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178th out of 216 books
—
239 voters
Where the Pavement Ends: One Woman's Bicycle Trip Through Mongolia, China & Vietnam
by
Erika Warmbrunn (Goodreads Author)
Erika Warmbrunn's amazing 8,000 kilometer cycling journey through Asia. Winner of the Barbara Savage Miles From Nowhere Memorial Award.
Hardcover, 280 pages
Published
March 23rd 2001
by Mountaineers Books
(first published March 1st 2001)
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This is one courageous woman who hops on her bicycle and braves the unknown road ahead. This book makes me get on my bicycle and see my county, state, and country (never mind the world!)! It felt like she was in a rush to get back to Russia, though, and didn't spend as much time elaborating on her travels in Vietnam as she did on the time spent in Mongolia and China. But even she writes that she was tired of traveling at that point and being such a spectacle. It must have been incredibly frustra...more
I have met the Master of similes and metaphors and she is the author of this book. Besides her amazing ability to describe places and feelings, Erika is undoubtedly very strong and courageous (or stupid and very lucky). She rode her bike alone, through mountains and rivers, in blizzards and mudpits, so she could get to know the people and countries of Mongolia, China and Vietnam. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Erika's book and riding alongside her in my mind. I'm not fooled though. I would not enj...more
I really enjoyed reading this book. Knowing this is something that I will never experience first hand, it was great to be able to live vicariously and share the author's journey. The Mongolia section was definitely my favorite, but the China and Vietnam sections were important in telling the whole story, struggles and all. I imagine Erika Warmbrunn would be a very interesting person to visit with. I liked how she was able to empathize and also how she pointed out when her empathy ran short.
A friend of mine is going into the Peace Corps in Mongolia and another friend who had recently been there recommended this as a great getting-to-know Mongolia book. I really enjoyed it! The author seems like she's someone you would want to get to know, and her book is open, well-written, and insightful. I was impressed all around by this book and it definitely made me want to go out and see the world.
This is a wonderful, wonderful book about a woman's eight month solo trip from Russia to Vietnam by bicycle. Anyone who has travelled alone (do you have to be female to identify with her?) will appreciate Erika's insights into the pleasures and challenges of solo travel. She's very, very inspiring.
Interesting story. Curious how critical she was of the other tourists and how she thought the locals were quaint. Makes me want to read a chronicle of an Asian person backpacking around America. Do those exist?
Book smelled really good too.
Book smelled really good too.
Erika traveled solo by bicycle through Mongolia, China, and Vietnam. She connected with the people and cultures. Excellent descriptions, short and open ended. I enjoyed Mongolia the most, a beautiful people and country.
Excellent. Fabulous.
Warmbrunn is a remarkable woman who goes on a remarkable journey and writes this mostly excellent account of it. I would have rated this book more highly except that I can't stand it when people refer to their cars, guns, or in this case, bikes, as if they were human. Warmbrunn's continual reference to "Greene", her bike, as if it were a person, was a distraction and detracted from the otherwise eloquent telling of an amazing tale.
Honest account of travelling. And captures Mongolia well.
reminded me a lot of my time in Indonesia. I enjoyed her honesty on how tired she was of being targeted for being white in another country. Her random adventures and ability to meet people and learn quickly and learn from mistakes is refreshing. I can't wait for my next adventure!
This might have earned a higher rating from me if the author had devoted a little more paper to the Vietnam portion of her trip. But, she was burnt out after nearly 5000 miles by bike and ready for her trip to end. I can't say that I blame her, but still it left me wanting more, especially since Vietnam is high on my list of places to go.
Are you kidding me? This woman take off in 1992 and travels thru mongolia, vietnam, and china. BY HERSELF!!! She meet the locals, and they invite her in. She sleeps in the same bed as the entire family, and sometimes sleeps under the stars. gets me ready to explore off the grid. (on my bike, of course)
I didn't finish reading this book. I love cycling and I love travel, and I love them mashed together; however, I can't stand the author's tone. She's so critical. A book that can appreciate other cultures without disparaging others would have been better.
The author is a very good writer, and the trip she took on her bicycle is nothing short of amazing. I loved her description of the time she spent in Mongolia the best.
The real girls Eat, Pray, Love.
A fascinating book - - the author rode a bicycle BY HERSELF through Mongolia, China, and Vietnam - - and I thought I was adventurous!
This is my favorite tale of a female solo cyclist so far ... out of two. Seriously, she does it right.
worth reading if you bike & wonder what it would be like to travel without a written guide.
Jun 06, 2013
Jenny
marked it as to-read
May 27, 2013
MichelleCH
marked it as to-read
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Aug 08, 2010 02:43pm