1 comments about Let There Be Light: The Rwanda Project 1994--1998.

1. This book is amazing, full of essays and art work that detail the atrocious nature of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. For those people who have read about the genocide but have not been able to relate emotionally, this is the book that will open your eyes. It details the strength of the Rwandans, the torment they endured, and the lack of response from the outside world. This book will touch you to the core, through pictures and through words. I definitely recommend it to anyone who has interest in the subject.

No comments about Cuzco. A Journey to the Ancient Capital of Peru: With an Account of the History, Language, Literature, and Antiquities of the Incas. And Lima.

No comments about Apes and ivory.

No comments about Egypt: Caught in Time (Caught in Time: Great Photographic Archives) (Caught in Time: Great Photographic Archives).

No comments about A Trip Through Cambodia.

No comments about Michelin Africa Central, South, and Madagascar Map No. 955 (Michelin Maps & Atlases).

1 comments about Tangier: City of the Dream.

1. Finlayson writes well. He covers a lot of interesting people: Burroughs and Joe Orton to name a few. I thought Finalyson dwealt on Paul Bowles a little too much for my taste. He obviously knows more about Bowles than the rest; speaking of which I wish he had've included a chapter on Francis Bacon's time there, he is mentioned only twice and in passing. Finlayson concentrates his efforts, through Bowles on writers. Bacon's proclivities (this book deals mainly in salaious gossip) fit the books clear brief. Brion Gysin could have done with a chapter as well. Bowles comes across as a stuffy shirt, 'closet job' and in the end unfulfilled. Though Yacoubi's (Bowles' lover, though Finlayson's portrait is almost "in denial") adventure's with "majoun" are a riot! One almost feels sorry for Jane except she is painted like a twisted matron. Not a bad read though, well written and researched, bit of a romp really. For true Bowles-ophiles.

2 comments about Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Cape Town.

1. Forty years after being a Peace Corps worker in Malawi and a teacher in Uganda, Paul Theroux returns to Africa and finds things changed--for the worse. Now approaching his sixtieth birthday and wanting to escape from cell phones, answering machines, the daily newspaper, and being "put on hold," he is determined to travel from Cairo to Cape Town. He believes that the continent "contain[s] many untold tales and some hope and comedy and sweetness, too," and that there is "more to Africa than misery and terror."
   
   Traveling alone by cattle truck, "chicken bus," bush train, matatu, rental car, ferry, and even dugout canoe, he tries to blend in as much as possible, buying clothing at secondhand stalls in public markets, carrying only one small bag, and avoiding the tourist destinations. He is an observant and insightful writer, and his descriptions of his travails are so vivid the reader can experience them vicariously. His interviews with residents are perceptive and very revealing of the political and social climate of these places, and his character sketches of Sister Alexandra from Ethiopia (a nun who "has loved") and of two charming Ethiopian traders, a father and son, who take Theroux to the Kenyan border, are delightful.
   
   For most of the countries of Africa, however, he has no kind words. Kenya is "one of the most corrupt...countries in Africa," everything in Kampala, Uganda, has changed for the worse, and in Tanzania "there was only decline--simple linear decrepitude, and in some villages collapse." At the U.S. embassy in Malawi, he finds an "overpaid, officious, disingenuous, blame-shifting...embassy hack" and, in pique, he wonders, "Had she, like me, been abused, terrified, stranded, harassed, cheated, bitten, flooded, insulted, exhausted, robbed, browbeaten, poisoned?"
   
   Theroux has become waspish, and it is difficult to "travel with" a man who sees himself as a hero for making the trip at all, especially after he refuses to give a half-eaten apple to a hungry child when she begs for it. He makes snide remarks and demeans other writers. He admires Rimbaud, who lived in Ethiopia in the 1880's, he visits Naguib Mahfouz in Egypt, and he spends his sixtieth birthday with Nadine Gordimer, an old friend. But Hemingway ("bent on proving his manhood"), Isak Dinesen ("a sentimental memoirist"), Kuki Gallman (a "mythomaniac of the present day"), and V.S. Naipaul ("an outsider who feels weak") are abruptly dismissed. When he ultimately refers to his own "safari-as-struggle," it is hard not compare his temporary and entirely voluntary "struggle" to those of the African people he meets along the way. "Being in Africa was like being on a dark star," he says. His book reflects this darkness--and his own. Mary Whipple



2. I found the Audio book to be exceptionally well done. Norman Dietz, the reader, is terrific. He "acts" the narratives using his voice, making the 23 hours wonderfully listenable.
   
   Paul Theroux's means and mode of travel, ability to communicate in native languages, description of landscape, and encounters with peoples, police, bureacrats, etc. extremely interesting and educational.
   Theroux at one point says an author's greatest accomplishment is tell the story so the reader feels he is there and experiencing what is being described. Theroux acomplishes this beautifully. I see vividly the scenes and feel I know personnally the people he meets.
   Terrific book to learn about the countries of Africa, their politics,different cultures between African countries, the institutionalized violence and histories.
   His views on the various "charity industries"of Africa is compelling. His view of their self-interest overiding any good that is accomplished by them. In fact they are counter productive and to so some degree responsible for the lack of any real educational, economic or political progress in most African countries.
   It is not a "happy" story that will leave readers with an optimistic view of the future for the continent. You will,however, have a feeling for Africa's potential with leadership. Leadership capable of providing education for the masses, developing economic resources for the benefit of their countries rather than the politicians in power at any given time.

