A review by alundeberg
Eastern Horizons: Hitchhiking the Silk Road by Levison Wood

4.0

Thank goodness for Levison Wood for going on these journeys when so many of us-- for whatever reason: age, gender, sanity-- may not be able to do such an undertaking. Traveling overland 10, 000 miles from Estonia to India, Wood brings back adventure travel to its 18th and 19th century heyday when exploration for Europeans was so new. Wood revives the wonder in the world around us and gives us a glimpse into peoples who remain a mystery to much of the world. During his voyage, which he modeled after traveler Arthur Connelly, Wood straddles the boundary of being completely immersed in ancient cultures and chafing under the interference of the modern world and tourist. He captures the highs of travel and its lows of loneliness; anyone who has found themselves alone and vulnerable in a foreign land will relate.

What I appreciate about his observations about the people he meets is that recounts them as they are-- with all of their biases, angles, hospitality, and friendship. He doesn't editorialize or try to fix the worlds problems. He just explains what he sees and shows us what life is like elsewhere.