Reviews (12)

DK Eyewitness Travel Guides- Moscow & Prague
These are by far the best travel books out there, because of the detailed picture maps and the specific historical info for each area of the cities.

GOOD, BUT NOT GREAT
Its up to the minute information is invaluable as you travel around St. Petersburg.But, its AAA apearance is so dull you hardly want to use it.My recommendation is to buy this for the current info. and the EYEWITNESS GUIDE for its intelligent and beautifully illustrated usability.

Moscow for Dummies
Greetings,
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Subjects:  1. Russia    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel / Russia   

Editorial Review

As a teacher of English literature, Jamie Zeppa would understand how the story of her journey into Bhutan could be fit into the convenient box of "coming-of-age romance," a romance with a landscape, a people, a religion, and a dark, irresistible student. An innocent, young Catholic woman from a Canadian mining town who had "never been anywhere," Zeppa signed up for a two-year stint teaching in a remote corner of the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. Despite the initial shock of material privation and such minor inconveniences as giardia, boils, and leeches, Zeppa felt herself growing into the vast spaces of simplicity that opened up beyond the clutter of modern life. Alongside her burgeoning enchantment, a parallel realization that all was not right in Shangri-La arose, especially after her transfer to a college campus charged with the politics of ethnic division. Still she maintained her center by devouring the library's Buddhist tracts and persevering in an increasingly fruitful meditation practice. When the time came for her to leave, she had undergone a personal transformation and found herself caught between two worlds that were incompatible and mutually incomprehensible. Zeppa's candid, witty account is a spiritual memoir, a travel diary, and, more than anything, a romance that retraces the vicissitudes of ineluctable passion. Read more

Reviews (67)

More like a diary than a travelogue
There is a subgenre of travel writing in which a sheltered, white kid from a middle class background travels to a foreign country, usually as a volunteer, and goes through a predictable set of phases. It starts with loneliness and despair, laments of the "what am I doing here?" variety; then a sudden awakening to the opportunity to experience a completely different culture; the realization of the changes the experience has wrought on the author; and then either the sadness at having to depart or going native.
beautiful
I couldn't put this book down.In my read of the other reviews, I was not surprised to find that some people were put off by the relationship (and encounter) that Zeppa had with two of her students.Let's please keep in mind that these were university students, for a start, in their 20's...which DOES happen in Western society as well, and professors are not always fired from their jobs; often simply reprimanded.(interestingly enough, it's usually MALE profs involved with FEMALE students...somehow that makes it acceptable for some people!)What I treasured about the book was her voice, and the way that she really opens our eyes to the material culture of the west, and the lack of responsibility we take for our actions the more 'advanced' we get.She was NOT aware of the conflict between the Hindi and Budddhist students until she was among them, and that makes sense, since Westerners tend to be slightly 'blind' to what things are happening around the world, especially in tiny, seemingly 'unimportant' countries. I am an American living in China, and I completely understand that experience now that I've been here for two years. Her descriptions of the landscape that are pervasive throughout the novel, were vivid enough to see and feel; this is can be a difficult task for a writer, since it can be hard to find the words to capture the beauty of a place that you are deeply connected to.Her journey to Buddhism was interesting to read about, and some of her explanations of Buddhist philosophy shed greater light into the teachings and beliefs.I was slightly disappointed in the ending...she leaves us a bit too abruptly, but I got so much out of the rest of it, it was difficult to criticize.If you are open-minded, able to get out of the 'box' of your own Western culture, and you are not hell bent on finding moral wrong with the choices that people make, then this book is well worth reading!!

Not Without Merits, But Troublesome in Parts
I'm sort of splitting the difference here between those who seem to think this book is flawless and those who seem to think that it is complete and utter tripe.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Asia - India & South Asia    3. Asia - Southeast    4. Bhutan    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Description and travel    7. Essays & Travelogues    8. Journeys    9. Travel    10. Travel - General    11. Travelers    12. Women    13. Zeppa, Jamie    14. Travel / General   

Reviews (22)

Essential for traveling in Japan
This book is weighty but great!It has all kinds of information that is pertinent and useful for all travelers to Japan.The cultural and historical sections are not only informative but also pithy and interesting to read.The descriptions of all the sights are excellent and the maps are helpful. You can get more detailed maps at your destination but the maps in the book give you an overall picture of the areas.The only negative is that some of the restaurant and hotel info is outdated.

