1 comments about Beijing & Shanghai: China's Hottest Cities, Second Edition (Odyssey Illustrated Guides).

1. I always travel with two guides to a place--one to read and the other to tell me where to eat. With "literary excerpts" and topical features on the naming and renaming of Beijing and the "singsong houses" of old Shanghai, this is a book to read before, during, and after a trip to the two cities. Each of the two sections is written by a resident of the city, and each takes a different approach, as these very dissimilar cities demand. Illustrations and maps abound. Listings of hotels, restaurants and shops are limited and likely to be out of date, as the books by this publisher seem to be updated every two or three years.

2 comments about National Geographic Traveler: Japan (3rd Edition) (National Geographic Traveler).

1. I have been here in Japan for almost 9 years.
   First of all, the pictures and the fashion is out of date. The trends that the "ko-gal" is wearing was back in 2000 when it was "in". How come the meaning of the outfit isn't explained? Only says that "changing fashions reflect greater independence for women"?! Even though only 15% of the youngsters wore the outfit that is shown. Fashion is out of date, and why is the minor part of the fashion is explained as if its the most major trend. Lack of explaination is seen.
   Second, I was looking forward for the Hiroshima section, though only a page is written on it. People say it takes more than a day to travel around the area but from reading, theres actually nothing that had caught my eyes because all of the places are only the basics. There are a lot more I can point out however I won't because it is a waste of my time since it is not my obligation to do so. Maybe more observation is needed for a true updated book.



2. I think this book is a real good one! And I recommend it to everybody who's interested in history, culture, etc. I went to Tokyo and Kyoto with it, and I was able to understand many things, and to see a lot!
   There's great pictures, detailed map, and smart comments. The author really understand the country from the inside.
   Excellent book !

3 comments about China's Space Program - From Conception to Manned Spaceflight (Springer Praxis Books / Space Exploration).

1. For those in the West with little overall knowlwdge of the Chinese space effort, this is the primer. The book provides a fun read through the preperations and efforts to launch the first Chinese human to space orbit. Brian Harvey provides very useful insight to those who are looking globally in the human quest for space access. The book provides hope that the third nation to launch humans to space will mature and take serious the rhetoric of building a space station, or better yet, a Chinese program to put humans on the Moon. Harvey's book would have been made better with utilization of color photos splashed about the book.



2. China is still a developing country. But it has the distinction of being only the third country to launch a human into space, after Russia and the US. Harvey tells of the arduous path that China took. There have been the driving forces of international prestige and the building of a credible nuclear deterrent. The latter has required the ability to launch missiles into space in a controlled manner.
   
   Harvey has conducted impressive research into a subject still heavily shrouded in secrecy. He describes many successes made by the Chinese. But also failures. Though the reader should remember that Russia and America have had their share of disasters, including the loss of lives.
   
   The text also shows that in recent years, the Chinese space program has increasingly turned to commercial applications. Notably satellite imaging of the earth and communications. This reflects China's massive growth, with the increased need for such tasks as better analysis of weather patterns for agriculture. Also, the space program has started to perform more scientific research. All of this is a good sign for the future, both for China and the rest of the world.



3. China is clearly one of the space players in this century. Her resources are ample, both regarding technical knowhow and intellectual power, there is an unfailing sense of the ultimate goal - manned presence outside the Earth, and the intermediate goals - using the space for earthly purposes, are well understood. The Chinese space programme dates from the fifties, when the US, to their ultimate regret, evicted one of the fine minds who, at that time, was busy pioneering American astronautics. Political unrest - to say the least - on and off threatened to derail the development of missile technology, launchers and satellite technology. The space leaders come through as steadfast in the turmoil of the times, and as the political leadership in China moved from revolutionary fervour onto controlled economic evolution, so the space programme has moved more steadily tovards orderly development. All this and more are presented in this book, which bears the Harvey hallmark of being well researched, lucidly expositioned and showing deep insight in the subject at hand. I read it as one reads a novel of suspence and mystery, it now occupies a honored place along my other reference litterature on space.
   When, during the coming years, we await new Chinese exploits in space, we need the understanding put forth in this book on the Chinese approach to development. Harvey illustrates how, in face of adversities, the Chinese space leaders, like the proverbial turtle, contrive to move slowly but inexorably towards their goals, when the hares in and of the United States fritters away resources by jumping hither and yon. It may well be that the tortoise yet overtakes the hare, if not in a race to the surface of the Moon, then to the sands of Mars.

1 comments about River Road to China: The Search for the Source of the Mekong, 1866-73.

