Prem'sJourney

The element of Serendipity that we encounter often in a travel, sometimes would present a stunning perspective. A remarkable travelogue, one which is well conceived, executed and written, gives interesting and deep insights on very sensitive subjects that is not present in any narrative. It usually lies somewhere in between, interesting story telling and journalistic reportage. It also takes you on a trip to places and times, with an authenticity that we rarely experience in any other type of narrative, however well written it may be. That is why I tend to select travelogues quite regularly. Rarely you get travelogue which gives an experience that is not just academic or array of simple incidents but would instead, take you on a trip into your inner self and offer a perspective on life that has the power transform you. I did not realize this book was one such when I started reading it. It all started with me choosing this book to accompany a long flight. I started browsing the book I f...

What comes to your mind when you think of the first travelogue you have ever read? For me, it was a lot of condescension, and a display of superiority which now I think as Naivety and bluster, fit to impress only an innocent 5 year old, whom I was then. My first experience of reading Travelogues was at that early age in my mother tongue Tamil. Written by some of the popular writers of those times who always bragged about their visits to Europe and the West, in an effort to impress the masses who did not have means to travel themselves. Later years, as I grew up and started travelling to all those places, I realised how shallow their narratives were. By then, my reading had expanded into much deeper subjects and I wanted to see more from a travelogue. Particularly, I wanted Travelogues to provide me with historical background on behavioural aspects of the people and the culture of the places I read about. All the while I was looking at places outside my Country, thinking those are the p...