LAURENCE MACKINreviews Far Horizonsby Frank Gardner and the Rough Guide to South America on a Budget
Far Horizons
Frank Gardner
Bantam Press, £18.99
Frank Gardner, the BBC’s security correspondent, has spent his life travelling to the rougher parts of the world. Before he joined the fourth estate, it seems, Gardner spent most of his working days dreaming up his next trip, and his thirst for adventure and far-flung shores are what make this book so worthwhile. Each chapter focuses on a journey, in chronological order; the second half is shot through with drama and danger, from attending a Bedouin exorcism in Oman to coping with the aftermath of being shot in Riyadh in an attack that left Gardner without the use of his legs. Some of the earlier sections, however, particularly on ill-advised student trips with a minimum of planning and a surfeit of confidence and optimism, make for the kind of helter-skelter travel writing that reminds you of the unadulterated joy of finding yourself in an utterly alien place. This is a self-deprecating, incisive book, shot through with bolts of humour and swathes of living, breathing prose.
South America on a Budget
Rough Guides, £19.99
Several of Gardner’s chapters take place in South America, although it’s hard to imagine him consulting a guidebook before setting out. For those of a more sensible nature, this should give you the basics to survive on an extended jaunt through Latin America and beyond. It packs a surprising amount of detail into its almost 1,000 pages, with a brief chapter on suggested itineraries and bullet-point recommendations for the essential sights. There are plenty of budget listings, as you would expect, plus a few hints for when roughing it becomes too much and you feel like splashing out for a night.