No comments about Oman and UAE Insight Guide (Insight Guides) (Insight Guides).

4 comments about The Siege of Shangri-La: The Quest for Tibet's Sacred Hidden Paradise.

1. McRae recreates the journeys of several adventurers seeking an undiscovered waterfall in Tibet. Old notebooks, rumors, sacred writings, and guides from remote villages lure these explorers into an exquisite landscape of dense rhododendrons and ferns, steep rock canyons, and snowy peaks, all framing an elusive river that became impossible to map. The physical challenge is overwhelming, sometimes leading to despair and even death. Rainstorms, clouds of insects, waist-deep mud, impassable vegetation, leeches, steep and slippery rock walls, and even a tribe of women known to poison visitors, all demand constant mindfulness. A chance meeting with a Lama, the sudden appearance of a rainbow, the discovery of refuge in a hidden temple, a gift of food and the guidance from a native are intermittent rewards for the constant struggle. 

   Motives for the search were diverse, with some seeking ego-less spiritual enlightenment, while others lusted for recognition and glory.

   McRae brings to life a world totally foreign to me in engaging prose, full of facts and well-researched details. I appreciate glimpsing the exotic, strange land McRae presents in his fascinating account of travels into this magical place.




2. This is not just a book about exploring remote places, but the spirituality of exploration itself. The Tsangpo River's gorge through the Himalayas in southern Tibet was probably the last place on Earth to be explored and mapped. This was not completed, at least by Westerners, until 1998. This is due to the area's extreme remoteness and isolation, and its impossible terrain. Add to that the West's not entirely accurate glorification of Tibetan geography and culture. Here McRae covers both the Western explorers who tried to "conquer" the gorge, and the native attitudes toward surrendering to it. "Classical" explorers made many attempts until the 1950's when China "liberated" Tibet and closed it off, followed by extreme sports adventurers in the 1990's. Also in the 90's, two expatriates named Ian Baker and Hamid Sardar became adepts at Buddhist/Tibetan spirituality and explored the gorge from a completely different standpoint - that of a pilgrimage to Tibet's spiritual centers. Theirs is the most interesting story of the book, as the Tibetans believe that any landscape can only be truly discovered if one surrenders to it (the Eastern way) rather than trying to conquer it (the Western way). Sadly, all the hubbub in the pro-conquest Western press of recent years will probably ruin the gorge's extreme beauty and isolation. But with this book's great coverage of the cultural and spiritual dimensions of Tibetan exploration, we know that this paradise will continue to confound conquerors but offer rich rewards for surrenderers. [~doomsdayer520~]



3. I am doing research for an upcoming trip to Shangri-la region, and this is the first English book I read on the subject. It did not offer much information on anything other than some very limited history of the exploration in the Tsangpo River Gorge region. Since the names of places used in the book is different from those used in another Chinese book I read before, I had hard time cross-referencing and squeezing any useful information out of this book at all. Book reads like a C+ to B- college term paper on the subject.



4. Sets the scene of a beautiful but forbidding region: jungles, glaciers, leeches, rainbows, frequent rearrangement by earthquake... discusses the meaning of exploration and discovery, of regions with indigenous populations. More respectful of nature, culture and spirituality than the brash kayakers who visited and published, but not as deep as - a useful pre-read to -
   The Heart of the World: A Journey to Tibet's Lost Paradise by Ian Baker.

5 comments about Days and Nights on the Grand Trunk Road.

1. Having spent a month in India, and experiencing first-hand Indian roads and traffic, I found Days & Nights on The Grand Trunk Road to be as entertaining as a travelogue on the Travel Channel...no more no less. Some errors intersperse the book, but are of little consequence to its overall flow. However, Weller should be aware that Muslims normally perform ablutions five times a day, preceding each set of prayers. The Pakistani fellow who advised him otherwise was grossly misinformed.



2. Travelling along the GT Road is an expirience that one never forgets.The author gives an historical perspective of the points along the GT Road. He starts out in Calcutta, the city built by the Raj. Along the way he finds the foundations of the Jain and Buddhist religions. Weller writes about thses religions in an objective manner and gives a clear concise history of the religions along with their beliefs. Between these highlights he meets present day Indians. What he puts into words is what I thought but could not expess myself, both humorously and insightfully. I had lived in India for two years while serving in the Peace Corps. I felt the same frustrations he did in communicating and dealing with the bureaucracy.

   This is an excellent book for one intending to travel through the subcontinent or has spent some time there.




