Tomfool Traveler

"Tomfool Traveler" is really just a fun, fun read. It is about two dozen stories or, sometimes, "moments," as the author calls them. They span the gamut from "near death" to "embarrassed to death" (by one's own bad manners. The author has had the chance to travel the world on behalf of a charitable organization and to interact with people from all classes. He basically likes people, even if they are a pain in the neck, and relates his adventures or misadventures from a humorous perspective. The territory covered is just about everywhere on the planet. There's lots of 'travel' stuff -- heavy on airports, which are worlds unto themselves, especially after 26 hour flights! A few chapters delve deep into one country in particular (Iran, Bolivia). Most cover a subject and touch on many places that relate. For example, starting from ground zero -- the chapter on The Great Equalizer is about having to go to the bathroom, john, restroom, toilet, WC, whatever. It's pretty funny what a man in a 3-piece silk Italian suit can find himself having to do, being woefully unprepared. Another example -- hotels or 'wherever you're staying.' That chapter, called "The Peoples' Hotel of Moscow" spans a funky hotel which was a throwback to the Soviet era, to a Sydney country place, to an Indonesian prince's estate. There is a lot of good feeling. People are, after all, entertaining...at least, in retrospect. And sometimes good hearty laughter, too. About 144 pages. 23 stories. Readable and enjoyable by high school level and above.