Read this book at home - and don't bring it to Japan
This book is rich of historic material of each part of Japan, if you want to know who lived in a palace, for example, and what he did, before you visit there.
useful despite age
The cultural and sightseeing information in this guide is vastly better than in any other book.You might think that the hotel and restaurant recommendations wouldn't be so useful considering the years that have elapsed since its publication.Japan isn't like the US, however.A restaurant does not rise and fall as employees are hired and leave.In the smaller towns the better restaurants have often been run by the same family for several generations.Ditto for the Japanese-style inns (ryokans).Where you might wish for a more recent guide is when looking for a business hotel with in-room Internet.Here the newest hotels are often the most comfortable.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Guidebooks    3. Japan    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (2)

An Interesting Look At Japanese Culture
Since I am going to Japan this summer, I have taken many interests to different books about the country. This one in particular was a wonderful read because it wasn't just "Hey, this is how it works in Japan." It was more of a comparrison to the Japanese lifestyle to the American lifestyle. It also has feelings and oppinions from each culture. Like someone from Japan would state that Americans talk too much but then you would have someone from America say that the Japanese listen too much. I have already recommended this book to others I work with!
I work at a Japanese Company and recently participated in across-cultural learning class.This book was provided as apre-requisite to the class.I was able to get more out of this book than any other book on this subject that I had previously read. The book explains how children are raised in the Japanese Environment, their belief/value system, and how that translates into their eventual adult/working life environment.I have recommended this book to both people inside my company and Companies I deal with on a daily basis. It has taken some of the "mystery" out of the Japanese Culture for me. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Civilization    3. Customs & Traditions    4. Ethnic Studies - Asian American Studies    5. Japan    6. National characteristics, Japa    7. Social Science    8. Sociology   

Reviews (10)

May be, finally...
Hello! An excellent guide for traveling to Bhutan!
I bought this guide before my first trip to Bhutan, and it helped me immensely in planning my tour. It contains detailed information about the country--history, culture, geography, and facts for travelers. And it gives accurate information about the trekking routes and cultural tours. As is typical for Lonely Planet publications, this one is interesting and well written, and I found the information to be relevant to my trip. It is not easy to travel to Bhutan (there are many government restrictions), and this book made everything easier. I had such a successful, fun trip that I've been back several times (www.jachungtravel.com), and I still refer to this edition of the guide. It's packed with good information, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to go to Bhutan.

In the Thunder Dragon Kingdom adorned with sandalwood
Lonely Planet is unbelieveable!They continually pump out the HIGHEST quality guidebooks, and they've done it again with this edition covering Bhutan.I have spent a good portion of my life researching, and hording information on Bhutan, and have found Lonely Planet's guidebook to contain everything and more that the traveller could ever want...with two exceptions.I think that the lack of the U'cen script in the language chapter is a serious mistake.Lonely Planet has the capacity to print in the U'cen script as they did so in their Tibet edition.My other qualm is with the sparse coverage of the smaller and admittedly FAR less visited dzongkhags (districts) (i.e., Daga, Samdrup Jongkhar, Pema Gatshel, Zhemgang, Tsirang, etc.).Lonely Planet, resolve these issues and your book will be the best it could be. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Southwest    2. General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Bhutan    6. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (5)

Fantastic
Has all the little things you look for, when hiking and diving in a beautiful country.

it's incomplete, but the best there is, as of today.
before i criticize, let me say that this book is crammed with great info--much more info than any other (up to date) book in existance on this country. i would say it is worth taking, and i will use it next week on my return to the islands. my suggestion to jens is to beef up some sections in the next edition.
This is the best!
I have many books & guides on the Philippines but this is the best written and most accurate I have ever seen. While there are many good guides not to be missed out there like Evelyn Peplow's "The Philippines" and Jill & Rebecca Gale De Villa's "Philippines Guide", this one definately surpasses them all, it's the guide I pack on my Philippine trips now. It doesn't deal with as much history as some of the others, but remember, this is a guide and not a history book. The info is exactly what a traveler needs to know. For example, let's say your in Manila and want to visit Naga City,it will tell you how much it will cost, how long it will take to get there by plane,train and bus. It also tells you hotels & resturants in the area & how much everything cost.It tells you of any festivals in that area,stores,churches,banks and other misc places in the area, also has a street map with all the points of interest pointed out for you. There's over 170 maps in this book. There is so much more this book offers that no other does, but it would take too long to long to list them all.So to sum it up, if your looking for the best actual travel guide then this is it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Southeast    2. General    3. Travel    4. Travel - General    5. Travel Guides    6. Travel / General   

