I Wanna Go Again

Book excerpt: 'I Wanna Go Again!' is the single, heartfelt sentence that all travellers whisper to themselves as they stumble, stunned and suffering that awful sense of anti-climax, back through Arrivals at airports, train stations and ports, all over the world, as they return wearily home. Every reader and every traveller will relate to Joe Best's humorous story, told in his own unique, down-to-earth, blokey style. The book is hot, fresh, young and funky and based on the diaries of Joe's maiden voyage. Before leaving the security of Berkshire at the age of 24 he had worked for an accounting firm and been bored senseless by the meaningless of his life. He needed to escape his reality and create a new one. But when he and a group of young friends set off travelling the world on a 12 month adventure, full of trepidation, naïve and innocent, armed only with Joe's sensible sterilisation cup (given to him by his sensible Mum), he has no idea if they will all make it back safely. (Although, to be fair, he has read a variety of books about daring SAS exploits, and he is hoping for the best). Through their wild journey, Joe and the boys develop a strong and lasting camaraderie; they have no real options, but if they set out as friends they return as life long soul mates, having shared some very odd, cathartic experiences. Joe eventually settled down to write his lush travel memoir almost 10 years after making it back to Taplow and his Mum. He explains, "Travelling does not need to be daunting. It changes everything, and gives you the confidence to get on with the rest of your life. The memories last fresh for ever."