Reviews (2)

Wished I brought this with me
I just recently returned from a visit to this amazing city. It's huge and so utterly incredible. I sure could have used this book to help understand what I was looking at. This book has great photos, history and temple layouts. I bought a guide book at one of the temples (one needs it because a local guide isn't always understandable) and it is not even half as good as this book is. If you're planning a visit, this book is essential.

Excellent guide!!
First of all, you got to know the author Jean Laur was the Director of Angkor monuments from 1954 to 1959. He's very knowledgible about Khmer Angkor and the architects. Now, if you want to know about Angkors (all of the monunents in Cambodia) you got to read it from the source--the director of Angkors himself!! You can't never go wrong with this book. Every Angkor monument in this guide has some illustrated picture. Surprisingly the monument names are both in English and Khmer. I got 4 copies and gave them to my Khmer friends. They love it, especially the Khmer character names of the monument !! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Asian    4. General    5. History - Medieval    6. Sculpture    7. Architecture / General    8. Art / History / General    9. Cambodia    10. Religious buildings    11. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

a knowledgeable insider's look at amazing Thailand
Hopkins book is a clear-eyed, knowledgeable, and insightful look at Thailand by an American who's lived there for more than a decade. He captures the crazy charm of the place without falling victim to the romantic haze that falls over most first-time visitors. He still loves it - the street food, the elephants, the women, the bars, the temples, the gentle people and sharp operators, the jungles, cities, and beaches and the all-round intensity and color of the place - but also sees many of its failings. Might very well make you consider retiring there. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Southeast    2. Description And Travel    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. Hopkins, Jerry    5. Social life and customs    6. Thailand    7. Travel    8. Travel - Foreign    9. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (3)

Fantastic guide
I'm just back from Bali and took three guidebooks. The Lonely Planet guide was far and away the best. It was funny and in the best guidebook tradtion, it did a great job of stearing me away from popular places like Gunung Agung and Besakih Temple - which are two of the worst tourist traps on the island. The author seems to have actually spent time posing as a tourist in these places to uncover all the scams. The rest of the book does a good job of finding all the new places to go for dinner and drinks in hot places like Seminyak. Make this your only Bali guidebook.

Asia 101
This book will help you find your way around. No problem. The maps were very good. I would have appreciated more restaurant and shopping reviews:ie.. What to look for in the way of bargains found only in Bali, how to tell if you are being ripped off, that kind of help.On that matter, you can tell it was written by a man.In fact this book felt more man friendly than woman friendly. I too, like the above reader, live in Asia.I take my family when I travel.Lonely Planet doesn't cater to my "crowd". I wanted to be told to avoid specific locations or tourist traps and to be told not to miss other places, and I felt sorta let down.I think the author could have given better information on hotels.For instance I found our hotel on line.The book didn't help at all there. For more family oriented guides I usually go with Frommer's (wish I would have had it on this trip).If you venture anywhere in Asia, you must do your homework and that means Internet, and generally more than one guide book. I would recommend this as a companion guide.We liked Bali so much we are going again in 6 months.
Bali Bali Bali!
When I used to work in Korea, one of my best vacations was to Bali. Despite a strange and sudden stomach ailment, I managed to enjoy this tropical paradise. And the LP Guidebook was my faithful companion, showing me where I could track down a good burger when the local food proved too exotic for me. It also tipped me off about the best watering holes.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - Southeast    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Indonesia    5. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

Much Ado About Nothing...
I bought this book for a trip to Bejing and Shanghai - and was quite disappointed. There is nothing in it that is not in other guidebooks. Several of the recommendations were hyped. And the attitude - snobby, awful. I'd suggest the Luxe guides, which not only tell you where to shop but also suggest places to eat, to drink, etc. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Commerce    3. Consumer Buying Guides    4. Europe - France    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Travel Guides    8. China    9. Consumer guides & advice    10. Hong Kong    11. Travel / Asia / China   

Editorial Review

In the harsh, forsaken landscape of Western Tibet, a holy mountain rises up, the legendary center of the world. Sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike, Mount Kailash had been in professor and popular writer Robert Thurman's mind for some time when he finally decided to organize a group and go--across the Chinese border, where he has always been persona non grata. Writer Tad Wise decides to tag along and put the adventures on paper. While recording Thurman's dharma lectures, Wise comes face to face with the magic of the mountain, its myths and its people, and haltingly transforms from cynical skeptic to tear-streaked pilgrim. Wise's writing leans toward the quirky, pushing ordinary sentences to their lapidary limits, and Thurman, as usual, tosses off tantalizing Buddhisms like "mind-body bubble" and "supreme orgasm of bliss-void-indivisible." For a book that's effectively about walking 32 miles over rubble around a remote peak, Read more

Reviews (12)

Enlightening Blend of Exotic Travelogue and Dharma Wisdom
Few of us will ever undertake this arduous spiritual journey to one of the world's most remote sites, but reading this book is the next best thing.The dialectic between intrepid students and wise dharma master is unique and often profound.Tad Wise's narrative of the journey and occasional skeptical asides blends well with Thurman's lessons on the essence of Tantric Buddhism.Especially poignant was Thurman's metaphor of motherly love as a device for linking us all together through an empathic heart.Recommended for all open-minded spiritual seekers.