1. Osborne's book is an excellent account of the first European expedition up the Mekong River, from Saigon into the Southwestern region of the Chinese empire. As it is based on official and unofficial records of the exploration, written by the actual members of the French team, the account is both vivid and accurate, and conveys so much of the hardship and heartache experienced by the Frenchmen and those who accompanied them. It is also a profound and readable introduction to the history of Southeast Asia, its relation to China, and its position as the centerpiece of a colonial competition for trade, conquest, and scientific discovery. Great book!

5 comments about Let's Go Thailand 2nd Edition (Let's Go Thailand).

1. Let's Go is the budget back-packers handbook. Of the three guidebooks I have just reviewed on Thailand (Lonely Planet, Rough Guide), I found that Let's Go excels at helping you find the best of the "cheap" restaurants, and bargain basement hostels and hovels (occasionally hotels). Also, if you are considering camping in Thailand then this guide excels in this category.
   
   Extremely impressive is the section titled "Alternatives to Tourism" where scores of NGO (non government organizations) are listed. Of the three guidebooks Let's Go has the best source for volunteering in Thailand. Conservation organizations, medical organizations, urban and rural development organizations are all listed. If you want to study in Thailand this guide has many school listings. Also, its history section is succinct and stellar.
   
   Where the guide runs third is in the quality and quantity of maps, it has fewer accommodations and restaurants recommended, and its description of sights that you will be seeing is cursory.. For example the famous, must see, Bangkok Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and the Grand Palace received only 3 paragraphs in this guide, Rough Guide gives you five pages of description. Extremely tacky are the ads found in the guide that promote everything from clothing to guesthouses. Bad.
   
   If you are strapped for cash and going to travel Thailand on the `cheep' then this guide along with "Travels' Tales Thailand' (see my review) should be in your knapsack. Recommended 3.5 stars



2. This is a book clearly oriented to the backpacker, but so much so that it neglects more peripheral areas or upscale areas that a backpacker may occasionally be interested in. Its attention to nightlife, one of the more enjoyable aspects of Thailand, is dismal. There is a political correctness strewn througout the book, to the point of completely omitting major locales and activities, that is distressing. Thailand is not a politically correct country by any stretch of the imagination, but it is what it is, and as such is one of the most fascinating and enjoyable places on earth. The Moon Handbook, Lonely Planet and Footprint are far more complete and helpful.



3. I found this guide to be fantastic!!
   
   I have just returned from a two month trip to Thailand and would have found it much harder without this book! Every place you would think to visit (and a lot you wouldn't!) are in this book.
   
   Where this book differs though is that it isn't afraid to drop a few opinions. I found that while travelling you havn't got time to go everywhere and find everything out for yourself so it's nice to have an opinion to consult. Lonley planet tends to tell you where you can go and stay but doesn't give you much infomation to base your decision on. I had this book and a lonley planet at one point and quickly sold the lonely planet.
   There are some vital pieces of information for Thailand that just aren't in the lonely planet, for instance if you wish to extend you visa by crossing a border (the cheapest way!)Let's go tells you how to do this and what you'll need for every available border crossing, information just not in the Lonely planet.
   
   This book realy centres on the budget concious, with prices for rooms and typical meals included. Although there are a few mentioned, if you want to stay in more upmarket places, buy a different book!!
   
   The maps in the book could do with improving, however I didn't find this to be a major problem.
   
   I don't normally write reviews for books I buy, but I was so impressed with this book that I felt I had to. An excellent budget guide, and with a number of interesting articles, actually a good read!! Buy it if you're thinking of going to Thailand.



4. I have traveled to over 25 countries and Let's Go has been my guidebook of choice for nearly all of them. It gives a lot of information without being too comprehensive.
   
   I have been living in Thailand for 6 months now and have referenced this often. Its descriptions are right on the money. It gives you all the pertinent information that you will need. The places it recommends are accurate to their description.
   
   THe only thing I wish this would list is the Thai script for the places it recommends. You will pronounce everything wrong because it is written in English the way a Thai person would read it and not the way a native English speaker would.
   
   I can speak Thai and try to say where I want to go according to the spelling in this book and the people have no idea where I want to go. I have to rethink how Thai people would read the English and try pronouncing it that way. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to travel with this if I didn't speak Thai.



5. My fiance and I recently spent a couple of months touring Thailand with this book in tow. For the most part the book served its purpose. However, there were times when the book was unnecessarily frustrating.
   
