Smiles and Spices: journeys and encounters in east Asia

Come on a journey from the Great Wall all the way down to the Mekong Delta; from Korea right across to Mt Everest. See crumbling temples in the jungle; hear the crashing drums and cymbals of a dragon dance; taste the spices. Adventure through nine countries and many more ethnic and cultural identities.

With in-the-moment detail and lighthearted humour, join Carrie on a Beijing stopover; a Korean holiday; backpacking from Shanghai to Tibet and back and then down to Southeast Asia; and some hair-raising drives around Taiwan. Experience these diverse and contrasting places: from yaks to water buffalo and trishaws to tuk tuks; from bustling cities to peaceful mountains covered in terraces of rice paddies; from boiling mud pools to markets filled with colour and life (literally – sometimes the produce runs away!). Not to mention all the mad things you’ll see on the back of Vietnamese motorbikes…

Review by bestselling author Jacqueline Lambert:

“The greatest stories often came out of the greatest challenges. Right from the start, the storytelling is beautiful. The author describes flying into Beijing, then takes you like a personal tour guide around South East Asia. You see everything instantly through her eyes and share the wonder. From the outset, I felt immersed.

Yet, this was not an easy trip. Frequently travelling solo, the author has to deal with very alien cultures, often with no language and absolutely no idea what’s going on. Join her on a motorcycle chase after her bags in Cambodia, inadvertently caught up in a political demonstration in Thailand, and on some terrifying drives in a hire car through Taiwan.

This is the second memoir I’ve read from this author and once again, I loved her thoughtful reflections on cultural differences and her clear empathy for countries where living standards and freedoms differ greatly from the Western world. She also explores how an extended trip or long-term travel is not just about collecting truly unique experiences. It is a means to test and re-form your initial reactions and challenge your values and preconceptions.

If you want to discover the best sightseeing spot in China, an ancient Korean drinking game, and a mighty fine collection of toilets, you will do worse than join Carrie for some smiles and spices!”