Reviews (16)

Review of the Lonely Planet book on the Philippines
This was an excellent book.I would take it with me and read it when I had the chance.I am not much of a book reader but this book really kept my attention.I would recommend this book for anyone interested in visiting the Philippines.
Don't even bother with this guide
This guide was a total disappointment.I have never been a fan of Lonely Planet guides but since they are popular you can get them cheap second hand. I always end up taking one with me wherever I travel but this is the first one I threw away because I didn't want to carry the weight around.
skip this
The Philippines is a big place and the plane is the best way to get around. This is particularly true as most visas are for only 21 days. Manila outside of Makai is a depressing tgown, Ermita particularly as poor families go there in the hope of begging from tourists. Quiapo of black statue and pirated videos fame is best avoided at night. Pagsanjan, Baguio and other nearby tourist spots are easily reached under your own steam. For Negros, Mindanao or Cebu, a plane is best and LP is worst.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - Southeast    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Philippines    6. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

The only book on Afghanistan you ever need to buy.
The photographs say it all!After acknowledging the poverty that does exist they lay open the richness of spirit of people who have withstood the test of time and found their way.They have not been born-again.They were here at the beginning.What entrepreneural way of life could offer them anything, anything but the gift of being left alone.Look into their eyes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Afghanistan    2. Photo Essays    3. Photo Techniques    4. Photoessays & Documentaries    5. Photography    6. Photojournalism    7. Pictorial works    8. Subjects & Themes - Travel - World/Middle East    9. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    10. Individual photographers    11. Photographs: collections    12. Photography / Travel    13. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000   

Reviews (8)

A must buy
I found this very easy to understand, as did my husband who had no prior knowledge of the Japanese language. I read it many times before our trip, in order to remember important basic words.
Useful inspite of itself.
I bought this on my first flight back from Japan after taking my first semester in Japanese.I thought that it supplied a ton of useful auxillary vocabulary to run with at the level of grammar I was capable of using.The book also has many slight mistakes, even I, a first year student, was able to pick out.It's got a few cute but dumb, potentially racist but we'll say ignorant drawings included.But so few that it cues one in as to how cheaply produced this probably was.I give it three stars though because I learned it forward and backward and broke it out numerous times to meet my needs in bars and train stations (never in restaurants for some reasons).And, to get me comic leverage in many conversations where I was not privy to the Japanese side of the chatter.

sloppy formatting and too many errors
This book has the right idea:a pocket-sized book with a good variety of useful everyday phrases, organized by subject.However, there are enough flat-out mistakes to be pretty annoying.Also, the English and Japanese did not line up perfectly on the page which, in combination with the the print being quite small, made it difficult to figure out which defintion went where (perhaps this is not a problem with all these books but it was with mine).But most annoying are the errors and typos. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    3. Japanese    4. Multi-Language Phrasebooks    5. Travel    6. Japan    7. Language self-study & phrasebooks   

Reviews (9)

Good, but second best
I was fortunate enough to spend a month in Bangkok and bought both the Lonely Planet and the Moon Guides. I generally read both books before I went anywhere, so I can fairly compare them.
Where would you buy it?
Amazon.com says this book will be published on March 2005. But try to go to Lonely Planet's online shop, then you can see that it has been published on Sep. 2004. Next, bn.com says it's been publised on March 2004. I don't know which is right. But I'm sure that this book came out already.
A bit disappointing
Compared to LP London and LP Paris I read and have been early this year, I'm a bit disppointed with LP Bangkok.Although it has an amazing section on food/noodles, I'm rather disappointed that the book does not clearly direct and describe to readers how to get to the places/famous spots it suggested!!!!Also the book does not include a map on the Bangkok transit system - making public transit commuting difficult!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Southeast    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Thailand    6. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (8)

Excellent Introduction for the Serious Traveler
I found this book invaluable on my recent trip to China. It is not a typical tourist book, however, it provides a treasure of genuinely valuable background information for the serious traveler.

Nat Geographic Traveler China
Excellent book for general knowedge on planning a trip. worththe $.

