No comments about Travel The Philippines: The Ultimate Novice Guide to The Philippines.

3 comments about Healthy Travel: Central & South America (Healthy Travel).

1. ...where to go in central and south america, then read this through. As with all Lonely Planets book, it got lots of information! I want to go to Guatemala or Ecuador, but I didn't really know too much about any of these countries. Reading this through helped me. I'm going to BOTH!



2. This is an excellent reference for the South American traveler. It shouyld be required reading for the newcomer and experienced traveler



3. If you have never traveled to developing nations in out of the way places then you might find this book useful. However, you can find much of this information through the U.S. CDC and W.H.O. websites.
   
   Most times the happy little diseases or maladies that travelers take home are things that cause diarrhea. This book clearly lacks information related to many important aspects of food handling, processing, and stomach wellness. However if you want to know about exotic illnesses you will probably never get than maybe this book is helpful.
   
   I would not recommend this book.

No comments about Groov HONG KONG Map 'N' Guide.

1 comments about National Geographic Traveler: Taiwan 2nd Edition (National Geographic Traveler).

1. There aren't that many travel guides for Taiwan, and the ones that are out here basically fall into two categories. The first category are ones such as this that are very nice in terms of pictures, descriptions, cultural info, and are very good for pre-planning and deciding what major attractions to visit. The second category are the getting-around type of guides that aren't a lot of help for deciding what to do, but do give you excellent directions and more detailed listings (for instance Lonely Planet is the second type).
   
   I'd say this is probably the best of the first type. I used it quite a bit before visiting my in-laws in Taiwan. All the major attractions are well described and the history and cultural sections were very informative and useful. If you're going to be dealing a lot with people outside of the tourist industry and need cultural guidance, this book is probably as good as any guidebook out there.
   
   Since my wife grew up in Taiwan and is fluent in Chinese, directions and such weren't much of an issue, so there wasn't any need to go to a more hands on guide. If I had really been in a situation where I was getting around my own, though, I think I would have wanted the Rough Guide or Lonely Planet.
   
   I've had a chance to look through most of the Taiwan guides out there, and I'd say for an all-around guide this is middle of the pack. Rough Guide is the only one that really stands out as having both the history/culture/descriptive aspects and the practical getting around aspects. Not surprisingly, it's also the thickest and heaviest.

No comments about Waterproof Japan Map by ITMB (International Travel Maps).

2 comments about Resorts of Maldives (Guidebook Format).

1. An incredibly good book!If you like who-done-it mysteries,you'll like this.It's got a lot of suspense and i would recomend it to anybody.



2. The book gives detailed info on diving, dining, stay and all other points of interest as the author himself has stayed in every resort he is writing about. Especially for Maldives when choosing the resort is the focal point of the vacation planning and the resort stay is THE vacation this book is indispensable. I had to get mine from Maldives airport as it is hardly available otherwise.

5 comments about Fodor's India, 5th Edition (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. Hello to fellow travellers to India.

   I bought this 2000 edition of Fodor's India because I got a deal online, but found the book to be of very limited use.

   One of the best features of this book is the recommendation of itineraries based on the number of days that you might spend in a neighborhood. For example, if you intend to visit the state of Tamil Nadu, the book recommends specific itineraries if you have 4 days, 7 days, or 10 days at your disposal. If such a feature is important to you, this may be a very satisfactory book for you. The section on travel tips is also a good one.

   I found the book to lack in comprehensiveness. For example, if you intend to visit any places in Maharashtra other than Bombay (Mumbai) or the Ajanta, Ellora caves, you wont be able to find it in this book. The hotel and dining recommendations were also disappointing. We stayed at the beautiful Park guest house on the beach at Pondicherry and ate at wonderful Annalakshmi restaurant in Madras (Chennai). Neither was listed in Fodor's.

   Another helpful feature that you find in other guides such as Footprint is the location of money changers (for foreign exchange) in any given city - a feature that you will not find in Fodor's.

   If you are looking for historical details about locations, it is hard to beat the Blue guides. I was also impressed by the Rough guide and Footprint guide. The latter is especially good about including detailed maps of cities. (I got a chance to look at these various guides in a local library and would recommend to others that they look at as many guides as available in your local library before buying one to take with you to India.)

   No matter which travel guide you use, I hope you have a great time in India!




