5 comments about Old Kyoto: The Updated Guide to Traditional Shops, Restaurants, and Inns.

1. Great to have a guide that is focused specifically to Old Kyoto. It offers information beyond that of other travel guides and is perfect if you are interested in finding special places that may otherwise be missed. The author's personal knowledge and experiences there add to the quality of the book.



2. At first when I received this book, I was bummed that there were no colored pictures, but after I started reading it, I could not put it down. I really felt like the author was giving me a private tour of the shops, restaurants and inns featured in this book. I also bought Kyoto Seven Paths to the Heart of the City, which has beautiful and artistic photographs. I would recommend getting both books, one for the detailed information and one for the visual gratification of Kyoto. This book will go to Japan with us on our trip.



3. The book itself is exquisite, from its cover to its size, its binding, and pages. The text is well-written, witty, and quaint.
   
   The recommendations for accommodations are out-of-this-world beautiful!
   However, to our utter dismay, we could not even come close to affording the least expensive option - I am talking about hotel rooms which cost $500 and above per night. Granted, there were a few for $200 and above a night, but still....
   
   I recommend this book for someone (lucky) who wants the time of their life in the most astonishing of places to live and eat; without strings attached to money.
   
   For those of you out there who are middle class, just forget about getting this guide. It's a big tease.



4. This is a lovely book. The author lived in Kyoto for many years before moving back to the US. It has a listing of all the nice little shops and restaurants that you want to go to. These are (fortunately) not in most of the tourist guides. Note that this book does not include tourist attractions, so get something else for that.



5. We have been to Kyoto many times, but just discovered this little gem last year. It was great at taking us to small, traditional shops and restaurants, almost always without other Western tourists present. Also, many of the recommendations for restaurants are not terribly expensive, which is very useful in Japan.

5 comments about Shanghai (City Guide).

1. I recently returned from a trip to Shanghai and thought this was a great guide to the city. Although I love to explore most places on my own, I found Shanghai to be slightly intimidating (especially with all the ongoing construction), so I was definitely thankful I had this book with me.
   Pros:
   * Up-to-date information
   * Offers a lot of good insight into Shanghai and the Shanghainese. I found the sections like identity, cuisine, economy, and architecture to be quite readable and interesting.
   * Good maps
   Cons:
   * I was surprised by the other reviews, as my edition has Chinese for each address mentioned in the book. I agree that you initially expect the Chinese to be in the text (next to the romanization), but it's actually on the map keys. This is a minor flaw but did not affect me, as I often looked at the maps when I decided where to go. I guess if you never consult this section however, you might not realize that it's there.
   Bottom line:
   This was the most up-to-date guide I saw, and (as far as I know)is the only one with comprehensive listings in Chinese--they got me where I wanted to go every single time I took a cab. Good job.



2. This book gives ou a nice overview of the region, and incredible specific tips for visiting Shanghai.



3. This book is amazing. First time using a guidebook and first for the Lonely Planet. Will definitely buy more. Maps wonderful, chinese names for everything and very good restaurant recommendations. Found a tiny restaurant off a back alley and was amazing for a great price. Wonderful spend and would recommend to everyone!!!



4. I have read this book cover to cover in anticipation for my trip to Shanghai. I am hoping that it will save me time and money by giving me a view of the city and details that would take many months to aquire. It was an easy read and well organized. I would however recommend that you do a search online for hotel rooms as there are many deals in the hotel market that were not even mentioned in the book. Happy Trials, BB.



5. As of June 2007, this book has become out of date. Many of the shikumen houses that I went to visit have been torn down in Shanghai in an effort to modernize the city by 2010 for the World Expo. Maps of the metro subways are also out of date. The book currently has partial maps of the 2 lines. There are now 5 different subway lines and still many more to be built. This book is a great introduction to Shanghai, but it is out of date (just like pretty much all the other books on the city).
   
   To sum it up, pretty good book, but just don't count on the book being your only source of information on Shanghai.

5 comments about Beijing (City Guide).

1. Comprehensive, concise and well-organized. A great resource and a true bargain. The fact that this series proudly features long-time local residents in their guides says a lot about their commitment and values. I also appreciate that they inspire enthusiasm and exploration in the reader almost from the first page. Also note this is hot off the presses in August 2007. Unless they somehow got everything totally wrong (I'll know when I visit over New Year's) this is 5 stars easily.