China book limited
The photos and color are beautiful, as you would expect from National Geographic, but the actual guides to major sightseeing areas are fairly poor. They are somewhat "snobby" with too much criticism of places "for tourists." The book is actually hard to handle since, I assume for the sake of the photos, the paper is very heavy and glassy, certainly nothing you could actually bring with you on your trip to China. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. China    3. Description and travel    4. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Travel & holiday guides    8. Travel / General   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Asia - General    3. Asia - Japan    4. Asian - General    5. Essays    6. General    7. Japanese fiction    8. Short stories, Japanese    9. Translations into English    10. Travel    11. Travel - General    12. Japan    13. Travel / General    14. Travel writing   

Reviews (3)

Very, very short
A useful and welcome concept, but the book is altogether too short, I feel, to teach you much. Most of the topics covered will already be things that someone who's read a few basic books about Japan and Japanese culture will have read already. I would recommend this book to a person who doesn't know anything about Japan as a quick guide to the culture, perhaps. I felt an expanded edition-- some added topics or digging a little deeper into holidays or national policy or government-- might be more interesting.

A thorough guide and a must...
As many seasoned travellers are acutely aware, visiting foreign countries without adequate research into the language and culture can turn a business trip or holiday into a nightmare. Since WW2, most European countries use English as a second language and therefore are accommodating to the ignorant visitor. In other terms, one can 'get by' without too much confusion or fuss. A few years ago, on my way to the U.S. to visit friends and family, I made a two-day stop over in Japan.Because of my limited stay and time constraints, I chose not to do any research on the language and culture. This was a big mistake. The reason being is that Japan's culture - behaviour, customs and attitudes are so different to Western modes of living. My two-day stop over was a personal disaster for many reasons. If only I had done at least a little research, my short time in Japan would have been much more meaningful. ~The Japanese Way~ is a gem of a text that covers the essentials for any one to successfully 'get by' while visiting this fascinating country. Shagadelic!
Joyous day! A very informative and helpful book . . ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Japan    3. Japanese    4. National characteristics, Japa    5. National characteristics, Japanese    6. Social life and customs    7. Sociology    8. Travel    9. Travel - Foreign    10. Anthropology    11. Language learning: specific skills    12. Travel / Asia / Japan   

Reviews (4)

A good presentation of Kyoto Gardens
After visiting Kyoto , i think this book gives us many opportunities to appreciate so many details of the wonderful and chaming japanes gardens of the ancient Japan capital.
Great picture reference for Japanese gardens and courtyards
This a beautiful collection of large-sized well composed photographs of the different type of gardens found throughout Kyoto.They are accompanied with brief text on their design principles and historical background.Might proof useful as inspiration and reference for anyone writing and/or illustrating a story set in Feudal Japan like Samurai-Ninja stories.It might also be a nice surprise present to Anime/Manga fans by adding another dimension to their collections.

thoughtful and thorough
This book provides an excellent inside look at kyoto's historical gardens, though without much of the context in which they exist (e.g. surrounding city, houses). The photography is fantastic as it realistically shows the reader both the intricate details & broad strokes that make up these complex settings. Keep in mind, it is a serious piece of work and the descriptions are somewhat short and/or dry (but maybe that's the point). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Japanese Gardens - General    5. Subjects & Themes - Landscapes    6. Subjects & Themes - Travel - General    7. Subjects & Themes - Travel - World/Asia    8. Japan    9. Landscape art & architecture   

Reviews (1)

Excellent Overview
As I first-time traveler to India, I spent much time searching for a travel guide that would offer the perfect combination of history and culture, while providing insightful advice.The Eyewitness Guide provided both excellent and detailed information, while offering regional and cultural snapshots of the "Golden Triangle." This piece proved extremely helpful and insightful to a first-time traveler. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Asia - India    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel / Asia / India   

Reviews (19)

Just OK
This book definitely has a lot of info in it.I took it to Tokyo and Kyoto with me.It would have been nice if it had walking tours like some other guides have because otherwise it's hard to know where you're at when you're trying to read lines and lines of text.
Thoroughly researched and well presented
The best guide to Japan, from a resident of ten years in Hokkaido. I'm not refering to the coverage of Hokkaido, which is better than most guides available, but of the entire country. Should a visitor wish to see off the beaten track destinations, this guide will helpto take you there. The information is up to date and almost any aspect of travel in Japan, and difficulties of travel in Japan--there are many--is covered.
Informative and helpful
Although I tend to favour Lonely Planet over the Rough Guide, in the case of Japan, the Rough Guide is definitely preferable, and this is increasingly the case now that the latest edition of the Lonely Planet has cut coverage of lots of off-the-beaten-track areas. The Rough Guide to Japan has the edge is conveying the feel of the places covered. I have lived in Japan for more than two years and the guide was practical and sensible on my first trips to Hiroshima and Kyoto - I still find it informative and helpful when I travel around the country now, after substantial experience of Japan. One caveat - while the coverage of such cultural sites as temples and castles is very thorough, the author is obviously not that interested in painting or sculpture. Museum after museum is dismissed for being overpriced, often when the entrance fees are, by Japanese standards, really very reasonable (600 yen or so). Some readers might be put off visiting interesting museums by this bias.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Japan    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Asia / Japan   

