Australia (PRWEB) December 18, 2013
Dreams let people do the extraordinary. For author Monica Joseph, it was a dream that inspired her to embark on a 55,000-kilometer motor-biking journey across the world. In her new book, “Keep Moving: Tokyo to Cape Town by Motorbike,” she looks back to the memories made, sceneries seen, people met and lessons learned while on an adventure that spanned 30 countries.
For 30 years, Joseph’s husband, Simon, dreamed of traveling around the world on a motorcycle. The couple finally realized this after their three children left school and home.
“The journey started with five people; I was the only female. My husband and I are the main characters to the end and we rode our own motorbikes without support vehicles, carrying all our tools, spare tyres, luggage and camping gear,” shares Joseph. “My husband is a veteran motorcyclist but I was relatively inexperienced.”
They started off in Tokyo, Japan and travelled across Russia, Central Asia, across Europe and home through Africa. Though some of the trip was planned, there were “detours” that turned out to be “jewels in the travel crown.”
Interesting to note is the fact that the places they travelled through have since become difficult or out of bounds. Northern Mali has had the Tuareg rebellion. Nigeria has had to deal with the Islamic militants Boko Haram closing its borders to independent travelers. Elsewhere in the Pamir Mountains, two years after they passed through, Khorog quickly became a small war zone. Then there was that tragic tsunami in Japan a few months later.
More than just about the road, the book is about different cultures, people, history, architecture, landscapes, books, music, art and food that readers from all walks of life can enjoy. It is about the least likely person anyone would expect to ride a bike anywhere, let alone through 30 countries and some very far-flung, exotic destinations.
While the memoir is largely drawn from Joseph’s personal experience, she did some reading of interesting experiences other people had of motorcycle travel. The main inspiring person was Ted Simon who rode his motorbike around the world for four years and wrote Jupiter’s Travels.
Well written with verve and immediacy, “Keep Moving” is a unique book that empowers people to believe that testing themselves outside of their comfort zone in pursuit of their dreams is really both fun and rewarding. “Keep Moving” will be featured at the New Title Showcase Exhibit for the 2014 London Book Fair which will be on April 8, 2014 in London, England. For more information, log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.
For more information, log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.au.
About the Author
Monica Joseph is a social worker and modern-day adventure traveler. She has written her first book “Keep Moving: Tokyo to Cape Town by Motorbike” after a tough and rewarding year on the road on her bike. She was accompanied by her husband Simon and lives with him on five acres in rural New South Wales. Their three grown children live scattered elsewhere. Joseph cooks, gardens, reads books and occasionally rides her motorbike.
KEEP MOVING * by Monica Joseph
Tokyo to Cape Town by Motorbike
Trade Paperback; AU$29.99; 251 pages; 978-1-4836-1118-1
Trade Hardback; AU$49.99; 251 pages; 978-1-4836-1119-8
e-book; AU$3.99; 978-1-4836-1120-4
Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at 1-800-455-039. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (02) 8088 6078 or call 1-800-455-039.
Xlibris books can be purchased at Xlibris bookstore. For more information, contact Xlibris at 1-800-455-039 or on the web at http://www.Xlibris.com.au.