2. I saw this book in a book store the other day and sat down to take a peek through it. Two hours later and I realized that, well, it was two hours later. This is a very good guide, but for a city as culturally interesting as Beijing, one wouldn't really expect anything less. Beijing is easy to get around (it's essentially a giant grid enveloped by a handful of ring roads) and the transportation system is a breeze, if not a little dingy. Also, there are plenty of engaging sites and areas to take in (the hutong are fascinating) and it is quite obvious which places you should see and which you may want to forego. The Lonely Planet doesn't always come through in the way you expect it to, but it does here. Moreover, it doesn't prattle on in flowery, over-generous language like it does it some volumes. I give this book a bouyant four stars.



3. The quality of the book does not compare with many others available. Very few pictures let alone even fewer color pictures. Information is pretty helpful. However nothing really stands out.



4. Compared to the other travel guides (I have them all - Frommer's, Time Out, Fodors, HoodHot), this one has good maps, conveniently located in the back of the book (you'll need em! and quick! to try and figure out how to tell the driver where you want to go) and a great index where you can look up venues that you wanted to go to etc. Great for finding good places to go in Beijing, and better when I used it with my iPhone (downloaded the HoodHot Beijing Taxi Guide app from the app store, which translates English venue names to Chinese and gives Chinese addresses), so I didn't have to bring the clunky book around!



5. I bought this book for the Olympics and was disappointed. It didn't have the full subway maps updated and the Olympics section was sparse. It needs an update as Beijing is changing rapidly

5 comments about Angkor: Cambodia's Wondrous Khmer Temples, Fifth Edition (Odyssey Illustrated Guide).

1. This book is an absolute necessity for visiting Angkor, at least if one has an interest in archaeology. In fact, knowing what I know now, I would have skipped hiring a guide and just rented a bicycle with this book as my guide. It is comprehensive, well-illustrated (although the illustrations are not always tied to the adjacent text--my most serious complaint about the book), and has the right balance between academic and popular interest. It is well-worth the extra weight involved in taking it along to Asia (I wish they had used cheaper paper and binding to make it lighter, but then the pictures wouldn't have been so inviting). Maps and organization make it easy to use, although the index sometimes is off by a page or two--perhaps they didn't update it all from the 4th ed. At any rate, it is far superior to all other guides I found on the subject.



2. One of the best guides that I have read. Very good background, history, religion,and description of the sites. In short, a great book.



3. Excellent, up-to-date info. on all sites; very detailed and accurate text on history and culture. Very informative for architects, historians, and other people interested in more profund knowledge/ facts. Far better than the other guides I've read!



4. After 6 days in Siem Reap with a licensed guide, this book is 'Cliff Notes' to what the guide tells you. I don't recommend touring the temples without a licensed guide, unless you want a quick, superficial tour. The only book that contains info on the temple Koh Ker (3 hours from Siem Reap, built in 900 AD) & the Preak Toal Bird Sanctuary (2.5 hours by boat across Tonle Sap Lake). If you want to truly enjoy & understand the carvings, the history (Buddhist & Hindu) & culture of what you seeing, read this book before you depart (it's too heavy to take), hire a licensed guide (not a driver who cannot legally take you inside the temples) who is trained to explain how the temples were built (different materials & methods) & what the carvings depict (Hindu mythology, Buddhist kings). Then when you return, reread the sections on the temples you visited... and it will bring back a flood of images & memories. Floor plans are confusing, pictures scant, but her historical descriptions & distances are accurate, lesser known, less touristy temples are included for the adventurous or art lover.



5. This is, without doubt, THE must-have guide to the Angkor area. Dawn Rooney writes with clarity, thoroughness and a balanced view of the monuments without talking down to (or over the head of) the reader. Some books on this area read like travel brochures, others like snobby scholarly textbooks. Ms. Rooney's book strikes the perfect balance between the two.
   
   I'm a research-aholic about my travel, and collect guide books by the dozens. This is one of the best I've read anywhere, about any area.
   
   This revised edition features tons of full-color photographs, good maps and many, many touring tips. I especially liked the fact that she talks about when to visit certain areas, where the best photography opportunities are, along with what makes each temple/monument unique.
   
   The first portion of this book gives a "just-the-right-depth" overview of the history of the area, plus overviews of the artistic styles, royal lineages, construction methods, restoration efforts, etc. Then the second portion goes into detail about each monument - grouped into logical touring sequences.
   
   I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If you've been searching for a guide book to the Angkor area - end your search now. This is the one.

5 comments about The Rough Guide to Taiwan 1 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. The Rough Guide (RG) is divided into four main sections. The full color pages at the front of the book give a basic introduction to Taiwan followed by "30 things not to miss". The next section, "Basics", gives general information about transport, accommodation, food, festivals and outdoor activities. Next comes the main section of the guide which covers all the places in Taiwan. The final section is about history, religion, aboriginal tribes, arts and language.
   
