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Red Earth Diaries: A Migrant Couple's Backpacking Adventure in Australia
(NOTE - This Book has been re-released with revised content, including a map, in ebook and paperback format on 08 July 2021)
A one-way ticket to Australia...two months of travel...and a shoestring budget.
In Red Earth Diaries we meet Jason and Ambika, a newlywed couple who migrated to Australia with the hope of a fresh start. However, unlike most migrants, they made a bold decision to postpone their settlement plans, throw caution to the wind and backpack in Australia on a shoestring budget.
Their intention was to learn about the country and its people first-hand ... a land they would someday call home.
Swimming with sharks, cuddling cute koalas, chartering private helicopters, venturing deep into ancient rainforests, and getting to know plenty of locals – the couple had incredible experiences in this stunning country.
Their travel story is interwoven with snippets of history and provides the reader with a glimpse of Australia as viewed through the eyes of newly arrived migrants.
Join Jason and Ambika on their spectacular journey of discovery.
'Red Earth Diaries' is founded on four primary pillars: a migrant’s journal, a travelogue, a glimpse into Australian history, and an inspirational tale. The central message of the book is for everyone to chase their dreams - however distant and impossible they may seem.
A one-way ticket to Australia...two months of travel...and a shoestring budget.
In Red Earth Diaries we meet Jason and Ambika, a newlywed couple who migrated to Australia with the hope of a fresh start. However, unlike most migrants, they made a bold decision to postpone their settlement plans, throw caution to the wind and backpack in Australia on a shoestring budget.
Their intention was to learn about the country and its people first-hand ... a land they would someday call home.
Swimming with sharks, cuddling cute koalas, chartering private helicopters, venturing deep into ancient rainforests, and getting to know plenty of locals – the couple had incredible experiences in this stunning country.
Their travel story is interwoven with snippets of history and provides the reader with a glimpse of Australia as viewed through the eyes of newly arrived migrants.
Join Jason and Ambika on their spectacular journey of discovery.
'Red Earth Diaries' is founded on four primary pillars: a migrant’s journal, a travelogue, a glimpse into Australian history, and an inspirational tale. The central message of the book is for everyone to chase their dreams - however distant and impossible they may seem.
197 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2021
10 people are currently reading
1990 people want to read
About the author
Jason Rebello
6 books12 followersJason Rebello was born in Mumbai, India, and went to sea at the early age of seventeen. He spent many years sailing across the world on modern ocean liners, eventually rising to the rank of a ship’s Captain. His sea career was interspaced with a healthy dose of backpacking and intrepid travels and as a result, he was firmly hooked on a life of adventure and uncommon living. His travel blog www.theevolvingbackpacker.com was born out of his passion for travel. He has also written several self-help books in the ‘Migrant Ninja’ series.
Jason, with his wife and two children, is now settled in Australia.
Find me on:
Instagram: @theevolvingbackpacker
Facebook Page: The Evolving Backpacker
Websites:
Author Website - www.evolvingwordsmith.com Blog - www.theevolvingbakpacker.com
Jason, with his wife and two children, is now settled in Australia.
Find me on:
Instagram: @theevolvingbackpacker
Facebook Page: The Evolving Backpacker
Websites:
Author Website - www.evolvingwordsmith.com Blog - www.theevolvingbakpacker.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
May 21, 2021
It was a superb book that I thoroughly enjoyed.
It starts off with the couple decided that they want to have an adventure. This couple from India decide to migrate to Australia and take on the newness of a new country on their own.
I thought the first part was a bit slow but fortunately it was very short. M
Once they arrive in Australia, the book took a unique twist. It actually turned into a fast paced travel book. What I mean is, it explains in detail everything from the history, the sea life, the animals, and the every day life of Australians. This must’ve taken quite a bit of research on top of their first hand experience.
I found little to complain about in the book and I really I think it is something that people should read if they ever decide to travel “ down under. End of quote
Enjoy this book and I very much recommend it to people with a taste for adventure and travel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It starts off with the couple decided that they want to have an adventure. This couple from India decide to migrate to Australia and take on the newness of a new country on their own.
I thought the first part was a bit slow but fortunately it was very short. M
Once they arrive in Australia, the book took a unique twist. It actually turned into a fast paced travel book. What I mean is, it explains in detail everything from the history, the sea life, the animals, and the every day life of Australians. This must’ve taken quite a bit of research on top of their first hand experience.
I found little to complain about in the book and I really I think it is something that people should read if they ever decide to travel “ down under. End of quote
Enjoy this book and I very much recommend it to people with a taste for adventure and travel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 10, 2021
It's difficult to leave everything, it's difficult to start something new. This is one such book. A book that teaches us to take a leap of faith, to trust our dreams and abilities.
