4 comments about Tokyo for Free.

1. This is definitely not your average guidebook. Rather than just a listing of the usual tourist destinations, Tokyo for Free gave me insight into what living in Japan would really be like. On earlier trips there I never had the courage to venture out on my own. But by following Ms. Pompian's advice and great directions (I don't speak any Japanese), I was able to attend a real Japanese shrine festival and even visit some fascinating little off-beat museums. I kept it with me all the time. Highly recommend it for anyone who is even thinking about going to Japan.



2. There is just not another book like this one for anyone on their way to Tokyo, Japan. All of the airlines should offer it to their Tokyo bound passengers. Susan Pompian is to be complimented indeed for all her hard work in putting all of this important information into one compact volume. I wouldn't be without it! If you happen to be Tokyo-bound now or anytime in the future, my advise to you is...buy it!



3. Amazing book..we have been 'on the road' for years and this is the easiest, best guide we have ever used in 40 years! Now we are hoping that other exciting cities will also have a guide like this...not necessarily for 'free' but organized in this manner!



4. I recently used this book to supplement my trip to Tokyo (March 2005). Of the four items I picked to see, none were still there or were lacking an essential item. Not speaking Japanese, directions in the native language did not reveal the new location. I ended up wasting many hours. The publisher last issued this book in 1998. This is a shame since this book amply describes a plethora of places, and gives careful directions to each. After my fourth failure I sadly cast the book aside. Careful directions in Tokyo are a blessing. Most of the venues in the book are not mentioned in the major travel books. The publisher and author would do well to offer an email or Web-accessible forum. The address in the book for snail mail fails to entice me to send an update.

2 comments about Thailand: The Golden Kingdom.

1. This is a great coffee table book! At a reasonable price. It is loaded with beautiful photography of many different aspects of Thailand. If you love Thailand you will love this book. If you know nothing of Thailand this book will make you want to learn more. When your friends see it they will be ooing and aawing.



2. This was a gift for a friend that loves Thailand and lived and traveled there extensively. He loved this book. It is a great reminder of all he loved about such a beautiful country.

1 comments about China (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

1. I always go for these guides because of the color pages, photos, and maps. Visual aid helps alot rather than a whole lot of text which the other guides have. They have pics of common foods you'll see, etc. Wherever I travel to next I make sure I have their guide and one from Lonely Planet or Fodor's.

3 comments about Best Of Kansai: Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe.

1. Pithy, funnily written, refreshing change from staid travel books. No good for Nara, but great for Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe. I lived in the area for eight years and still I didn't know most of the places mentioned.



2. This was very helpful to us in our recent trip to Kansai/Kyoto/Osaka. No good for Nara, but plenty of other helpful things.



3. Lacking a chapter on where to stay, but naming a good local lawyer, this is more of a reference for residents, than it is a guide for tourists.

1 comments about The Lost Dynasty: Uncovering Sri Lanka's Secret Past.

1. First, I am from Sri Lanka. It was kind of shock to see it started with LTTE stuff and took some time to sink in that what the author tried to say. I think it was much nicer if the author started with a different kind of interduction/first chapter to capture the big picture of this book. I had a good understanding about the history of Sri Lanka but this book definitely fill some of the gaps in my knowledge. I gave 4 stars because of the introduction and first chapter but highly recommended.

1 comments about Tibet, Tibet.

1. I bought this book at the Rubin Museum of Art after enjoying an exhibition on Tibetan Art there. Boy! It blew me away! I love this book! The author writes beautifully...very direct, from the heart and extremely fact-based and balanced. I usually only read fiction but this book is better in that it is a haunting story that is actually true..ficion can't get better than that. I used to be so ignorant about Tibet...now I really feel the pain of the Tibetan people. Well done, Patrick French..this is a wonderful contribution to Tibet and literature.

No comments about Indonesia Travel Pack (Globetrotter Travel Packs).

No comments about Overnight Sensations Asia Pacific.

1 comments about The Search for a Vanishing Beijing: A Guide to China's Capital Through the Ages.