   I like the layout and design of the book. It reads almost like a book, not just a guidebook, but it is still easy to locate specific information. I think this is typical of the style of Rough Guides which I have used in several other countries. The maps are easy to read and many of the places on the map are clearly labelled avoiding the need to constantly refer to the key.
   
   Information about accommodation is generally listed in the text for smaller places with more detailed listings for the larger cities. Rather than giving prices for each hotel or hostel Rough Guides uses numbers to indicate the price range. The authors seem to have chosen a good range of accommodation.
   
   All the places that one would expect to be covered in a guidebook are included. There are also a few smaller and less well-known places that are covered. Of course there are many places that are still not mentioned. However, I think overall the choices are well considered.
   
   One important thing that is key to the on-the-ground usability of any guidebook in Taiwan is its use of Chinese characters and romanisation. The RG includes tables through the text with place names in Chinese characters, Hanyu Pinyin with tone marks and the mix of English and romanisation that is commonly used on signs in Taiwan. I think this works well as it leaves the main text uncluttered and easy to read while all the key information is grouped together in one place for easy reference.
   
   The RG has several features that make it stand out. These include the detailed list of festivals with dates and information about all of Taiwan's major aboriginal tribes. The section on religion in Taiwan is well written noting its syncretic nature and idiosyncrasies. It includes descriptions of all the major dieties one might encounter in Taiwan. Some pictures would have been nice here though.
   
   The detailed coverage of how to climb Yushan and Xueshan is excellent. Everything you need to know from accessing the National Parks to obtaining permits and descriptions of the climbs is included.
   
   Overall I highly recommend the Rough Guide as a great practical guide for anyone visiting Taiwan.
   
   (originally posted at David on Formosa)



2. The Rough Guide series has a new look, and improvements to their style. Rough Guide Taiwan 2007 is one of the new series. At the moment, this is the best guide available in English for Taiwan, and it is very good indeed. It does a fine job of presenting both major and lesser-known attractions, and is clearly superior to the nearest competitor, Lonely Plant Taiwan 2004 (more on this below).
   
   Still, there is room for improvement; see CONS.
   
   Taiwan is a fascinating but underrated set of islands, with friendly and helpful people, many of whom speak at least a little English or Japanese. The Chinese culture here is fascinating, but I had no idea before I came here the first time that there were people other than those descended from the Chinese. The indigineous Austranesian peoples add ethnic cultures, arts, and cuisines to get to know.
   
   The diversity of natural beauty on this island is staggering - mountains, rugged coastline, waterfalls, and unique wonders like Toroko Gorge. You can see it all easily because of the new high-speed bullet trains that can take you from Taipei to the south in just over 2 hours. (Buses from the train to inland areas are not as fast, of course.)
   
   Even if you have to stay in Taipei, there are many day trips to enjoy; Wulai is easy and worthwhile, and you could even take a train to see a little of the south, yet return the same day.
   
   PROS
   
   Excellent coverage of Taipei and (separately) each of the major regions, including one for the islands. An excellent overview in the first 24 pages, with color photos to give you a very quick introduction to the highlights, which will help you decide whether you want to visit Taiwan. Sections for Basics, and for Contexts (history, indigineous people, religion, culture) make it complete.
   
   CONS
   
   No maps section for quick reference, like Lonely Planet's, means you will have to search for the maps mixed in the text, and they are not as detailed as I would like, and use two colors. You will need to get a local map while you're here... but maybe your hotel can provide one free.
   
   RG misses some key details here and there. Example: to go to Wulai, it says to take MRT to the Xindian station, then take the Wulai bus. It fails to mention that while most buses show both Chinese and English, the Wulai bus does not have the English characters for Wulai on it, only the Chinese ones. It does have two Taipei destinations in English, making me think it was not the Wulai bus, and the bus does not have a number (maybe it is a diffent company). To take this bus, you need to spot two Chinese characters. Your hotel concierge, or the Info center at the Xindian station, could write them for you, unless you happen to notice that the name for Wulai is given in a sidebar on a diffent page. I did notice... the day AFTER I spent almost an hour waiting for the bus, only to learn that it had gone by a few times already.
   
   The Language section seems to be Chinese (Mandarin). It discusses the basic differences between Chinese and Taiwanese (a completely different dialect), but it doesn't actually say which is presented here. It would be nice if they had at least some basic greetings in Taiwanese and a few of the most common indigineous languages, as greeting people in their preferred language always brings good will.
   
