An ill-fated sojourn through Tijuana, Mexico, on the way to New York City results in a sharp turn towards Asia and a rollercoaster journey through the world of photojournalism. Nicky Almasy recounts his fascinating story, including a decade in China documenting Shanghai's jazz scene, exploring the malaria-stricken hinterlands of Cambodia and accompanying renowned Hungarian musician Both Miklos on his travels through Asia.

​​​​​​​Recycling Reality explores the pleasures and the pitfalls of frenetically trying to capture the world through a camera lens, and the debilitating effect of travelling 150,000 km annually, while telling a myrad stories of culture, art and heritage across East Asia. The book also examines whether travel is the ultimate escape or an invitation to burn-out, and whether it is possible to detach ourselves from our own past.