Kirjahaku

"Why squander your life away in your own hometown, when you can do it in London, Paris and Rome?"Eight months after landing what many had considered to be a plum job with the Federal government, Fred Z. suddenly realizes that his safe and secure position is rapidly luring him towards an insufficient destiny. Abandoning his home and native land, Fred heads for Europe, only to be faced with the even greater challenges of a new language, new culture and a new life. After six months spent exploring the continent and a year-long respite in Cornwall, he returns to Germany and is immediately thrust into an array of lurid, sublime and downright ridiculous situations in the on-going struggle to establish himself as a freelance cameraman. Plagued by uncertainty whether he's made the right decision, it's through a chance meeting with a fellow North American that the doors to real opportunity fling wide open. From that point on, whether it's dog sledding in the Yukon, getting mugged in Naples, removing land mines in Cambodia, tracking Dracula in Romania, interviewing Hitler's telephone operator in Berlin, chasing cheetahs in Vienna, flying in a Black Hawk over Bosnia, or replacing a cancerous esophagus in Hamburg, to name just a few, all play a part in providing for eclectic glimpses of just how the world works, laying the groundwork for what would become a twenty year vacation.

The difference between a vacation and an adventure.For no particular reason, Cambodia had never made it on to my list of potential travel destinations. That all changed in late 2010 when as part of a film crew, I spent two intense weeks in the country, filming the exploits of a man involved in the removal of land mines. Despite my limited exposure to people and places, it was enough to enthral me; so much so that once back home, it was impossible to dismiss the idea of returning. Six weeks later, I was back for a three-week tour, solo. For those who've had the pleasure, a twisted tour down memory lane. For those who've yet to venture to Cambodia, a fascinating and frenzied run through a culture so foreign, you can hardly imagine it exists.The e-book contains photos. Print readers can catch a glimpse of what they're missing by requesting access at [email protected]

Loose Cargo //A collection of stories that couldn't have less to do with one another.America CallingIt's 1969. Two dudes. Two trips. Too much, man. The lure of the open road, the bright lights of Vegas & LA, the beauty of southwest America, a glimpse of Mexico and several brushes with the law, are just a few of the adventures that make for a fortnight of fun and furor, south of the border. Meeting Lisa After a gap of twenty years, Chris and Lisa run into each other at a garage sale; a brief encounter that results in an unexpectedly candid journey down memory lane brimming with "what if's and if only's." A funny, poignant, and painful tale, that reveals how both men and women can be predatory, conniving, fun-loving creatures. The Future of Death Despite decades of disinterest, denial and dread, an encounter with one's own mortality is inevitable. The question at hand is whether it is desirable or feasible to encourage people to be more genuine about their mortality, before they are abruptly confronted with what is fundamentally already a "fait d'accompli."

The Gifts of a Glimpse.There are countries in the world you may never get the chance to see. For the longest time, Nepal was one such land.Fascinating yet bewildering, frenetic as well as soul-soothing, inspiring grandeur matched with challenging misfortune are just a few of the paradoxes of a country whose name immediately conjures up images of Himalayan peaks, pagoda-style temples and the mysterious city of Kathmandu. Less familiar perhaps, but nonetheless applicable are encounters with wild rhinos, elephants and crocodiles co-existing amidst tropical heat. Add inStupas, shrines, trekking tours with a slew of foreign women, and a session with aShaman, and you have a few of the adventures savoured during a month long glimpse of the mystical country. Welcome to Nepal.

Six fictional and semi-fictional short stories An Ill Fated FriendshipThe Bonds of a BreedFalcon SummersThe Law and the LimoKarmaleonCairo