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Where the Indus is Young
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One winter, Dervla Murphy and her six-year-old daughter Rachel walked into the Karakoram mountains in the frozen heart of the Western Himalayas and along the perilous Indus Gorge. Accompanied only by a gallant polo pony, they encountered conditions that tested the limits of their ingenuity, endurance, and courage. Hair-raising, gloriously subjective, and with the quirky vi
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Paperback, 272 pages
Published
February 20th 1995
by Flamingo
(first published 1978)
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Who travels better than Dervla Murphy? In 1975 the accomplished Irish travel writer compiled an extensive packing list (an appendix to this book), bought tickets, gathered up her young daughter Rachel, and set out upon an extended trek to Baltistan in mountainous northern Pakistan. Accompanied by a sure-footed pony named Hallam, the duo went through wintry adventures on a shoestring that were challenging (occasionally hair-raising), culturally broadening, and generally enthralling.
This 1977 boo ...more
This 1977 boo ...more
such a formidable and blatantly honest lady. she can bring me places where I would probably never will get to, a book (like her other books) impossible to put down.
I read her Full Tilt in one go. That was way back in 1989 when there was no distraction of the internet or mobile phone and I had all the time in the world to read peacefully in a small Himalayan kingdom called Bhutan in the light of a kerosene lamp. I have not read a more fascinating adventure travel story. But this is not about Full Tilt. This is about Where the Indus is Young (not so young if you have been to Ladakh) - a very remote part in the Pakistan side of Kashmir where she travels with
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An excellent book. A friend lent me this book, because I had just come back from trekking in Kashmir in an area near to the area in the book. The description of her journey was fascinating. It was interesting to see how different the area was when she was there. She was very determined to visit this area in winter and for a long period of time.
I didn't think it was a good idea to take her 6 year old daughter with her. Also she didn't take much food with her, and therefore had to depend on the ...more
I didn't think it was a good idea to take her 6 year old daughter with her. Also she didn't take much food with her, and therefore had to depend on the ...more
Beautifully written. I would love to meet Dervla - she is so pragmatic in her adventures and shows such an amazing strength of character in the ways she manages to overcome any difficulties with such verve. What an inspiring lady!
A beautifully described book, but sometimes overly long and sometimes the narrator was distinctly unlikeable due to the treatment of her own child. I also went back and forth on her description of the various peoples of the ranges - sometimes very flatteringly and sometimes almost sub-human.
I don’t know the exact dates I read this, I estimate 6 years ago. I picked up this book in a resale store possibly a charity opportunity shop can’t quite recall. I put it on my self and didn’t read for a year or so after finding it and adding to my collection. Looking back this book left an imprint in my mind. I think about the author and her daughter often if I see mention of apricots, potty training, books in backpacks and the mountains and Kyrgyzstan. I plan to read this book again if I find
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Jan 04, 2020
Fiona Ogg
added it
It's a miracle her daughter survived! Interesting but you wouldn't catch me doing that!
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The blurb on the cover of my copy says "Altogether the most appallingly fascinating travel book I have ever read" The Times. And that's entirely accurate.
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What an interesting book and what a nightmare ! but Murphy and her Daughter Rachel LOVED IT there i would have hated it ... id have liked to have heard more about the people and what they talked about but the book is on travel and i found the scenery a bit boring, i am however now going to read Murhy's first book Full Tilt to see how it was ten years before hand ... i would seriously recommend reading THREE CUPS OF TEA after this book written in 2007 about the same area's as they went to around
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As usual, Dervla Murphy amazes me in her ability to adapt and flourish in new environments. In this book, her six-year-old daughter adds to my amazement by joining Ms. Murphy in hiking around in the Baltistan region of the Karakoram Mountains (part of the Himalayas) during the winter of 1974-1975. Despite my amazement, however, I found this tale to be less engaging than some of Ms. Murphy's other books, as she repeats herself quite a lot and doesn't go into as much political/historical detail as
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After reading On a Shoestring to Coorg, I was a little apprehensive about reading another of Murphy’s books but I believe in second chances, so I gave this one a go and was glad I did because it was much more enjoyable. Travelling in the wilderness is something I’d love to do but never will. However, Murphy took me on an epic journey with her descriptions of place and people. As with On a Shoestring to Coorg, Rachel provided the comedy and I was amazed how mature she was as a six year old on a t
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Dervla Murphy takes adventure travel to a new height: the idea of walking along the Indus into the Pakistan Himalayas and their valleys with a six year old IN WINTER has never popped into my mind. (Even the child loses lots of weight during this particular excursion.)
Interesting observations of a fearless (or nearly so; when her daughter's pony rears up on a narrow ledge far above the frozen river, dangling the child over the edge, her heart DOES skip a beat) woman who truly loves the cultures s ...more
Interesting observations of a fearless (or nearly so; when her daughter's pony rears up on a narrow ledge far above the frozen river, dangling the child over the edge, her heart DOES skip a beat) woman who truly loves the cultures s ...more
Loved the book because it reads like an adventure story. All the while cheering for the daughter to survive without any adverse affects. Miss Murphy had the perfect attitude to travel to a far away place and be able to enjoy the people and the scenery. Sad there are no such places to visit any longer.
A hair-raising and at times horrifying journey. Ms Murphy doesn't shape her material enough (at all?) for my taste, but it's certainly arresting at times.
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Interesting travel book about a woman travelling in the Kashmir in winter with her six year old daughter.
Feb 19, 2010
Vanessa
added it
Very good! Excited to read more of Dervla Murphy's travels, both solo and with her young daughter. What a feat!
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A fascinating journey into the heart of the Baltistan with her 6 year old daughter in 1978, in winter!
This is one of my all time favourite travel books. Having travelled in this region before, I go back again and again to bring back memories.
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Dervla Murphy is an Irish touring cyclist and author of adventure travel books for over 40 years. She is best known for her 1965 book Full Tilt: Ireland to India With a Bicycle, about an overland cycling trip through Europe, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
Murphy is a famous speaker and writer on Palestinian issues. She seeks the dissolution of Israel in its entirety.
Murphy normally travels ...more
Murphy is a famous speaker and writer on Palestinian issues. She seeks the dissolution of Israel in its entirety.
Murphy normally travels ...more
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