   CONTENTS/ORGANIZATION
   
   Color Section (where/when to go, highlights), 24 pages
   Basics, 52 pages
   Taipei and vicinity, 80 pages
   North Taiwan, 68 pages
   Central Taiwan, 82 pages
   South Taiwan, 70 pages
   East Coast, 60 pages
   Taiwan Strait Islands, 62 pages
   Contexts (history, indigineous people, religion, culture), 41 pages
   Language, 15 pages
   Plus: two 4-page color sections on festivals and national parks.
   
   OTHER COMMENTS
   
   A warning: while many Taiwanese speak at least some English, and many younger or more-educated people can speak it reasonably well, you will at times need to look at the Chinese characters to find things (like the bus I mentioned in Cons). Unfortunately there are three different English spelling schemes used for Chinese words, so you will need fuzzy thinking using sounds in your head to work it out. Example: Xindian (the MRT spelling) is spelled Sindian on the buses. A road like Zhongshan might be spelled Jhongshian or Song Shan, but Songjiang is a different road in the same area. BTW, I have found that many Taiwanese can also speak some Japanese.
   
   LONELY PLANET vs ROUGH GUIDE for Taiwan
   
   I have always preferred Lonely Planet (LP) guides, and have many more LPs than Rough Guides. I found LP first and got used to the LP organization, which is reasonably consistent among their books. The LP city guides have a handy map section in the back, great for quick reference on the go.
   
   But the LP Taiwan books, at least 2004 and before, are among the worst of the LP series. They are hopelessly incomplete for the fascinating country outside of Taipei. Compare, for example, the 592 pages for Rough Guide Taiwan 2007 vs 384 pages for LP Taiwan 2004.
   
   Then there is accuracy and completeness of information in LP Taiwan. Perhaps the finest and most expensive Oolong tea in the world comes from the high mountains of Taiwan, and all kinds of tea are an essential part of Chinese culture, both in Taiwan and in PRC. Rough Guide discusses the culture, tea houses, and the two major growing regions for those who want to visit, and I consider the amount of coverage appropriate. LP has merely a sidebar written by someone who clearly knows nothing about tea culture stating, for example, that "the more bitter, the better." The truth is, for many Chinese people, a great deal of effort (indeed, the entire Chinese tea ceremony) is placed on brewing tea properly to avoid bitterness.
   
   LP is said to be revising their Taiwan 2004 guide for publication in 2007. It will be interesting to see if they rise to the occasion and produce a book on par with the vastly superior Rough Guide 2007.
   
   Update: LP Taiwan 2007, to be published in Nov 2007, now appears on Amazon for preorder. Since the page count has been grown only from 384 to 400 pages, it appears that the new edition is a minor update rather than the reworking that guide sorely needs to be up to the LP standard.
   
   Update: According to a comment left on this review, LP Taiwan 2007 IS a rewrite after all. When viewing reviews on LP Taiwan, disregard all of the ones with dates before November 2007, as they apply to the earlier edition.
   
   If you're faced with the decision between this guide and the LP Taiwan 2004 edition, I strongly recommend the Rough Guide.



3. When Rough Guides are good, they are arguably the best guide books on the market. The Rough Guide to Beijing is the finest travel book I have ever owned, and I have owned quite a few. The problem is: they're not always that good. However, with this sleek looking 2007 Taiwan edition, the people at Rough Guides are clearly out to make a statement: "Hey, competition! Look out!" This is a quality effort. Weighing in at a hefty 580 pages, the buyer also gets much more bang for his buck, important given the price tag on all travel guides these days. Yes, you may have to pick up additional maps on your travels (a breeze in Taiwan), but you won't have any excuse for not becoming informed. This volume makes for a great deal of jaunty, intelligent reading. And it has fantastic pictures.
   
   Taiwan is a fascinating place, and yet for various reasons (chief among them the fact that the government has no idea how to promote itself) it remains obscure and off the proverbial beaten track. What a shame, as there really is a lot to see and do. Places like Toroko Gorge, Jade Mountain, Taiwan's east coast, and the country's engaging collection of attractive islands in both the Taiwan Strait (Kinmen is a mere two kilometers off the coast of China's Fujian Province, for example) as well as the Pacific Ocean are all must-sees for anyone looking for something different in Asian travel. Living in Taipei, like I do, it is easy to forget that although half of the country is urbanized and - it must be said - quite ugly, the other half ranges from agreeable to stunning. A two to three week jaunt around Taiwan, with this Rough Guide in your hand, would make for a unique, once in a lifetime experience. Unless, of course, you were to do it twice.
   
   Troy Parfitt, author



4. The Book is a font of information that is preparing me to go to Taiwan in mid Januaary.
   It is both concise and in depth. I recommend it higly for those persons like myself who want to prepare to live in a new culture.



