The Moment Collectors ASIA – Reviews

Twenty Travellers’ Tales From The Most Diverse Continent On Earth

 
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“This is the second book in The Moment Collectors series and, like the first, it has an excellent curation of 20 stories from 20 authors that happen to be as diverse as the continent itself. There are only good and great stories here. You’ll have trouble putting this book down.

The Moment Collectors Asia: Sam Manicom and Friends starts with two fantastic tales, one from India with a couple traveling on two bikes, and the second with a solo rider tackling a wilderness route in Mongolia. The third chapter ups the ante with a tale of five riders who are the first foreign motorcyclists in decades to pilot their motorcycles across Burma (Myanmar). By the fourth chapter I was hoping Manicom hadn’t peaked and front-loaded the book with the best stories first. I needn’t have worried because the excitement and intrigue continued, including an epic cross-continent journey, a woman riding solo across Iran, and an astounding, sub-zero, winter solo ride to north-eastern Siberia. By chapter eight, when a novice rider describes the trials and triumphs along the “Road of Bones,” I’d come to trust the trend would continue to deliver all the way to the end, with each chapter having its own unique flavor.

In conclusion, this is a great book that’s highly entertaining. Some stories had me laughing, some had me in awe, but all were inspiring. It had more variety than I expected, and it whet my appetite for more adventures from these writers. I hope that you will love it, too.”

ADVMoto Magazine

“Inspiration comes in many forms, not least in print, and this book of short stories from the world of motorcycle travel is absolutely loaded with the stuff.
Every chapter left me utterly entranced, and on numerous occasions I was left wondering if I should pack it all in and head off into the sunset on an adventure of my own. The essence of The Moment Collectors – Asia is to capture a snapshot of life on the road from 20 different travellers as they experience the highs and lows of exploring one of the most geographically fascinating and culturally rich areas of the globe.

Lovingly curated by adventure pioneer Sam Manicom, it tells not just the tales but gives an insight into the people behind the pen and the bikes they ride. It’s the perfect antidote to a dark, grey winter, and a wonderful book for dipping into as needed. I carried my copy for a couple of months. Immersing myself into each story as and when I had the time to really drink it all in. But be warned – there’s a danger it could change your life!” Quality ***** Value*****

MCN – Motorcycle News

“In this wild ride of a compendium, twenty intrepid authors strap you onto the pillion of their own escapades, delivering a whirlwind of experiences that leave you wiser in the chaotic embrace of our cultural kaleidoscope. These are not just stories; they’re raw, unfiltered glimpses into the unknown, fuelled by a rabid curiosity and a relentless desire to strip away the sometimes misleading veneer that popular media slaps onto reality. Prepare yourself, because these candid narratives challenge you to see our colourful world as it is—messy, brilliant, and utterly human.

Just as the chapters unfold a tapestry of experiences that illuminate the rich diversity of Asia, each story resonates with a universal truth: travel shapes us. These tales will likely urge you to step beyond your comfort zone. You’ll be inspired to seek out those fleeting yet profound connections that make travel more than just a series of destinations. They remind us that every encounter, every smile from a stranger, is a thread in the intricate fabric of our shared humanity.

So, settle in and prepare for a journey that promises to awaken your senses and maybe even spark your own curiosity about the world around you. Each experience captured here is a reminder of the beauty that lies just beyond your doorstep, waiting for you to explore.”

Overland Europe

“Highly recommended, and if not for yourself get one for that friend who often mutters about maybe taking a trip somewhere. Reading this will probably make it happen!

As a reader of this collection you can sample writing styles and decide of whose writing you might like to find more, locating books they have already written. Or perhaps it’s a case of which stories have left you hanging, hoping that there’s more to come

Varying in length, these stories let you escape momentarily to countries as different as Iran and Russia, or Burma and Mongolia. There’s excitement and jeopardy here of course, whether instigated by weather or road surface, but there’s also some lovely stories of human kindness.”
Read the full review here.

Overland Magazine

“Book of the Month for December 2024. A fantastic book for picking up and putting down as your schedule allows. Excellent book. Includes stories from more than a dozen women riders. ”

WIMA USA (Women’s International Motorcycle Association)

“The Moment Collectors Asia sees many noted writers/travellers team up, with some just starting the process, for a tome that tells of shamanism in Nepal, making do with what’s presented in India, and believing in magic in China. In fact, many stories give a vastly different slant on such a varied continent and its many cultures. Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Momgolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Siberia, South Korea, Tajikistan, Vietnam and more are covered wonderfully, providing an insight into each region, the cultures, peoples, as well as the traveller’s own mindset. For Anthony Bourdain once said, travel “is an education for living”, and what Sam has compiled is a life lesson like no other.

Each author has their own style, a way with words that often reflects their own beliefs and culture. Sam has ensured that each writer gets to tell their tale in their own unique, unadulterated way with very little alteration. It’s a tremendous way to get the full feel of the account and how the traveller experienced it. You’ll feel like you’re a part of the adventure, and making it more so are beautifully hand drawn sketches and watercolours by Simon Roberts that accompany each chapter.”

