Overland on the Hippie Trail

Overland On The Hippie Trail: Larry Farmer

Hunter and Ewa meet and have an instant connection and decide to travel the world together. Ideologies are different and the world is changing and the allure of traveling to India and learning more about the people, the culture and going to countries that most will never venture or enter, this book is a travel log of the experiences, that these two people will share will readers. As the cover states the Hippie Trail was established or created hip adventurers that traveled overland from Europe to Kathmandu and India. Exciting and educational as you take the trip along with Hunter as he tries to shed his anger, bitterness and the way he recalls and recounts for readers and his companion how he was treated as a Marine combat veteran. Returning from the Vietnam War, he wanted to travel through America but find himself in Europe. Ewa is Polish and has connections within many places and can get visas in Vienna that will help start them on their trips to countries that are not always friendly to strangers, will ask questions as to why you want to visit and yet even though they are warned to not enter many places, they venture ahead dealing with bad hotels, bad conditions but finding each other.

Ewa is straightforward and honest in her views and when Hunter explains how he feels different, does not belong anywhere or to any one country or place, she explains her life in Poland, what her father has given her and he starts to understand the hardships she has undergone but it won’t stop his pursuit of searching and trying to find a place for himself in this world. Joining him as they go to Bulgaria, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and many other places that will welcome them and some do not, the reader will get an understanding and education about the many countries and how they relate to Americans.

So many encounters with so many different people from different walks of life, religious groups and when they arrive in India something happens to Hunter and he wants even more. Dealing with the many groups that believe in many different ideologies and their beliefs in God, although there is only one, you hear the voices of those that live there and you wonder whether Hunter will embrace his own passions or that of others.

The responses they receive from different factions and people that they meet are quite interesting and we learn a lot about the history of the people of India, Hinduism and the many groups that believe in different things.

The one thing he remembers about Ankara, Turkey’s capital was something he read in an international American Newspaper about a religious cult committing mass suicide in the jungles of Guyana in South America and taking with them to eternity a US congressman from California. The city itself seemed like any other city and did not have a distinct personality. The one thing that I learned was that the terrain was arid going through Turkey and more closer to Iran.

Each country had it own mores and protocols so Ewa and Hunter had to restrain at times showing their affections and feelings to those present. Iran was next and Eva was tired and something special would happen in Istanbul. Pretending to be married and having a fake marriage certificate did allow them at times to share quarters except when told they could not. Learning about her father who is part of the power structure in Poland, we learn that she had privileges that most did not and her access to visas and other avenues of getting past guards and airport problems would help them both.

Going to many ashrams was his goal and learning the many aspects of how they worshipped and their differences comes through in this book and is quite compelling and enlightening. We learn how Islamic rulers conquered India. We learn more about Hinduism and the Hindu religion, which is very tolerant of other religions. Hindus have many gods, but accept other religions’ gods also in some way. The author adds that we worship the same God, but since we have different scriptures, dress and customs we are separate people. Beliefs in justice, family, and helping others are the same. But following different scriptures is the main difference, and you can determine if we all follow the same God.

Moving around to many places, dealing with trains, pushing their way on to a car and then hoping to get past the smiles on the faces of the Indian travels as they climbed with help to the top of the train and sat in an uncomfortable manner yet not caring because they were together. Their goal was to visit many different Ashram which is the name traditionally given to a spiritual hermitage of a Hindu monastery. It is used to describe the place where a spiritual or religious guru and his disciples live. It can be used to describe the community of people who live in this place. They are usually secluded from society. When you enter each one with both Ewa and Hunger you will learn how they are devoted to spiritual activities like yoga, meditation and religious instruction.

Chapter 12 is focused their trip to Delhi from Vienna. The poverty strikes them, the filth and the task of enjoying Delhi in spite of the poverty and the filth in the streets.

Brahmachari, Sri Achyut, Sri Sitaram are the three that take them in, teach them meditation, yoga, and many other aspects of their religious beliefs but most of all they protect them when the tide changes in a different direction when Ewe speaks out about Poland, the poverty and the strain of living in this communist country and is heard but someone reports her whereabouts to her father. We listen to Sri Achyut explain why they need to be more like America and he explains why including the reason why our children must learn a skill and get an education. The story moves on in many directions but things change when Ewa is forced to return to Poland but not before they ask for a special favor. Visiting many different ashrams some is simple while others more elaborate and each one teaches them something different. Their ashram in Baruda seemed to have some kind of link with them in a say that he did not fully understand. He studied the way the ashram leader spoke to the crowd and how both Sri Achyut and Sri Sitaram gave short and tot eh point talks of encouragement while Brahmachari, gave a longer but uplifting talk. Then we come to Ewa’s talk on pages 160-162 and here is why the tied changes. Learning that someone from the Polish embassy in New Delhi went to an ashram in Baroda, looking for Ewa there. It is at this point that things become difficult and they need to find out if they can be married and if it will stand up later on. An airplane ticket and a letter from her father and the end of a relationship are in sight but will the distance and time tear them apart?
The ending will surprise readers and their lives might go in different directions but what about their love? Will they become one again? Will Hunter move on when he realizes the reality of the situation and when will he hear from Ewa again? Addresses changed, letters never reach on time and two people that traveled many roads and miles together have hope to find a way back together again and relive their experience traveling Overland on the Hippie Trail. Do you believe in true love? Read this story and find out if that is possible. Once again author Larry Farmer takes us to many countries, many places and allows readers to experience along with Hunter and Ewa the many worlds so many of us will never see or visit.

Fran Lewis: Just reviews/MJ magazine