The Backpacker

For fans of Alex Garland's The Beach, a true story of out-of-control travel Leaving the blinding sand for the cool shade of the trees, I walked carefully through the undergrowth to where Dave, using two twigs as chopsticks, was picking up a freshly severed human finger ... John's trip to India starts badly when his girlfriend, with whom he is traveling, returns home. Left to his own devices, he soon finds himself looking at the sharp end of a knife in a train station cubicle. But his life is saved, and turned upside down, by Rick, an enigmatic fellow traveler who persuades John to question his mundane plans for the future, risking it all for much, much more. Fast forward to the Thai island of Koh Pha-Ngan, where John, Rick, and their new friend Dave pose as millionaire aristocrats in a hedonistic Eden of beautiful women, free drugs, and wild beach parties. However, when they find themselves hotly pursued by the Thai Mafia, they embark on adrenaline-fueled journeys to Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, and Hong Kong, facing danger at every turn. This is not travel writing for the faint of heart: this is an unbelievable true story of the hunt for excess, at any cost ‘leaving The Blinding Sand For The Cool Shade Of The Trees, I Walked Carefully Through The Undergrowth To Where Dave, Using Two Twigs As Chopsticks, Was Picking Up A Freshly Severed Human Finger...’ John’s Trip To India Starts Badly When His Girlfriend Returns Home And He Finds Himself Looking At The Sharp End Of A Knife In A Train Station Cubicle. But His Life Is Saved By An Enigmatic Traveller Called Rick, Who Persuades John To Question His Mundane Plans For The Future, Risking It All For Much, Much More. Fast Forward To The Thai Island Of Koh Pha-ngan; John, Rick And Their New Friend Dave Pose As Millionaire Aristocrats In A Hedonistic Eden Of Beautiful Girls, Free Drugs And Wild Beach Parties. Running Out Of Money And Pursued By The Thai Mafia, They Embark On Adrenalin-fuelled Journeys To Singapore, Indonesia, Australia And Hong Kong, Facing Danger At Every Turn. Filled With Wild Adventures In Exotic Locations, This Is Not Travel Writing For The Faint-hearted: This Is An Amazing True Story Of The Hunt For Excess At Any Cost. With passion and wit, Bernard Levin describes his travels on foot through the beautiful countryside of south-eastern France. He follows in the mighty footsteps of the great Carthaginian enemy of Rome, Hannibal, who made the expedition with an army and elephants nearly two millennia before. From the Camargue via the Rhône Valley, across the Alps, and into Italy during August snowstorms, he comments on the social and historical importance of the landscapes he passes through, taking detours to the table of chef Jacques Pic at Valence and the Arles region immortalized by Van Gogh. The journey woul