Just the Lads: India
What happens when a fifty-something from Liverpool decides he needs a little more adventure in his life?
After a chance conversation with his lifelong friend Neil, Mark finds himself swapping comfort for chaos on a short backpacking trip across India. With little preparation and even less idea of what to expect, the pair set off to explore one of the world's most fascinating and unpredictable countries.
From the bustling streets of Mumbai and the luxury of the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel to the vast slums of Dharavi, from sunrise at the Taj Mahal in Agra to the burning ghats of Varanasi, the journey is packed with unforgettable experiences. Along the way there are cricket matches, Royal Enfield motorbikes, chaotic train journeys, wedding celebrations, near misses, cultural surprises and even a failed attempt to become Bollywood film stars.
Of course, no trip to India would be complete without a few stomach-related disasters, and Mark recounts these mishaps with honesty, self-deprecating humour and more detail than some readers may feel entirely necessary.
This is not a travel guide. You won't find hotel reviews, carefully planned itineraries or expert advice. Instead, this is the true story of two ordinary friends experiencing India for the first time and discovering that travel can be exciting, exhausting, hilarious, frustrating and life-changing all at once.
Written in a warm, down-to-earth style, Just the Lads: India is a humorous travel memoir about friendship, adventure and stepping outside your comfort zone-proving that you don't have to be twenty years old to go backpacking.
If you've ever dreamed of visiting India, wondered what happens when things go wrong abroad, or simply enjoy a good travel story, this book is for you.
Warning: Contains questionable navigation, dubious decision-making, numerous toilet emergencies and an unexpected love affair with India.
The first of many in the Just the Lads travel series.
