Backpacker to Nomad

by Amit Vaidya

Adventures and discovery meet misfortunes and despair over an epic five-and-a-half-year journey in this humorous travel memoir.

Newbie British backpacker, Amit, finally escapes normality to explore Australia but of course, life’s never simple. The horrendous situations he gets into would have others scrambling for the first flight home but going back to England isn’t an option for Amit — Ever!

This collection of unfiltered true travel stories unfolds an astonishing life-altering yet turbulent journey from the sun-kissed beaches of Australia to the jungles and ancient wonders of Southeast Asia. While incredible highs and jaw-dropping moments are experienced, Amit must dodge mental and physical obstacles on a daily basis. A Lunatic pilot plunging him to certain death, getting scammed in a new culture, and encounters with opium-addicted locals in jungles are just some of the escapades that become part of Amit’s everyday life.

So, what drives this insatiable wanderlust when the odds are against him? Why can’t he ever return to England? And how does he become a nomad?

If you dream of exploring the world or love reading about travel shenanigans get your copy today to find out and lose yourself in Amit’s unpredictable journey!

Genres: Travel

333 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 27, 2022

About the author

Amit Vaidya is a British long-term solo and budget traveler, Author of solo travel help book, ‘You, Yourself & the World.’ and creator of long-term solo and budget travel website 'Forever Roaming the World'.

For the best part of a decade, Amit has got lost chasing waterfalls deep into jungles, been chased by wild animals (and locals), lounged on paradise Islands, and embraced cultures all over the world. He is now using his unique experience as a nomad to bring joy to avid travel reading fans and inspire anybody who wishes to travel long-term in the future but is not sure where to begin.

Amit is currently working on his first travel memoir 'Backpacker to Nomad'set for release in JULY 2022. This book is currently in the editing stage. For somebody who has managed to backpack around the world for nearly a decade, It's hard to condense down into one book. So Amit has chosen to pick out 15 travel stories from his first five years that best represent the most important, life-changing moments and memorable adventures and misadventures.

His debut book, You, Yourself & the world, unfortunately, coincided with the world shutting down due to the Covid-19 pandemic yet hit best seller ranks on Amazon for solo travel, budget travel, and travel tips which have sold hundreds of copies in over 40 countries worldwide.

Amit is currently writing his 2nd book: A travel memoir showing his near-decade evolution from backpacker to nomad ( Releasing March/April 2022)

If you would like to chat with Amit personally you can do it through, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. However, if he doesn’t get back in touch, he might be getting chased by monkeys. He loves them but they don’t share the affection.

Twitter @av9901
Insta @amit_foreverroamingtheworld
Facebook @AmitVaidyaAuthor
Website: https://www.foreverroamingtheworld.co...
Newsletter: https://eepurl.com/hOyEi9

Reviews

[Bookguide · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with a smile on my face. Amit Vaidya tells stories about his backpacking exploits in Australia, New Zealand and SE Asia, warts and all. Along the way, he grew as a person, overcoming his fears and learning how to travel and see the authentic side of a country, all on a budget. I loved the way his friends encouraged and teased him, especially his wonderful German travelling companion Alex, who often stepped in to stop Amit from some foolish impulse. In spite of some really horrible experiences and injuries, and no medical insurance to get proper treatment (probably not a good idea!), the real joy of travel and exploration shine through.

These are my first thoughts. I’ll add more when I’ve processed my notes.

Disclaimer: I received a free review copy as an ebook via Book Sirens. Nevertheless, I am free to express my own opinions, whether they be positive or negative.

[S. Bavey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the writing style of this travel memoir to be compelling, the detail in the descriptions of Amit and his friends’ travels and experiences informative, at times exciting, and his playful choice of metaphors in his descriptions to be charming:

“Since arriving in Australia two weeks ago, not a day had gone by without leaking like a pierced hosepipe.”

There is a fair amount of swearing in the dialogue which may put off some readers but I felt it added a feeling of authenticity to Amit’s personality - a man with a quick temper who desperately seeks a peaceful chilled out life, but seems to attract mishaps and stressful situations to himself. His inner monologue is written in italics and I found it added a level of depth and helped the reader get to know him better as he battles with his two warring internal voices. He has a wonderfully heartwarming relationship with his Bavarian friend Alex - they really seem to understand and balance each other out with their wildly different personalities.