Interesting for the Right and Wrong Reasons
This is a spiritual travelogue in which Buddhist scholar Robert Thurman and his backsliding sidekick Tad Wise lead a group of pilgrims to circumambulate Tibet's sacred Mount Kailish, believed by Tibetans to be the Home of the Gods and the Center of the World.
Armchair Travel and Tantra
If Tantra is the union of opposites, this book works pretty well.Tad Wise seems likeable enough, except for the fact that he has 3 kids by 3 Moms, and leaves Mom #3 behind with a newborn to go off on this spiritual adventure. So I'm rooting for him to get it right this time and go home and help with the laundry.And Robert Thurman seems to use Tad as a whipping boy, teasing and taunting him, which doesn't make Thurman exactly shine in my eyes either. The other members of the trek are more or less invisible, though they are mentioned from time to time.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Buddhism    3. Buddhism - General    4. Buddhist pilgrims and pilgrima    5. Buddhist pilgrims and pilgrimages    6. China    7. Kailas Mountain    8. Religion    9. Religion - World Religions    10. Thurman, Robert A. F    11. Thurman, Robert A. F.    12. Tibet    13. Travel    14. Journeys    15. Religion / Buddhism   

Reviews (5)

a gem of a book on north korea
Robert Willoughby's travel guide to North Korea is fascinating on two counts.In the first instance, on the travel front itself, the author has covered several far-flung corners of the country, going beyond the more accessible capital city of P'yongyang, the Diamond Mountain resort, and the tourist-oriented luxuries of Mount Myohang.Although it is not always clear how Willoughby--or those others who contributed to his book--won permission to visit these remote locations, the guide book is explicit in pointing out that few if any foreigners are free to roam the country at will.Visits must generally be part of package tours, most of which originate in China, and the severely underdeveloped road and public transportation systems limit the number of cities that can be accessed.
August 2005 Trip to DPRK
I found the Bradt travel guide indispensable.I traveled to the DPRK in August 2005.I am a U.S. citizen.The trip was arranged through the National Lawyers Guild.I and another lawyer from the US represented the NLG at the 60th Anniversary Liberation Day events in Pyongyang. The trip was routed through China.I believe the NLG picked me because I have good contacts in China and I speak Chinese.
Hints for US citizens?
I actually did travel to North Korea, through the Korean FriendshipAssociation. This is about the only way non NGO Americans can make their way into the Hermit Kingdom. I am wondering if this book gives Americans any advice as to how to get into the country. I would love to see past the major showcase cities we were allowed to tour. Nowadays you have to be prepared to 'Praise the Leader" everyday if you want to take the KFA trip. Not a good idea for those Americans who would ever like to visit South Korea or fly on an airplane. I bet the CIA has your picture before you even land in Pyongyang...
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Subjects:  1. Asia - Korea    2. Asia - Southwest    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. North Korea    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Asia / Southwest   

Reviews (6)

Great read for 'bikers' and other travellers!
In One Man Caravan, Robert Fulton has caught the magic of exploring new places and meeting people from cultures very different to his own.He writes with real fluency and his words evoke the graphic images of the colourful lands through which he takes the reader on this wonderful journey.

The First &The Best
Grandson of the Fulton Engine Genius, and Discoverer/Inventor in his own right, rides around the world on a Douglas Twin during his twenties on a bit of a lark.Out of his off-handed remark to impress a young woman we have one of the best motorcycle travel books ever written.Published umpteen times, I can imagine this book spurring on new generations of riders for decades to come.
Anyone who rides or doesn't ride will love it
Mr. Fulton's style of writing is very straightforward and not nearly as dated as you would think.The narrative moves forward quickly as he describes his adventures in a matter of fact tone.But what a story and what a commentary on how our world has changed!Read more

