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Himalaya, Michael Palin
Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Reviewed by Lisa Hoult (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

I've always been envious of people who present travel programmes – it seems like such an ideal way to see the world. You know, travel plans arranged and paid for by somebody else. All you have to do is turn up with your film crew, smile for the camera and, hey presto – another fantastic holiday!

But after reading the book that accompanies Michael Palin's Himalaya TV series, I've changed my mind. Sitting in a 4WD for 15 hours on the ominously-named "road that eats jeep" is NOT my idea of fun. With that and other hair-raising and uncomfortable moments, I'm glad it was Palin and not me on this adventure.

Having said that, what a wonderful experience. Himalaya, the greatest mountain range, stretches 2900km from the borders of Afghanistan to south-west China. To follow its length took six months of hard and uncomfortable travelling and involved dangerous encounters with natural elements, as well as warring nations.

Palin's intimate and insightful daily travel notes are fascinating. Superb photography complements the descriptions of the various characters he met along the way, while shots of the sweeping scenery are breathtaking.

Educational as well as entertaining, this is great to read in little snippets and is perfect for the coffee table. Palin himself sums it up beautifully: "Great journeys tend to bring me out in a rash of over-used superlatives, so all I will say this time is that Himalaya was a wonderfully, magically, brilliant journey with more gasps of astonishment per square mile than any other in my entire life."