   For example, those cities in which no map is provided, the descriptions of the cities are virtually worthless for navigating. In more than a few cases, restaurants or accomodations listed in text are not included with the corresponding map. We often got the impression that first-hand research was not done for some of the activities or accomodations - mostly for southern Thailand. For example, a describedly tedious 1-hr "rocky jungle" walk from Ko Phi Phi's Thon Sai Village to Long Beach actually takes about 10-15 minutes, mostly on a fairly wide dirt road. This leads me to believe the researcher took the word of a longtail boat driver, looking to sell a fare, instead of doing the needed first-hand research. More commonly, it became apparent that rather inconsistent reviews of accomodations were likely done either superficially or lifted from previous versions of this book.
   
   Overall, the book is better than Lonely Planet for budget travelers (which is too broad). LG does lack in background information concerning many of the sites. However, it is a pretty good guide about how to travel around and where to stay. Some of the side trips are nice (Wat Phutok in Northern Thailand is a must if in the neighborhood). Even when there are times when a little more attention to detail, consistency in reviews, and correspondence between maps and text would have been appreciated. This book will generally get you to the right parts of town, in the right part of the country, for about the right price, and with a decent map for many towns. Where it can be frustrating, well, mai pen rai.

No comments about Hangzhou.

No comments about Surface Collection: Archaeological Travels in Southeast Asia (Worlds of Archaeology).

No comments about Sumatra Handbook (Footprint - Travel Guides).

5 comments about Mapping the Tibetan World.

1. 
   
   If one is not interested in purely religious destinations, another book might be in order.
   This book is concerned only with religious destinations in Tibet.
   Mountain climbers, trekkers, or bikers concerned perhaps with more terrestrial matters would be better served by a book with mile markers, better maps, and more information on lodging.
   
   I was in Tibet in March of 2002 climbing Mt. Nojin Kansa. I had this book; another guy had a book I won't bother to name. I constantly referred to the other book for mile markers, pass altitudes, international phone providers, etc.
   
   This book will get thee to a nunnery in short order. It will not provide the best maps or travel details.



2. 'Mapping the Tibetan World' is a very ambitious project, and one that succeeds brilliantly.

   The once-great Tibetan world, though based on common culture and language, has splintered over the centuries into slabs attached to China, India and Nepal--with Bhutan the sole independent nation remaining. This book reassembles the complex jigsaw into a cohesive whole again, making it the perfect guidebook for travellers keen on visiting overlapping regions of the Tibetan plateau on a single trip.

   The marvel is how all the complex data is compressed into 424 pages. The maps are highly detailed and many are not found in other sources: among them are excellent trekking maps.

   If you want to explore the Tibetan sphere of influence, this is the book.

   Michael Buckley, travel writer, author of Heartlands: Travels in the Tibetan World and the Tibet Travel Adventure Guide




3. 'Mapping the Tibetan World' is a very ambitious project, and one that succeeds brilliantly.

   The once-great Tibetan world, though based on common culture and language, has splintered over the centuries into slabs attached to China, India and Nepal--with Bhutan the sole independent nation remaining. This book reassembles the complex jigsaw into a cohesive whole again, making it the perfect guidebook for travellers keen on visiting overlapping regions of the Tibetan plateau on a single trip.

   The marvel is how all the complex data is compressed into 424 pages. The maps are highly detailed and many are not found in other sources: among them are excellent trekking maps.

   If you want to explore the Tibetan sphere of influence, this is the book.

   Michael Buckley, travel writer, author of Heartlands: Travels in the Tibetan World and the Tibet Travel Adventure Guide




4. You must have for its massive information and detail map which inculding every need of buddhism pilgrims (It's kind of rare on popular market), but for the traveling data quite out of date, especially for Tibet's situation. (I am not sure for rest of India, Nepal and Bhutan.... cause I didn't use this book as other areas.)



5. We spent a month in Tibet and that included more than 2000 miles overland across the tibetan plateau from Lhasa to Mt Kailash and back. This book was a continous companion of mine and I have to admit I have never come across a better guidebook while I travelled to other continents. You will not realize it till you look back at those amazing weeks and the tattered book of yours, to realize that how much you referred to it. The guys who wrote it, please accept my hearty congratulations. You have done a phenomenal job. just one minor suggestion. I have yet to come across a tibetan guidebook that recommends wearing masks or carrying them. Once you are out in the open desert in a 4x4, unless you have a mask, 2 weeks of exposure would lead to nose-bleed due to dry air and continuous dust dumped into your 4x4 (at least it did in my case- call me a pansy :-)

No comments about Lingolook JAPAN (Lingolook Flashcards for Foreign Travel).