2 comments about Down the Rat Hole: Adventures Underground on Burma's Frontiers.

1. Edith Mirante's "Down The Rat Hole" is the best kind of adventure story: as we voyage with this black belt, collage making, irony sensing delightfully brave woman, we make clean get aways, relish successful disquise, mingle with murderers and develop tribal allies who, sadly, are later murdered. Socializing with war lords, drug lords and human rights activists and guerrillas and other agitators for peace and justice in South East Asia, Mirante picks a remarkable path, through mossy rainforest as well as waterfalls of trash. Mirante displays what could be viewed as an amazing experiment and illustration of an American ideal: this writer/researcher feels every pinprick of the Burmese heroin addicts, every hole cut into the skin of cultural possibilities, but she isn't afraid. Acting always as diplomat, yet everything about her is unofficial. This fearless approach to travel and intercultural communications takes her through a cyclone, where afterwards, "Tun and I wandered around in the mud, talking to people, taking some pictures, and the storm survivors with their gracious innate hospitality gave us coconut milk, or tea. If they had nothing else, they gave us water, germ-laden disaster water, which we drank and it did not hurt us."
   
   Mirante guards her sense of humor as the valuable weapon that it is, injecting perspective into the difficult relations between tribes which despite their own best interests (and Mirante's soldierly yearning), can't seem to get it together to build a unified front of opposition against the brutal Tatmadaw dictatorship of Burma/Myanmar.
   
   As a mother of two teenage girls, I'm giving this to my daughters (along with Julia Butterfly Hill's books). Clearly, wimps just don't have as much fun as brave people, and so Mirante is no wimp. This particular little volume is noteworthy also for it's backpack-able size. She's included great color photographs, and typical of her style, there is not even one tiny little image that includes her.
   
   The Kachin's can't seem to get over the idea that this amazing Rambo lady of marriageable age isn't quite married at the time of the story. Here, she does describe herself, and in so doing describes so much of this culture, as she's being dressed up for a ceremony with the Jinghpaw.
   
   "Lu Ra borrowed the outfit for me to wear. The Jinghpaw women's garments were so elaborate that they had become heirlooms, brought out only for special occasions like weddings and dance performances. I put on the knee-length woven red sarong and matching leggings, and the black velvet jacket trimmed with silver disks the size of silver dollars. Then I was trimmed like a Christmas tree by Lu Ra, Ja Seng Hkawn and Mai Mai, one of the girls from the War Office. They pinned my hair up and tied an embroidered headdress over it. Necklaces of silver fringes and silver circlets, plus pearls and coral, wound around my throat. Hoops of rattan rested on my hips and a red sash bound my waist. Somebody's pink lipstick, a swoop of eyeliner, and I was worthy of photo-ops. I posed with the Kachin Women's Association members, and the KIO Central Committee. For my `Kachin wedding photograph,' they produced the only bachelor around who was older than me, a stout genial officer well into his sixties. A least he was inches taller than me, unlike most Kachin men who leveled out below my imposing 5'3".
   
   By getting to know Burma, Mirante finds out a lot about all of us: that, regarding `anger, brutality, addiction...everybody has something of that sort," yet women can be powerful. A fantastically brave voyage into a shaky war to defend human rights, with the added drama of being entirely true.



2. Down The Rat Hole: Adventures Underground on Burma's Frontiers is the memoir of American author, artist, and activist Edith Mirante, who defied laws and infiltrated the borders to travel through China, India, Laos, and the chaos in Bangladesh. Obsessed with Burma's multitude of cultures and ongoing struggle for freedom, she became witness to guerrilla warfare, heroin and jade trading, the AIDS pandemic, rainforest destruction, strikes and rioting, and natural disaster. A handful of color photographs illustrate her story of battered yet resilient individuals and societies.

4 comments about Kids' Trips in Tokyo: A Family Guide to One-Day Outings.

1. We got this book right before moving to Tokyo for a year with our two year old daughter. We haven't been steered wrong yet - each of the tours or trips in the book we have tried so far has been a delight for us and our daughter. If you have a kid in Tokyo, you *need* this book.