I came across this amazing book that gives us a Virtual tour to Australia!
Red Earth Diaries by Jason Rebello is a journey of a Migrant couple's backpacking journey in Australia. It's a story of Jason and Ambika, a newlywed couple who migrated to Australia with the hope of a fresh start.
Witness the beauty of Australia, the amazing adventures, the people they met, their newly married life, their travelogue, to their budgets, the Australian History and a lot more.
I loved the couple's conversations, where they stayed. The way the author narrated the situations, their experience is something I loved the most.
With crisp narration and engaging writing style, you would love the virtual tour to Australia. It's a short, light read that you are going to enjoy the most.
The book is for all the travellers as well as migrants who are already in Australia or who are thinking of making the move to this beautiful country. It's an inspiring journey full of fun.
The author conveys an important message to live your dream and nothing is impossible.
A beautiful, light read that you must read if you love reading about another country or you love to travel
I came across this amazing book that gives us a Virtual tour to Australia!
Red Earth Diaries by Jason Rebello is a journey of a Migrant couple's backpacking journey in Australia. It's a story of Jason and Ambika, a newlywed couple who migrated to Australia with the hope of a fresh start.
Witness the beauty of Australia, the amazing adventures, the people they met, their newly married life, their travelogue, to their budgets, the Australian History and a lot more.
I loved the couple's conversations, where they stayed. The way the author narrated the situations, their experience is something I loved the most.
With crisp narration and engaging writing style, you would love the virtual tour to Australia. It's a short, light read that you are going to enjoy the most.
The book is for all the travellers as well as migrants who are already in Australia or who are thinking of making the move to this beautiful country. It's an inspiring journey full of fun.
The author conveys an important message to live your dream and nothing is impossible.
A beautiful, light read that you must read if you love reading about another country or you love to travel
August 16, 2021
Red Earth Diaries by Jason Rebello
Wow, this book gave me couple goals. One thing I’ve never done is backpack and reading this had made me think I’m not too old. I’ll just wait for the kids to grow up then me and my partner will hit the road. This book for a memoir was exceptional.
Jason clearly loved everywhere they travelled together. The build up to the locations with the history entwined was wonderful. The book will clearly give the inspiration to others to travel. Additionally the book has widened my knowledge about Australia.
Reading about a newly wed couples experiences was a delight. The book kept me entertained throughout. A lot of memoirs can be quite dull and boring. This was the opposite with everything from love, adventure and reality.
I think this will be truly inspirational for those who have never travelled and extremely memorable to those who have been on a similar journey.
Wow, this book gave me couple goals. One thing I’ve never done is backpack and reading this had made me think I’m not too old. I’ll just wait for the kids to grow up then me and my partner will hit the road. This book for a memoir was exceptional.
Jason clearly loved everywhere they travelled together. The build up to the locations with the history entwined was wonderful. The book will clearly give the inspiration to others to travel. Additionally the book has widened my knowledge about Australia.
Reading about a newly wed couples experiences was a delight. The book kept me entertained throughout. A lot of memoirs can be quite dull and boring. This was the opposite with everything from love, adventure and reality.
I think this will be truly inspirational for those who have never travelled and extremely memorable to those who have been on a similar journey.
February 17, 2021
I received a pre-publication copy of this book from the author for review purposes.
I'm not sure what this book is - it bills itself as a travelogue / memoir, but at times it comes across as both a history book and an advertising piece for AirBNB. It's a strange mix of styles and narrative all through the book which sadly for me didn't make an interesting read.
At times it's almost as if the author felt the need to cut and paste Wikipedia pages to lift the word count and content and it simply wasn't interesting. I also found the incredibly minute detail of the decor and furnishings in each AirBnB house somewhat odd.
What I also found a little strange was the fact that the author, an accomplished International mariner, didn't know things like the change to to daylight saving time or Aussie rules football - yet was able to confidently quote chapter and verse on Aussie history and the like. A jarring juxtasposition. (And don't get me started on the Gibbs brothers....!)
Add to that lines like 'I tried to imagine life in the eighteenth century when the First Fleet made the long and arduous sea voyage from Great Britain. The aviation industry was non-existent at that time' - no? Really? What before air travel was invented?
I also found the exchange with Elsie on the plane awkward and unbelievable. Here was a seasoned traveller supposedly telling tales that were at best a little odd. His reaction also was both condescending and bizarre.