Subjects:  1. 1909-    2. Asia    3. Asia - General    4. Description and travel    5. Fulton, Robert Edison,    6. Motorcycles - General    7. Travel    8. Travel - Foreign    9. Voyages around the world    10. Biography: general    11. Fulton, Robert Edison    12. Journeys    13. Transportation / Motorcycles / General   

Reviews (17)

Japanese in 10 Minutes a Day
This is the first Japanese-language book I had ever gotten; the same year as it's first printing, 1998. At this time, I couldn't find nearly as many resources as there are now for Japanese, so this was all I had! It was at the height of my interest in anime and video games that I really wanted to learn Japanese. This book, though it provided the foundation for my continuing interest in Japanese, entirely left out many important points. It wasn't until my later, more serious study of Japanese that I realized what was wrong with this book.
Avoid Romanji at all costs
Japanese Step by Step : An Innovative Approach to Speaking and Reading Japanese is a great starting book.
It's good
This is a good book if you really want to get into studying Japanese.Japanese: a language map is better if you want to learn it very quickly.Only thing is, language map is better for reviewing.This is better to learn. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    3. Japanese    4. Language    5. Language Arts & Disciplines    6. Study & Teaching    7. Conversation and phrase books    8. Japan    9. Language self-study & phrasebooks   

Reviews (16)

A Fusion of Physical and Spiritual Enlightenment
How does a writer condense fifteen years of a journey to seek the sacred places of Tibet? Enter the covers of this fascinating if overly long book, release your sense of time, absorb the tenants of Buddhism, and discover how an obsession controlled the life and vision of one Ian Baker.
To the heart of the lotus realm "obscured by clouds"
Reactions here of readers appear to be largely ecstatic: it's a testament to Baker's evocative powers of description. I read this over a couple of weeks filled with unusual tension & stress personally, and it seemed as if the first half of the book took as long for me to traverse as the events did for Baker. Taking the journey vicariously with the author forced me to slow down, and adapt to a quite different mental as well as physical atmosphere. Exotic, Engrossing, Enchanting
An incredible book for anyone intrigued by the mysteries of Asia. The tale begins in 1982 when Baker overhears a conversation about a Tibetan sage who found a hidden paradise between vaulting cliffs in a little-explored corner of Tibet. Baker was curious. He had heard about Tibet's `hidden lands,' secret places that - Tibetans believe - can only be found by a devout pilgrim who can endure physical challenge, and spiritual challenge, too. Baker, an accomplished climber and a determined student of Tibetan culture,resolved to find out more. Read more

Subjects:  1. Adventurers & Explorers    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Buddhism    4. Buddhism - General    5. Buddhism - Tibetan    6. Description and travel    7. Discovery And Exploration (General)    8. Discovery and exploration    9. Essays & Travelogues    10. Exploration    11. Religion - World Religions    12. Religious    13. Travel    14. Tsangpo Gorges (China)    15. Tsangpo Gorges Region (China)    16. Religion / Buddhism   

Reviews (6)

Disappointed
I have read other books from Frommer and have been very satisfied. That is, until I read this book. I was quite disappointed in this book. The author didn't seem like she enjoyed writing this book or even enjoyed traveling through Thailand at all. I would look else where before buying this book.

Most disappointing Frommer's guide
Am usually a huge fan of Frommer's guidebooks.But am disappointed to say that this book was not helpful in ANY way !There is nothing useful here -from overall insight, to presenting specific materials in a usable, organized format.. NOTHING !Even the shops she recommended would've been difficult to find without a good map in the book.Most bothersome of all, it seems like the author doesn't even like Thailand very much and it is reflected in her review of attractions, various warnings, etc. Thailand is a beautiful, interesting country with much to offer for any type of traveler. We went to Bangkok and the Southern coast and did not use the book at all- for planning or during the trip. Who needs a ROUGH GUIDE?
When I went to Thailand last year, I ended up planning most of my trip according to this book. The author never steered me wrong. While this might not be the best source for the backpacker set, the rest of us are well served with a variety of options for most travel budgets. I also liked the author's sense of humor and frank honesty. She has lived in the region and knows what she is talking about. The Thais I encountered during my trip also thought highly of the book. When I return to Thailand in 2003, this updated version of the book will be right there with me. I know it is an "establishment" guide but this is one time when mainstream is not necessarily a bad thing. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

West of China, south of Russia, hemmed in by mountains, steppe, and desert, lie the five Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union. Cut loose from Moscow in the early '90s, the five "Stans" (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan) discover that their newly found freedom plays tug-o-war with despair and a nostalgia for the certainties of the Soviet past. It's during this time that author Colin Thubron travels the width of central Asia, asking questions about the past, present, and future. Not content to simply bounce from place to place, Thubron travels from person to person, uncovering their many vibrant stories and developing a deep understanding of the area's lesser-known history. Kyrgyz and Uzbeks debate the place of Islam. Koreans and Germans, descendants from forced migrants, wonder if they know enough of their ethnic tongue to return to their homelands. Russians find themselves left behind, disbelieving, as the tide of Russian power recedes toward Moscow. Read more