4 comments about Lonely Planet Trekking in East Africa.

1. I used this book to plan and complete a Kilimanjaro climb, a Tanzanian safari (Serengeti, Olduvai Gorge, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara) and a trip up the coast of Kenya. The book was more than helpful; it was essential to the success of the trip. Helpful information is complete, accurate and relevant: exactly what you will find in the Lonely Planet Trekking guide. The helpful information -- routes, housing, food, currency, gear, etc. -- are tools to keep you safe, healthy, prepared and even comfortable. The essential information is much more: it gives you a feel for where you are going and what's important about being there. Descriptions of languages, religions, customs, history, geography, geology, climate, etc., gave me a deeper awareness of the countries I was navigating through. This book is strong on both counts. Here's an example: The vocabulary lists were really helpful in opening conversations with staff, villagers and border officials. However, the book's essential advice was to just try your best at speaking Swahili, and the people you meet will respond very warmly to your having made the effort. The results were heartwarming, and they opened the doors to other discoveries I could not have made otherwise. The book itself is a valuable commodity. On Kilimanjaro I leafed through the chapters for maps and plant descriptions. The book so fascinated my guide that I gave him my copy as a parting present (though I couldn't part with it on the climb since it was the only map & route description we had!) Note that the Lonely Planet Trekking books do not promise to be field guides for the areas they describe: bring another volume(s) to help identify the flora and fauna you encounter.



2. I found this book a good introduction to anyone expecting to go trekking in East Africa. It goes over, in substantial detail, all the factors you may face (medicine, visas, hotels, transportation, tours, trails, etc.). However, there is very little on the trekking peaks, which I thought would be the most interesting portion of the book. For example, on Mt Kilimanjaro there are only maybe 5-6 pages, with only an overview description of the routes. If you are looking for overall trekking in East Africa, this is good book, but if you are looking for info on the trekking peaks, there are other, more specific guides, that may be more helpful.



3. To the auther , davidelse/ david wenk.
   Thankyou very much for your advice in your book trekking in east africa , which i used when i was travelling in kenya and Tanzania.I Would like to tell you my exeprience Horiday in Kenya with Mountsafaris Adventure, and hoping you will consider this small company.
   I really had a great time with mountsafaris adventure. website www.mountsafaris.com
   I can say that kenya is a nice and safe country to travel. I did camping safaris and trekking mount kenya for 6 days sirimon chogoria route ,oh beautiful vegetation. Guide and porters were great helper , food was nice , The trip was well organised. Mountsafaris are trusted , as i sent them 1500 us dollar deposite for my 3 weeks horiday , and everything work perfect .They booked the , hotel , organise everything for my trip , so when i come everything was ready .They picked me from the airport on time , direct to the hotel ,following the trip start.
   Camping was fun , Mountsafaris staff were friendly , very safe with them both on the mountains and on safari . Their camps have all facility.
   
   Mountsafaris prices are fair . Their prices are all incrusive , like , pick ups from the airport, park fees, transport by landcruser with open roof. tour driver ,food three meals a day ,cook .
   . I can definitely recommend Mountsafaris adventure they're cheaper compared to others companys ,they have Good services , knowledgeable and reliable Tour Operators and offer a really good range of trekking mount kenya , camping and lodge safaris .
   
   thankyou ,again continue writting more advice on your book as they are really helping the travellers , You need to also to be considering some of the company who are doing good services for the tourist.
   Some of the companys like Mountsafaris are good but they are not mention on the your book. I come to know mountsafaris throuhg a friend who did trekking mount kenya with them .
   Congraturation for the work you are doing .
   Sonia .



4. To the auther , davidelse/ david wenk.
   Thankyou very much for your advice in your book trekking in east africa , which i used when i was travelling in kenya and Tanzania.I Would like to tell you my exeprience Horiday in Kenya with Mountsafaris Adventure, and hoping you will consider this small company.
   I really had a great time with mountsafaris adventure.
   I can say that kenya is a nice and safe country to travel. I did camping safaris and trekking mount kenya for 6 days sirimon chogoria route ,oh beautiful vegetation. Guide and porters were great helper , food was nice , The trip was well organised. Mountsafaris are trusted , as i sent them 1500 us dollar deposite for my 3 weeks horiday , and everything work perfect .They booked the , hotel , organise everything for my trip , so when i come everything was ready .They picked me from the airport on time , direct to the hotel ,following the trip start.
   Camping was fun , Mountsafaris staff were friendly , very safe with them both on the mountains and on safari . Their camps have all facility.
   
   Mountsafaris prices are fair . Their prices are all incrusive , like , pick ups from the airport, park fees, transport by landcruser with open roof. tour driver ,food three meals a day ,cook .
   . I can definitely recommend Mountsafaris adventure they're cheaper compared to others companys ,they have Good services , knowledgeable and reliable Tour Operators and offer a really good range of trekking mount kenya , camping and lodge safaris .
   
   thankyou ,again continue writting more advice on your book as they are really helping the travellers , You need to also to be considering some of the company who are doing good services for the tourist.
   Some of the companys like Mountsafaris are good but they are not mention on the your book. I come to know mountsafaris throuhg a friend who did trekking mount kenya with them .
   Congraturation for the work you are doing .
   Sonia .

No comments about Southern Africa Map.