At times the editing and proofing was suspect as in the course of two pages they had been travelling for three months (p138) then one month (p139)... there's a few places where the editing was suspect. Such as 'where probably the local doctor is also the chief counsellor' - well, this would make sense really wouldn't it? But the context probably meant they intended to use the word Councillor instead? Oh by the way, to add more confusion by page 194 they were 'In our two months of travelling'... though this was after they had availed of a wine tasting (which led me to wonder who was driving the rental car back to their base?) so perhaps a little hazy.
And in some places things were simply hard to believe - talk of a boat trip where "most of the passengers passed out from sheer excitement" - hmmm....
I also found the line 'like many tourists and locals, we too soon mastered the art of looking past them without much effort.' when talking about the Indigenous people of Australia to be crass in the extreme.
Also, perhaps peculiar to me, but the author constantly references the CBD - which to many readers in the UK and perhaps the USA is a cannabis product... (and not the Central Business District).
It doesn't really achieve what I wanted it to - it wasn't a natural journey of evolution and discovery - more a rambling meandering interspersed with historical facts which took up lots of pages and which I wasn't wholly interested in from what was billed as a travel memoir. We didn't really learn anything about their adventures to be honest as most of that stuff is glossed over to some extent.
Finally, the line that blew my mind when talking of part of Australia that is 'half the size of Turkey or a third the size of Belgium!' - I'll leave that one there....
It's not a bad book but it's not for me nor is it what it says it is and the errors really made me wince. Add to that the endless cut and pasting (look at the references at the end) and I fail to see where this book has a USP.
Sorry - this is just my honest review.
I'm not sure what this book is - it bills itself as a travelogue / memoir, but at times it comes across as both a history book and an advertising piece for AirBNB. It's a strange mix of styles and narrative all through the book which sadly for me didn't make an interesting read.
At times it's almost as if the author felt the need to cut and paste Wikipedia pages to lift the word count and content and it simply wasn't interesting. I also found the incredibly minute detail of the decor and furnishings in each AirBnB house somewhat odd.
What I also found a little strange was the fact that the author, an accomplished International mariner, didn't know things like the change to to daylight saving time or Aussie rules football - yet was able to confidently quote chapter and verse on Aussie history and the like. A jarring juxtasposition. (And don't get me started on the Gibbs brothers....!)
Add to that lines like 'I tried to imagine life in the eighteenth century when the First Fleet made the long and arduous sea voyage from Great Britain. The aviation industry was non-existent at that time' - no? Really? What before air travel was invented?
I also found the exchange with Elsie on the plane awkward and unbelievable. Here was a seasoned traveller supposedly telling tales that were at best a little odd. His reaction also was both condescending and bizarre.
At times the editing and proofing was suspect as in the course of two pages they had been travelling for three months (p138) then one month (p139)... there's a few places where the editing was suspect. Such as 'where probably the local doctor is also the chief counsellor' - well, this would make sense really wouldn't it? But the context probably meant they intended to use the word Councillor instead? Oh by the way, to add more confusion by page 194 they were 'In our two months of travelling'... though this was after they had availed of a wine tasting (which led me to wonder who was driving the rental car back to their base?) so perhaps a little hazy.
And in some places things were simply hard to believe - talk of a boat trip where "most of the passengers passed out from sheer excitement" - hmmm....
I also found the line 'like many tourists and locals, we too soon mastered the art of looking past them without much effort.' when talking about the Indigenous people of Australia to be crass in the extreme.
Also, perhaps peculiar to me, but the author constantly references the CBD - which to many readers in the UK and perhaps the USA is a cannabis product... (and not the Central Business District).
It doesn't really achieve what I wanted it to - it wasn't a natural journey of evolution and discovery - more a rambling meandering interspersed with historical facts which took up lots of pages and which I wasn't wholly interested in from what was billed as a travel memoir. We didn't really learn anything about their adventures to be honest as most of that stuff is glossed over to some extent.
Finally, the line that blew my mind when talking of part of Australia that is 'half the size of Turkey or a third the size of Belgium!' - I'll leave that one there....
It's not a bad book but it's not for me nor is it what it says it is and the errors really made me wince. Add to that the endless cut and pasting (look at the references at the end) and I fail to see where this book has a USP.
Sorry - this is just my honest review.
January 10, 2021
I received this book from the Vorachious Readers website, in exchange for a review. I found it interesting. The history of Australia was explained alongside this couple's journey and eventual settling.