Each of the chapters is devoted to a different location ranging from Australia - Amit really enjoyed Sydney and made many friends there, Thailand which he hated until they went to a deserted island and Laos which he really enjoyed. Many adventures were had along the way, including skydiving over the Great Barrier Reef, scuba diving, snowboarding, river rafting and scary seaplane journeys to name only a few. I really enjoyed the description of Alex and Amit’s day on the river in Vietnam - visiting floating river market stalls sounded wonderful. As they became veteran backpackers rather than just tourists, they started to immerse themselves in the culture more, helping a local lady do laundry and talking to locals in pubs, finding out how they feel about backpackers and tourists and their impact on the local communities. Amit is becoming more open-minded and growing as a human being as his travels continue. In the early days he was gripped by fear at the thought of going into a pub on his own but he gradually becomes more at ease in unfamiliar situations.

There were a few chapters which felt a little unfinished. I really wanted to know what happened after Amy and Amit returned to Queenstown in New Zealand penniless and homeless from a last ditch weekend snowboarding. Where did they sleep, how did they eat? But we were not told. One minute he was with Amy and then we jump to Bangkok with Alex.

There was also the train journey to Phuket:

“It was only seven hours late. Another cultural lesson from Thailand… never rely on anything to run on time. As the train got closer, it looked decorated. It was… in humans. Some sat on top, others hung off the sides. This was to be our first train experience, and by the way previous transport—from tuk-tuks to buses—had been, I wasn’t looking forward to it. There was sure to be more culture shock in wait.”

After the last sentence above I expected to hear something about the train journey itself and find out about the ‘culture shock’ but was left feeling a little disappointed. This is really my only negative comment on a book which felt lively and vibrant, an authentic example of backpacking with barely any money or planning.
As well as the fun adventures Amit experienced he also had more than his fair share of setbacks, injuries and misfortune. Occasionally he let himself be dragged downwards emotionally by these but his strong friendship with Alex was his saving grace more often than not.

I’m glad to read that Amit is writing a follow-up to this book as I really enjoyed his writing style and particular tone of voice and would love to read more of it!

[Janis Couvreux · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable exploration of the author’s spontaneous travels as he reconciles his own weaknesses and fears from the past to continue on with a successful future. However, I do take issue with the author’s generous use of the “f” word—a word I abhor although it has become rather commonplace today. I would have enjoyed his story more if I wasn’t consistently assaulted with that, and I think his story would have benefitted more from a varied vocabulary.

I also felt that there are some holes here and there and lack of transitions: How does he get to the next country if he has no money left? What was his horrid past of growing up in England that he is so determined to escape and forget? Why is he so fearful of life? What was his basis for a “real” job (i.e. what did he gravitate to as a profession)? But then again, as a journalist myself, I always want to know the details of everyone’s story to round out the picture!

I enjoyed learning about his grandfather and the relationship the two had, but again, why were they so close? And what about the rest of his family? Having spent 10 years myself “nomading” on a sailboat, I understand his underlying purpose and philosophy. Since Amit Vaidya leaves us “hanging” with his adventures, I’ll just have to read the next book to know how and where he goes next!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

By good fortune and coincidence, I have visited many of the places that Amit has included in this travel memoir. However, that is where the similarities end. Our methods of travel, and our travel experiences, could not have been more different.

That's one of the things that I loved most about Backpacker to Nomad. It wandered into different (and sometimes darker) corners than I would have visited on my own. The author's vivid and candid writing captivated me throughout. The sequencing and chapter segues were spot on. It is important to note that the author uses an authentic voice which is adult oriented and often includes profanity.

There were places where the book did leave me wanting more—for example, Amit's ex-pat experience in Bali. I was curious about his work there and was disappointed that those details were omitted.

This book reminds us that we don't always need to wait for the perfect moment or a large bankroll to travel. Flexibility, creating a travel network, opting for local experiences instead of touristy ones...as well as gumption can go a long way.

Thank you to Book Sirens and the author for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy (and much welcomed virtual travel) in exchange for this honest review.

[Amy Squires · Rating 5 out of 5]

You won't want to put this one down!

An easy read, and one you'll likely continue until complete. You'll get lost in Amit's adventures and laugh along the way (mostly AT him!). My favourite part of these stories are Amit's thoughts. He offers an unfiltered, inside view of his perception of people, events and adventures.

This solo nomad meets fellow travellers along the way and dramatically shares adventures, mishaps and personal discoveries.

[Elora Canne · Rating 4 out of 5]

TRAVEL ADVENTURE’S LIKE NO OTHER

Book Review:

Amit’s travels will leave you gaping in surprise and mesmerized by his experiences. His rich detail transports you along with him, but more than that, Amit takes us inside the conflicting thoughts in his mind as he grapples with his life choices. I found huge value in witnessing his transformation through travel and his appreciation for the wider world.

