Overview
Inspired by tales from the old hippie trail I hit the road and travelled overland from London to Sydney. A journey that took me through 25 countries – a fair few of ravaged by war.
Along the way I kept company with Czechs with bad haircuts, Muhajeddin with big guns and Ravers with bags of E.
Regarded by many as my ‘classic.’ I must admit it’s probably my favourite.
Favourite Photos
Tirane, Albania: Skanderbeg Square, Tirane. I’ve just arrived in town and I’m approached by a guy wearing reflector sunnies, bright white shoes and a flash smile. He asks me if I want to sleep on his couch. I say yes, of course.
The guy’s name was Mirindi. And this is my favourite photo of him. Sus clothes. Top bloke.
F.A.Q.
Which were your favourite countries?
What happened to Fatty after the Bam earthquake?
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A light-hearted look at the perverse side of travel, marketed as a guide for when you’ve really lost it.
Just read your book, The Wrong Way Home.
I think the best, most as near as possible, honest travel book I have read so far. After closing the final page I feel like I have just returned from the other side of the planet on a rickerty old bus that has zig-zagged every back street of every place I’d love to see someday?
I’m not even sure I’m back home yet!
Thanks for the look see.
Alex
Alex – my pleasure. It was a great trip and I’m happy to have taken you along for the ride.
Hi Peter,
I’ve just finished reading ‘The Wrong Way Home’ and seen the bit at the back about your web site and just had to have a look around. It was a fantastic read and makes me want to don my backpack and go myself. Although I think Afghanistan might be worth avoiding!
Thanks for the great read and making the world a smaller place, I’ll be keeping an eye out for your other books.
Hi Carl – glad you enjoyed The Wrong Way Home and that it made you feel like grabbing your backpack and hitting the road. I always hope my books will have that effect!
As for Afghanistan, I know what you mean. But I’ve got to say it was one of the real highlights of the trip. But maybe that’s saying more about me than I should really let on!
Brilliant – didn’t want to finish it!!! I thoroughly enjoyed “The “Wrong Way Home” and then looking through the photos on your website. This is the third book I’ve read of yours and look forward to reading the others. Keep them coming!!!
Hi,
Just started reading it, my Christmas read for this year. About to start chapter 8 tonight. Loving it so far
)
Gary Watt, Aberdeen
Hey Peter, I’ve recently finished reading ‘The Wrong Way Home’ and really enjoyed it, it’s the first book I’ve read of yours so far after my girlfriend bought it for me to feed my interest in travel and adventure. It’s inspired me even more to go travelling (a trip to SE Asia is planned for 2013) and see the world through my very own eyes. It’s by far the most honest and entertaining of travel stories I’ve read. Also the funniest, it had me laughing out loud many a time, albiet sometimes in not the most appreciated times in public places. Me bursting out laughing reading the book in starbucks one morning a few weeks ago, looking up to the questioning eyes of ‘is he a mentalist?’ from the other customers being one of them. I look forward to reading all of your other books too, especially ‘Vroom With A View’. I recently past my CBT and will be going on a view cross country trips on a little 125 motorcycle (who needs a GS?) My first trip will be one from Southport to Whitby Habour across northern England. As a Northerner I figured I might aswell explore my own backyard before anywhere else. At 22, I’m still unsure of what I want to do in life, so I thought I’d fill it with some adventure in the time being and your book has made me want to make it happen even more.
I’m rambling on abit now, sorry!
Thank you for a great read and I look forward to reading the books you’ve already written and to reading about your future adventures
Stu x
Thank you Peter. It was so nice of you to bring us all on your journey. I, like Frances, don’t want to finish it. In this case, the journey IS the destination and I’m thankful you’ve brought us along. I will be there the next time you set off across half the world with a few bills stuffed into your wallet. Cheers!
hi peter im loving your book its the first ive read of yours i dont want it to finish.you have a gift of putting adventure to paper and bringing it to life.i intend travelling nxt year to asia then austrailia thanks so much for the insight.happy travelling bud.richy fraserburgh scotland
Just finished reading this brilliant book, (the third one of your adventures I have read now). It is as if I’ve seen all those places myself after reading it. I felt truly gutted that you had to take that last plane journey to Australia.