August 17, 2021
⭐⭐⭐💫 3.5/5
Red Earth Diaries is a memoir, travelogue and journal. I was intrigued when I read it's blurb, I'm fond of reading books about travelling. Migrating to a new country, newlyweds Jason and Ambika embark on a journey to Australia. On a tight budget, Jason and Ambika begin backpacking/travelling through the cities/towns of Australia. From a young age, Jason has a passion for travelling, hence his job as a sailor only nurtured his passion. Jason's dream was to migrate to Australia, and his wife Ambika is equally passionate about travelling; she was very supportive of their move to "Down Under". You'll will witness their story and experiences, their views on Australia, and at times, it will intertwine with few snippets of Australian history. Jason Rebello's writing is amazing! I felt like I was travelling with them, he detailed each journey/trip so well! I was transported to that very moment of the events he and his wife experienced. I loved seeing the dialogues with the people they met on their journeys. And I was really impressed with how Jason created the layout/header of the chapters, incorporating different quotes for each chapter.
The other reason why I wanted to read this book was because of the setting. My mother's family migrated to Australia from Turkey almost 45 years ago, and I grew up listening to their stories, experiences, hardships and why they decided to migrate "Down Under". And you could say that I felt a bit nostalgic after reading this book. It isn't easy, (and it's scary when you think about it) you are uprooting your life and leaving everything behind, your family and the comforts of your life back home. Personally, I think it's a courageous act, (especially, when you are coming from an non-English speaking background) and I truly admire people like Jason and Ambika for wanting to start a new life; a fresh start in a foreign country. If you enjoy reading a book with a bit of history, travelling or fiction in general, you should consider reading this book!
**I received a gifted e-copy/ebook in exchange for my honest review
Red Earth Diaries is a memoir, travelogue and journal. I was intrigued when I read it's blurb, I'm fond of reading books about travelling. Migrating to a new country, newlyweds Jason and Ambika embark on a journey to Australia. On a tight budget, Jason and Ambika begin backpacking/travelling through the cities/towns of Australia. From a young age, Jason has a passion for travelling, hence his job as a sailor only nurtured his passion. Jason's dream was to migrate to Australia, and his wife Ambika is equally passionate about travelling; she was very supportive of their move to "Down Under". You'll will witness their story and experiences, their views on Australia, and at times, it will intertwine with few snippets of Australian history. Jason Rebello's writing is amazing! I felt like I was travelling with them, he detailed each journey/trip so well! I was transported to that very moment of the events he and his wife experienced. I loved seeing the dialogues with the people they met on their journeys. And I was really impressed with how Jason created the layout/header of the chapters, incorporating different quotes for each chapter.
The other reason why I wanted to read this book was because of the setting. My mother's family migrated to Australia from Turkey almost 45 years ago, and I grew up listening to their stories, experiences, hardships and why they decided to migrate "Down Under". And you could say that I felt a bit nostalgic after reading this book. It isn't easy, (and it's scary when you think about it) you are uprooting your life and leaving everything behind, your family and the comforts of your life back home. Personally, I think it's a courageous act, (especially, when you are coming from an non-English speaking background) and I truly admire people like Jason and Ambika for wanting to start a new life; a fresh start in a foreign country. If you enjoy reading a book with a bit of history, travelling or fiction in general, you should consider reading this book!
**I received a gifted e-copy/ebook in exchange for my honest review
July 4, 2023
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway and I’m thankful I did! This was mostly a travelogue about the adventures the author and his new wife had after deciding to relocate from India to Australia. What a great idea to ‘backpack’ around the continent first. I’ve read some other books on this vein and must say they were extremely lucky with all the nice people they met. It seems the worst experience was someone using some of their food at on of the hostels they stayed in. There was a lot of history about Australia, at times too much and I’d have liked more personal information instead. But overall I would have liked a longer book as it was a real love story to this country and it’s people. It was fun to look up many of the locations to see a picture of where they were and what the author was describing. If you’re thinking of visiting Australia or want to visit from the comfort of your armchair this is an excellent book!
February 28, 2021
I received a free copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
I was excited to read this because I enjoy books about travel and books about immigrant experiences. I was hoping for a rich travel memoir. A migration story from India to Australia. A description of backpacking Australia through the eyes of the author and his wife. This was more like a travel guide for history buffs.
I enjoyed the parts of the book where the author(Jason) shared about himself and Ambika. Jason would introduce an adventure and I would think: ok this is it, I’m going to fall in love with Australia right here through the eyes of Ambika and her husband. Instead the clinical description of whatever they were doing would stop abruptly and the rest of the chapter would go into detail about the history of farming in that region or some other related history. This didn’t really work for me for two reasons.
The first reason is that I have no context of where they are because I’m not familiar with Australian geography or culture. At a minimum I think this book should include a map of Australia identifying the cities discussed. I started skimming over the long historical excerpts.
The second reason this didn’t work for me was because this is supposed to be a travel memoir. I felt dissatisfaction for basically every adventure mentioned. I really wanted to know how they felt. What was meaningful to them about this experience? Why should anyone travel in their footsteps?
