World Hum’s Most Read: May 10-16

What We Loved This Week: ‘The Zen of Bobby V,’ ‘When the Levees Broke’ and Arriving With Our Baggage

How Bad is the Violence in Mexico?

Tony Horwitz Blogs From the Road

Tony Horwitz: Rediscovering the New World

Ben Keene talks to the author of the new book “A Voyage Long and Strange” about travel, American myths and the importance of visiting places where “history happened”

In Patagonia, In Patagonia

Tim Patterson packs his fleece and long underwear, and enters the Twilight Zone where corporate branding meets the multilayered reality of place. 

Should I Quit Law School so I can Travel the World?

Vagabonding traveler Rolf Potts answers your questions about travel

‘The Worst Guidebook Writer Ever’?

Lonely Planet author Robert Reid reviews Thomas Kohnstamm’s “Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?” and weighs in on the controversy surrounding it

Have a Hockey Night in Canada

From Montreal to Sault Ste. Marie, the sport is the country’s greatest passion. Eva Holland explains where to go to indulge—and who you need to know.

Promised Land Closed

And other odd and unlikely signs from around the world. Aficionado Doug Lansky, editor of the book “Signspotting,” recounts his 10 favorites.

10 Sizzling Hot Travel Tips From Sir Francis Bacon

Rolf Potts repackages the 17th century philosopher’s ‘Of Travel’ essay in the manner of a 21st century magazine feature

Former Punk Paul Theroux in India

Hi Jim:

Perhaps because my father gave Paul Theroux a good book review when “Mosquito Coast” came out, which contains the classic line “Ice is civilization!” I somehow bumped into the randy roamer in a hostel in Hawaii. Nobody else had a clue who he was, and I didn’t want to blow his cover.

He looked quite a bit like his author’s photo on the flap of his expensive hardcovers, with a grim superior smile and an enforced faroff look in his eyes behind the Clark Kentish shaded lenses.

Anyway retracing one’s own journey is a risky proposition. But face it, if we like a place we’re often repeat performance artists. I’ve been to Bangkok, at least five times, as well as London, and Prague, and oddly, the sleepy colonial Twilight Zone town of Westfield, New Jersey.

In fact, in their local tavern, I met Mr. E.S.B Fuller, an intimidating world traveler in a G.B. coat, English cap, and Christmas Carol beard. After plunking down Jackson after Jackson for several bottles of frothy full-bodied “London Pride,” he told me a story I will never forget. . . .

Which was: MOVE, my speculative novel thaqt has not quite been released to the public, with a vague film option and a warehouse full of review copies thrown into the bargain. Move over Monsieur Mephistopheles. My bargain is with the other guy.

Wow, this is the first I’ve heard of this.  Really looking forward to it!

Sounds like a good excuse for a re-read of The Great Railway Bazaar! (Like I need one...)

Yeah, I think it’s a great excuse to re-read The Great Railway Bazaar. I will be.

To tell the truth, I was more hoping for a “Cold World” journey as rumored, since I live close to the Arctic and would love to see Theroux’s comprehension of Scandinavia and the northern countries. It would have given me an understanding of his writing mirroring it with the reality I live in. I had that experience with Dark Star Safari, where he travelled the same places I have lived and travelled, and it just became a different read to any of his other travel books.
This said, I am curious about his retravelling The Great Railway Bazaar. Some parts would be “untravelable”, so how did he do it? The old Sovjet countries on the northern fringe of the Kushes?

Ah interesting I have read The Great Railway Bazaar. I luvd it, I think I will read this book (I know its old by now, but I didnt find this until now), on my vacation to Greece this summer! We are going by train so the title sort of fits perfect! :)