Traverse Magazine

“I’m impressed. For a start it’s a lot of book for your money, 404 pages… The concept is a good one, too… there’s a great range of writing styles and experiences. And it’s a reminder just what adventure riding should be about. In fact, as Sam correctly identifies on the cover, these are ‘travellers’ tales’. There are many synonyms we could use here, let’s try explorers, wanderers, travellers, overlanders and yes, adventurers…

…the most rewarding reads (for me) are those that immerse you in their experience, that can paint a vivid scene using an economy of words, that exposes something of their soul, that reveal a humanity, often in strangers, that connects us. We’ve all seen enough travel doco’s on TV now to know a lot of what the world out there looks like, so, it’s the experiences, the connections we’re (or at least I’m) looking for. And across the collection of 20 stories here you’ll find a good selection doing exactly that.”

Read the Full Review Here.

TRF – Trail Riders Fellowship UK

“This is a collection of twenty travellers’ tales from a wide variety of motorcycle riders. They range from those who have undertaken long tours to relative novices – and everyone in between. Some are written by those for whom English is not their first language and Sam has allowed their natural voice to shine through their writing.

What struck me most was the impact these journeys had on those making them – the voyages of self-discovery, mining deep within themselves to cope with what the journeys threw at them. This resonated with me personally as, although I, like many of us, have not toured for more than a few weeks at a time, I’ve had those same profound experiences which deepen resilience as well as providing a superb memory bank of amusing incidents. Sam has taken these tales and woven them into a book of motorcycle travel stories from journeys across Asia, and in reading them, you will readily become immersed in each traveller’s story and feel the heat, the dust, the excitement, the drama and above all the hope for the next day and the next few miles.

Each is narrated by the individual author which feels as if you are inside their head as they are travelling. The accompanying drawings, by artist Simon Roberts, are thoughtful and enhance each story. It finishes with a selection of companies who can help with planning your next adventure. ”

The Mayflower Motorcycle Club UK

“…A glimpse into a fascinating continent through the eyes of an equally fascinating collection of individual people’s perspectives, each uniquely attempting to capture fragments, moments in time on the road. The pages of this book contain an entertaining mixed bag of views shared from the seat of a motorcycle as they each traverse this fascinating continent…

…What I think makes this book a great read is that we are all different. What may appeal to you may not to me and visa-versa, but there is definitely something personal available to everyone who loves motorcycles, the thoughts about travel to far flung places and has either travelled or can see themselves astride a motorcycle out on the road…

…The book is complimented by some wonderful sketches by Simon Roberts and is a nice touch that adds to the reading experience. A highly recommended read for all aspiring motorcycle travellers as well as those who for whatever reason cannot.”

RUST Sports Motorcycle Magazine

“Reading the experiences of other motorcycle adventure travellers will not only put your mind at ease, but will give you the inspiration and reassurance that your own epic overland motorcycle adventure is easily doable.

Riding either solo, in pairs or as a couple two up, these motorcycle adventurers share moments of the sheer joy that comes with exploring often remote locations where they are welcomed into the homes and hearts of the locals. But there are also moments of hardship as life on the road is not always easy and is not for everyone. These adventure motorcycle travelers will take you through some of the most magnificent landscapes in the world.

At the end of each story, there’s a bio about each writer and links to their website and social pages. They also include a few words about their chosen bike.

The back of the book is a valuable adventure motorcycle travel resource filled with links. There’s links to adventure travel equipment; a Helpful Hints section; travel information; motorcycle travel organisations, clubs, and forums; and Facebook Groups for you to connect and gain inspiration to start planning your trip. Plus there’s links to motorcycle travel books and publishers; podcasts; and even foundations that offer grants to help fund your adventure. You’ll definitely keep checking this resource section when planning your own motorcycle travel adventure.”

Adventure Rider Magazine

“Sam reached out to his travel-hungry friends for their tales, getting very different perspectives from very different people riding very different bikes. If you want a suggestion for a Christmas present for a motorcyclists, maybe this will fit the bill. This is the one book I’d recommend to anyone, as there should be something for any ADVer.”

ADVRider.com

“It’s that conscious or unconscious “a-ha” travelers have when a place, a person, or an incident reminds them of why they travel in the first place. Of course, the best travelers’s tales come from such moments and without such moments there are no travelers’s tales. Because the pieces are short, the more specific the incident or anecdote, place or person, the better the story. The journey is the adventure and the adventure is in the interruptions, whether a problem to solve or a person to encounter. And, of course, the best journeys are by motorcycle.”

Read the Full Review Here.

The Riders’ Digest Magazine

“Wonderfully varied storytelling styles.”

ADV Pulse

“I really like the first-person voices of the stories. This makes it intimate, like you are invited along on rides. Nearly every contributor is slightly mad (British English for “crazy, but in a good way”)—is this true of all adventure riders? Perhaps—I’m not sure I know any really serious adventure riders who would clock in as “normal.” Humor pervades many of the tales, some with outright guffaw-inducing moments.

Not everyone can or wants to write a whole book, so the anthologies compiled by Sam are a wonderful way for us to hear from adventurers we might otherwise miss.

Engaging sketches by Simon Roberts—who contributed a story as well—provide a cohesiveness to the tales, which are varied as much by the experiences as the writing.”

Exploring Overland – Exploration Quarterly Magazine

CLICK HERE TO ORDER SIGNED COPIES DIRECT FROM SAM

Other purchasing options: Paperback from Amazon | Kindle eBook | Nook eBook