High Heels and a Head Torch: A Survival Guide for Girls Who Backpack

Not too long ago I finished reading Chelsea Duke’s High Heels and a Head Torch: A Survival Guide for Girls Who Backpack. I didn’t know what to expect of the book and was pleasantly surprised by the large range of practical tips and advice for female travelers.

During trips through South America, Australia, Asia and Africa, Chelsea Duke (who had never stayed in a hostel before) learnt plenty of survival techniques she happily shares in a light-hearted way. Many of her hilarious stories had me chuckling and laughing out loud. These are tips you will not find in usual guidebooks: how to avoid electric shocks in South American showers; why a pair of sparkly flip-flops is an indispensable item to pack; how to best use a squat toilet; and why you need a head torch with LEDs.

The book covers many aspects of the travel experience, in total eleven chapters.

• First things first
• Sleeping with strangers
• Food, glorious food
• Keeping spick and span
• Health
• The scary stuff
• Planes, trains and automobiles
• International relations
• Shop tactics
• Backpacker phone home – and other methods of communication
• That’s entertainment

In Sleeping with strangers, Chelsea gives great advice on choosing your hostel and bed (hint: few backpackers want the top bunk), in the food section you’ll learn how to prepare a delicious meal in badly equipped hostel kitchens, and Keeping spick and span includes tips on how to have your washing done in India. I especially enjoyed the parts about health and keeping safe (you don’t want any of that scary stuff) as well as the lists of do’s and don’ts at the end of every chapter.

Besides brilliant advice and entertaining anecdotes, Chelsea shares fascinating insights and excellently shows how not to sacrifice your femininity (pay extra attention to her suggested beauty treatments before traveling) just because you’re on the road.

I wouldn’t recommend any female traveler to backpack around the world without having read High Heels and a Head Torch. And even though the book is aimed for girls, I bet guys can find it entertaining and useful as well. If you consider backpacking anywhere in the world, regardless of your previous travel experience, do read Chelsea Dukes’ first book.