GETTING THERE: Journeys of an Accidental Adventurer

by Sue Williams

Travels across Africa, South and Central America, China and India by an accident-prone adventurer. UK-born Australian writer Sue Williams relives her often hilarious, sometimes harrowing trips across five continents by everything from converted garbage truck to banana boat, surviving terrifying Ugandan soldiers, a lovesick Mexican politician and young Mafioso as she follows her dream of seeing the world while it's still there.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Audiobook

248 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2011

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a really shallow book, made worse by the narration. Everything sounded so trivial. Earthquake - killed lots of people, but the main problem for the author? It disrupted her travel plans.

[Sally Sutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

An audiobook, nicely read but I could not get over the stupidity of the author- a single white woman travelling into regions of the world that were experiencing political disharmony/ civil war and the British High Commission advised people not to travel there! She is a prolific writer now lives in Australia.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book entertaining but was disappointed that the author seemingly focused the majority of the story on the hardships of her travels rather than providing a balance between the hardships and her joys and triumphs. As an avid traveler myself, albeit on a much smaller scale than Sue Williams, I found a lot of the annoyances of her travels familiar but was irritated that they seemed to be the focus of the book. I did think it was important that she shined a light on the gender disparities that occur when traveling.

[Hilary Knowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping to find more balance between the traveller's 'escapades and mishaps' and the uplifting, thrill of discovering new cultures, scenery and local people. Eventually the negative tone wore me down, reading about yet another bad experience and I gave up. Sorry - I love travelling but this wasn't for me.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great yarns.
Fun look at her solo travels at a time before instant and constant connection via the internet.
Many of the destinations were places my parents travelled to at the same time with some similar outlandish experiences
A good relax and down time read

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting travel book but sadly I’m reading it during the 2020 Pandemic. It makes me miss travel. Bold lady to travel by herself in tough places.

[Jigs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing...true backpacker adventures of some one travelled alone in 80's ...

[Shaun Major · Rating 4 out of 5]

I searched for this book for a very long time, and it was definitely worth the wait. Travel tales need a unique or unusual angle, and Williams nails it with the volition of her travel skills and knowledge. I could relate to this looking back on my first travels and the failings and learnings I had along the way. I may not have had all of the misfortunes that Williams experienced, but that just made her survival and passage through them even more remarkable. Deliciously written as well.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Teď vás asi zastřelíme aneb mladá dáma na cestách"