I think this book would be vastly improved with maps and lots of pictures associated with the historical excerpts. With those additions this would be a good travel guide for the places they visited.
You may enjoy this book if you’re planning a trip to Australia.
I was excited to read this because I enjoy books about travel and books about immigrant experiences. I was hoping for a rich travel memoir. A migration story from India to Australia. A description of backpacking Australia through the eyes of the author and his wife. This was more like a travel guide for history buffs.
I enjoyed the parts of the book where the author(Jason) shared about himself and Ambika. Jason would introduce an adventure and I would think: ok this is it, I’m going to fall in love with Australia right here through the eyes of Ambika and her husband. Instead the clinical description of whatever they were doing would stop abruptly and the rest of the chapter would go into detail about the history of farming in that region or some other related history. This didn’t really work for me for two reasons.
The first reason is that I have no context of where they are because I’m not familiar with Australian geography or culture. At a minimum I think this book should include a map of Australia identifying the cities discussed. I started skimming over the long historical excerpts.
The second reason this didn’t work for me was because this is supposed to be a travel memoir. I felt dissatisfaction for basically every adventure mentioned. I really wanted to know how they felt. What was meaningful to them about this experience? Why should anyone travel in their footsteps?
I think this book would be vastly improved with maps and lots of pictures associated with the historical excerpts. With those additions this would be a good travel guide for the places they visited.
You may enjoy this book if you’re planning a trip to Australia.
March 27, 2022
Part memoir, part travel guide, this book is the journey of a young, ambitious couple who have decided to leave their lives in India behind and immigrate to Australia. Deciding the best way to discover their new home, before settling somewhere more permanently, they embark on a six-month trip up and down the east coast, Jason dutifully writing down their experiences as they move from place to place.
They set themselves a budget of $10,000, which seems like a tremendous amount, but there are two of them and they do have a lot of ground to cover, and their journey takes every satisfying penny before they have to stop and begin 'real life' by finding jobs.
An easy, enjoyable read that has lots of information about Australia in it - whether this is good or not is entirely up to you!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC to read and review. All opinions are strictly my own.
They set themselves a budget of $10,000, which seems like a tremendous amount, but there are two of them and they do have a lot of ground to cover, and their journey takes every satisfying penny before they have to stop and begin 'real life' by finding jobs.
An easy, enjoyable read that has lots of information about Australia in it - whether this is good or not is entirely up to you!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC to read and review. All opinions are strictly my own.
July 7, 2022
This was a fun story of a couple, Jason and Ambika who decided to migrate from India to Australia.
Before they decide where they would like to try and settle down, and try to find work, they decide to backpack around Australia for a couple of months and see what the country was like. They were on a tight budget, but traveled via plane, bus, train and rental car, and were able to see and amazing diversity in landscapes and lifestyles.
They usually tried to stay in either hostels or Airbnb's
The Airbnb stays, which they did quite often let them get more of a feeling for the place and, the hosts were always welcoming and helpful.
The fun thing about the book, is that in all of the places they visited they gave us a huge amount of history of the area and country in general. This can also serve as a travel guide.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Evolving Wordsmith for a copy of this book.
Before they decide where they would like to try and settle down, and try to find work, they decide to backpack around Australia for a couple of months and see what the country was like. They were on a tight budget, but traveled via plane, bus, train and rental car, and were able to see and amazing diversity in landscapes and lifestyles.
They usually tried to stay in either hostels or Airbnb's
The Airbnb stays, which they did quite often let them get more of a feeling for the place and, the hosts were always welcoming and helpful.
The fun thing about the book, is that in all of the places they visited they gave us a huge amount of history of the area and country in general. This can also serve as a travel guide.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Evolving Wordsmith for a copy of this book.
November 11, 2020
I enjoyed reading this book, and it was very detailed. I learnt so many things about Australia that I didn’t know; so it was full of information. I think The author could be a travel writer!
August 28, 2021
After Jason Rebello, a ship's captain, and his wife Ambika decided to settle in Australia, they wanted to tour the country as backpackers and explored the east coast. Jason paints a vivid picture of the stunning scenery they see and the interesting people they meet in this tale of romance and adventure. Jason and Ambika are obviously a lovely, friendly young couple and you feel as if you almost know them as Jason takes you on a tour from the Sunshine Coast to North Queensland, to Melbourne, along the Great Ocean Road, and to Sydney. He really makes readers want to visit these places and he tells highly entertaining snippets of our history and includes facts about the country along the way. He did his research.