Reviews (14)

Poorly organized and not very handy
If your looking for an easy-reference, traveler's phrasebook...this certainly isnt for you. Buying this as a quick-reference guide to help me get through Korea for 2 weeks, I was rather dissapointed that all the phrases are kind of scattered throughout the book, while the whole first half is dedicated to grammar. If I wanted to actually learn the language, I'd have bought a text book, not a "phrase" book. At any rate, the organization of the book certainly made it hard to find what I was looking for when I needed it. And, while everything else is over descriptive, theres a very frustratingly small amount of info on numbers. They go into a lot of depth about the etimology of the numbers, but say only a few word on when to use what(i.e. these numbers are used over 100....well, how do I say 11,225...do I use all "Sino-korean" or do I mix in "Pure Korean">) In a country whose currency is set up such that few things cost lower than 1,000 won, a bit more explanation on numbers over 100 would be appreciated...and the "Quick Reference" number guide on the inside-back cover, since it only goes up to 100, is entirely worthless. Oh well, I guess I should've know since it's Lonely Planet.

excellent
This book is huge. LP korean phrasebook has everything you need and then some. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the language, studying it, or just looking for something to brush up on. Thanks amazon for the fast shipping.

Very good pronounciation and grammar tips!
While this title is not mainly a Korean /language/ title, or a book one expects to learn in depth language nicities, nonetheless, the book does an amazing job of condensing these minutiae very quickly, accurately, and somewhat completely (at a begginer level of course), in very clear language, without any weird linguist smarty pants fancy grammar jargon.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    3. Foreign Language Study    4. Korean    5. Language    6. Multi-Language Phrasebooks    7. Language self-study & phrasebooks    8. Pakistan    9. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (3)

A must-have
Any serious birder to the listed regions of this book would buy this book. Get it re-bound
This was the book that everyone who seemed to be serious used in Borneo, but if you are going to be out in the bush for more than a few days and make frequent use of field guides, consider having it re-bound before you leave -- many people I passed along the way were finding that the plate pages were starting to fall out.

A good and comprehensive guide to the region.
Many newer guides have been published about birds of this region, but this book still deserves its place on the bookshelf of anyone interested in birds of South-east Asia. Illustrations are good, and descriptions are detailed and mostly accurate. A bit bulky to carry in the field, but not a problem if you bring it in a backpack. The situation with forest fires in South-east Asia (especially Indonesia) is growing worse each year, so get out there and see some of these extraordinary birds while you still can! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Southeast    2. Birds    3. Birds & Birdwatching - General    4. English as a Second Language    5. Foreign Language Study    6. Greater Sunda Islands    7. Language    8. Life Sciences - Zoology - General    9. Nature    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Birds & birdwatching    12. Birds (ornithology)    13. English    14. Indonesia    15. Life Sciences | Vertebrate Zoology | Ornithology    16. Nature / Birds & Birdwatching   

Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Japan    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Asia / Japan   

Reviews (3)

revealing and decent
Author Gu is a brave fellow. He offers straightfoward info and analysis on what is really inside Chinese business and political world. He is highly critical of the Communist ills that continue to cause hellish problems for China and foreign operations inside. Other than this abusive bureaucratic power, Chinese people are very diligent and creative. But the key is to get rid of the overextended bureaucratic power, as so claims by Gu.
powerful development lessons
Author George Zhibin Gu is a high-profile Chinese journalist whose powerful newspaper pieces are widely read. This book is a must read. The reason for my recommendation is simple: This book summarises the key lessons from a fast-changing China under globalization and capitalism.
must read
This book is for all readers. Not to mention other things, it contains several dozen case studies on global multinationals doing business in China, like Wal-Mart, P&G, Intel, HSBC, Bank of America, Ford, Siemens, BP, Unilever, Sony, GE, GM, Morgan Stanley, and Microsoft. (Amazingly, this revised and updated volume gives most current info on China -- even events happened in May 2006 are contained here.)
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Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. General    3. Globalization    4. Political Science    5. Politics/International Relations    6. Business & Economics-General    7. History    8. History / General    9. Political Science-Globalization