Keep on doing what you do, your honesty and humor is the best combination.
Just moving on to “The Full Montezuma”…
Finished reading this book today and feel somewhat bereft. I thought “Swahili for the Broken-Hearted” was my favourite ever book, but this one is even better, if that’s possible.
Absolutely brilliant.
Thanks Peter, I’ve just finished Wrong Way for the second time and was excited by it again.
Don’t get me wrong way, excited to travel I meant. Travel again.
I’m old enough to be your old man and started b/packing in my early forties and haven’t stopped since. Well, not until recently when the bucks ran out and I am currently paying off numerous cards, banks and rellies etc. Still, that won’t last forever then back to the Phillipines to sit for a while whilst planning what is next. Or where I mean.
Meanwhile your book has been fun, I like your attitude and find it agrees with mine very well (except I love the Doors)
Meet you on the track somewhere/when with luck.
Keep on enjoying your life mate as I am….Best wishes….. Shaen.
A great book, certainly made me laugh mainly as I have been to many of the places. It was recommended by my son Adam who has read all your books. I am at present planning a trip round the world catching no planes so as you can imagine I found your book very useful.
Hi peter, i’m a 20 years old and have travelled more than your average 20year old. I have just finished reading your book on a holiday in spain (the first book I have read in 10years), I loved reading this book I just couldn’t put it down its full of adventure and excitement and it made me want to travel more than ever. Reading this book made me feel as though I was travelling along side you and having the adventure of a life time, honestly I didn’t want it to end.! Thanks for the adventure peter, brilliant read, you have inspired me to don a backpack and get out and see the world.
Just read the book and enjoyed it very much, I was particularly fascinated by your adventures in the balkans, do you have any photos of the three youths you stayed with while you were there ?
Just finished Wrong Way Home and loved it. Will definitely seek out other books by you. We obviously share an admiration for Paul Theroux so I hope you’ll take it as a complement if I place you third in the pantheon of travel writers, behind Theroux (Dark Star Safari esp) and Ryszard Kapuscinski (Travels with Herodotus).
On on!
Hi
What a fantastic read. I first bought your books while still living in England, read them all several times and probobaly on my 5th reading of the wrong way home now, I always have a giggle at your travel stories, some I can relate to myself as I have done a “teeny weeny” of what you have accomplished. Especially like the stories of the only predators you are likely to see in Africa are the ones at the Florida 2000 bar. Ever been to New Zealand? I moved here 8 years ago and yes it does get a little boring, but you are more than welcome to bunk down for the night here, Rotorua at that so thats probobaly put you off for a start.
Keep up the good and fantastic writing!!! My 14th country, your 100th, MAN im envious
Regards
Louisa
Hey Peter,
I read the full montezuma and thought wow. that was alright. and resigned myself to that being the only book our small town library has with a little sigh. but then the dude shows me more….and another whole travel section. nice. so got the wrong way home…it is the one i am drawn to now. reading it. once more: nice.
i love the way that you put in just enough stuff for me to get my imagination seized upon it flesh it all out and go there with you.
sometimes i think my god you stumbled on some of the most intense stuff…bosnia herzegovina afghanistan…and were part of and witnessed some hard core sh* that is refreshing to read about because it is un-foreign correspondenty-like and so feigns no humane in depth arcane bl* knowledge just experiences itself through you. a cool, modest, funny, intelligent but not wanky guy. you are so not the colonialist travelor. i love it. i also love what going to afghanistan says about you man.
fortunately for me, all the grog and drugs i did in my twenties and early 30′s means i will forget all the amazing vivid sense and image and word of your travels so that when i finally get my a* into gear and get to some of these travels myself it will be as if i just arrived.
thank you Peter. thank you so much.
in a dreary world of rural isolation (moved for a job) you bring the world to me in just the way i like it. peace n bless man.
Peter,
45 year old man from England who you have inspired to do the ‘old hippy trail’, having spent time travelling in my 20′s I have been planning this trip for a few years now, my kids are 17 & 18 and I’m planning to do the route (or my version, who know’s?) in 2 years time. The wrong way home has inspired me.
Thanks, thanks & thanks again,
Dan