This is a story of vikram seth hitch-hiking form najing university china to new delhi through china. Seth captures especially the tension between the majority Han and minority Uighars, mogols and the Tibetans. It is a sneak-peek into life in post-Cultural revolution communist China of 1980s ? portraits of Mao. Seth has been called the ?pin-up boy? of Indian Writing because of his looks. It is a gem of a travelogue. All of this book is filled with enjoyment and excitement. I have great fascination for travel books and this one fits right into my interest.