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Category:
Travel
Publisher: Dickon Springate Home publishing
ISBN-10: 1446628911
Type: Non-Fiction
Pages: 523
Copyright: Apr 4. 2011
ISBN-13: 9781446628911
The time a Swiss jelly-bear nearly ended my life, my constant battle against the onset of trench foot, invisible pottery museums of Madrid, the Brazilian mermaids of Itapua, invisible volcanoes of Ecuador and Honduras, the endless stream of Mango sellers in Peru, the Ecuadorian mosquito farm, rescuing damsels from a rampaging bovine mascot in Colombia, the Panamanian cyclists that raced under water - true reports from across the globe that prove that no trip ever goes quite as smoothly, or as dryly, as expected.
The above and other engaging tales, sometimes dangerous but always amusing and always true are all here in 'A Man of Mystery’s Global Adventure – Outward Bound', the definitive account of how one man pursued his dream and refused to let anything get in his way of rediscovering our amazing world one city at a time.
Follow along as I cross 43 cities and 22,814 km from London to San Salvador.
Dealing with issues of tourist scams, language barriers, cultural differences, public offences and romance, I also offer my own insight into a world travelled as well as some top travel tips for anyone considering their own overseas adventure.
Some of the topics or entries contain strong / explicit sexual details and are of an adult nature, though they are clearly marked and should be skipped over by anyone who is easily offended by such writings.
Excerpt
Exploring Mayan Copan
As I stood there admiring the view, the only signs of modern life were in the distance, being the sites ground staff busy raking the last of the leaves and cut grass into small piles.
Walking across the dew covered grass, which was so well maintained it was virtually a lawn, I approached the pyramid and laying my left hand upon the stone I closed my eyes and imagined.
The clearing had no fenced off boundary, it simply extended up until it reached the trees which had not been subsequently removed, and as I scanned the horizon I could see a few wall fragments and stone stelas to my left.
On my right, instead of the clearing ending it stretched out and then expanded beyond a gap through the trees and I finally realised that the pyramid I was standing next to was not the main structure at all, but merely the one closest to the main gate.
Ensuring that I was photographing the site from every angle, I explored deeper into the site, at all times remaining respectfully silent both to not disturb the local wildlife but also to enable me to drink in every possible sound and sensation.
With so much of the delicate stonework either worn away or now residing safely in museums the site was naked of its intricate beauty and vivid colours that I am sure it would have had, but this mattered little to me as I could still imagine it full of life.
Located on the edge of a forested hill, the grounds weaved up and round as I approached the second step pyramid, which itself was still only a part of a much larger complex.
Once past the first few pyramids I climbed up a series of well worn stepping stones which led me to a higher plateau and it is here that the architecture really came into its own, with a vast complex of walls and steps pyramids that framed a huge courtyard, itself overlooking the valley and falling hillside on its farthest side.
The variety of trees around the site were stunning, with some very picturesque climbers sending long tendrils down that almost reached the floor.
High up on the top of highest pyramid, I was able to sit precisely where the Smoke Jaguar and his Mayan ruler would have sat, overlooking his city and subjects, and it felt reassuring and safe.
Without a doubt the Mayan ruins at Copan were for me the very epitome of what I envisage when I think about trekking through exotic jungles to rediscover lost civilisations, and finally having found them in such a splendid and serene manner I knew that the raison d’ętre for having organised my global odyssey had now been fully justified in my way of thinking.
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