This was a highly enjoyable book to read, especially during the pandemic, although it really made me long to travel again, even just interstate! I especially liked Jason's amusing story of how he tried to evade romance and his description of the train trip from the Sunshine Coast to Mackay.
EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9780994567451
PRICE $21.99 (USD)
This was a highly enjoyable book to read, especially during the pandemic, although it really made me long to travel again, even just interstate! I especially liked Jason's amusing story of how he tried to evade romance and his description of the train trip from the Sunshine Coast to Mackay.
EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9780994567451
PRICE $21.99 (USD)
June 16, 2021
I was gifted this by voracious readers in return for an honest review. I enjoyed the backstory to why Jason and Ambika were travelling. The history and their experiences in each place were great too. I read the first half or so speedily devouring the information. I then slowed down. I’m not sure if it’s because my life got very busy for a bit or because they had traveled into a part of Australia I haven’t been to. I noticed that the next edition will have a map which is a great idea. I actually googled an Australian map to get a picture of where they were. If you are planning on migrating or visiting Australia I would recommend it I think you will find it useful especially all the web links in the back. Personally like other reviewers I’d love to hear more about them and more descriptions of the places they were at. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book 😊
July 29, 2021
What a fascinating insight, both into Australia and the life of migrants finding a new life and new home.
The writing is rich and descriptive. I hadn't been expecting the level of detail that was included.
Jason and Ambika experience some amazing trials and tribulations in their discovery of their new country and themselves.
A dream of 20years for Jason to move to Australia seems impossible. Jason never gives up though and so they make their life in Australia. Never give up on your dreams is the moral of the story!
A beautiful setting, narrative and life. I'd love a follow up from Jason, perhaps how they fared through Australia's lockdown(s) and more travels - this time including their children!
The writing is rich and descriptive. I hadn't been expecting the level of detail that was included.
Jason and Ambika experience some amazing trials and tribulations in their discovery of their new country and themselves.
A dream of 20years for Jason to move to Australia seems impossible. Jason never gives up though and so they make their life in Australia. Never give up on your dreams is the moral of the story!
A beautiful setting, narrative and life. I'd love a follow up from Jason, perhaps how they fared through Australia's lockdown(s) and more travels - this time including their children!
June 8, 2021
The Review
A wonderful blend of travel, memoir, and history, author Jason Rebello has done an incredible job bringing this book to life. The non-fiction story gives readers a unique perspective on not just general travel but immigrating to an entirely new country, as the newlywed couple immerses themselves in the culture and history of Australia while experiencing the nation firsthand.
The author does a great job of sharing the experiences of their adventures and their relationship and the history and culture they were experiencing. The way in which the author brought that spirit of travel and adventure so many seek was felt throughout every chapter, while the attention to detail on Australia itself was fantastic to see unfold. From the nation’s history and pop culture to the nation’s strict quarantine procedures and so much more, the author poured so much culture and heart into this story, creating a truly interactive and mesmerizing non-fiction read.
The Verdict
A gripping, heartfelt, and breathtaking travel and memoir-style book, author Jason Rebello’s “Red Earth Diaries” is a must-read. The wonderful blend of history and culture does a great job of mirroring the emotions and adventure that the couple themselves experienced along the way and creates an intimate and thoughtful narrative that many readers can identify with and that many of us can only hope for. A great and fantastic read, be sure to grab your copy of this amazing story on July 8th, 2021.
A wonderful blend of travel, memoir, and history, author Jason Rebello has done an incredible job bringing this book to life. The non-fiction story gives readers a unique perspective on not just general travel but immigrating to an entirely new country, as the newlywed couple immerses themselves in the culture and history of Australia while experiencing the nation firsthand.
The author does a great job of sharing the experiences of their adventures and their relationship and the history and culture they were experiencing. The way in which the author brought that spirit of travel and adventure so many seek was felt throughout every chapter, while the attention to detail on Australia itself was fantastic to see unfold. From the nation’s history and pop culture to the nation’s strict quarantine procedures and so much more, the author poured so much culture and heart into this story, creating a truly interactive and mesmerizing non-fiction read.
The Verdict
A gripping, heartfelt, and breathtaking travel and memoir-style book, author Jason Rebello’s “Red Earth Diaries” is a must-read. The wonderful blend of history and culture does a great job of mirroring the emotions and adventure that the couple themselves experienced along the way and creates an intimate and thoughtful narrative that many readers can identify with and that many of us can only hope for. A great and fantastic read, be sure to grab your copy of this amazing story on July 8th, 2021.
August 17, 2021
This book is definitely an easy and very enjoyable read. I was able to read this in two days. This is a memoir of a couple who migrated to Australia in search of new life. They go on a backpacking adventure before settling down.