   Highlights so far have been the Kodomo no Kuni dairy farm/park in Kanagawa, the parks and streetcar line in Arakawa, the park and community center in Kichijoji.




2. The book was well organized, but if one's children are active boys between the ages of 5 and 11, then this book is probably not for you. Although there were a few exceptions, I found that the book was filled with museums, which may be interesting, but did not seem too exciting upon reading. I also ordered with this book, "Tokyo for Free" and "Little Adventures in Tokyo". Between these two books and a good guide book, everything in this book was covered with the advantage that there were things in these other books that seemed like alot more fun. Depends on your kids.



3. Last summer, I stayed with relatives who were living in Japan. We used this book a lot for sightseeing and it lists huge parks. There are really, really, beautiful gardens in Japan, and as a 16-year old guy I usually don't pay much attention to gardens. My cousin lived in Tokyo for several years and swears by this book. One recommendation: skip the raw fish.



4. I love this book! It is well organized, packed with fun ideas for kids of all ages. People are always asking me how I am able to find out about so many fun things to do in Tokyo. It's all in this book! If you will be living in Tokyo, you won't survive without it.

4 comments about Living Carelessly in Tokyo and Elsewhere: A Memoir.

1. This guy was a jerk in person, but he was at least funny when it was directed towards other people, so maybe he can write a decent book. Still, I doubt his book is all that great for those interested in Japan since he sounded like just one more gaijin burned by Japan. Better that you give it your own shot rather than let this sourpuss spoil all of the amazing experiences you can have by visiting, or even living, in Japan. I will give his other books a shot since they seem more favorable to a student of Japanese language and culture. After that, perhaps I will revise my statements.



2. I would deem John Nathan's autobiography bittersweet. Indeed, he had a great good fortune to be in the crucial period of Japan that I envy, though his self-involvement may have prevented him from really appreciating his circumstances.
   
   Though I have no qualms in his ambivalence about Japan having lived in Tokyo in it's heydey in the early '80s, during that weird bi-polar xenophobic love/hate nature of the Japanese. Gaijins were generally considered a strange mix of celebrity status and circus acts, while being a sansei (third-generation Japanese American) I was thought of as inferior buck tooth cousin from the New World.
   
   I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who has spent time in Japan, especially Tokyo.



3. I will keep this short and sweet. As an American who has lived in Tokyo and working as professional Japanese-English translator, I am particular biased and in tune with Mr. Nathan's message. I cannot make any guarantees for anyone without such experiences to relate to if they will enjoy this book as much as I did. However, it is marvelously well written and such refreshingly honest prose is a rarity these days. I would recommend it for any serious scholar of Japan (and not just in the academic meaning of the word).



4. 
   This is a series of chronological autobiographical vignettes by a distinguished translator of Japanese works and multi-purpose film maker. It's the story of how a 6'4" Jewish boy from New York City/Tuscon went to Harvard, became enthralled with the Japanese language, went to Japan, went native and returned to the US, often relying on his youthful Japanese immersion for employment and career.
   
   There are wonderful descriptions of Japan, such as waiting for the results of the University of Tokyo entrance exam, living with Mayumi's family, the people and production of the documentary trilogy and the night life of Japan in its postwar boom. There are portraits of Mishima and Oe, the home of a Noh actor and stories about the economics of writing and translation. Nathan had a singular experience in post-war Japan. The early vignettes are worthy of their own volume.
   
   Stateside, this interesting life encompasses two academic careers, script writing, production of successful commercials and business videos and a crisis in the business itself. There are glimpses of Nathan's two families, a description of Nobel Prize proceedings and several returns to Japan.
   
   The value of this book for me was that it re-kindled my interest in Japanese fiction and post-war Japan.

3 comments about The Hotel Book: Great Escapes Asia.

1. This is not just a book, it's a piece to have in your living room, to read, to look and dream about. The photos are fantastic and the descriptions tell all you need to know about the place, includinding the prices and exactly locations. A book for you, your friends and family.



