Drifting into a Side-Stream

About the Book

Join Koos, the author’s alter-ego on an epic overland trip along the legendry Cape-to-Cairo trail an onward into the mystique of Asia. This is not only a tale of a wanderer’s attempt to escape the `mainstream’, but also an open-minded spiritual quest to explore the essence of life and the course of destiny. Koos, a hard-drinking bachelor who is not averse to a bit of hanky-panky, opens his diary in Cape Town, the `Mother city’ of Southern Africa. Due to visa problems he misses the initial departure with his travel companions only to meet up with them in Namibia. From there the colourful narrative leads the reader up the Skeleton Coast and on into the Okavango, Victoria Falls, the Chobe, South Luangwa, Malawi, Zanzibar, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. There is adventure in Ethiopia, and the gripping ordeal through the Nubian Desert, up the Nile, and onward into ancient Cairo. Barred entry into Europe and Turkey, Koos heads off to Bangkok, and northward onto a Mekong River boat to Luang Prabang. The tale unfolds into the wonder of Angkor Wat and explores the horror of the Kmer Rouge. Inspired by tales of the fabled Shangri-La, Koos joins an inspirational companion to venture beyond Kathmandu into the breathtaking heights of the Annapurna Mountains. India unravels – Calcutta, the Bay of Bengal, the ruins of the Vijayangar Empire, and on to the golden Goan beaches. After a crisis in Bombay he returns to Bangkok’s warm embrace for a glimpse into his future.

About the Author

The author, a South African of European descent, was raised in a succession of small towns in the Apartheid era from the 1950's to the 1970's. He was drafted into the Army and sent to the Caprivi on the Namibian/Zambian border in a Special Services Battalion in 1974. After attending law school, he ultimately graduated through a distance learning course in the 1980’s while pursuing some highly unusual career choices, until he discovered his one true passion – international travel by any means possible. In 1986 he visited South America, an epic journey of backpacking and cycling. On his return he `hung out’ and later went AWOL from the Army, fleeing to England. In the 90’s he decided to exchange the security of a corporate job for the thrills and uncertainties of a lifetime `on the road’, by incorporating travel into his way of life, teaching English in Greece, Korea and Thailand. He almost died in Taiwan as a result of a massive bout of ill-health. His travel autobiography; `Soaring on African Wings’ was published in 2004. His 50th birthday marked a turning point in his life. He took a year off and after visiting his family embarked on a journey, rediscovering the thrill of travel and at the same time exploring his ultimate spiritual destiny. His journey followed the overland Cape-to-Cairo trail, and then onto South East Asia, Nepal and India. Presently he is employed as an English language instructor at Dongseo University in Busan, South Korea.