Another magical travel book by the bestselling author of Orchid Fever.
The best, most enduring travel writers don't invite readers to merely view vistas through other eyes, but take the trip further, deep into the psychology of place.
Hansen does just that in this lyrical collection that is equal parts travelogue, memoir and anthropological treatise. He details explorations from his 20s, 30s and 40s, all of which are compelling, surprising and utterly memorable.
Though some are set in Europe, most take place in distant, alluring places in Asia and the South Pacific. 'Night Fishing with Nahimah' recalls Hansen's extended 1977 trip to the Maldives Islands near Singapore, where he journeyed to smuggle fish from the islands to the mainland. In the Maldives, he encountered an island paradise awash in contradictions, devoutly Muslim yet devoid of sexual inhibitions.