{"product_id":"monks-and-motorcycles-franklin-e-huffman-9780595327607","title":"Monks and Motorcycles: From Laos to London by the Seat of My Pants 1956-1958","description":"In 1956, 22-year-old Frank Huffman embarks on a journey that will take him from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia to the exotic Orient, and eventually around the world. In this fascinating tale of adventure, Huffman shares his experiences and emotions during two years as a French interpreter for a community development team on the Plain of Jars in Laos, Indochina.  \u003cp\u003eAt the end of his tour in Laos, he buys a motorcycle and sets out for Europe, with only a National Geographic map of Asia and the optimism of youth as his guide. He takes us along for the ride as he\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eclimbs the fabled Angkor Wat in Cambodia, \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ecycles up the road to Mandalay in Burma, \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003efloats up the Chindwin River on a river boat, \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eis chased by a motorcycle-hating cow near the Taj Mahal, \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eparticipates in a mutiny on a ramshackle bus in the Pakistani desert, \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ethumbs his way across Iran to Turkey, and \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ecarouses through Europe in a Simca with pilfered sleeping bags and C-rations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003eThroughout this marathon, Huffman offers keen insights on the culture and society of Laos and the some 25 countries he passes through, and also provides trenchant commentary on subsequent events in those countries. Huffman's self-deprecatory humor and his undisputed mastery of the English language make \u003ci\u003eMonks and Motorcycles\u003c\/i\u003e a delightful read.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Franklin E. Huffman\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0595327605\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780595327607\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e iUniverse\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/16\/2004\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 356\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.19lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.98h x 6.28w x 0.83d","brand":"Franklin E. Huffman","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46962504663295,"sku":"9780595327607","price":23.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_00c569e6-6313-4b75-ac1a-838fd6901654.jpg?v=1750651648","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/monks-and-motorcycles-franklin-e-huffman-9780595327607","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}