3. Not a bad book, but not particularly good either.

   Weller, while intelligent and well-meaning, doesn't seem to know very much about India. To be sure, he's done some background reading -- at the end he provides a curious list of dated references -- but his knowledge seems flimsy. One does not get the feeling that he's studied or thought deeply about the country, its history or culture; but rather that he's parroting views he's read in books or that he's simply reacting to what he sees on the road. As a result one doesn't have confidence in his attempts to synthesize the meaning of India's past or its prospects in the future. What he has to say in this regard is rather banal in any case. I suspect he included these broad pronouncements -- about the population problem, about communal violence -- only because this is what people have come to expect from travel writers, instant and concise analyses of foreign cultures. Unfortunately not every travel writer is a Naipaul.

   Also, his narrative of his encounters on the road is simply not interesting. It's not boring exactly, just bland. He meets uninteresting people, has brief uninteresting conversations, and then moves on.




4. A. Weller is a superb writer, I learned more about India in 10 pages than I could have in a year of school. Although the names, and dates can be eye crossing after awhile, it only showed me that mr. Weller did a ton of research, and cut no corners' in writing this book. From keen observations interspersed with humerous encounters with strangers' and beauracratic red tape, I applaud mr. Weller for writting a book the he could be proud of first, and not an "India for dummies". Rock on Tony!!



5. This was a joyful read... entertaining as well as informative.
   I enjoyed his sense of humor and descriptions which brought back memories of the hardships & fun of travel while trying to make some meaning of it all.
   This is a book I'd take to India and Pakistan while travelling or read it after you return. You'll enjoy! I'll read again.

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5 comments about The Sikhs.

1. Mr Singh's survey is brief. He does justice to the nationalist aspirations of the Sikhs and the various forms of discriminations against them, but does not address the more common or everyday 'stereotyping' as nouveaux riches, dagger carriers and turban wearers. Mr Singh is good at explaining the Sikh's view of their own history but tends to be impartial in praising their causes or worldview. Indeed, he begins by attacking one of the oldest world religion - and rival -Hinduism by criticizing, among other things, its caste system and particualrly the Brahmins who have dominated the Indian subcontinent for much of its history. He also dismisses other competing religious groups in india - i.e. Buddhists. Overall, despite the understandable bias I found the book informative, if unbalanced. It is also worthwhile as America becomes more embroiled in central Asia. After all the Sikh region prevails in the Punjab, a region which India shares with Pakistan.



2. THe Sikhs are the least understood of the great religions of the world. In bookstores across America shelves and shelves are given over to Buddhism and Taoism but it is rare to find even one book on the Noble warriors, the Sikhs. Yet these people are in many ways a unique and amazing religious group that inhabits northwest India and has followers all over the globe(a diaspora due to their persecution). The story of the Sikhs, as painted so well in this book, shows how they have fought so hard against the attempts of the Muslims to create genocide upon them. Their Hindu neighboors have also been hostile, although this hostility has become more blatent recently under Indira Gandhi. The Sikhs were slughtered like animals during partition in 1948 by the Muslims who cleansed them from Pakistan, where not one Sikh remains in what had been their ancestral homeland. In the west Sikhs have been the target of racist attacks partly because neo-nazis think they are Muslim(due to the turbans) and partly due to jealousy since they own so many businesses. I recommend this book wholeheartedly. It is obviously partisan but the author has an intricate understanding of Sikh lure and history. The author does not touch on Sikh militism unfortunatly to an extent that should be touched upon. He does not explain the Sikh revenge attacks upon Muslims in 1948. He does not explain Sikh terror which is the reason so many Hindus dislike them. But the book is nevertheless excellent.



3. In the wake of the September 11th tragedy, Sikh-Americans have been the target of misguided attacks due to their appearance. An appearance comprised of articles of the Sikh faith - a turban and unshorn beard.

   Patwant Singh's book provides a vivid account of the origins, beliefs and subsequent history of this 500 year old, egalitarian faith that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent.

   The book explains the significance behind the unique identity of the Sikh people - their turbans and beards - and brings to mind the sad irony that they are being mistaken, by some in the US, for the very Islamic fundamentalism that they have been fighting against since their beginnings.

   The Sikhs are disciples of Guru Nanak (1469-1539), the founder of the Sikh faith, who was succeeded by nine other Gurus (spiritual masters). Guru Nanak likened all religions to different travelers aiming at one and the same destination but following different paths and diverse ways. Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth and last living Guru who lived from 1666 to 1708. It was this tenth prophet, that gave the Sikhs their present form and appearance, which was a culmination of the constant endeavor, struggle and sacrifices of the Gurus as well as of their innumerable followers.

