Vasant Vihar Book Club
The discussion on Gautam Vohra’s second travel book, “Wayward Wanderers” provoked many participants to relate anecdotes from their own travels over the five continents. The first travel book written by Gautam two years ago is entitled “Seeking New Horizons”.
Apeksha Kakkar who led the discussion drew attention to the travels of the author to the Baltics, Borneo, Taiwan, French Arab Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) and other countries. While the first travel book described Gautam’s visits undertaken during the last decade to the Arctic, the Galapagos, the Amazon, the second one also delves into the regions he visited during his student years and the early period of his working life.
In “Wayward Wanderers” we are taken to Cuba and Chile. This was the author’s younger ideological phase when Castro and Allend were in power in the two countries. Apeksha drew attention to the leftist phase in the author`s early life when he visited revolutionary Marxist regimes to figure out how these countries had addressed their problems of poverty and inequality.
Apeksha explained that Gautam was keen at that stage to see if such experiments were possible in India where too the problem of poverty and inequality are extreme.
Apeksha read extracts from the book. From the Borneo chapter she drew attention to Priya and Gautam‘s visit to the forest patch where Orangutans resided. “….taken to the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre to witness the feeding of Orangutans… For the first time saw hordes of western tourists. All crowded the viewing platform. A forest guide brought bananas and vegetables and put them on the machan. After a few minutes’ wait a tug on the overhead ropes indicated that an animal was approaching. Leisurely a little fellow swinging on his arms performed a few acrobatics for our benefit. He picked up a banana even as a large black squirrel played near him. Then two more Orangutans arrived, heading towards the fruit. The first arrival shifted to another spot. One had a baby clutching her who peeked at us, not the parent and companion, who were indifferent to the presence of the 100 odd mainly pale faces. I was surprised at the size, how small the Orangutans were.
Gautam loves his food. He never stints on his breakfast, especially when he travels. In Taiwan, he says: We were spoilt for choice — the hotel had to display its five star status. The western breakfast of ham, bacon, and sausages was tasteless. I focused on the local fare: much of it a bit sour to my taste, except for the fish. You guessed it. I had tonnes of fish, with delicious coffee. And something called fish floss — thread – like pieces of fried fish. Not a commonplace breakfast. But what the hell.
In Morocco, the author and his companion Priya, visited the Jacques Majorelle Gardens bought by Yves St. Laurant and Pierre Berger (painter, designer). Both have since died. The French born in North Africa, who after their independence returned to France , are curiously referred to as ‘ black feet‘ or ‘ Pied Noirs‘.
Apeksha then read out what Gautam had to say about the garden: Not a huge garden. But rich in all types of cacti. And towering bamboo, even as Jardin Majorelle overflowed with tourists. The garden apart, the Yves St. Laurent museum with its apparel and Berber crafts drew the multitude. It was a pleasure to hear the sound of birds in the garden. Had all but forgotten that they existed ever since we ventured into Morocco.
In this fashion, the author skips from country to country, enjoying the different sights and sounds, the range of edible fare on offer, viewing all that each country has to offer, seemingly always curious and ever ready for adventure. This book like the previous one captures the zest for life, and curiosity that the author seems to possess in such ample measure, and which the book projects. A must read for all who want to explore the world and the wonders therein.
