A Superb Review from The Standard Newspaper

‘As anyone who’s ridden a motorcycle knows, it’s not just the machinery, the ride itself or even where you go that matters. It’s also all about reflecting on the adventure, the people, the chance encounters and cherished memories.

Now, veteran motorcycle traveller and author, Sam Manicom, has pulled together a highly readable 400-page book of riders’ memories in a new book, ‘The Moment Collectors, Asia’.

He collected 20 travellers’ tales from what he describes as ‘the world’s largest and most diverse continent’ and, together with hand-drawn images and a handful of photographs, compiled them in one inspiring tome. The stories roar off the pages…

As Sam observes in his introduction, some are from hugely experienced world riders, with others from those relatively new to exploring on two wheels. Some authors are relatively well known and have previously documented their own adventures while some are individuals – or couples – writing publicly for the first time.

There’s a foreword from round-the-world motorcyclist Elspeth Beard who notes that it’s the unplanned events that often lead to adventure, in turn quoting the legendary Ted Simon, author of ‘Jupiter’s Travels’, who believes ‘the interruptions are the journey’.

And so it proves, starting with motorcycling couple Maria Schumacher and Aidan Walsh, who launch their Indian odyssey after becoming inspired to create their own adventure while visiting the motorcycle show at London ExCeL, for the first time. Their story starts when they land in Delhi with little more than six-month visas, motorcycle helmets – and a plan to buy two locally-produced, second-hand, Pulsar 220 bikes.

They vividly document both hair-raising and heart-warming experiences as they battle illness, shoddy roads, freezing conditions, altitude sickness, near misses with giant trucks and kindness from strangers. And emerge at the other end, never feeling more alive than in India with its ‘heavenly highs and bottomless lows’.

Holding up the other end of the book is Sam himself, with Birgit Schünemann, recalling colourful travels through Vietnam, not astride powerful adventure bikes but rented ‘ladies’ bikes’; 125cc automatic scooters. At $6 a day.
It’s a baptism of fire. Local rules of the road? No one looks behind – or to the sides. “There seldom seemed to be any accidents,” recalls Sam. “It felt as though there were two languages to learn in Vietnam; the traffic and the words”.

In between these two bookend adventures, The Moment Collectors embraces ‘The White Deserts of Chukotka’ with Anatoly Chernyavskiy, ‘Unexpected Mongolian Adventures’ with Paul Stewart, ‘Tales from Indochina’ with Anita Yusof and ‘Opening Borders into Burma’ with Heike Fania, among many others.

Perhaps the most rewarding writers here are those who, by their own admission, wonder if they’ve bitten off more than they can chew. All, however, are engaging, eye-opening and ultimately, inspiring. If you don’t want to saddle up and roar – or buzz – off into the unknown after reading The Moment Collectors, you never will.

The Full Review by David Williams

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