No Sense of Direction

By Eric Raff and TurtleMe

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0970873204
• ISBN13: 9780970873200
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Epic Adventures
• Length: 331 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.5" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

An Adventurous Book for All Travelers

As a preface, Raff's writing style was superb. To me, this book read like a novel in that throughout the read, I consistently had the feeling that there was another dramatic event lurking right around the corner. At those corners, Raff did not disappoint. There is something in this book that all travelers can relate to. Indeed, this is a must-read for young travelers who are taking long trips around Europe and elsewhere around the world. Let's face it, unless one comes from a wealthy family, an extended trip of many months would still probably cost one a huge bundle of money even when staying in inexpensive hotels and hostels, especially when considering there is no income during this time. Raff shows this huge class of travelers how it is done. Make no mistake though, this book is also for those taking one week to one month vacations while staying at mid-range hotels such as those running about $100 per night. I fall into this category and have experienced similar, albeit less dramatic adventures on overnight trains. Simply stated, it was for easy for me (and I suspect for most readers) to relate to his adventures. Indeed, even the high class traveler can learn something from Raff's book, as even high class travelers experience adventurous or dramatic situations. All travelers should undertand Raff's point that traveling is not about the destination but about the journey. Certainly, Raff imbues his readers with a sense of adventure while leaving them with a sense of yearning for more travel.

No Sense of Direction

This is a wonderful collection of the author's anecdotes from his travels. I was envious of the author while I was reading his book, wishing I could travel like that. He takes you from Denmark where he starts his travels, into Russia, and the Orient. He not only describes the places and people he sees and meets on his trip, he tells of the trip itself. Sometimes the journey is the best part of going somewhere. I found particularly amusing his escapades of getting in and out of Russia illegally, his time in Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand. Some of the places he visited I have been to and found his description of the country, people, and culture right on target. The author did an excellent job at getting his ideas across. This is a great book to read to escape or take a short trip in your own mind. It is laid out in short, seven to ten page passages, which make the book easy to read. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in travel, adventure, or someone who just wants a good read. You can tell the author loves what he does by the strong emotional impact the book has on the reader. We rated this book five Hearts.

I Quit The Rat Race

Unlike most of us who only dream of quitting our jobs to get away from the "rat race", Eric Raff actually did it. The book is not a travel guide, not a "how to" see the world on $ 3.95 per day, but is one young man's vivid descriptions of coping without a plan and experiencing the experience of unplanned travel. Dealing adeptly with Vietnamese con men, smuggling puppies into China, falling in with black marketeers, thieves, assorted strange travelling companions, and being able to out con, out talk, out maneuver officials in penetrating impenetrable borders and obstacles with the agility of a New York streetwise Houdini, makes for some interesting and nail biting reading. Allow yourself some time when starting because once you get to the part about buying train tickets without visas in Rusia, you will not put the book down until finished.

Carpe Diem

"Seize the day" is the underlying theme of this truly inspirational book. The author, Eric J. Raff, quits his respectful job and jettisons the creature comforts of New York City to live out his dream- a trip around the world sans itinerary! No Sense of Direction recounts his fascinating journey. This book works on many levels. If you are a backpacker with a limited budget, there are plenty of helpful hints to aid your journey. Some of which are rather counter-intuitive: For example, if you need train tickets in Post-Glasnost Russia, don't be a rube and wait at the ticket counter. Be smart and look for the scurrilous characters lurking in the background- the chances are that they have "pre-purchased" all of the available tickets. (Hopefully, this has been reformed) Or if you are boarding a Songthaew in Bangkok -look for the truck that is dangerously overcrowded or you might be waiting awhile. The book has a cast of a thousand crazy characters. There is the 6'4 Dane who drives what resembles a Mini Cooper. Or "Scarface" the ten year old Vietnamese street tough who could probably shake down the original Chicago gangster for his milk money. And lets' not forget the author himself, who brazenly sneaks into Russia without a visa. In Post 9/11 America, we are all re-assessing our priorities. The current Zeitgeist screams "borrowed time". No Sense of Direction will give you the inspiration to get some dreams done.

What an adventure!

What would you do if you had no agenda, no schedule, no time constraints,and loved to travel. LIVE! No Sense of Direction takes you along on a delightful journey that shows how it takes little more than a free spirit and an adventurous soul to see the world. With a whimsical, almost childlike innocence, Eric Raff ventures to places that most of us wouldn't dare to go. You'll laugh out loud as he sneaks in and out of countries, beamused at the trouble he gets himself into, and be stirred by the eccentric characters he meets. No Sense of Direction is a must read for anyone who dreams of leaving their job to travel and experience life on the road. If you can't imagine affording such a fantasy, this is your ticket to freedom. Pick up No Sense of Direction and GO!