   In Singh's analysis of Sikh relations with Hindus, he points out that the monotheistic and egalitarian principles upon which the Sikh faith was founded proved to be in direct conflict with the philosophy and thought of the "caste-conscious" ruling Hindu-Brahmins i.e. Indira Gandhi. Singh's point is not a new one; there have been other faiths in Indian history that have been repressed by the hands of Brahmin ideology. For example, a study of Buddhism's growth (or lack of) in the country of its birth, India, would also reveal a similar thesis.

   This exceptionally well-written account is a must for every Sikh household seeking to attain a glimpse of its stoic and spiritual past, or for any individual wishing to gain an insight to the history and way of life of the Sikh people.




4. If you are planning to buy a book on Sikhism this is fantastic. It gives an overview of the important facets of Sikhism and leaves the reader to further refine their search for more information on Sikhism. It is a book that i highly recommend to read if you want to understand Sikhism but of course to further understand Sikhism you have to further delve into the writings of the Guru's themselves, in the Guru Granth Sahib.
   
   This book is based on factual information and leaves no doubt about what Sikhi is about and the school of thought of Sikhi..



5. Patwant Singh provides a thumbnail of Sikh religious and political developments from the 15th century to the present. I found the last two chapters particularly instructive given America's current Middle East challenges. The resentment created by colonial powers on indigenous societies and the irresistible urge for fledgling democracies to abuse state powers are amply described. A glossary of Indian terms, which were adequately explained for an English reading audience within the text would have been helpful.

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No comments about The Life and Adventures of Arminius Vambéry: Written by Himself. With an Appreciation by Max Nordau.

3 comments about English Armenian; Armenian English Dictionary: A Dictionary of The Armenian Language.

1. I recommend this dictionary to anyone learning Armenian; Or for any Armenian who wishes to learb English. dictionaries, particularly this large, are a must for people wishing to learn a language in a serious way,
   This dictionary is the finest Armenian dictionary so far. However, I am disappointed the definitions tend to be short, so much so that the full nuance is lost. Illustrative examples of word use are also greatly reduced. Like other Armenian, it does not provide the pronunciation of many words that the editors consider familiar to native speakers of Armenian. The dictionary is easy to follow and extremely thorough, and would be beneficial to students and professionals alike.
   Despite its drawbacks it is still a brilliant, user friendly dictionary that is indispensable for the beginning learner.



2. Firstly, I was leery about it being in paperback. For more money, I would have been willing to buy it in hardback. I appreciated the introduction about Armenian history and language. It was informative. In the English-Armenian section, I encountered English words that I had never seen before. An Armenian learning modern English will never use these words. In the same section, the small case Armenian type is blurry and confusing. For example, a small case Armenian a and a small case Armenian t are very similar. In various entries, it was difficult for me,if not impossible, to distinguish which was which. In the Armenian-English section, the same thing is true, but it is not as bad. In both sections, some of the English type is not clear either. Yet, I have been able to learn from the book. Hence, it is not a total loss.



3. English Armenian; Armenian English Dictionary: A Dictionary of The Armenian Language
   
   You need otherthings than a pretty cover to have a good book like nice legible fonts,reasonable size and content. Unfortunately this book laks all. The fonts are too small, the print quality is horrible it looks like a photocoppied dictionary that has been professionally binded. The quality also varries from page to page, there are pages that if one tries hard then he/she can make out the letters and parts that you just have to flip the page. As far as content it is very poor, both English and Armenian are languages with very rich vocabulary. Both languages have many words with multiple meaning and it does not do justice to any of the languages to have only one of the few meanings written in the dictionary. I am by no means a linguist but by flipping through pages I came accross the most random words that are useless with the most random definitions. I am so dissatisfied with the book that I returned it within 5 minutes of getting it and would strongly recommend not waisting your time or money on this book.

1 comments about Breaking the Curfew: A Political Journey Through Pakistan.

1. This book was an unexpected surprise for me; it is a little known gem. Brilliantly and beautifully written, an absolute pleasure to read.
   The cover was unpromising, but once opened, it is hard to put down. Duncans detailed analysis, and strong imagery provides for a highly readable text, where the happenings of a complex country and its people are presented in a style that is informative and engaging. This is one of my favorite books on Pakistan, and I would highly recommend it to everyone who is interested in knowing more about this region.