Trampled by Tapir and Other Tales from a Globe-Trotting Naturalist

Pete Oxford is an award-winning photographer with images and stories appearing in the likes of National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Time and Outdoor Photography Magazine – which named him one of the top 40 most influential nature photographers in the world. He has travelled to each continent many times. Wearing different hats, he has been privileged to know many of the world’s most remote and pristine destinations as a professional wildlife photographer, an expedition leader on adventure tourism ships, a professional naturalist and on his own personal quests. Pete has a deep knowledge of all things natural and you will find yourself enthralled by this collection of short stories from his exhaustive travels. At times you will laugh out loud at the hilarity of the tales, then be blindsided by a short, thought-provoking sentence. Pete reveals his most embarrassing moments, his fears, his triumphs, his insights and his uninhibited passion for the wild. It is an inspiration to immerse yourself on a journey of adventure and discovery in the natural world.

Transit to India

Changing times bring changing outlooks but even back in 1984, well before the plethora of today’s health and safety laws and risk-averse attitudes, an overland school trip to far-off India was considered somewhat extreme. And doubly so, given that travel through Iran was unavoidable despite Iran at the time suffering the upheavals of the Ayatollah Khomeini’s Islamic Revolution and engagement in a bloody war with neighbouring country Iraq.

The idea behind this 10000-mile, eight-week journey was to present a ‘retired’ old school Ford Transit minibus to the charity ‘Lepra’ to aid its life-saving work among India’s rural poor. Ten pupils aged 12 to 16, accompanied by two teachers, made up the delivery crew, in so doing possibly making the longest school minibus trip ever undertaken. One of the boys travelling (aged 15 at the time) said recently: “Surviving all the adventures and hairy incidents, all I can say is that I set off as a boy and returned as a man.”

Travel With A Gavel

‘I was a most unlikely traveller. Growing up in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, I had no great ambitions to travel other than to visit friends and family within a two- or three-mile radius. From the age of 11, I had to take the bus each day to the nearest grammar school, 10 miles away in Omagh. Apart from that there was an annual, one-day, bus trip to Bundoran, a small seaside town in County Donegal. That was more than enough travelling for me. At the age of 19, I had never been to Belfast or Dublin, and didn’t feel I had missed anything.
Sixty-two years later, when I sat down to write this travelogue, I realised that in the intervening years I had visited seventy-five countries and all five continents, many of the countries visited multiple times. How had I morphed from someone with little interest in travel into someone who was ready to fly off to anywhere in the world at the drop of a hat? Were the wanderlust seeds sown in my formative years or was I bitten by the travel bug after accepting an offer to represent Northern Ireland at an international conference?
I begin by trying to answer that question before going on to recount my unique experiences and perceptions, gathered from over 30 years of travel, along with insights into different countries, places and peoples. I hope you will agree that the outcome presents as a rich and illuminating read.’

Two Old Farts, Boots, Map and Compass

This interesting and fun-loving book draws the reader into sharing many unique experiences of walking in the South Lake District, Bowland fells and the naturally drained conditions of the limestone link, stretching from Kirkby Lonsdale to Grange-over-Sands via Arnside, giving pleasant walk experiences during the wet winter months in England.

Leaving England behind, they catch the first flight out to their beloved Crete and villa for the summer months. Come along and enjoy the wonderful walks in the Psiloritis and Lefka Ori mountains and villages, explore the wild and beautiful gorges and visit many sites of great archaeological interest.

Read the tales of helping friends plant beetroot and artichokes, pick and tread grapes the old traditional way and watch raki being made in one of the mountain villages. Read about parties with Cretan friends in the moonlit warm evenings and BBQs in a quiet olive grove after helping friends clear the land beneath the trees. Enjoy the many experiences that the average tourist never sees.

Two Suitcases full of Kangaroos

Passport? Check!

Suitcases? Check!

Kangaroos? Check!

And we’re off! If you enjoy travel, having a laugh, are a keen conversationalist and even keener historian and lover of brilliant architecture, then these trips are for you!

Take care to cosy on down in your seat, and choose your fellow seat-mate discerningly because one foot on the buses and there’s no looking back.

Tempted? Then make haste to hobble, hurdle or haul yourself up the gleaming silver steps of these ‘Laugh a minute’ luxury coaches and await further hilarious instructions. Rest assured you will never be able to look a tour guide straight in the eye ever again without thinking of Aston, Gilda, Stan or Hugh (no, not puppies).

From the wilds of Cornwall to cosy little Irish pubs, from pirate coves to magnificent Gothic churches, and from the oceans to the mountains across the valleys and windswept moors – these two coach tours have it all. Not to mention the mystery of the tiny, furry kangaroos.