Reviews (11)

Talented writing, but with flaws.
From the get go it is abundantly evident that Colin Thubron is an extremely talented writer. He has a way with words that I have not seen in any other travel writing I read; his book is the first I have went through that transcended a quaint, shallow, "Let's Go Travel Guide" type of narrative that storms through cities in a few days, marvels at surface elements, then moves on. There is nothing rushed about Thubron's writing style, his descriptions are thought out, in depth, and delicate. This unique distinction I think is vital for anyone doing travel writing in Central Asia: in the minds of Westerners (who will compose the bulk of people reading this kind of writing), Central Asia is a vacuum, both geographically, culturally, and historically. Few Westerners know much about this area, which is a shame, since geographically, culturally, and historically Central Asia is perhaps one of the most evocative places in the world. It is therefore vital for any travel writing to bring Central Asia to life, which Thubron definitely succeeds at.
Cultural confusion from a traveler's perspective
Colin Thubron, in this extremely interesting and well-written travelogue, has shed a common (or, owing to his previous experiences, uncommon) traveler's light on this amazing region of the world. Set amid the turmoil and confusion of the year following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Thubron portrays the incredible diversity of sentiment displayed by the area's inhabitants. From fatalistic apathy to alcohol-driven nationalism, he finds it all as he makes his way between crumbling ancient cities and Soviet-era apartment blocks. Chronicling the tentative resurfacing of Islam and hesitant steps toward fumbling democracies, the author has described the birth of these fledgling nations, offering a wonderful snapshot of the dynamic countries. Reporting to You from the Edge of Nowhere
In this intriguing book Colin Thubron travels throughout the mysterious lands of Central Asia, the five "Stans" which had just emerged from the yoke of the Soviet Union. Thubron's travels took place in the early 90's just after these new nations were formed from the disintegrating USSR, and were emerging in a confused state toward the "independence" they couldn't manage, after the colonialism they didn't want. Central Asia has been shrouded in mystery since the dawn of time - surrounded either by impenetrable mountains or never-ending deserts, and spawning obscure peoples who periodically burst out in waves of conquest before settling back into obscurity again. These mostly Moslem peoples (with some imported Caucasians mixed in) obviously never meshed well with the rest of the Soviet empire, with their cultures, languages and histories being suppressed for the past 70 years; and Thubron now reveals their confused state. Here you will meet many sadly interesting people in dreary locations, who are ignorant of their own histories (after Soviet revisionism and flat out lies) and have no idea what the future holds. You will find that Thubron's basic writing style is rather depressing, as he tends to focus on the negative aspects of the locations he visits, usually describing them as dreary and soulless, and he concludes that most of the people he meets have hopeless futures in store. However, his attitudes are not that different from the interviewees themselves. In the end, Thubron proves that this region and its myriad peoples will continue to be shrouded in mystery and obscurity, but in the meantime he provides an enjoyable travelogue of an area and people that few outsiders have or ever will see. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1939-    2. Asia - General    3. Asia, Central    4. Central Asia    5. Description    6. Description and travel    7. Essays & Travelogues    8. Journeys    9. Middle East - General    10. Thubron, Colin,    11. Travel    12. Travel - General    13. Travel / General   

Reviews (1)

A good companion
Kyoto:A Cultural Guide ... by John and Phyllis Martin is a comprehensive, easy-to-follow, and interesting companion to take along with you on your wanderings throughout Japan's ancient capital city.Organized in a series of "Tours," with titles such as "The 1,001 Golden Kannon of Sanjusangen-do, the General, and the Potter," the book whets your appetite for information, and delivers - in both historical and contemporary matters.I am using this book as a text for an English class teaching long-time Japanese residents of Kyoto;we are all learning from it.There is enough opinion included in the book to keep it from being dull, yet not too much to keep if from being informative. I would recommend it to newcomers and to old Japan hands, too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Guidebooks    3. Kyoto (Japan)    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Cultural studies    7. Japan    8. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

