'Here is a journey that begins with a shuddering disaster in the Himalayas, and ends with an ill-starred romance on Mars. In between are adventures down the rivers of Cambodia and Laos, battles with bulls in Australian country towns, encounters with French agents, freelance photography assignments, handbag-snatchers in Naples, thong-flingers in Rangoon, bread queues in Afghanistan, and more' (Source: back cover blurb).