Unpacking Italy

Tony Gates has a love affair with Italy. This book shares the affair with you. He has visited Italy more times than he knows. He brings to this “unpacking” of Italy the experience of many years, enjoyment of its many cultures, fascination with the events which brought a united Italy into being, deep appreciation of its art, and engagement with its people and places.

This is not a guidebook. Tony wants to take you to the heartbeat of Italy, a journey which looks carefully at the events and scenes along the way and listens attentively to the pulse beats of the Italian peninsula. The journey reveals that there is really more than one Italy. Greeks, Romans, Etruscans, Umbrians, Normans, Lombards, French and many others have ensured that.

Where once Latin held pride of linguistic place, numerous dialects remain, pointing to the variety that is the Italy which the author shares with you. His hope is that you will find an exciting Italy as you join him on the journey.

Tony wishes you Buon Viaggio.

Who are the Belarusians?

A Guide to Belarusians, Belarus and what makes the country unique.

Being on the crossroads between invading armies since time immemorial, Belarus has emerged with a growing sense of identity that sets them apart from their neighbours. The author opens the lid on the background, attitudes and behaviour of a people about which little is known.

‘Belarusians often describe themselves with the word ‘Pamiarkoŭnasć’. This spans the kaleidoscope of attitudes such as ‘moderation’, ‘self-restraint’, ‘patience’, ‘resignation’, ‘tolerance’ and an excessive interest in what other people think of them.’

‘Whereas in the UK politeness is generally applied in order to preserve a general sense of harmony, in Belarus it is selective and done for specific reasons and in specific contexts. A Belarusian is polite when the situation demands.’

‘In the bus, there may be an empty place in an otherwise crowded interior while many are standing uncomfortably. The empty seat is like the last biscuit on the plate – everybody wants it but are too polite to take it.’

‘Generally, the Belarusians are a law-abiding folk. This is not necessarily an instinctive need to adhere to the rules or a paranoia about the results of not following them. In fact in most cases, there is a feeling that it is better to stay within the rules which amount to one of the few uncertainties in life than to go out on a limb and risk unforeseen consequences.’

Panic Stations at Ski Stations

Conor MacNamara rode more than fifty of the greatest climbs in the Tour de France to try and conquer his fear of heights. In the end, Conor suffered a breakdown and discovered that he suffered from a panic disorder and required treatment. This book documents Conor’s experiences in detail.

Chasing Our Dream in La Rochelle

When the newly married Gillian and Bill leave Britain for rural France, little could they imagine the adventures they will have: from expert house renovation to wily language-school owners, to becoming involved in village life. The pair embrace all that comes their way, especially Bill, whose eye for the French ladies becomes legendary.While the newly christened 'Gilly-Anne' makes her debut as an English teacher in a school at La Rochelle, Bill tackles their new investment: a ruined house with no water or electricity. Fortunately, they are helped generously by their new neighbours. So many customs to discover, so much to explore in their camping van before the couple finally succeed in making France their home.New author Gillian Broome has written about her experiences with whimsy and humour. For those who have sought a new life abroad or are dreaming about one, her book will be a source of inspiration"”or laughter.

China - Behind The Mask

China Behind the Mask is not only an interesting, informative and enjoyable read but gives a thorough description of life in present-day China from the point of view of the author, an Australian English teacher, who lived in China for more than ten years. Not only does he provide a unique flavour of Chinese culture, but also presents a thorough analysis of the current political situation within China and how Chinese attitudes influence its relationships with other cultures and countries. Part travel guide, part biography, part history, this book covers many aspects of China, particularly in relation to Australian life and culture. Some entertaining comparisons are made, which illustrate the divide between West and East in considerable depth. Personal anecdotes abound, bringing the book to life and ensuring that the reader is informed and entertained in equal measure.

Jamaica

Jamaica: The Land We Love introduces the real Jamaica and will show you the way Jamaicans live their life.

Keep On Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea

Today’s fast-changing, globalised world is challenging thousands of years of received wisdom and ideas about Western society. The idea of Ancient Greece as being the cradle of civilisation is increasingly being called into question, not only by archaeological findings, but also by younger generations. As the author and her husband planned a series of sailing trips around the eastern Mediterranean, their children’s question “Why Greece?” inspired the author to investigate why Ancient Greece is so important – or indeed whether it is really still important at all.Readers of this book are introduced to the lasting influence of Ancient Greece through stories from ancient, medieval and modern times, enlivened by accounts of the author’s sailing adventures and are helped along with a large number of citations, maps and photos. This book aspires not only to entertain, but also to inspire, and to reflect on the ongoing impact of Ancient Greek ideas on today’s world.