The Gap Yah plannah with Orlando Charmon review
December 12, 2011 by Such Small Portions
Comments (0)
Thinking of a Gap Year in 2012 but need to read up on where to go? Look no further than the trials and travails of Sloaney traveller Orlando Charmon, whose new diary has documented all you need to know for a lash-fuelled travel experience.
Described as the ultimate guide to banter, you are invited to join Orlando on his Jager-fuelled hijinks across the globe, getting lashed with Hugo Chaves in Columbia, finding him stuck in prison in Burma, and dreaming about shagging Yoda in Japan along the way.
The posh tongue-in-cheek character whose YouTube video became a huge online hit, racking up almost 4 million views on one video alone – and his new travel diary is a succinctly written satirical take on what has become known as a right off passage for anyone in their late teens.
With his take on the ignorance of some travelers author Matt Lacey touches on some of the inconvenient truths of a gap year experience. From being dragged around 'boring museums' aimlessly seeking enlightenment (and secretly thinking of beer) to the whinging hacks who ask why they don't 'have their own travel blog'.
The book is also well researched, with the story based on real bars and clubs to spark the memories of people who have been there, done that, and got the T-shirt but might want to relive it once in a while. I laughed especially while reading Orlando's account of Byron Bay and remembering my own visit to the notorious Cheeky Monkey's nightclub at the tender age of 18.
What Lacey has managed to achieve with Gap Yah Plannah is to take a look at the whole experience of travelling on a gap year and has mock not just the stereotypical posh traveller, but to a certain extent the whole gap year bubble itself.
Throughout the diary there are subtle hints of the ridiculousness of travelling to find culture, but constantly having the guiding principle as the money – beer ratio, or cash-lash ratio in his mind – which is closer to the truth than many may want to admit.
Astutely written and well researched Gap Yah Plannah may not help you actually plan anything, but could be considered essential reading for any discerning gap year traveller.
The Gap Yah planner is published by Fourth Estate and is available on Amazon.co.uk
Tim Clark
Are you a comedian?
Such Small Portions is an online magazine and networking site for the comedy industry. For more information about us click here.
If you are a member of the comedy industry and would like to sign up, register below...
Already a member?
Log in below.
