Vietnam
Vietnamese people have gone through a lot in the last 150+ years. American War, development of the communist state, fleeing the country. Many stories deal with aspects of these times
Ru – Kim Thuy.
The Beauty of Humanity Movement – Camilla Gibb. Beautifully told, full of delicate observations of life in Hanoi.
The Sympathizer– Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction by Viet Thanh Nguyen. Life was tough in the transition times.
Francois Jadov– Under the Sign of the Blue Dragon. Beautiful journal of her travels in Vietnam- very inspiring to visit the place as well as a working method.
Bobby Chinn Wild, Wild East- Recipes and Stories from Vietnam yum! Cooking
Veitnam Cultural Traveller Publication- The Cuisine of Viet Nam- Nourishing a Culture Very interesting collection of essays looking at the cuisine of Vietnam as it has developed over the course of the history of the country, a country which is
rich in natural resources and one which foreign invades have come and left their mark over the millennium only to be sent packing by that unique force that is “Vietnamese”. Cooking and history
Pham Xanh Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh is the father of modern Vietnam, the inspiration for their independence from foreign powers and pride in their identity, Very much a revered person to this day.
Carol Howland Dragons on the Roof- A year in Vietnam a collection of anecdotes of her year in Vietnam, very insightful for a feel of the culture and a liberal sprinkling of Vietnamese history. Great preparation for a visit to the country to help you understand its wealth of history and people.
Through Vietnam’s Eyes A selection of short stories from Viet Nam News Sunday edition. Very enjoyable
Vu Trong Phung Dumb Luck Vietnamese Classic orginally appearing in serial form in the 1930’s following the exploits of ‘Red Hiared Xuan’
Andrew X Pham Catfish and Mandala Born in the 60’s just after the American war, Pham was raised in America this is the story of a young man learning more about his adopted homeland and the land of his birth.
Inspiring Travel Journals
Ibn Battutah The Travels of Ibn Battutah edited by Tim Mackintosh-Smith. In 1325 Moroccan Muslin scholar Ibn Battutah set out to see the world. It took him 29 years to do so, this yarn of his adventures is witty, full of insight into the medieval world and gossip. My hero! what a traveller!
Opal WhiteleyThe Singing Creek where the Willows Grow. Journal of a young nature writer, inspiring observations of her world, her wonder is inspiring as a way of greeting the world for any traveller.
Chet Raymo The Path- a one mile walk through the Universe “tongues in trees, books in running brooks, sermons in stones and good in everything” so said Shakespeare. Raymo draws these threads together in this wonderful observation of his local way.
Basho Narrow Road to a Far Province translated by Dorothy Britton. 17th Century pilgrim poet Basho undertook a perilous journey, he kept a diary of his journey in prose- poetry and wrote a haiku per day.
Richard Bernstein Ultimate Journey-Retracing the Path of an Ancient Buddhist Monk who crossed Asia in Search of Enlightenment. Highly regarded in both India and China Hsuan Tsang traced the journey of Buddhism from China back to
India. He set our in 629 looking for TRUTH, to settle what he called the “perplexities of my mind.” Richard Bernstein, turned 50 and retracing this journey was on his must do list, this tale tells of his journey and re-tells Hsuan Tsang’s. Great read
Travel and new experiences- general
Elizabeth Gilbert Eat, Pray, Love- Especially what she has to say in the first section is a great primer for experiencing new places.
Exploring your creativity and life
Julia Cameron The Artist’s Way- a course in discovering and recovering your creative self.
Creative Arts Safaris Tours are fully escorted, small group tours that focus textiles, arts and culture and yummy local cuisine.
On tour we like to get our hands dirty taking workshops, exploring locations and culture, in addition to including lots of local experiences.
Our friendly groups are inclusive. They are companionable and well organized allowing a relaxed adventure and great for solo travellers.
Tours include pickup & drop to airport, accommodation, group travel, sightseeing, workshops, and most meals; almost everything EXCEPT the shopping – that is your job.