An Illuminating Book
This book takes one on a breathtaking Odyssey through the sacred landscape of the world's oldest and most sacred city: Lord Siva's eternal abode. Eck's approach is sensitive and captivating, her scholarship is impressive, and the result of her labour has been a preciously insightful and informative book. Anyone seeking God owes it to himself to learn about the Holy City of Kashi, where death is transformed into divine liberation, and reading this book is an excellent way to get started. As both a Saiva and a scholar, I highly recommend it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Hinduism    3. India    4. Religion - World Religions    5. Religious life and customs    6. Travel    7. Varanasi    8. Varanasi (India)    9. Våaråanasi    10. Våaråanasi (India)    11. ASIA    12. Religion / General    13. Travel & holiday guides   

Editorial Review

The master of the hardheaded travelogue, Robert D. Kaplan returns with a book on what he calls "the New Near East," an area stretching from the Balkans to Central Asia that "might become the seismograph of world politics" in the new century. That doesn't sound like good news: "The pitiless history of the Near East [is] dominated by marauding armies and earthquakes while peace treaties have merely formalized temporary stalemates on the ground." Kaplan has made a career of writing about the world's trouble spots "without illusions"--his books Read more

Reviews (41)

Descriptions, no prescriptions
Every author brings some baggage with him when he writes a book. Robert Kaplan brings a caravan. Variously known as "Mr. Anarchy" and "Mr. Chaos," Kaplan is a prolific writer of books on foreign relations and has written many articles for The Atlantic Monthly. He is best-known in foreign policy circles for his 1994 essay and subsequent book entitled "The Coming Anarchy." In them, Kaplan asserts that the world is on the verge of a crackup of Malthusian proportions. A recurring shortcoming of his writings, however, seems to be a lack of solutions for the problems he meticulously details. He has the ability to describe the human condition but has a singular inability to suggest fixes.
Kaplan walks alone......
....literally and figuratively. Robert Kaplan is a brave man. He travels through some of the poorest and most dangerous parts of the world by himself, armed with nothing but his pen. This in itself deserves respect. Add to that his sharp insight into human nature combined with an excellent grasp of history, and you have one fantastic piece of journalism. Kaplan takes us through the Balkans, the Caucasus, and parts of the Middle East and shares his experiences along with the history and political climate of each respective region. His goal is to see what the future may have in store for these historically rich yet impoverished and unstable regions. He points out that many of these "nations" were once part of this or that empire and that there is no reason to believe that they won't again someday. In other words, he sees a lot of shake-ups in the near future of these regions, which very well could have a global impact. This is a compelling read and I take my hat off to Mr. Kaplan.

Solid, historical account of increasingly important places.
The subtitle of this book, "Travels in the Balkans, the Middle East, and the Caucusus" lets you know which countries are covered.It was written in 2000 and misses things like the latest NATO countries.However, these places are showing up more and more often in the news.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - Central    2. Balkan Peninsula    3. Caucasus    4. Description and travel    5. Essays & Travelogues    6. History    7. Middle East    8. Middle East - General    9. Travel    10. Travel - General    11. ASIA    12. Journeys    13. Kaplan, Robert D    14. Travel & holiday guides    15. Travel / Middle East / General    16. Travel writing   

Editorial Review

Rick Kennedy, author of Read more

Reviews (18)

I wish there was a book like this for every travel destination
For my first trip to Tokyo, I took along this book and a Lonely Planet.I never used my Lonely Planet but went on atleast 15 of the little advetures described in this book.Lonely Planet has great photos and useful information about subways and safety, but it does not offer the warmth and thrill of discovering hidden mysterious treasures in a country foreign.You will experience Japan the way that it should be experienced from the ancient to the urban to the bizzare.My favorite adventures were 4, 5, 6, 11, 15, 17 and 35.And one more thing, Adventure 34, the Radio Bar, is no longer there.Have fun!

Entertaining, but somewhat misleading and out of date
I've been to Japan several times on business.I picked up Little Adventures in Tokyo for my second trip, and it was a fun read and great inspiration to get out and try new and different things.I recommend not to use it for a first trip because Japan can be so overwhelming and exciting that one does not need additional inspiration.Or, if it's a first trip, limit yourself to the simplest activities in the book, such as the department store opening and picnic.However, beyond that initial exposure, it is very encouraging and suggests such a variety of activities that everyone is bound to find something of interest.
Great Ideas for Tokyo Sightseeing
See also my review for "Tokyo City Atlas".This book by Kennedy is pretty unique.He gives some great "off the beaten track" ideas for folks to explore.Many of my personal faves are in this book.I bought 3 copies.Kept one and gave the other two away to friends.This one is also a small format and easy to carry around.Grab this book and the "Atlas" and you will have a great time in Tokyo. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Guidebooks    3. Tokyo (Japan)    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Japan    7. Travel & holiday guides    8. Travel / General