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Peeing in the Bush
When former journalist Adeline Loh could no longer endure the brain-deadening routine of work, she did what any sensible person would do: flee Malaysia with a paranoid vegetarian named Chan and go ambling in the lion-infested wilderness of southern Africa. However, upon arriving in Zambia, the bush virgins realised nothing from the Animal Planet documentaries had prepared them for survival in the savannah. With baboons, hippopotamuses and buffaloes conspiring to tear them into pieces, our addled heroines rattled along crater-pocked tracks, canoed through the crocodile-infested Zambezi River, flew over Victoria Falls on a little tricycle with wings, stalked incestuous rhinoceroses and peed amidst thorny shrubbery. And in more life-preserving moments, they pondered antimalarial druggies, sleazy hunters and muscle-bound native women while hoping to achieve their main goal—not to get eaten alive!
In Peeing in the Bush, Loh recounts in candid prose her fun and engaging misadventures in Zambia with a rich mix of anecdotes, commentary and deft description.
In Peeing in the Bush, Loh recounts in candid prose her fun and engaging misadventures in Zambia with a rich mix of anecdotes, commentary and deft description.
- GenresTravel
232 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 11, 2019
“I decided that I was going to live my life. In the now. To the fullest. That entire night I couldn’t sleep, becoming increasingly obsessed with the idea of breaking free. My imagination thundered with magnificent discoveries, foreign smells, strange weather and mysterious bathroom configurations. Yes, I was going travelling, job be damned.”
Peeing in the Bush is a charming travelogue memoir.
Tired of work in her Malaysian office, Adeline Loh convinces an acquaintance, Chan, to shun the convenience of ubiquitous package tours popular among her friends and family, and instead explore the wilds of Zambia with a backpack, and a tight budget.
Written with a light, self deprecating tone, Adeline details their cross country adventures travelling through the African bush via taxi, bus, jeep, on foot and by canoe, while trying to avoid being mauled by lions, hippo’s, baboons, or crocodiles.
Adeline’s descriptions of the landscape and wildlife of Zambia are evocative, and often humorous. She shares interesting information about the country’s history and social conditions. I really enjoyed her writing, and I felt that I learned something about an unfamiliar place.
Peeing in the Bush is an entertaining and informative read, ideal for any armchair traveller.
“…memories of Zambia that would continue to haunt me for the rest of my life and make me wish I had never left. At work, on the toilet, in my dreams and pretty much whenever my mind was idle, a nostalgic collage of the Southern Cross, lions brushing past our open vehicle, boisterous markets, walking safaris, fleeing from hippos on the Zambezi, Play-Doh nshima, gliding over phenomenal Victoria Falls, bush loos, booze cruises, mud villages and spending the night in Beat-Up Van would reduce me to a space cadet for months on end. All the beautiful, warm people who shared their intriguing and scary stories with us. All the adorable animals that could not wait to devour us. And all the fabulous salmon-pink sunsets that never failed to leave me gasping for air like an asthmatic.”
Peeing in the Bush is a charming travelogue memoir.
Tired of work in her Malaysian office, Adeline Loh convinces an acquaintance, Chan, to shun the convenience of ubiquitous package tours popular among her friends and family, and instead explore the wilds of Zambia with a backpack, and a tight budget.
Written with a light, self deprecating tone, Adeline details their cross country adventures travelling through the African bush via taxi, bus, jeep, on foot and by canoe, while trying to avoid being mauled by lions, hippo’s, baboons, or crocodiles.
Adeline’s descriptions of the landscape and wildlife of Zambia are evocative, and often humorous. She shares interesting information about the country’s history and social conditions. I really enjoyed her writing, and I felt that I learned something about an unfamiliar place.
Peeing in the Bush is an entertaining and informative read, ideal for any armchair traveller.
“…memories of Zambia that would continue to haunt me for the rest of my life and make me wish I had never left. At work, on the toilet, in my dreams and pretty much whenever my mind was idle, a nostalgic collage of the Southern Cross, lions brushing past our open vehicle, boisterous markets, walking safaris, fleeing from hippos on the Zambezi, Play-Doh nshima, gliding over phenomenal Victoria Falls, bush loos, booze cruises, mud villages and spending the night in Beat-Up Van would reduce me to a space cadet for months on end. All the beautiful, warm people who shared their intriguing and scary stories with us. All the adorable animals that could not wait to devour us. And all the fabulous salmon-pink sunsets that never failed to leave me gasping for air like an asthmatic.”
June 30, 2009
Two Malaysian ladies go on a backpacking tour of Zambia. They survive the trip despite repeated attempts to kill them by assorted hippos, leopards, crocodiles and bus drivers. It's a quick and fast read and Adeline Loh writes in a tongue in cheek mannner.
