So many stories and no two the same, yet all linked by the theme of encounters in far flung lands. Colin Thubron writes poetically of "Mandalay" describing the city of thirty-five years ago and of Tun the rick-shaw driver who has a sobering and powerful story to tell.

Paul Theroux who always manages to sit next to interesting people in trains, tells in "The Monk's Luggage" of the Zen Monk, Tapa Snim, from Korea who travels the world carrying everything he possesses in a simple cotton square knotted at the corners. As Buddha travelled so did he, “looking for enlightenment".

In "The Nun's Tale" by William Dalrymple, we read of the severe asceticism of the Jain religion as the nun Mataji describes her wandering barefoot through India using her peacock fan to brush the path before her to avoid killing any living creature. Patrick Leigh Fermor's story of a wild night "In a Cave on the Black Sea" drinking raki and eating lentils and fish with a group of fishermen and seamen. His description of the dancing and music performed by members of this group is exciting and breath taking.

The book contains thirty-five personal stories and each illuminates the world around us.

Geraldine Ash
Berkelouw Books Customer

PS: This book is published in support of Oxfam's work