Books that Inspired my Journey

I've always loved books, so here are five of my favourites, which in some way or another have influenced the Woman with Altitude project:

My Journey to Lhasa by Alexandra David-Néel

This is the book that directly inspired the whole Woman with Altitude project, My Journey to Lhasa by Alexandra David-Néel. I first read this book when I was sixteen, and I just couldn't believe what Alexandra managed to achieve at a time when women just didn't do that sort of thing. Alexandra travelled across Asia for fourteen years at a time when women faced significant social and political restrictions. Climbing freezing Himalayan passes and living wild on mountainsides, she was the first Western woman to meet the Dalai Lama. Written in the early 1900s, I devoured its pages, transfixed by tales of adventure, of a woman brave enough to fight society's expectations.

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

I would maybe go as far as to say that My Family and Other Animals is my favourite book of all time......maybe. My copy is totally destroyed from the amount of times I've read this gorgeous autobiography. One morning, the rain in England just wouldn't stop, so Gerald's mum decided that they had to move somewhere warm. They immediately packed their bags and moved to Corfu. This book follows Gerald's early life and his obsession with animals. It's beautifully written, making you laugh out loud at his eccentric family and the unconventional characters he meets along the way.

The Cave in the Snow by Vicki MacKenzie

Tenzin Palmo, formerly Diane Perry from Bethnal Green, spent 12 years living in a cave on her own, high up in the freezing Himalayas. She was determined in her quest to prove that a Buddhist woman could reach spiritual enlightenment, just like a man could. In her cave, she survived incredibly cold Himalayan winters, managed to dodge near-starvation and slept upright on her three-feet square meditation box.

Along the Enchanted Way by William Blacker

This beautifully written memoir tells the story of Blacker's time living in rural Romania. When the Berlin wall came down, Blacker took his chance and set off on a journey across Eastern Europe. He never intended on living in Romania, but a kind family and an ancient way of living life won over his heart.