July 21, 2022
“But instead of walking, we hailed a taxi as Chan had suffered dust trauma on the way here. Riding through a particularly rough patch where potholes wer strung together with strips of tar, the taxi driver masterfully avoid the road cavities while telling us an old local joke. He proclaimed that every good driver in Zambia had a PhD - Pot Hole Dodging ‘In most countries, if you're not driving in a straight line, the traffic policeman will know you're drunk; he mused. 'But in Zambia, if you're not zigzagging on the road from one side to the other, the police will immediately stop you because nobody who's sober would drive straight into the potholes!”
- Peeing in the bush by Adeline Loh
.
.
Do you know what missing from this book? Pictures - because i wanted to see picture of animals (Wildabeest, lions, antelope, White Rhinos, Buffalos, Hippos, Elephants) that she has taken , hotels / airports / bus stations or at least some of Zambians that she met and made friends with there. It felt something is missing when you finished the book. Dont get me wrong, i really enjoyed this travelogue. Adeline Loh managed to capture Zambia in its entirety. No sugarcoating, No Backhanded compliment - just a plain honesty about the country as she ventured into it with her travel pal, Chan whom she met in boxing class. Her writing is witty and you may just chuckled few times reading about how eccentric Chan can be and even impressed that 2 Malaysian girls gambled to trust their instinct and proceed with the journey. I do want to point out that not everyone can just resign their job, pack their bag up and hop into the plane to the place that they wanted to go. When she managed to do that, i was envious. The book was published in 2009, Adeline loh went to Zambia between 2002 - 2009 as she didnt mention details when she go there. I am guessing a lot has changed about Zambia since now its already 2022 - be it history, society and even the tourism industry itself. Mad respect to her for choosing not to go with tourism packages (safari tours, wildlife journey and so on) but planning everything on her own. She went with whichever that has affordable
option and was not fussy about food and transportation. A literal backpacker in every single aspect which i dont think i will survive if i choose to travel like her. Overall, an enjoyable travel story. I wanted to give this 3 stars but the final chapter convinced me to add 1 more star to my rating.
Let me share you this part :
“All the beautiful, warm people who shared their intriguing and scary stories with us. All the adorable animals that could not wait to devour us. And all the fabulous salmon-pink sunsets that never failed to leave me gasping for air like an asthmatic. Like so many others before me who have had the opportunity to tread on African soil, I was experiencing major African hangover. Our miniature odyssey had been way, way too short. It was as if I
had an intense relationship with someone and it ended abruptly in the throes of passion”.
- Peeing in the bush by Adeline Loh
.
.
Do you know what missing from this book? Pictures - because i wanted to see picture of animals (Wildabeest, lions, antelope, White Rhinos, Buffalos, Hippos, Elephants) that she has taken , hotels / airports / bus stations or at least some of Zambians that she met and made friends with there. It felt something is missing when you finished the book. Dont get me wrong, i really enjoyed this travelogue. Adeline Loh managed to capture Zambia in its entirety. No sugarcoating, No Backhanded compliment - just a plain honesty about the country as she ventured into it with her travel pal, Chan whom she met in boxing class. Her writing is witty and you may just chuckled few times reading about how eccentric Chan can be and even impressed that 2 Malaysian girls gambled to trust their instinct and proceed with the journey. I do want to point out that not everyone can just resign their job, pack their bag up and hop into the plane to the place that they wanted to go. When she managed to do that, i was envious. The book was published in 2009, Adeline loh went to Zambia between 2002 - 2009 as she didnt mention details when she go there. I am guessing a lot has changed about Zambia since now its already 2022 - be it history, society and even the tourism industry itself. Mad respect to her for choosing not to go with tourism packages (safari tours, wildlife journey and so on) but planning everything on her own. She went with whichever that has affordable
option and was not fussy about food and transportation. A literal backpacker in every single aspect which i dont think i will survive if i choose to travel like her. Overall, an enjoyable travel story. I wanted to give this 3 stars but the final chapter convinced me to add 1 more star to my rating.
Let me share you this part :
“All the beautiful, warm people who shared their intriguing and scary stories with us. All the adorable animals that could not wait to devour us. And all the fabulous salmon-pink sunsets that never failed to leave me gasping for air like an asthmatic. Like so many others before me who have had the opportunity to tread on African soil, I was experiencing major African hangover. Our miniature odyssey had been way, way too short. It was as if I
had an intense relationship with someone and it ended abruptly in the throes of passion”.
October 2, 2011
Hope one day, I can travel like her to even just in Malaysia.. Like Sabah.. (^_^) and published my own book.. hahaha
March 26, 2012
It's really hilarious,crazy-wecko adventurous trip by 2 girls who 'against' luxury and comfort!! ;)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews