5 comments about Burning Heart: A Portrait of the Philippines.

1. I recently got to see the photographs that make up this book at the Sepia Gallery in NYC. These photos are superb and very powerful. Roth has a fantastic eye--her photographs are beautifully composed, showing great attention to the nuances and details of her subjects. She has obviously spent a lot of time immersed in Filipino life and culture--and has the skills to capture it to film. As a photographer, I found her work very inspiring. Beyond the formal qualities, her photos present very moving glimpses of Filipino life. They are very powerful and showcase a wide range of scenes. I highly recommend this collection of photos (especially if you cannot see the exhibit in person).



2. This is a beautiful collection of photographs. They speak about the lives of people we hardly see in pictorial collections about the Philippines. The faces of the people are real and desperate. I am reading Bino Realuyo's Umbrella country (which I love) and these pictures almost bring to life the images in the novel. I recommend this book (and realuyo's novel too).



3. The photographs brought together a variety of interesting images of the Philippines. As an amateur photographer, I have been searching for photographic books on the Philippines and I found the contrast of beauty and harsh reality very well put together. The only drawback was the poetry. I didn't feel that it captured the emotion of the images.



4. When most Americans think of the Philippines, they consider the wild excesses of Angeles City and the old Subic Bay era. This book goes beyond that image and gives the reader a more accurate view of the Philippines and its truly remarkable culture.



5. I recently visited the country and although I did witness the harshness and depression, that is only a small part of the image I have of the Philippines. What is portrayed in this book is mostly the depressed side of the country: prostitution, sick children, dirty streets, calamity, unhealthy locals, poverty. Like I said, although I was a witness to all of these, I was also a witness to a colorful culture, hospitality, pristine islands, wealth of natural resources, preserved native and colonial architecture, Fiestas, Filipinos who are content in their simple lives, smiling children.

1 comments about A Kite's Eye View: India: Between Earth and Sky.

1. I visited Rajasthan 2 years ago and I was amazed by the Palaces and Monuments and I found there.
   This book opens your eyes in a perspective hard to match: a kite's view of the best places in Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur, Delhi... A book for "India lovers" who are passioned for photography.
   Highly Recommended.

No comments about Silk Road Countries Map.

No comments about Bukhara: Caught in Time.

1 comments about A, Plant Hunter in Tibet.

1. The story takes place in the 1930's in the south west of Tibet. Frank Kingdon Ward has a knack for story telling and takes you on the journey with him. He describes in detail the type of plant he finds and also about the people and their culture that he encounters. You also learn a bit about Tibet's history. If you like exploration and adventure then you will enjoy this interesting book.

2 comments about Fodor's Thailand, 7th Edition: Where to Stay, Eat, and Explore, Smart Travel Tips from A to Z, Plus Maps and Co lor Photos (Fodor's Thailand).

1. Fodor does it again! This guide is very well put together and is a must have when visiting the 'Land of Smiles'. Fodor's Thailand puts on display the beauty and mystery of this wonderful country. Whether you are there for the wonderful sites, the delicious food, or the great bargains, DON'T leave your room without this book in your back pocket.



2. Overall, I was satisfied with this Fodor Guide. Bangkok and Chiang Mai dining choices were very good. Shopping and signtseeing recommendations were disappointing.

1 comments about Guide to Hiking China's Old Road to Shu.

1. This book is great. I know the author and had an opportunity to do some editing on it prior to publication. I am joining the author in China mid-March for our second trip to do some light hiking and touristing. I have found the book very useful, especially the detail she gives regarding both preparations and the actual journey itself.

1 comments about Gobi: Tracking the Desert.

1. The author's somewhat standard travelogue visit to Mongolia is escalated to excellence through two key things: the detail he provides about a little-documented country, and the insight that bridges Western concepts of society and natural beauty with those of Mongolia.

   It may help a great deal to be interested in Mongolia or Central Asia before you pick up this book, but if you have even the slightest interest in the area Man will draw you in completely. While at first you might consider reading the book to learn about Mongolia without going there, Man paints in this blank corner of most people'e world view so well that you wish for much more contact with the country and its people.

No comments about Marco Polo.

1 comments about Afghanistan Map by ITMB.

1. Map is inaccurate. Roads are missing from map or are incorrect. I recommend the Nelles map instead.