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On the Road in '68: A World of Turmoil, A Journey of Friendship
By Tom Leech
Paperback: 309 pages
Publisher: Presentations Press (2009)
ISBN: 1-4392-2061-1
The year was 1968. Tom Leech and pal Jim got leaves from their aerospace firms to head off for a few months' good time in Europe. They achieved that goal well, then Jim headed back to California and gave up his bachelor status. After heavy internal debates (the main question "When will I get this chance again?"), Tom decided to keep on going, to the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Japan, concluding a journey of six months on the road (and writing a journal all the way). That year, 1968, became legendary as the wildest of many decades, with major confrontations and violence in many of the places visited, to note just a few: Paris (enjoyable then but wait a couple months for the Left Bank to erupt); Dublin (fun on St. Patrick's Day, then major religious disturbances up in Belfast); Greece, Egypt, India, Kashmir (where Tom shared boat lodging at a retreat of the Mararishi of Rishikesh, shortly after visits by the Beatles, Beach Boys and others) and hippie haven Kathmandu; Cambodia and Vietnam, (yes, as a tourist of course, not too many of those around then); finally Hong Kong and Japan (with supper in Kyoto disturbed with news of Robert Kennedy's assassination). Tom's journeys were marked with the usual traveler activities and scenes, but most notably by the friendships and hospitality of people met along the way, many of whom also write here about their own '68 travel adventures. This, then, is a look back at the tumultuous year, 1968, from the perspective of a couple of travelers' experiences and particularly marked by the kindness of strangers and enjoyable interactions with fellow wanderers. Here, four decades later, is a review and update of that year, those places, and many of those people.
About The Author
Tom Leech wears several hats as an author, professional speaker and corporate presentations coach. His books cover a wide range of topics, from Outdoors to Presentations to Shakespeare to World Travel. His articles have appeared in many publications, including San Diego Magazine where he was Editor of the Online Outdoors Forum.
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