2. There are a number of books out there profiling the most luxurious hotels in Asia- this is one of my favorites. The book covers a good variety of hotels in Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, China, India, Myanmar and a couple other countries. Well-known hotels like Amankila, Amanpulo, and Amanjiwo are profiled, but lesser known hotels make up the majority that are featured. The pictures are largely crisp and clear, something that can't be said for some other comparable books. Like other Taschen books, this book employs the multi-language formula where all editorial is written in several different languages. Some might find this annoying. Not a lot is written about the hotels either. Overall, a good effort.



3. If this book is anything like it's African counterpart, then I approve! It doesn't take a genious to guess what's in this book. And I'm guessing it's good. So good, in fact, that I'm going to put it next to my African book on my coffee table, which is a huge deal. Nothing else has ever had the priveledge of parking itself next to that glorious, godly, tree-made piece of wonderful splendor. I'm licking my fingers just thinking about it. Those pages won't stick for me! I only hope that you have a credit card and can order things from Amazon. Because everything they sell is worth it. Thank you for reading this. But seriously, go to Asia. Eat Bamboo, no Pandas!

No comments about The Best of Delhi (Globetrotter Best of Series).

2 comments about The Treasures and Pleasures of Thailand and Myanmar: Best of the Best in Travel and Shopping (Impact Guides).

1. The Treasures And Pleasures Of Thailand And Myanmar: Best Of The Best In Travel And Shopping is an absolute "must-have" for international travelers looking to obtain quality goods or souvenirs from Thailand at a reasonable price. Intended as a supplementary resource and not a general-purpose travel guide, The Treasures And Pleasures Of Thailand And Myanmar focuses specifically upon obstacles, negotiation techniques, and tips and tricks for those interested in shopping for everything from gemstones to textiles to artworks and much more. From learning how to walk away from the "touts" that try to lure tourists into overpriced stores (overpriced because the store must pay the tout a 10% to 40% commission for the service!), to a step-by-step introduction to the art of haggling, to knowing how to avoid paying thousands of dollars for what might be a cheap knock-off gemstone, to why even the locals may not always obtain the best deals (some shopkeepers can give tourists a lower price than their repeat local customers - who would expect the same bargain every time they walked through the door) to dealing with cultural differences and much more, The Treasures And Pleasures Of Thailand And Myanmar zeroes in on exactly what the money-conscious tourist in Thailand needs to know.



2. My partner and I just went to Thailand( Bangkok and Chiang Mai) for some hardcore antique shopping spree to decorate our house and expanded our collection. The information given was very useful and of course along the way we found more little shops not covered in the book. But the book definitely directs you to the right neighborhoods as far as antique goes(what we were after)
   I highly recommend it to people who are after quality goods wether it's jewelry or furniture or antique or whatever. and Thailand has SO MUCH to offer!!!

1 comments about Burmese Phrasebook.

1. Here's what it comes down to: If you're going to Myanmar/Burma and don't have a phrase book, then get this one for yourself and tell everyone else you're going with to get it!
   
   I lived in Myanmar for a while and found this quite useful, especially back when I knew only a few words of Burmese. I would stumble through and try to pronounce the text and fail miserably (though not the fault of the book as they do a good job trying to discuss pronounciation).
   
   Then I would point to the word or phrase in the book. The person I'm "talking" with would then stare at the page for a moment, see the Burmese script, then understand what I was trying to say.
   
   Now that I can do basic conversation and basic reading/writing, I've found it to be a good resourse to keep on hand.
   
   So, if you're going to Myanmar/Burma, take this phrasebook along, you won't regret it, even if you do have to point to the text because of your poor pronounciation!!
   
   My only complaint is that there were times where it seemed additional phrases should be included in this type of phrasebook to make it as comprehensive as other ones.
   
   By the way, just about everyone I showed this phrasebook to wanted a copy so they could learn more English. You might even want to order a few extra for your trip to give away.