~ I’ve been following Amit’s travels for a while and am so glad I got to read his travel memoir. I loved that I could recognise a few of his destinations too, and am looking forward to volume 2.

[sandra stiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

1st star - I finished the book, which, believe me, is not always the case.

2nd star - I really developed empathy and a feeling of friendship for Amit as the story unfolded, pushing himself passed his fears; he really wasn't at his best in the beginning!

3rd star - his experiences were described so well, I felt his fear and excitement with him! Especially the plane ride 😬! And his refusal to name that celestial body was endearing!

No 4th star because the transition between New Zealand and Bali could have been explained sooner in the next chapter, it left me confused for a few pages - one minute he's broke with nowhere to stay and the next he's in Bali? I understand why it was written as it was, you want the reader to keep reading to find out what happened, but by that point in the book, I was invested enough that I would have kept reading anyway. It would just have felt smoother to me to have had the explanation sooner.

No 5th star purely because it ends with more to come and I really wished…… no spoilers!!!!!😁

[Luisa Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are young and contemplating a gap year abroad this book may be a good one to read. If you have a child about to take a gap year, maybe it is not such a good choice! Amit was not on a gap year but on a mission to escape the UK and prove to his family and friends (and mostly to himself) that he was braver than they thought. His initial months of partying and spending were almost his perdition but he dug deep to find work in order to avoid returning home. So began his adventures in Australia. He has constant battles with an inner vooice and gradually emerges from a shell. New friends bolster him offering protection and advice. Eventually, Amit ventures off alone. Travel becomes a need and he wants more of it. His backpack no longer represents a temporary visit to a country but becomes a permanent fixture as he moves from one place to another discovering the world and slowly maturing.

[Shyam Kodavarthi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and fast read. The writing is excellent and the author's descriptions are vivid. The book starts off with the author's travels through Australia, New Zealand and then a romp through the familiar backpacker havens/ghettos of South East Asia. The book chronicles the metamorphosis of the author from an inexperienced backpacker to an experienced long-term traveller.

The author is always in the company of someone throughout the entire book. If he has travelled solo, he does not write about it (except for a few days in Melbourne, where he gets panic attacks).

There are a few minor editing mistakes in the book.

The book is for adults only, due to the language.

[Jim McD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by this author.
Fun, easy read

[Tammie Tyndall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gutsy guy

Am it is much braver than I could ever be. He over came his fears and lives a life to be proud of.

[Alison Cubitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Backpacker to Nomad is an engaging memoir that provides readers with an immersive experience of the hedonistic, 24-7 party culture of a twenty-something backpacker. The story is frank and unfiltered, with authentic and uncensored dialogue that captures the highs and lows of a travelling life. The author, Amit, takes us on a journey spanning five years, with each chapter exploring a different destination. Amit balances the immersive action scenes throughout the book with just the right amount of introspection. What sets this memoir apart is that Amit never attempts to big himself up but faces his insecurities head-on.
One of the standout characters in the book is Alex, who functions as Amit’s alarm clock, driver, amateur shrink, tour guide, and toddler wrangler. Her cheerful and sensible personality makes her an ideal travelling companion. Whenever Amit throws a chimp-like tantrum, Alex lobs one right back with a witty observation about his shortcomings. One of the funniest scenes in the book is when Amit catches Alex surreptitiously tucking into a carb-on-carb speciality, despite lecturing him about the unhealthy food from his hometown.
Another highlight of the book is the description of New Zealand’s greatest one-day walk. For every ten earnest hikers kitted out with the correct gear, there’s a guy in an England shirt and Adidas trainers who decided on the spur of the moment that it would be a good idea. Only when he gets to the point of no return a few hours in he realises that the only way down is via a long vertical slope made up of tiny volcanic rocks so slippery they roll away at every step.
Although there were some structural gaps in the story, unfinished chapters, and a few line and copy edits needed, this memoir is an extremely entertaining read. By the end, Amit has grown into a more thoughtful traveller, providing insightful commentary on the impact of mass tourism on locals. Overall, Backpacker to Nomad is a thoroughly enjoyable read that provides a unique perspective on life on the road.

I received a free copy of this book.

[Lisa Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Backpackers have a bad reputation in many places and Amit highlights exactly why in the first part of this intriguing memoir. Leaving the UK for the Antipodes, Amit does all the packpacker things which seem to mainly consist of drinking heavily. Then, fate steps in and Amit has to leave Australia. As he begins to journey to more places, his perceptions change. Amit starts to embrace his new nomadic life and, although he still enjoys a few drinks, he begins to understand more about both himself and the places he visits, interacting with locals and avoiding tourist traps. This is a memoir of personal growth and discovery as much as it is about drinking and being a pain!