous travel stories. The experience of travel is affected by who we're with, what we carry, where we sleep, transport, climate, politics, and our own eccentricities. These stories analyse the way in which travelling becomes an addiction for some people, and that the best way to understand other cultures is through the stomach. Topics include how to get a mummified ibis through customs, the special flavours of Lesbian wines, what donkeys have in common with planes, and the etiquette of kissing someone who has been dead for two years. Includes index. Author is a writer for the 'Sydney Morning Herald' and his previous titles include 'The Obsessive Traveler' and 'An Australian in America'.

Genres: Travel

298 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Chris Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Picked this book up on a whim at a book fair. I was intrigued by the possibility of challenging a chicken to a game of naughts and crosses mentioned in the blurb. I'm glad I did.
Like all good travel literature, dale's book is a colorful collection of experiences and observations that doesn't strive to be a potential itinerary for the prospective reader.
Dale's focus is his love for the culinary arts and his book reads like the foodies non pretentious guide to the world with a good mixture of history and the odd sharp quip to keep the narrative from becoming stale.
Dale manages what all good travel writers aspire to do. Inspire the reader and teach them something new while keeping them entertained and for that reason I would happily recommend to any arm chair travelers. I never did find that bird in New York though.

[Vivienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is no doubt that this is not a literary masterpiece, but, even though it is more than twenty years since publication, it nonetheless feeds my regular need to read about other people's travels and to be 'somewhere else' through my reading!
Dale himself states that this is not a travel guide: the largely humorous stories are more a glimpse into the 'feeling' of a place and are very much influenced by Dale's personal likes and dislikes. There is a marked emphasis on the food and eating places of areas visited.
There is much sarcasm in Dale's writing, but the humour he finds in the every day reminds me somewhat of Bill Bryson.
While I don't recommend this book as essential to anyone's reading list, I laughed, I enjoyed revisiting places I'd been and I found it a quick, enjoyable read. ***

[Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Score is 2.5
It had a good beginning but I became bored with the constant consumption of food. It was just page upon page of meals eaten mostly at high end restaurants and high end accommodation that you never experience the real life of the place you are visiting. I would skim over a lot of the pages as nothing of any real substance was mentioned. There were some good moments in the later chapters but the journey was more of an indulgence than a travel experience. Not my idea of a perfect journey. How to luxury travel is more the theme here, that most travelers never experience or want to experience.

[Sue Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some very interesting chapters on his travelling life, a book to dip into rather than read cover to cover

[Ralph Lavelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so much a book as a series of essays and diary-type of travel itineraries. Easy enough to read, but there's nothing holding a lot of the content together, and it gets repetitive.

[Elga Ayudi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most parts of this book are quite enjoyable to read, however sometimes I can't stand Dale's strong choices of how to do a journey. To each of their own!

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Randomly chosen from my piles and it is book 64 of 2011 - aim 133 books in 2011.

Great for the meandering reader!!!!!!!!

[Waterman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing read that starts out well but eventually degenerates into David Dale recounting various meals and restaurants he has eaten in and around the world.