5. This book has all of the sights and activities that you would want to have but, the layout is poor. I found it difficult to use the book as a reference. It was time consuming to sift through the book to find where that particular sight was, most were not included in the index. I made it more useful by using bookmarks that I could turn to quickly to locate the sights.
   
   Also, they included shopping as a seperate item so, if you are visiting a sight, you had to sift, again, through the book to the shopping category to see what shops surround that temple you are visiting. And vica verca, This can be tedious

5 comments about Oracle Bones: A Journey Between China's Past and Present.

1. In Oracle Bones, Peter Hessler paints pictures of around 20 different aspects of China, typically answering "how" rather than "why" questions. He sketches recent encounters with the village police and the film director Jiang Wen in vignettes on censorship and democracy, whilst reflections on the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade in 1999 and the visit of George Bush to Beijing in 2002 look at how China and the USA have interacted politically in recent years. He also describes the perverse destruction of an old hutong courtyard house in Beijing, reactions to the upcoming Olympic Games and the Taiwanese elections.
   
   In River Town, Hessler's first book, there is an immediacy, which I know successfully takes many newcomers to China - including myself - along with its flow. Now, as a features reporter in Beijing, he tries to delve deeper, but occasionally the script moves little beyond travelogue. Gosh, do I know it is difficult to burrow; I was a non-Chinese speaking business researcher in Shanghai for a year, and since returning to London, I have tried - often in vain - to characterise the personal attitudes and developments in the country for my friends. Hessler has the advantages of good Mandarin, plenty of time and a host of contacts with his ex-Fuling students.
   
   This book is a canvas looking at the lives or incidents in the lives of some of China's "average" people; it cannot do more than give snapshots; it is not an academic study, but a story map of some of Hessler's travels around China. On the one hand, this makes for easy reading. On the other, the hopscotch of reminiscences leaves gaps, some rather big, for example, there is quite insufficient comment of how the Chinese personally interact among themselves - whether as friends or family, Party or non-Party members, men or women. But it is also important to bear in mind that the country holds a fifth of the world in population terms (the USA is a mere 5%), and has a long history - much of it peaceful, compared to Britain, though recently punctured on several occasions by chaos and famine - and that in one book it is impossible to describe more than a few surface ripples of today's extraordinary social and economic changes.
   
   These written photos, some of friends, some of mere acquaintances, are held together - I think reasonably successfully by Hessler's own investigations into the life and death of Chen Mengjia, the oracle bones' scholar. These archaeological finds are essentially ancient turtle shells carrying writing. They are part of China's roots. These short chapters in the book, which are called "artefacts" can be heavy going; but they introduced me to the Shang dynasty, to a superficial understanding of some of the origins of Han China around the city of Anyang in Henan province in the north, and to Sanxingdui in Sichuan province (in the west), the home of another ancient culture. They also lead into a discussion on the nature of Chinese characters/writing, and the failure of Mao's nerve to introduce a real Latin alphabet in the early 1950s.
   
   But in addition, Hessler revisits the feature articles he wrote for various US publications in the early part of this decade as well as his letters and phone calls from former students - Emily in Shenzhen, and William Jefferson Foster in Wenzhou, as well as his relationship with Polat, a Xinjiang intellectual and small time Beijing businessman. He describes Emily as one of his most motivated students, but once her studies were completed, she leaves to become a secretary in Shenzhen, aptly called the overnight city due to the speed of its construction since the early 1980s. For me, the chapters on her years there are among the most fascinating. Jefferson migrates from Fuling in Sichuan, to become a teacher in a secondary school near Wenzhou, to the south of Shanghai; the city produces some 60-70% of the world's cigarette lighters. The school is private and has to compete with a local state school: in one episode, Willy has to contend with cheating at exam time to help his pupils pass with flying colours and gain a financial bonus.
   
   One underlying and nearly hidden theme of the book is the emotional emptiness facing at least some young Chinese, far from home - at one point Emily speaks of normal life in Shenzhen being "bleak and petty - a steady accumulation of possessions." Though not justifying such a void, the material culture that dominates China should not be surprising - over the last 100 years many have died from hunger and/or poverty. And it is a point some acquaintances echo - "Ordinary Chinese could make a simple list of what they do in an evening - my parents: dinner, TV, bed; my cousin: dinner, TV/ movie, internet, bed; my roommate: bread/ instant noodles, DVD, internet, bed," a friend once told me. A second theme is the virtually incomprehensible turmoil (both to young Chinese and foreigners) of the Cultural Revolution, and the way personal revelations are hidden under years of denial, and even shame - making it harder, I believe, for individuals to come to terms with their past.
   
