A Short Ride in the Jungle: The Ho Chi Minh Trail by Motorcycle cover art

A Short Ride in the Jungle: The Ho Chi Minh Trail by Motorcycle

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A Short Ride in the Jungle: The Ho Chi Minh Trail by Motorcycle

By: Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent
Narrated by: Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent
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About this listen

For the first time in my life I felt that death was a possibility; a stupid, pointless, lonely death on the aptly named Mondulkiri Death Highway.

The Ho Chi Minh Trail is one of the greatest feats of military engineering in history. But since the end of the Vietnam War much of this vast transport network has been reclaimed by jungle, while remaining sections are littered with a deadly legacy of unexploded bombs. For Antonia, the chance to explore the Trail before it was lost forever was a personal challenge she couldn’t ignore - yet at times it would be a terrifying journey.

Setting out from Hanoi on an ageing Honda Cub, she spent two months riding 2000 miles through the mountains and jungles of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Battling inhospitable terrain and multiple breakdowns, she met former American fighter pilots, tribal chiefs, illegal loggers, and bomb disposal experts.

A thrilling, poignant tale of war, bravery and learning to face your fears.

©2014 Summersdale Publishers LTD (P)2020 Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent Adventure Travel Travel Writing & Commentary Motorcycle Travel

Critic reviews

"I enormously enjoyed every page." (Dervla Murphy)
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A thoroughly easy to listen to book. Narrated by the traveler herself. I have this in paperback, but wanted it in audio, so I can listen to at anytime. If you enjoyed this I’d recommend Sam Manicom and Chris Donaldson.

A well worth book

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I have listened to this while I was on a motorcycle trip in Thailand. It was the perfect companian. Well written and well narrated by the author. Very brave ride to take alone.

Excellent adventure writing

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An extraordinary journey made by the author on her own with just a pink moped and a few essentials to navigate the Ho Chi Minh Trail before it is lost forever to the jungle and the ravages of deforestation and damming.
Antonia vividly brings to life her travels mostly alone, through the remotest of places. She narrates the book beautifully and we travel along the ups and downs of her six week adventure. Daring to go so I don't have to!!
From dingy brothels and indecent propositions, to breathtaking beauty and back through the tragic deforestation currently going on in Laos, we learn the real history of what went on during the Vietnam War , lives lost and the terrible price Vietnam Laos and Cambodia paid and are still paying.
Time restrictions and also language barriers prevented us from really getting under the skin of the people living in these countries but this book has definitely left me wanting to know more! A great read and would definitely recommend!!

Our March 2021 bookclub book!!

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If you are keen on travel and history of a not too distant conflict this is the right book for you. Read by our book club we found the writer provided vivid imagery in words of the countryside and people she met on her over her solo 6 week journey on a small motorbike. I've learned so much about three countries and admire Antonias capacity to travel alone, over long distances by embracing fear and trust of strangers as she travels. Just say 'Yes'.

History of Vietnam war and travel in one

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Loved the book, makes a change to here the other side of the Vietnam War, how it’s still affecting the area today.
As for the Ho Chi Minh Trail well it really was a massively understated, biggest feat of Engineering hats off to the people who worked on it lived it and perished on it.

Enjoyed cover to cover

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