BootsnAll Travel Community

There are a few things which helped chrystalize in my brain the desire to see new things; witness a different way of life.

First among these is Shogun by James Calvell. To a 12 year old kid from Middle England, the strangeness and beauty of Clavell's Asia was astounding.

It made me NEED to experience Asia.

I would love to hear other people's inspirations.

Hey Stuntman. Welcome to the group. Glad to have you.

Actually, your question is a popular one and different forms of it have been asked in myriad forums. I think you can pick through this forum and not have to go back very far to find the answer you seek.

Again, glad to have you. For the record, Rolf Potts´ book I carry with me because when I feel tired of travel I can read a passage or two and get energized again.

A truly excellent question (enough to inspire my first post..

I was a very impressionable young man with a rather vivid imagination and rather taken with reading. A myriad of films, music and books influenced me to travel:

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales had a huge impact on me and were the reason I walked from London to Canterbury in 1994. Tolkien's body of work was also a large contributer to my wanderlust, especially the Hobbit.

As far as Asia goes, my trip to China was primarily motivated by some rather striking Chinese films. China has some of the most talented director's of any country (in my opinion). Among these films are Farewell my Concubine, The Yellow Earth (both by Chen Kaige), and To Live. Add to these the Vietnamese film The Scent of Green Papaya (though I haven't yet been fortunate enough to travel to Vietnam yet).

Other Books which inspired me to travel were:
1. The Razor's Edge by Somerset Maugham (I also loved the remake of the film starring Bill Murray)
2. The Way of the Bull by Leo Buscaglia (a beautiful collection of stories telling the Author's spiritual search through Asia, with a tale dedicated to each country he visited. Out of print, but used copies are easily found online)
3. Kim by Rudyard Kipling (though I picked this up in Nepal after I had already been traveling for a while, I heartily recommend it. It plays out like a true to life tale of fantasy. An epic travel adventure)

Music- I have always found the work of Leonard Cohen and Cat Stevens to be particularly inspiring traveling music.

Movie: Motorcycle Diaries

Books: Paul Theroux
Ariel Gore's Atlas of the Human Heart (this is one of my fave fave books I LOVE HER!)

Music: Trance makes me wanna go to Ibiza, samba to Brazil, Indian music makes me wanna jet to India...you get the picture....