The Illegal Journeys

As a child Ali was raised in Kabul which was often the target for attacks by various warring factions in Afghanistan. At the age of four he and his family survived a direct hit to the house in which they were sheltering, during shelling by the Taliban.

At the age of eleven he had to go to work in the market of Mazar-e-Sharif city to prevent his mother and himself from starving to death.

His early troubled experiences equipped him with the strength of character to launch himself into the world, alone at the age of thirteen. His first goal was to reach Tehran, the oil rich capital of Iran, which is the dream destination of all young men in the region, where he hoped he would become rich.

His adventures had just begun. A series of curious chances lead to success and set back. But it is his eternal optimism, his faith in his God, his impetuous instincts and sheer determination that takes us on a remarkable roller-coaster ride across half the world and that is without passport, visa or money.

Some of the things described are shocking, but are never sensationalised. Overall the book conveys his feelings of wonder, sadness, love, and youthful fun.