2. When you're embarking on any big adventure, and India certainly is, you'd be foolish to rely on one guide, and this one is no exception. (Take a look at my review of Lonely Planet India). Fodor's is always pretty reliable when it comes to restaurants and hotels, especially if you're not a low budget traveller. Prices of course are usually out-of-date pretty quickly, and the exchange rate fluctuates all the time, but their "$$$" system gives a good idea of the relative costs of different places. I also like the "star" system highlighting sites to see--in a country chock-full of palaces, temples, forts, and natural wonders, it helps to prioritize if time is short. The maps of local areas are OK as you plan your trip, but of course no guide book has really good maps--pick one up as you arrive in a major city, and as you plan your itinerary around the country, a country map is critical. Fodors is, however, short on history and culture, and some reading before you go is critical. And remember--things change, particularly in a place like India--local knowledge from your hotel or guide (from a reputable company, not someone you stop on the street) is always the best bet.



3. This is a good book for getting an overview of where to go and what to do. It also does a good job of listing hotels (though it's not the best for lower end venues). The book is frustrating, however, in that the person who makes the maps does not seem to be coordinating his/her efforts with the person who writes the text. Maps list main streets, but not the ones where major hotels are located (except in the big cities). Hence, you have no idea if your hotel is near or far away from major sites. This is especially problematic for single travelers who might wish to favor a central location to minimize commute times and the troubles that accompany them. Also, there is some inconsistency in the text. A suggested "ideal" itinerary will exclude an item that is later listed in the text as a "must see." Perhaps the problem occurs when different reviewers provide updates for the guides and don't bother to read the existing text carefully. Is the book worth your time? Yes, for the early stages of planning a trip. But you will definitely need another guide for information that could easily have been provided here. Finally, the guide subscribes to the PC nonsense that has become so popular lately....they soft peddle important things like SAFETY tips. It's not being a wet rag to acknowledge that there are some serious safety concerns you must keep in mind....and spelling them out for each area.



4. Now in an updated and strongly recommended fifith edition, Fodor's India is an information-packed travel guide to just about everything business or vacation travelers need to know or would like to see in this vast and dazzling nation. From where to go tiger-spotting to paying homage to holy sites to learning how to navigate bazaars and much more, Fodor's India brims with over 600 pages full not only of places to go, but tips for blending in and making the most of one's experience when one gets there. Over 600 pages cover the sights to see in various sections of India as well as a basic overview of the culture, language, and strategies for navigating. Fodor is a premier publisher of travel guides offering expert information on cities and countries abroad. Send for their free catalog for a complete title listing.



5. The book is very helpful for someone planning a first trip to India, answering many, if not all, of the questions I have. Because India is such a large country, there is almost an overwhelming amount of information. It is also a large book --more than 600 pages -- to carry in a day pack, but I plan to do it anyway!

5 comments about River of Colour the India of Raghubir Singh.

1. India is a difficult country to understand and even more difficult to explain, in words or pictures! Rughubir Singh has captured the chaos of India which take you right into the bylanes of Varanasi/Banaras. This is my favourite(infact the only picture book) gift to a lot of my western friends, most of whom have visited India before. The pictures are simply too powerful. If you have any facination for that land, you cant afford not to have a look at Mr. Singh's pictures.



2. I first bought this book in its paperback edition... I was so taken by the photographs that on learning that Phaidon was re-releasing the book, I gave my pbk copy to an Indian friend of mine (who loves it, as it reminds him of home). Looking forward to the re-release of this book, I was eagerly looking for it to become available.
   
   The re-release arrived just the other day. I can say that the photos are just as moving, heart-melting, and colorful as the original copy. HOWEVER, Amazon's "shrink-wraping process" ruined the cover of the book, and many of the pages of the book.
   
   So, I paid full Amazon price for the book, but were I to try to re-sell it, it would be "damaged."
   
   To say that I'm a little piss#d is an understatement.
   
   It _is_ a beautiful book, with a wonderful overview of Singh's work - my favorites are the boys diving from the tops of submerged temples on a flooded Ganges, and a pic of a muscician from Tamil Nadu...
   
   I just wish the condition of the book were better.



3. Raghubir Singh was born in India and began his photography career in 1965 - but until this collection, very few of his works reached audiences outside the country. RIVER OF COLOUR: THE INDIA OF RAGHUBIR SINGH uses a wide-angle panoramic layout which will prove a shelving challenge to most art library collections - but a delight to any who seek fine display materials. It's the only retrospective of Singh's works and by choosing an elongated, oversized display format, the color photos of Indian topics come to life and nearly spring off the page. RIVER OF COLOUR is recommended not just for art photography libraries, but for any collection strong on India history or culture.



4. Raghubir Singh's River of Colour is a book that beautiful in many ways. Not only was he a very talented photographer, he also brings out a tremendous sense of patriotism with his book. His photographs capture the essence of Indian culture.



5. I was given this book (softcover edition) by a friend some years ago, and it has resonated with me as one of the finest compilations of documentary photography on India. Raghubir Singh's photograph captures moments in the lives of ordinary Indians, in a way that is without a doubt timeless. This book is a collection of his best works from his many years of photography in India and it's simply a marvel, especially for anyone who has a special interest in India or comes from India, who can really appreciate the imagery.
   
