Cold Beer and Crocodiles: A Bicycle Journey Into Australia It's not every day that a fellow decides to pack in a good job, pack up his saddlebags, and set off by bicycle to make a circumferential journey around Australia. In 1996, that's just what American-born Time magazine correspondent Roff Martin Smith did and you can read all about it in his interesting book.

 

Cruising the South Pacific - The Adventure is a fascinating true story of the author and his wife's four-year cruise through the South Pacific. The book tells a humorous, touching, and exciting story of finding strange and primitive cultures; fighting the elements in the open seas; and making friends with both fellow cruisers and islanders. Each day of this adventure brings strange and wonderful discoveries. Each day also brings an appreciation of the force and tenacity of Mother Nature and the work necessary to remain safe and alive. With a thirty-day passage from all that was familiar to a new and foreign part of the world, this is a tale landlubbers and sailors can usually only imagine, but the Austins did it in a 37' Morgan sailboat. I have met Dough and Jill and they are a very interesting couple to talk with about their adventures in the South Pacific. You would also probably appreciate their companion book, Cruising the South Pacific. If you are never able to actually go to the South Pacific, and discover its wonderful charm and adventure, you can at least "travel there" by reading these books. Jim.

Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.