1. This book is absolutely perfect if you plan to discover a Beijing that soon will disappear - or already disappeard. It provides you with lots of well written stories troughout all the Hutongs that probably at the time this is written are teared down, so hurry up to take a stroll with the book in your bag!

5 comments about Hitchhiking Vietnam : A Woman's Solo Journey in an Elusive Land.

1. I am not sure what it was, but after finishing this book I have a bad taste in my mouth. I applaud the intentions of the author and the subject matter is irresistibly interesting. However, it was hard for me to get into at first because the book kind of rambles and it takes a while to get into her style. The style ended up suiting the journey very well as it was a slow and haphazard journey through the various aspects of Vietnam.

   Karin suffered many difficulties on her travels and I got very frustrated for her. She made it seem so difficult to travel around Vietnam (and she speaks Vietnamese!) that I am not sure that I want to go anymore. She experienced horrible guides that only wanted to squeeze as much money out of her as possible and a motorcycle that I was frustrated with and would have ditched long before she ever did! After reading some of the other reviews, I can now see why others would say that she is arrogant and haughty. It is almost as if she tries so hard to say that she isnt, that she comes across as being so...

   It was hard to get a feeling for her relationship with other people. She was an excellent observer and I really enjoyed her colorful metaphors and descriptions, but was frustrated because I was unable to grasp her feelings for Jay and her Mom. She has a strange journey with Jay and I couldn't quite figure out how they interacted together. Also, she talks about her Mom incessantly, but never really discusses her Dad.

   I was also very frustrated with her attempt to rescue some endangered species. She decided to support the illegal black market trade in endangered species because she felt that she could save a few animals. I was very disappointed with the reception that she received from the nature reserve, but am not really sure how she could have resolved the situation any better.

   Karin has an interesting writing style, although it may seem forced at times, and I was impressed that she did not romanticize her trip. She provides an honest portrayal of her backpacking experience and I definitely want to check out her documentary and the website to gain a more accurate portrayal of her journey and who she is.




2. I saw Karen at a reading years ago in SF when she was promoting this book. She could not speak Viet at all other than a few simple words. She made several inaccurate comments that made many Vietnamese Americans in attendance look at each other in puzzlement, but everyone was too polite to point out her errors to her. One of the commments was about how a truck driver's salary was less than the cost of postage of her letter to the US! Oh, my God! The woman has no idea what she was talking about at all. I didn't bother to read her book for years after that, but one day I found myself with time to spare and with only her book on the shelf at a friend's house.
   
   Dull layman writing with plenty of offensive conjectures.
   
   Actually, I don't blame Karen for writing the book. Everyone is entitled to her opinion regardless of faults. I do blame her publishers and editors for not knowing better, for not fact checking.
   
   Hopefully, this book will just vanish in time.



3. Karin Muller is an honest, fun and entertaining writer and world traveler.
   The book is a joy to read (finished in 3 days)
   I have read her newest book Japanland and loved it.
   As I always do when I read a book by a writer I love, I trace other books by them.
   Many times older books are not as good, as many writers mature and get better with life's experiences.
   Not in this case, I was not disappointed and very happy that I did not take to heart the reviews on Amazon.
   We also bought her book ALONG THE INCA ROAD and I can't wait to read it. (It is in my husband's suitcase and he is on his way to New Zealand.
   Karin Muller is the kind of woman you would be happy to call your friend.



4. I applaud her for being a lone Caucasian female traveler which is hard to do in any lesser developed country. She is also a good writer and had her moments in the book.
   
   Otherwise, she seemed quite naive about the culture and state of Vietnam, was overly optimistic about the people and when she was disappointed, became extremely bitter about her experience.
   
   If you want to read about reasons not to visit Vietnam, read this book. I would also change the title of the book because it is misleading. She really only hitchhiked about the last quarter of the book.



5. After reading this book, I would never consider a trip to Vietnam. Ms.Muller showed no redeeming features to the country and there has to be some! All authorities were corrupt, some people were thoughtful and friendly but most came across as mean and selfish and unhelpful. The author may have looked at her actions as adventurous but I looked at them as being unprepared and at times, even stupid. Can't recommend this book to anyone.