Searching for Shangri La is a compilation of 12 quirky stories by Ron Emmons, who has written travel guides for National Geographic, Frommer’s and Rough Guides. Kicking off the collection, ‘No Place Like Home’ recounts the uneasy feelings of a traveller returning to his homeland only to find the place changed beyond recognition. Visits to places like Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum in Hanoi and the Buddha’s birthplace in Nepal trigger thought-provoking reflections on the human condition. Other topics such as getting lost in China, undergoing acupuncture treatment and a personal history of sweeping leaves reveal the author’s wry humour, while the title story is likely to get readers packing their bags in preparation for their own search for Shangri La.