   As a small point, it should be noted that [...] calls this book A Journey between China's past and present; my version calls it - I believe wrongly - A Journey between China and the West. This may be because I bought it in the UK and for me, there are rather irrelevant chapters on Polat's move to the USA, and his life there.
   
   Roger Manser (London,UK)



2. In Oracle Bones, Peter Hessler tells the story of his time in China as a teacher of English and a journalist. The timeline of his tales is from May of 1999 through June of 2002. Along the way, he touches on some of the big events of the period from his Chinese perch--the captured American spy plane, crackdowns on the Falun Gong, the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, the awarding of the Olympic Games to China and, of course, 9/11. All in all, it was an interesting time to be an American observer in China and Hessler makes the most of it.
   
   The really fascinating parts of this book, however, are not the big events but his stories of the "unimportant" people he met while there. He keeps in touch with many of his former students and their struggles are eye-opening. Emily, who gets an office job and tries to make her way as a single woman. Willy, who struggles to be a successful teacher, make a family life for himself and keep notebooks on his never-ending study of English. And then there's Hessler's friend Polat, the Uighur emigre to the U.S., through whom we get not only a glimpse of what it means to be a minority in China but also what it is like to be new to the United States, trying to work and get citizenship.
   
   Of course, it's not enough to have good material. A writer also has to make good use of it and Hessler is a skillful writer. His prose is excellent, making this a great read. His clever use of the "artifact" chapters allows him to reach from his personal stories deep into Chinese history. The oracle bones not only make a nice archeological artifact through which to look into the far past but their study also gives Hessler an opportunity to look closely at China's more recent past, mainly through the story of Chen Mengjia, a scholar at times revered and reviled as the politics around him changed.
   
   All in all, this is a great, up-close look at modern China through the eyes of real people that has tendrils reaching far back into history. Anyone with an interest in China and the Chinese would be foolish to pass this one up.



3. I enjoyed Hessler's book very much. I must admit that I'd never heard of him before, and bought the book because it was one of the few titles on China available on the Amazon Kindle in November of last year. As a student of China with a great interest in the oracle bones of the book's title I found the sections on the great oracle bones scholar Chen Meng Jia very engaging, and in fact bought the textbook of Jia Gu Wen that he mentioned (my Chinese isn't up to reading it yet, but in a few years perhaps!).
   
   The author's interaction with an Uyghur merchant was also very enlightening, especially considering how the conflict between the Uyghurs and Han Chinese has been heating up quite a bit of late.
   
   Overall I found the book both enjoyable to read and useful to a student of modern China. His connections with people all over China made me feel like I am more connected to the real China of today.



4. Like Peter Hessler's other book, this is a great book about China. I have lived in and visited China many times and always find a lot that I can identify with in his books.



5. Oracle Bones is a tale of one Mandarin-speaking American's adventures in modern-day China. From befriending a Uyghur trader in Beijing that immigrated to the United States to staying in touch with his former students from Fuling (introduced in Hessler's book River Town) this book showcases China in a way that few foreigners get to understand. Hessler is a strong storyteller and writer which is what kept me coming back to the book day after day to continue his journey. While the underlying theme seemed to be the Chinese language and its origins and changes over the turbulent Mao years, the book contains some great chapters on Beijing's preparation for the IOC visit (of particular interest now that the 2008 Summer Games are successfully unfolding) to the history of the Kuomintang and its exile to Taiwan. All in all, this book is worthy of its awards and should be read by anyone with an interest in China's past and present.

3 comments about Vietnam and Angkor Wat (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. What happened to the rest of Cambodia? Last time I saw Angkor Wat it was still in Cambodia. What gives? Does Cambodia not rate reviewing? Gezzzz



2. Like all the Eyewitness Guides I've used, this is chock full of pictures and lively information. I'm sure it will be hugely useful on my trip.



3. If you want pretty pictures of a few sites in each city, buy this guidebook.
   
   If you want the in-depth logistical information you need while traveling - doctors in Saigon, how good/bad the train really is, more than a handful of hotels/restaurants in each town, names of interesting shops - buy something else.
   
   I bought this ONLY because Lonely Planet got horrible reviews and Footprint, which are my guidebooks of choice, had not been updated in a couple of years. I will never buy it again.

5 comments about Mangoes & Curry Leaves: Culinary Travels Through the Great Subcontinent.