No comments about LUXE Istanbul (LUXE City Guides) (LUXE City 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 :-)

5 comments about The Violet Shyness of Their Eyes: Notes from Nepal, Revised Edition.

1. I was really surprised by the quality of this book. Many people who have lived or worked abroad try to write about their experiences, but few actually have the talent to create something worthwhile and lasting. Barbara Scot, however, has managed to capture some moments of incredible poignancy and beauty. A few passages even approach the level of poetry.

   The book is a bit uneven in places, but nevertheless I consider it an excellent effort for a first-time author. You come away with a deep respect for both Nepal and her people, and for Barbara, who as an adventurous woman in her late 40s, will be a an inspiration for many. She's the kind of woman you'd like to know.

   On another note--When I saw this book came from a feminist publishing house I was afraid I might be subjected to preachy diatribes about the evils patriarchy, but mercifully that was not the case. Scot does have a special concern for the women of Nepal, but she doesn't preach about it. In fact a sense of evenhandedness is one of the many virtues of the book. She poses many good questions without claiming to have the answers.




2. Like too many Americans, Scot approaches Nepal as a mysterious secret land. Her book is full of wonderful theories and ideas to help this backward nation, but her notions are little more than jabs at the West and progress. In a country where only 45% of the population is literate I don't think any nation with resources should sit by and let them "figure it out for themselves." I have spent a few years living in differing regions of Nepal and did not come away with this mystical notion of a people that Scot so dearly clings to her heart. Perhaps she should have scrutinized a little more and wore the rose coloured glasses a little less. I don't recommend this book.



3. I've been around the world a few times and lived and worked overseas (mostly in Asia) for about 12 years. I have run into many versions of the author, most of whom hold an almost pious, self-righteous attitude about their short term experiences - who almost unfailingly dress in what my fellow ex-pats termed "Asian travelers'disease" style - for example, a Cambodian peasant shirt paired with Japanese farmer pants and an upcountry tribal hat from Chang Mai. These are generally the types of people who in normal life back home wear purple, brown and blue as if it's part of their religion.
   
   The problem is that it's not a bad book, and it is very well written - it just could have been so much better had the author:
   
   1. Had even a modicum of humor
   2. Wasn't afraid to criticize a culture because of looking "culturally insensitive".
   3. Realized that Nepalis are people just like anyone else, not to be put on a pedestal, with a somewhat different mentality, history and geography. In other words, they're not that hard to understand -
   
   Treating a foreign country as if its inhabitants are some sort of exotic butterfly that will go extinct if you disturb it is really out of date. Mass media has made many more inroads and changed more countries from the inside out than have scores of Peace Corps workers, and it's not going to stop anytime soon.
   
   One almost feels as if everyone the author runs into is so holy as to be destined for sainthood. This is an unbalanced point of view, but unfortunately, it's become very popular in the PC States of America. Frankly, I feel more at home with books like "Holidays in Hell".



4. I really enjoyed this book. Barbara Scot does seem like a woman it would be interesting to know. I appreciated her heartfelt, thoughtful, introspective approach to her teaching experience in Nepal. As someone with a strong family connection to Nepal, I really appreciated the respect and humility she communicates through her writing.
   
   I was especially interested in her reservations about the wisdom of the effort to teach English to Nepali children. It seems so many western efforts to "help" in Nepal and elsewhere go awry. I hope accounts such as this one will encourage more mindful involvement.
   
   Ms. Scot has written with an eloquent, touching, respectful voice about a country that an acquaintance recently described as "beguiling". If you have been to Nepal and have been beguiled, or are dreaming of going for whatever reason, or even just curious about a western perspective on an enchanting and very different culture you would probably enjoy this book.



5. I have read many trips to the Himilayas written from a man's point of view, but this was certainly unique. The typical story of racing down narrow, dangerous roads on a bus is totally different when paying attention to nauseous women and where do the women have to go to the bathroom. When she wrote of climbing mountains, she mentioned the wildflowers. That is something the men rushing up mountains at the very edge of their skills never mention.