   I hands down recommend this book to anyone and everyone and always show it off to friends. Try and get some of his other works as well - Bombay, The Grand Trunk Road, Kerala, Banares, Kashmir, if you can find them. You will be equally impressed.

1 comments about Lonely Planet Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (Lonely Planet Ho Chi Minh City).

1. It's good it's good. Being light weight and small this edition is convenient. Plenty of useful information. The maps are accurate and comprehensive. Consulate information, and arrive/departure info. is good. The central area of Saigon is walkable and you can get some good exercise while seeing local street and shop life while admiring the nice archictecture. Some recent historical notes on what happened where in the city piques the interest. There are many listings in this LP edition for additional reading on Vietnam, and these books can be picked up here in the city, thanks to master copying abilities and black market. Changes are taking place here rapidly, but the communist government remains paranoid

3 comments about In Search of Southeast Asia: A Modern History (Revised).

1. Wow! What a volume. As I mentioned in my review of a Cambridge History of the same region, ignorance of this region is simply not wise, and I would dare say not an option. In this day of terrorism and other geopolitical concerns, we remain ignorant of this region at our peril. This book will give the reader a good basic explanation of the ten countries (at the time this book was published) that make up this region.
   
   This work is divided into five parts. The first part is entitled "The Eighteenth-Century World." In it, the authors describe the various forces affecting peasants, tribal peoples, village-life, etc. over the region as a whole before focusing on specific countries (many of which were colonies at the time.)
   
   Part two, entitled "New Challenges to Old Authority" goes country/region by country/region and talks about the major changes coming to the region, much of which is brought by the European powers and the expansion of the role that they have had there for more than 200 years by that point. The section covers from 1750 to 1875.
   
   Part three is entitled "Framework for Nations." This shortest section of the books looks at various forces, such as economic transformation, that are affecting the entire region.
   
   Part four, "Social Change and the Emergence of Nationalism" basically covers the first few decades of the twentieth century prior to World War II. Effects of the newer, more direct, forms of colonial systems are discussed as well as the emergence of nationalism, first in the Philippines, throughout the region.
   
   Part five contains an examination of the post-war history of the region, focusing on the themes of independence and social change.
   
   This is a heavy work and dense at times, but that is to a point unavoidable due to the subject matter at hand. However, this is a must-have volume for anyone wishing to become familiar with the modern history as well as the peoples that make up one of the world's least discussed, but most vital regions.



2. If you are interested in history, or perhaps if you just had to sit through history way back when, you probably heard about "no taxation without representation", Gettysburg, Disraeli, the Magna Carta, Charlemagne, Voltaire, and Cheops' Pyramid, to take a few out of the grab bag. Whether or not you've heard of similarly central and basic events or people in Southeast Asia is another question. Most people in English-speaking countries are a bit vague if asked about Arakan (a long independent kingdom now part of Burma or Myanmar) or Cebuano (one of the most important Philippine languages), Tu Duc (the last major emperor of Vietnam who died in 1883) or Kartini (a Javanese woman whose letters are a monument to modernization and change in Indonesia). I first used the 1973 edition of this book more than 30 years ago when I had to teach an introductory course on Southeast Asia. I found it an invaluable source of information, in an excellently organized format. The authors wisely did not try to cover two thousand years or more of history for the eleven countries-Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, East Timor, Brunei, and the Philippines-making up the region. They begin with an excellent picture of the 18th century world, including fishermen and rice farmers, religion, trade, local rulers and colonial rulers (at that time, only the Spanish in part of the Philippines). This section alone is worth the price of the book as a marvelous integrated history. The next section deals with the way each major society dealt with the impinging outside world, which arrived in the shape of colonial economic and political encroachments and ultimate control. Each colonial power adopted particular measures, producing differing reactions from the inevitable nationalist movements. Meanwhile Chinese and Indian businessmen, then Japanese military occupation added new elements to the historical mix. People who want up-to-date material must look for the later edition. My edition of IN SEARCH OF SOUTHEAST ASIA does not discuss much after 1960, leaving out the Second Indochina War, the economic transformation of Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia since then, the impact of oil in Indonesia, and the Cambodian genocide. But in any case, as an introduction to Southeast Asia, as a background work for the study of any one of the countries mentioned, this book would be hard to beat. It contains some excellent maps and detailed information on a myriad subjects. Its style is serious, but not unreadable. If you read the whole thing, you will know more about Southeast Asia than 99% of Westerners. And that's a shame.



3. This is a wonderful introduction to the history of Southeast Asia, ranging from the early modern period of the region to the influence of colonialism on the society and culture of Southeast Asian countries. There is also good background information on the individual countries which comprise the area.