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Another Way to Travel: Intuitive Journeys Near and Far #1
Another Way to Travel: Intuitive Journeys Near and Far: Part I
Journey with the author to places without, and within, going on intuition and good fortune, as he seeks to better understand himself and the world at large. Tentatively venturing out to provincial Turkey the year before, he connects with a fellow teacher, Sofian, who extends an invitation to visit him in Algeria for New Year. This is where the story begins. He returns to England restless and disaffected. It is a time to look inwards and reflect. He flies back to Turkey later that year, before leaving England for good in early 2015. Before settling down for a three month stay in Izmit as a guest of Sofian and again to teach English, he travels back to Antakya, a mystical city of antiquity, he first visited two years earlier. He lives and breathes the history and beauty of its cobbled streets and fabled mosques and churches on the banks of the Asi River, also known as the Orontes. His stay is brief but meaningful. He forges a lasting connection with Sister Barbara which will pay dividends in the future. And perhaps, most poignant of all, his recollection is of a city reaching the end of an epoch, for eight years later it will be decimated by the country's worst earthquake for five hundred years. And yet, all is not lost...
174 pages, Paperback
Published August 25, 2024
About the author
Leo Anthony
4Ìýbooks4ÌýfollowersRaised in Zimbabwe, Africa, I have an affinity for the continent and its complexities.
I travelled quite extensively in the last decade which has informed my travel writing. You'll find a particular focus on Turkey, Southern Europe and Africa.
Perhaps as a consequence of being a person of many parts I've struggled to settle down in my adult life. Ironically, as a young man, I never imagined I would want to live anywhere else...
As the great journalistic travel writer Ryszard Kapuscinski points out in his book, Travels with Herodotus,
"A journey does not begin the moment we set off, nor does it end the moment we have reached our doorstep once again. It starts much earlier and is really never over, because the film of memory continues running inside of us long after we have come to a physical standstill. Indeed, there exists something like a contagion of travel, and the disease is essentially incurable."
Leo Anthony is a pseudonym of .
I travelled quite extensively in the last decade which has informed my travel writing. You'll find a particular focus on Turkey, Southern Europe and Africa.
Perhaps as a consequence of being a person of many parts I've struggled to settle down in my adult life. Ironically, as a young man, I never imagined I would want to live anywhere else...
As the great journalistic travel writer Ryszard Kapuscinski points out in his book, Travels with Herodotus,
"A journey does not begin the moment we set off, nor does it end the moment we have reached our doorstep once again. It starts much earlier and is really never over, because the film of memory continues running inside of us long after we have come to a physical standstill. Indeed, there exists something like a contagion of travel, and the disease is essentially incurable."
Leo Anthony is a pseudonym of .
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 27, 2024
As someone who travels a great deal to remote places around the world, I was fascinated with Leo Anthony’s first-person account of his travels to Algeria and Turkey.
Hailing from the UK and working his way across these regions in the 2013 and 2014 time period, the author comes across as friendly sort of person, keenly interested in meeting the local citizens. He took a job teaching English in these regions and came to know fellow teachers well. His friend Sofian, a fellow teacher, is a recurring character and a conduit to the various cultures.
What I liked best about this book is that it seems a travel book of the “old style.� I’m a big fan of Edith Wharton, and her narrative voice of her many travels is similar.
Leo Anthony writes so vividly I felt as if I was watching a film. I could easily see myself walking these dusty streets and meeting the colorful characters he comes upon every few pages. A highly recommended read.
Hailing from the UK and working his way across these regions in the 2013 and 2014 time period, the author comes across as friendly sort of person, keenly interested in meeting the local citizens. He took a job teaching English in these regions and came to know fellow teachers well. His friend Sofian, a fellow teacher, is a recurring character and a conduit to the various cultures.
What I liked best about this book is that it seems a travel book of the “old style.� I’m a big fan of Edith Wharton, and her narrative voice of her many travels is similar.
Leo Anthony writes so vividly I felt as if I was watching a film. I could easily see myself walking these dusty streets and meeting the colorful characters he comes upon every few pages. A highly recommended read.
November 7, 2024
was a pleasure to read, and Leo Anthony's laid back, relatable voice made it feel beautifully lived-in.
Anthony manages to exist in the world both as a tourist and as a welcomed and engaged member of any culture he steps into, making friends, meeting fascinating (but altogether real) people everywhere he goes. There is never a hint of judgment or fear in his descriptions of the places he visits, but rather he engages the locals in discussions about local and national politics, imperialism, changes for the better and worse in government policies, and their satisfaction with their ways of life. Growing up between cultures, born in the UK but raised in Zimbabwe, the author has a unique perspective on the African experience and imperialism, which allows him to view countries, in this case Algeria and Turkey, objectively without seeming aloof.
