Guides give us a small “history textbook” based perspectives on a country and its people, its present and its past. If you want more than just an objective list of historical facts, then it’s the emotions of real people’s stories that should be in your backpack.
The Lost Road to Innocence – Somaly Mam
Somaly was sold into a child slavery by her grandfather when she was 12 years old, she was then shuffled around different brothels throughout South East Asia until her escape in her early 20’s. Unable to leave others girls behind to endure the same brutality and horror she lived with, Somaly became a leader and spokesperson for child trafficking charities to fight against human trafficking and set about rescuing girls from slavery and offering them new lives full of healing, love and rehabilitation
An inspirational memoir of tragedy and hope by a woman who has been named in Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.
Home Is Where The Heart Is – Geraldine Cox
A brutally honest account of Australian and founder of the Cambodian orphanage – Sunrise Children’s Villages, Geraldine Cox. After working for Foreign Affairs in Cambodia in the 1970’s and 80’s Geraldine found her true purpose, in caring for Cambodian orphans who had been the victims of war and poverty. Here she tells her story of how a girl who grew up in Adelaide came to run her own Cambodian orphanage and how a mother’s love can make a difference.
Ant Egg Soup: The Adventures of a Food Tourist in Laos – Natacha Du Pont De Bie
Ant Egg Soup is a look at one woman’s foodie experiences in Laos – the people she met the places she visited and the food she ate which ranges from delicious to disgusting. This book is about her obsession with food: the more obscure the better. Her interest is so great that she willing to get lost in local markets, cycle mountains, visit tribal villages and grill locals to find the best indigenous restaurants.
A book for foodies written by a self-proclaimed food tourist.
The River of Lost Footsteps – Thant Myint-U
Thant Myint-U uses stories of his family to bring together a narrative of the history of Burma. Through their stories he portrays Burmas many rises and falls of history, from the invasion of Portuguese pirates through to British colonialism, and the bitter civil war that still tears apart Burma and its people today.
Myint-U was named by Foreign Policy Magazine as one of the “100 Global Thinkers” of 2013 and by Prospect Magazine as one of “50 World Thinkers” of 2014.
The Beach – Alex Garland
Made famous by the movie of the same name, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. This book is about one man’s mysterious and perilous journey to find a secret beach, a Garden of Eden, within the scattered islands of Thailand’s marine park. Full of excitement and danger this is a great read for a first-time traveller to Thailand.
According to foodfuntravel.com