1. I just got this book yesterday and I'm already planning my week's meals based on the recipes! :)
   I've made Andhra Style Scrambled Eggs so far and they are DELICIOUS, especially served with plain basmati rice, ghee and pickle.
   All the recipes in here sound very interesting. The dal recipes(tok dal and mountain dal) look like they'll turn out great.
   Being an Indian, I can certify this book contains authentic recipes that people cook and eat everyday at their homes in India. This is what makes this cookbook different from the other so called Indian cookbooks....the other books just offer a westernized Indian selection while this book focuses on home cooking that is prevalent in India.
   The previous reviewer perhaps eats Indian only at restaurants where everything is over spiced and the delicate flavor is lost. I just came back from visiting India and I saw that very less spices and masalas are used in rural Indian homes.
   I LOVE this book and will always refer to it when I'm in the mood for some different Indian food...although I cook mostly Indian at home, this book offers a lot of different recipes and variations from various local regions....so much so that I'm sure I'll be proficient in Indian cooking in no time!
   
   UPDATE: These are all the recipes I've tried from their book so far
   1) Scrambled Eggs (5 stars)
   2) Cachoombar (3 stars)
   3) Cauliflower Dum (3 stars)
   4) Tamarind Pulao (3 stars)
   5) Bangla Dal with a hit of lime (4 stars)
   6) Tilapia Green Fish Curry (5 stars)
   7) Karnataka Chana (2 stars)
   8) Hot Cucumber Salad (2 stars)
   9) Fish Bolle Curry (3 stars)
   10) Chappatis (3 stars)
   11) Prawn White Curry (4 stars)
   12) Eggs with curry leaves (4 stars)



2. The pictures and stories of the travels through the region are fabulous, but if you are looking for good instrutctions and pictures of the recipes, this is not the cookbook you are looking for.



3. I've had this book for about three months, and have flipped through it many times, but this weekend I finally bought the staple ingredients that many of the recipes needed, and tried out three of them. They all turned out delicious! Don't be put off by strange ingredients, they were all very cheap, and easy to cook with.



4. A beautiful book that can be a coffee table book, cookbook, and an adventurous travel read. It has gorgeous colorful pictures with short vignettes about the recipes and people of India. It will transport you to a different world and the cooks will not be disappointed with the unique recipes.



5. Plain and simple,..a must-have book. The recipes are well written and clear, the authors stories about their travels through the sub-continent are interesting and lend to their credibility, and they also have fantastic pictures, as well as information as to where to buy some of the more exotic ingredients...this book lacks nothing.

5 comments about Central Asia (Lonely Planet Travel Guides).

1. I used this guide when traveling in Uzbekistani cities in 2003. I found it very helpful ESPECIALLY THE MAPS.
   There were a few comments/inaccuracies that I noted and I called those to the Lonely Planet's attention. Despite this, this is probably the most useful reference for the English speaker -- at least for Uzbekistan. (If traveling in Almaty, I would first recommend the "Almaty Guide Millenium Edition" written by the Almaty International Women's Club.)



2. Central Asia is steeped in rich mediaeval architecture, soul stirring music, amazingly friendly people, complex history, delicious food & a sense of the prehistoric.
   Solo or individual travel to this part of the world is not for the squeamish amateur traveler. Travel here will test you and occasionally frustrate you. But, then the warmth of people and the amazing architecture and natural beauty will more than neutralize that frustration.
   A guide to Central Asia is your life support system. You won't be able to do without it and as usual LP does a great job. The information is very accurate and up to date.
   
   I only have some minor comments & recommendations for people planning to Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan.
   1. The shared taxi prices in the guide are notional. Most taxi drivers will quote a much higher price (usually in USD), which may be 2 to 3 times the price quoted in the guide. Their rationale is that they will take you out in a brand new Daewoo Nexia car and the ride will be comfortable (hardly ever the case).
   2. A popular scam is that taxi drivers will negotiate a price for a non-stop shared ride to your city of interest, but they will cunningly drop you at the nearest taxi stand & transfer you to another taxi, which will leave much later (1-2 hours wait) and demand that you pay them the whole amount. Some times, they'll even ask for an advance. The best way to avoid these scams is to insist on the same driver till the destination and do NOT pay in advance even if it means creating a big row & walking out of the deal.



3. Once again Lonely Planet has done a very good job. This guide is the best introduction to the five Central Asian countries. I used it in Tajikistan recently and intend to use it again.



4. This doesn't answer questions such as, "What kind of winter jacket should I bring", but it does tell you about the traditional Kyrgyz practice of wife abduction. The packing lists on the Peace Corps wiki are a good source if you need to know what kind of clothes to bring: [...]. Type in "Packing list for ___(country)___". Unfortunately, they only have lists for the countries in which the Peace Corps has volunteers. However, most likely they have people somewhere in the region about which you are interested.
   This book is full of practical information about each country (and some funny tidbits), some ideas for itineraries, and useful tips. Since I have not seen any alternative, this is your best bet if you want a guide to Central Asia.