Absolutely captivated by the history of Australia and the reference to Baltic winds and Crocodile Dundee was a good touch. You can see the amount of research has gone into this book. I really enjoyed the writing style and the characters. It was very interesting reading about the people they met and liked the characters from Air BnB.
This is a wonderfully written, descriptive and informative book. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend.
Absolutely captivated by the history of Australia and the reference to Baltic winds and Crocodile Dundee was a good touch. You can see the amount of research has gone into this book. I really enjoyed the writing style and the characters. It was very interesting reading about the people they met and liked the characters from Air BnB.
This is a wonderfully written, descriptive and informative book. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend.
September 2, 2021
2021. bk 271. The author and his wife-to-be liked to travel and while they loved their home country of India, they were not sure that there were the jobs or opportunities for their future children. As a Sea Captain with 20 years experience, Rebello had a taste of many countries around the world. Liking the time he had spent in Australia and having relatives and friends who had already immigrated, his fiancee agreed and plans were made. This was a joyful and positive look by immigrants at their new to be home, not hiding its bad points, but reveling in the joys they found in the people and the places they visited. A fun read.
July 9, 2021
I got the chance to read this from voracious readers and i loved it.. i previously moved to australia for 18 months so i could relate to alot of what happened as the couple travelled around.. it was fun to see them go to places i had been.. i loved the background history to everything.. its a very knowledgeable book with loads of fun facts that you might not otherwise know..
July 17, 2021
What an adventure!
As an American who dreams of visiting Australia someday, this book was food for my soul. Lovely adventures into a new country, as a newlywed sounds like a recipe for a great marriage! If you don’t know someone after travel like that, you never will. Great quotes, great history, and a lovely read!
As an American who dreams of visiting Australia someday, this book was food for my soul. Lovely adventures into a new country, as a newlywed sounds like a recipe for a great marriage! If you don’t know someone after travel like that, you never will. Great quotes, great history, and a lovely read!
August 27, 2021
I found myself really enjoying this book. It was rich, vibrant & amazing!
Interspersed with history, What an amazing start to married life these guys had.
Fascinating, compelling & utterly enthralling to read, with such beautifully, vivid descriptions, that you could close your eyes & dream yourself away to Australia 🇦🇺
Interspersed with history, What an amazing start to married life these guys had.
Fascinating, compelling & utterly enthralling to read, with such beautifully, vivid descriptions, that you could close your eyes & dream yourself away to Australia 🇦🇺
October 10, 2021
Inspiring travel logue, now I want to visit. A newlywed couple dream of a new life in Australia but first they embark on a backpacking tour of the country. Amazing descriptions of culture, history and the environment so inviting you just want to be there. Thank you #NetGalley for the book to review.
September 24, 2021
This is a heart-warming memoir about settling into a new place and navigating a happy marriage.
Jason's story is told from a unique perspective in so many ways, and ultimately this book is inspiring and love-filled.
I look forward to more books from him.
Jason's story is told from a unique perspective in so many ways, and ultimately this book is inspiring and love-filled.
I look forward to more books from him.
January 11, 2022
Hard to put down
August 16, 2021
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only and it was definitely worth the read. The descriptions of the places this couple went on their travels through Australia have me itching to travel again myself. One thing that I wasn’t a huge fan of was all of the description of Australian history throughout. Though if you’re more of a history buff you might enjoy it, those sections just weren’t for me.
Yet, overall this is a book about hope and exploration and simply making things work when you have the passion to do so and it is inspiring no matter what it is that you want to do and where you want to go in life.
Yet, overall this is a book about hope and exploration and simply making things work when you have the passion to do so and it is inspiring no matter what it is that you want to do and where you want to go in life.
June 6, 2021
I feel I have traveled Australia. I can picture the history, the many different types of land, the smell of the sea. A wonderful book that takes you on a wonderful adventure.
July 1, 2021
Fluid, captivating, engaging! Difficult to put down!
Crazy, outrageous, madness but a dream held close to his heart and Jason takes you through his dream, bit by bit, engaging you in every minute detail. The whole journey is one of optimism and fills the reader with desire to know more, sometimes forcing you to flip a few pages. Everything in this story, I call it a story because I’d like to narrate it to my child one day, is easily relatable. Reference to Baltic winds, Crocodile Dundee, geography of the continent all come out in measured portions. Jason manages to touch flora and fauna in great details but the “feel” of the book lies in his understanding of people and their sentiments. Moving deftly from present to past and then back again Jason’s style reminds you of R.K Narayan’s style, I particularly loved the part where he narrates the story of Capt Cook and HM Endeavour. Interestingly, Jason and his first mate Ambika were doing just what Capt. Cook had done in 18th century, exploring the unknown!
