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The new adventure Tibet book, "Yak Butter Blues: A Tibetan Trek of Faith" by Brandon Wilson, "places the reader in the thick of the action every bit as well as Marco Polo transported Italians to China and, as it seems to me, better than Lowell Thomas led readers in the dust of Lawrence of Arabia," according to book reviewer Joseph W. Bean. "Brandon Wilson's Yak Butter Blues was probably never intended to reach the upper strata of armchair adventuring, but it does. The book is a soaring travel diary," wrote book reviewer Joseph W. Bean in the November 4-10, 2004 issue of Maui Weekly. "It places the reader in the thick of the action every bit as well as Marco Polo transported Italians to China and, as it seems to me, better than Lowell Thomas led readers in the dust of Lawrence of Arabia." Bean continues, "Not one reader in a million will ever make the trek, but I don't think any reader — regardless of age or physical ability — will ever read this book without dreaming of the whole trip. Travel books of the usual sort have no place on the 21st century book shelf, but you'll be glad you made room for this one." Yak Butter Blues is an inspiring, new Tibet book of survival. The author and his wife challenge the "impossible" and set off on an daring 1000-kilometer journey on foot across the Himalayan plains, becoming probably the first Western couple to ever make this perilous pilgrimage trek. Alone, with only their Tibetan horse Sadhu, the Wilsons face Tibet's ruthless environment head-on: the blistering winds, extreme temperatures, sandstorms, blizzards, and the thinnest of air...made all the more challenging by exhaustion, hunger, illness, inflexible bureaucrats and implacable, trigger-happy Chinese soldiers. Although the land and climate left their imprints daily, an even more lasting impression on these adventurers was created by Tibetan pilgrims, monks and generous villagers eager to share what little they possess: yak butter tea, the warmth of their family's fire, camaraderie and a steadfast trust in the Dalai Lama's return. Inadvertently, the couple became an invaluable witness to a culture pushed to the brink of extinction by brutal occupation. The author sympathetically interweaves the story of Tibet's current plight and struggle to survive into their own. Along this simple path, the Wilsons discovered the human link connecting us all, a link that becomes clearest on a trek that removes the distractions of modern life as it unveils the truths of "deliberate travel." In doing so, the couple found a sense of greater purpose, wonder, a renewed faith and ultimately what it takes to endure. This colorful, candid, caring and classic tale leads readers along on a physical, spiritual and emotional pilgrimage across this startling land — on a thousand-kilometer odyssey once called "Impossible." For a preview, visit http://www.YakButterBlues.com. Early Praise: "Any doubts I had about reading Yak Butter Blues melted away like yak butter under a hot sun as I came under the spell of Brandon Wilson's lively and vivid prose. He is a fine writer, perceptive, funny, and has a great way with words, making the book a whooping good read--an outstanding production."~ Royal Robbins, world-renowned mountaineer, author, and adventure kayaker "A moving and emotional testimony, and a travelogue that is the next most vivid experience to hiking upon the trail oneself." ~ Midwest Book Review "Wilson takes readers through the hardships of late-season trekking and into the homes of the Tibetan people, on whom he and his wife were About the Author: Brandon Wilson is an adventure-travel writer whose stories have appeared in many national magazines, Although already a voracious explorer of over ninety countries, this Tibetan odyssey opened his eyes to the deep satisfaction of traveling "one-step-at-a-time." By slowing down, he believes, "We absorb the hidden ‘magic' in the world. We travel outside— while traveling within." Since Tibet, Wilson has trekked three other major pilgrimage trails: the famed Camino de Santiago across Spain; the ninth century, 1150-mile Via Francigena from England to Rome (he is the first American to complete this route), and the 400-mile St. Olav's Way across Norway. Wilson's photographs have won awards from National Geographic Traveler and Islands magazines. Yak Butter Blues: A Tibetan Trek of Faith by Brandon Wilson |
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