Most of the time, Intuitive Journeys is the story of friends hanging out in unfamiliar places, and it's truly a delight to read Anthony's tales of visiting his friends at home and meeting their families, going to concerts and social gatherings, and watching the sun rise and set. His touristy excitement at seeing the sand dunes of the Sahara and riding a camel further humanize him, while his musings on how his Muslim friends draw the line between which behavioral rules they follow and which they break open cultural doors that I wouldn't have even thought to look for. I truly enjoyed this book.
Anthony's writing sometimes gives the impression he could use a good editor, as he'll often lean too hard on a cliche or bump up against some dodgy usage, but there is definitely a level where this makes him feel more relatable. This feels like a precocious young man visiting Algeria rather than a travel writer visiting Algeria, but that just serves to make the experience feel closer and more authentic.
Anthony manages to exist in the world both as a tourist and as a welcomed and engaged member of any culture he steps into, making friends, meeting fascinating (but altogether real) people everywhere he goes. There is never a hint of judgment or fear in his descriptions of the places he visits, but rather he engages the locals in discussions about local and national politics, imperialism, changes for the better and worse in government policies, and their satisfaction with their ways of life. Growing up between cultures, born in the UK but raised in Zimbabwe, the author has a unique perspective on the African experience and imperialism, which allows him to view countries, in this case Algeria and Turkey, objectively without seeming aloof.
Most of the time, Intuitive Journeys is the story of friends hanging out in unfamiliar places, and it's truly a delight to read Anthony's tales of visiting his friends at home and meeting their families, going to concerts and social gatherings, and watching the sun rise and set. His touristy excitement at seeing the sand dunes of the Sahara and riding a camel further humanize him, while his musings on how his Muslim friends draw the line between which behavioral rules they follow and which they break open cultural doors that I wouldn't have even thought to look for. I truly enjoyed this book.
Anthony's writing sometimes gives the impression he could use a good editor, as he'll often lean too hard on a cliche or bump up against some dodgy usage, but there is definitely a level where this makes him feel more relatable. This feels like a precocious young man visiting Algeria rather than a travel writer visiting Algeria, but that just serves to make the experience feel closer and more authentic.
October 23, 2024
Leo Anthony’s ‘Intuitive Journeys Near and Far� is a travel memoir. He shares his admiration for the magnificent buildings of Algeria and other landmarks like the statue of the Emir Abdelkader. He discusses little details like how cheap the transport is, what an unpleasant smell emanated from the shower and how much French influence had permeated into the local language and cuisine. He also acquaints us with the local cuisine in the second part of his Algerian Sojourn and gives a peek into the cultural aspects of the society.
While talking about his Cape town visit, Leo mentions natural wonders - white, sandy beaches with crystal blue waters; hikes and trails; paragliding; cage diving with sharks and whale-watching. Besides the visual wonders, he highlights the cuisine, fine wines originating from splendid vineyards, superb restaurants and markets promoting good food and dining.
Written in a simple style, this book illustrates how travel helps in enriching your life with varied experiences. In Turkey, Leo meets many interesting people, makes new friends and enjoys engaging with the world at large. However, he feels that Turkey has such a wealth of archaeological sites and sweeping history that it is quite dizzying to see and absorb in one trip. An engrossing and informative account of low budget travel.
While talking about his Cape town visit, Leo mentions natural wonders - white, sandy beaches with crystal blue waters; hikes and trails; paragliding; cage diving with sharks and whale-watching. Besides the visual wonders, he highlights the cuisine, fine wines originating from splendid vineyards, superb restaurants and markets promoting good food and dining.
Written in a simple style, this book illustrates how travel helps in enriching your life with varied experiences. In Turkey, Leo meets many interesting people, makes new friends and enjoys engaging with the world at large. However, he feels that Turkey has such a wealth of archaeological sites and sweeping history that it is quite dizzying to see and absorb in one trip. An engrossing and informative account of low budget travel.
October 18, 2024
I normally don’t read non-fiction books based on the life of a real person, but this one sounded interesting. The author, Leo Anthony, tells us about his travels to exotic places like Algeria and Turkey, the culture of the place, and the people he met there. He shares pictures, too, which helped draw the narrative together.
Readers who enjoy real-life adventure tales might enjoy this one.
4 Stars
Readers who enjoy real-life adventure tales might enjoy this one.
4 Stars
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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