Comments on: IMAGINE: A Vagabond Story

By: Natalie

Natalie — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:09:54 +0000

Luisa, I am so glad to have another opinion on IMAGINE: A Vagabond Story.

Every traveler wants something different in what they read. He is an honest author and we do need to value the truth being shared.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:40:06 +0000

Howard that is amazing that someone was trying to scam you in the exact same way. I am happy to hear that you are a smart traveler and you were not fooled.

I love the base of your advice, “Stay legal.” Ending up in jail in another countries legal system just sounds like a huge mess. Traveling smart means being aware and alert at all times. How ironic that you were on the exact same beach and had a similar encounter.

By: Howard

Howard — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:22:55 +0000

I haven’t read this book, but I can tell that I’ve been to the same beach. In December 2002, I was on a beach at Tulum when a high school girl walked up to me and asked me to help her with some English language project for her school. after a couple of minutes, she started complimenting me on how nice I was. I replied that she was nice too, but that I was just too old for her. I remember thinking at the time that she was probably going to play me for the “my mother desperately needs $300, can you help her?” scam, and I politely steered her away.

I completely forgot about this little incident until I was back at the same beach nearly five years later, and another high school girl comes up to me and attempts to have exactly the same conversation with me, even using the same cues to steer the conversation towards something sexual. Yet it was a girl who must have been 10 years old in 2002. She could not have been the same girl. But she had obviously been coached by the same person or persons. Her fake innocence was ingenious.

So beware the scams. They never change. By the way, I am an older traveler who has been around the block a few times. Don’t ever fall for the young girl trick while you are traveling. Stay legal.

So I am

By: Luisa

Luisa — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 07:11:53 +0000

I read some part of the book and i don’t find it disturbing because i think he is just being honest and vocal with his experience.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:29:55 +0000

I am glad that I did an honest review. Maybe it helps me sleep better at night, knowing that people are not wasting their time and money, buying and reading books that are full of lame travel mishaps.

My favorite recommendation on a round the world journey, is still “A Map for Saturday” the documentary. It’s worth watching.

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 23:41:24 +0000

Kudos for the honest review, Natalie – lesser bloggers would recommend Grant’s book just to flog a few copies for a few bucks’ commission.

I have to say… based on what you say, I’m not sure the book is my cup of tea, so I won’t be buying a copy

By: Natalie

Natalie — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:36:13 +0000

Eric it is so wonderful to hear that you just read the book and loved it. I agree that Grant was able to really share about the subculture of ‘nomadic’ travel.

In fact, I really enjoyed that he did not buy a plane ticket home. Most backpackers leave with an exact timeline. Instead, Grant left with his flight ‘there’. Which is how Justin and I took off backpacking about a year ago. My brother was getting married in Italy, so we quit our jobs, bought backpacks and left for an adventure with no timeline. Grant knows how to be a nomadic backpacker.

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:16:21 +0000

I just finished reading this book and I really enjoyed it… Lingel was very honest retelling his adventures and I thought it was a breath of fresh air and a very interesting look into the subculture of ‘nomadic’ travel. Great review Natalie and keep up the good work!

Eric from Brooklyn