Insatiable: A Passion-For-Life Memoir Backpacking Around the World

Insatiable: A Passion-For-Life Memoir Backpacking Around the World

INSATIABLE is a compelling, deeply personal memoir of my over two years backpacking around the world. The book sparkles with life, shimmers with truth; and shines with hope, humanity and high humor. The year was 1976. It all began with a trans-Atlantic crossing on the QE2 luxury liner; a college graduation gift from my proud parents. It was to be a brief ten day trip, focused on London and Paris. But all that was to change . . . Once in London the world opened up . . . I was filled with a profound sense of wonderment that all things were possible. I felt my sensibilities exploding with a passion-for-living. A visceral rush consumed me with an insatiable thirst and curiosity to explore and discover more. This was the beginning of the best decision of my lifetime: to travel on. With my life savings ($914), I was determined to travel as long and as far as possible. I wanted a “global odyssey.” With little money, but with lots of grit, grace, and ingenuity, I backpacked around the world (thirty-four countries) on less than $2 a day. My travels included: Europe, North Africa, and across overland Asia to India; Southeast Asia and on to the Orient. I left just a kid out of college. I would return a RICH MAN with a “WEALTH OF LIVING.” And $11 in my pocket. INSATIABLE contains thirty-five true stories (chapters) all taken from my personal travel journals. Some of the representative titles include: . Last Night in Paris . Hunger’s Drive to Desperate Deeds: I was Shameless . Austria: Snow Shoveling Czar . Morocco: Bat Cave at Knife Point . Brittany Belly Buster . Munich Trolley Stalker . What’s a Guy Like You Doing In a Place Like This? . Titian Art Treasures Leads to Botticelli Beauty . Istanbul: Crosswords of the Backpacker’s Universe . Burma: My Buddhist Savoir – Hero . Afghanistan: Romance and Rapture in the Hindu Kush . India: Hindu Pilgrimage on Being Deified These riveting stories embrace a broad spectrum of raw life experiences from the “sublime to the ridiculous” to the “agony and the ecstacy”; from the death-defying, to the sensual and romantic; to the other-worldly; and "outrageously funny.” A rich, varied tapestry of the stories is woven together from different times, different places, different people, situations and settings; creating an electric vibrancy and dynamic diversity. This powerful memoir will resonate strongly with its diverse readers: . From a first-time backpacker with aspirations to travel the world. . To the discerning arm chair vicarious traveler equipped with a first-rate imagination, and seeks first-rate travel prose. . To the pragmatist who wants a “how to” book full of value wisdom, and nuts n’ bolts solid advise for the traveler; such as how to travel on a tight budget, and how to connect and make close, meaningful contact with the various people of the world. INSATIABLE resonates with anyone and everyone. This must read memoir transcends travel: It is for anyone that has a passion for life and for everyone wants a hell of a great read. Let me share this once-in-a-lifetime journey with you, my valued reader. Open the book! Embrace travel! Embrace life! Let the magic begin!