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.
“Right from the start, the storytelling is beautiful.”
- Jacqueline Lambert
With in-the-moment detail and light-hearted 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…
Smiles and Spices entrances readers…
“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!”
- Jacqueline Lambert
“Carrie is not a professional travel writer. And that's a good thing. Reading her book is like traveling along with her: the diary entries are written as she travels, so you get her immediate impressions and thoughts. I admit that south east Asia is not an area that I would dare to travel to alone, so kudos to Carrie for her bravery. I enjoyed the way she makes friends so easily, and her opinions on the places she visits. From Beijing to Korea, China, Tibet and Taiwan she mixes with local people and eats local food, despite the language difficulties. She describes her tours so well, and gives background and history too. I feel as if I've been chatting to her in the pub, or sitting at home with a cup of coffee, such is the relaxed style of her writing. I'd previously read one of her books and will definitely read more.”
- Chris Moore
“I really enjoyed this book. Having traveled to some of the places Carrie visited, I enjoyed seeing them through her eyes. Her descriptions of the other countries she visited were fascinating and full of fun. It was interesting to find out how connected the back packing community becomes as they travel from place to place. i would recommend this book if you enjoy reading about travel and want to learn something new.”
- Sue Raymond
