Exclusive:David Jedeikin's Wander the Rainbow

It’s the sort of story you expect from movie trailers: A man helps save his partner by becoming his liver donor, only to have the couple break up soon after. So what does our hero do? He goes on a backpacking journey from Latvia to Tokyo in search of self-discovery.

But unlike a sterile Julia Roberts film, author David Jedeikin actually did take that trip, and he got pretty dirty along the way. He also did it as only a gay man can—without sleeping on floors and enjoying many of the finer things in life. These funny, sexy, and very real stories are chronicled in his debut novel, Wander the Rainbow. We caught up with Jedeikin at his home in San Francisco where he offered up some more tales from his trek around the globe.

When other men have a major breakup, they often turn to things like Botox, endless sex in an exotic city, or an extended stay at The Four Seasons. Why did you choose this route?

I’ve always done things a bit differently than most, though the notion of endless sex in an exotic city sounds appealing! I’d always dreamed of traveling around the world, but for much of my life it seemed just that – a dream. But there’s something about wrenching personal-life events that make you contemplate doing things you otherwise would have considered impossible, and if there was ever such a time, this was it.

Has your ex-boyfriend, Bradley, read the book and what does he think of it?
If he hasn’t, I’m sure he will soon. We really haven’t been in touch since the breakup, though he is aware that the memoir is out.

Had you been a backpacking traveler before?
Never! Like most gay guys, I was allergic to staying in dumps, which is why the whole concept of “flashpacking” was so appealing to me.

What’s that?
Flashpacking is the term used to describe a niche of thirty-something, mostly European, jetsetters on extended holiday who choose small local hotels or private rooms in hostels, rather than bloated all-inclusive package hotel deals. Such rip-off packages are often targeted at gay travelers. One of the things I hope people take away from my book is if you’re open-minded enough to contemplate options outside of the typical big-name chain hotels, you can connect with locals, enjoy a more authentic travel experience, and not break the bank.

This isn’t your traditional college-age backpacking story. Why didn’t you go that route and how did you know you could do fabulous backpacking?
When I was younger, I had the same squeamish fears as most gay guys about staying in some grimy dorm with rows of unkempt snoring straight boys. I got an inkling of the flashpacking “third way” (between cheapo backpacking and traditional high-end travel) from some folks I met in Europe, where the trend is a lot more established than it is here in North America.

How would you describe your book: as a travel guide, a memoir, or a bit of both?
Definitely a bit of both; I’m obsessively curious about places and people and how they evolved the way they did, and I wanted to infuse the book with that sense of wonder and fascination. At the same time, all this travel took place in the shadow of these intense life events, and I wanted to impart how one’s curiosity about the greater world – and the people you encounter when heading out into it – can teach you things about yourself you may not have otherwise realized.

What kind of expectations did you have going into the trip?
I wasn’t sure what to expect; I braced myself for being overwhelmed by the culture shock of foreign lands, for feeling like I was overdoing it, [because] not too many people see this many places in one go! But none of those things happened. I don’t regret going to a single place I visited, and found myself not only able to handle the cultural variances, but openly and willingly embracing them.

What surprised you the most?
That it is possible to have an amazing journey of discovery without the now-clichéd religious or spiritual awakening, and without forcing yourself to live in misery like so many budget travelers do. The act of leaving the familiar behind is more than enough to spur insight and adventure – a whole book’s worth, in fact.

What was the sexiest thing that happened?
Let’s just say Berlin’s reputation as the “sexy capital of Europe” is well deserved. I had an encounter in a sex club that turned into a lot more than I expected.

What was the most heartwarming thing that happened?
Overall, the incredibly warm, generous reception I got from a variety of people worldwide – from a circle of people scattered across Europe, to family I’d never met before in Cape Town, to a totally cute Brazilian boy in Tokyo. The people you encounter are what make a journey – and book – like this memorable.

Would you do it again?
Assuming you mean the liver donation, I can answer that two ways: 1. No, knowing what I know now; and 2. I took the trip and wrote this book to make sense of these unique life circumstances. Am I the same person I was back then? Definitely not.

I can’t say for sure what I would do if I was in those same circumstances, or even if I would have those same kinds of people in my life today. That said, I harbor no regret, and find I’m much better off having done the deed and grown as a person from it all.

This book covers where you went. So where are you going now?
I’m taking Wander the Rainbow on the road! I was just at Bibliophile Bookstore in Montreal, my hometown, on July 5, then I spoke at Café Royale in San Francisco on July 7. I’ll be doing another appearance at Books, Inc. in the Castro in San Francisco on August 12, and we’ll be announcing more dates in New York and Los Angeles this fall as well.

As for travel, there are a lot of Mediterranean countries I’ve been meaning to hit and didn’t make on this odyssey. Aside from the fabulous climate, the region runs the gamut from gay-friendly Spain to colorful Morocco, Turkey, Malta, Egypt. I have no doubt there’ll be a journey and a book coming out of that in the not-too-distant future as well.

For the latest info on Jedeikin’s appearances, and to find out more about Wander the Rainbow, check out his blog at www.wandertherainbow.com.