Subcontinental Nonsense: Karachi to Kathmandu

Guns, gin, goats and generational differences

It's the mid-80s, and while most university students are sensibly cramming for finals, Jeff roams Pakistan like a blind man in a minefield. From an emergency landing in Karachi to near-death experiences that would make Indiana Jones flinch, he collects an entourage of characters straight out of a Bollywood script: a gin-soaked Brit, a Russian spy from a Cold War thriller and a personal chauffeur who frankly doesn’t care for him.

Fast-forward to present-day Nepal, where Jeff proves that while you can't relive your youth you can certainly repeat its mistakes. Joined by his son Jordan, whose perspective is part bemused, part horrified, they navigate treacherous mountains, dodgy roads and foods, along with a directionally challenged tour guide and a goat named Billy. As Jeff experiences déjà vu moments of travelling ineptitude from his time in Pakistan, Jordan wonders if his father's antics aren’t early signs of undiagnosed dementia.

This is a hilarious travelogue that spans generations and borders, offering a double dose of pandemonium, seasoned with wry observations and garnished with a healthy amount of self-deprecation. It's a tale of two journeys, separated by time but united in their ability to attract the absurd. For anyone who's ever felt out of place in a foreign land or wondered if they were adopted while travelling with a parent, this book is for you.

“Subcontinental Nonsense” - It's less Eat, Pray, Love and more Eat, Pray you don’t die