Crazy, outrageous, madness but a dream held close to his heart and Jason takes you through his dream, bit by bit, engaging you in every minute detail. The whole journey is one of optimism and fills the reader with desire to know more, sometimes forcing you to flip a few pages. Everything in this story, I call it a story because I’d like to narrate it to my child one day, is easily relatable. Reference to Baltic winds, Crocodile Dundee, geography of the continent all come out in measured portions. Jason manages to touch flora and fauna in great details but the “feel” of the book lies in his understanding of people and their sentiments. Moving deftly from present to past and then back again Jason’s style reminds you of R.K Narayan’s style, I particularly loved the part where he narrates the story of Capt Cook and HM Endeavour. Interestingly, Jason and his first mate Ambika were doing just what Capt. Cook had done in 18th century, exploring the unknown!
January 13, 2022
This was such an enjoyable read!
Part memoir, part travelogue, part history, _Red Earth Diaries_ truly has something for everyone.
True confession: I've often considered migrating elsewhere and wondered what would go into it. I also wonder whether certain visas are more easily obtained based on one's citizenship country--it's super hard, for example, to migrate from the US to England if one is not a skilled migrant ... ask me how I know, lol). BUT. That didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying this book! It seriously is the book of my dreams, in that I'd love to do something very close to this.
I loved the descriptions of each place they visited, and what stood out--both good and bad--about each. Entirely fascinating!
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Part memoir, part travelogue, part history, _Red Earth Diaries_ truly has something for everyone.
True confession: I've often considered migrating elsewhere and wondered what would go into it. I also wonder whether certain visas are more easily obtained based on one's citizenship country--it's super hard, for example, to migrate from the US to England if one is not a skilled migrant ... ask me how I know, lol). BUT. That didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying this book! It seriously is the book of my dreams, in that I'd love to do something very close to this.
I loved the descriptions of each place they visited, and what stood out--both good and bad--about each. Entirely fascinating!
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
March 17, 2022
Now that I’m in my 70’s, it’s nice to live vicariously through the travel memoirs written by youngsters. Jason and Ambika are newlyweds undertaking travel throughout Australia with a $10,000 budget and a time limit of 6 months. The couple traveled light, with plans to settle down permanently in Australia after their extended honeymoon and lots of happiness in their hearts.
The journey was made by air, bus, taxi, and mostly by train. Some of the places the pair visited included the large cities, the eastern coast, national parks, rainforests, farmlands of Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef, botanic gardens, and Victoria. They also selected a variety of accommodations for their overnight and weekly stays. The book isn’t just about the places they visited, but also details the people they met and history they learned.
The journey was made by air, bus, taxi, and mostly by train. Some of the places the pair visited included the large cities, the eastern coast, national parks, rainforests, farmlands of Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef, botanic gardens, and Victoria. They also selected a variety of accommodations for their overnight and weekly stays. The book isn’t just about the places they visited, but also details the people they met and history they learned.
August 25, 2022
Rebello finally meets his match in a women who asks him why he can't travel and live his dreams WHILE being married. And so it begins.
Jason Rebello and his wife Ambika decide they are going to migrate to Australia, but before settling down, they will spend time exploring their new country. As they travel, they meet friends of friends and make friends with the owners of the AirBnB's they stay at. Rebello shares these friendships with us, as well as interesting historical facts about the various states and cities that they visit. We are left with an appreciation for the history of Australia, a picture of the beauty of the land, and a desire to meet the people of Australia.
Jason Rebello and his wife Ambika decide they are going to migrate to Australia, but before settling down, they will spend time exploring their new country. As they travel, they meet friends of friends and make friends with the owners of the AirBnB's they stay at. Rebello shares these friendships with us, as well as interesting historical facts about the various states and cities that they visit. We are left with an appreciation for the history of Australia, a picture of the beauty of the land, and a desire to meet the people of Australia.
February 22, 2022
Not what I expected
If you go into this book looking to hear about this couples backpacking journey around Australia, as I did, you may be disappointed. The title of the book is misleading. While parts of it are about their journey, the majority of the book is Australian history so if you go into the book knowing that, I don't think you'll be disappointed. The author is very knowledgeable about the history and provides a lot of facts. This book is definitely more history than personal journey.
If you go into this book looking to hear about this couples backpacking journey around Australia, as I did, you may be disappointed. The title of the book is misleading. While parts of it are about their journey, the majority of the book is Australian history so if you go into the book knowing that, I don't think you'll be disappointed. The author is very knowledgeable about the history and provides a lot of facts. This book is definitely more history than personal journey.
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