5. Well researched and easy-to-use, this Lonely planet was our primary companion to plan our and along our trip to Central Asia.
   
   The only drawback is that the conversation guide is very limited (on purpose I guess), so if you don't speak any Russian, invest in a conversation guide for your trip.

5 comments about K2, The Savage Mountain: The Classic True Story of Disaster and Survival on the World's Second Highest Mountain.

1. A riveting read, this book chronicles the 1953 Third American Karakoram Expedition. The authors, members and integral part of that illustrious team of eight expeditioners, regale the reader with their account of the tragic circumstances with which they were faced while attempting to summit K2, a five mile high mountain, second only to Everest in height but infinitely more perilous to ascend.

   The book recounts the myriad of detail which went into the formulation of that expedition, from the selection of its respective team members to the type and quantity of supplies necessary for such an ambitious endeavor. The book, in fact, includes a series of appendixes which lists in minute detail a day to day travel chronology of the expedition, a list of all equipment necessary, the breakdown of the various foods taken, the medical supplies needed for the venture, and a list of financial costs and transport requirements. In short, it provides everything one may have ever wanted to know about what goes into mounting an expedition. Nostalgia buffs, as well as climbing enthusiasts, will revel in the plethora of information!

   The book also grounds the reader in the historical, as well as geographical, pedigree of K2 and the challenges which it has presented over time. It recounts the previous reconnaissances and expeditions which had traveled to the environs of K2. Interestingly enough, on this expedition, unlike prior ones, Hunza mountain porters from a small border state in northern Pakistan, rather than Sherpas, were employed, due to the prevailing political winds of the time.

   The journey of the expedition over the remote and primitive reaches of the then infant country of Pakistan is a death defying venture in and of itself. Imagine the expedition with its hundred and twenty five native Balti porters, each carrying sixty pound loads, crossing raging rivers in ancient barges said to be similar to those used by Alexander the Great in leading his armies across the same river! At other times, they crossed turbulent river waters, using rafts made up of inflated animal bladders which were lashed together. They traversed across wide gorges over bridges made of woven willows and twigs. These so called bridges had an alarming tendency to turn upside down, promising to send the hapless traveler to a certain death below! Fortunately, the expedition was able to avert death at this stage of its journey.

   Upon reaching Base Camp, an assault upon K2 was quickly launched. With the assistance of the Hunzas and a stretch of good weather, Camps I through III were established with a minimum of fuss. The Hunzas, however, did not progress beyond Camp III, as the expedition members felt it wiser to ascend without them, given the Hunzas' limited high altitude experience and equipment. From then on, the expeditioners, eager for a summit bid, did all the loading and carrying work up the mountain, ultimately establishing Camp VIII at an elevation of about 25,500 feet. It was there that the beginning of the end took place.

   While at Camp VIII, all eight members of the expedition found themselves storm bound for seven days. Despite being buffeted by hurricane force winds, driven snow, lack of sufficient food, drink, and sleep, all while trapped in the death zone without supplementary oxygen, they still clung to their summit dream.

   That dream ended abruptly when one of them became desperately ill with thrombophlebitis, and needed to be evacuated. Their nightmare had begun. Though it was seemingly impossible to lower the ill climber down the face of K2, this group of brave men would not abandon their fallen comrade. A break in the storm, a desperate plan to save their friend, and they started off with him in tow only to have their escape aborted by the potential for avalanche. They retreated back to Camp VIII and by the next day were ready to execute an alternate plan of evacuation.

   Once again, they began the grim descent with their now catastrophically ill and courageous comrade in tow, this time during a storm with driven snow and gale force winds. Braced upon snow swept ridges, they began the arduous task of carefully lowering their friend down the relentlessly steep slope of K2. There, two of them survived a skirmish with an avalanche. Despite the peril, they continued down the mountain with great fortitude. Suddenly, one of them lost his footing, however, and five of them went tumbling down the mountain side, only to have their fall abruptly checked by an amazing belay executed by the youngest member of the expedition. Despite illness, injuries and frost bite, the eight man team was still intact.

   Unfortunately, it was not to remain thus. Shortly after, a heartbreaking and tragic accident occurred, resulting in a death which will move the reader to tears. The book culminates in a remarkable and harrowing descent by the remaining survivors, many of whom were incapacitated by the injuries and frostbite incurred along the way. Their survival is a testament to the indomitable human spirit and its enormous will to live.

   The story of the 1953 Third American Karakoram Expedition is one of the most amazing and spellbinding in the annals of mountaineering history. Gripping in its telling, it is a must read for all climbing enthusiasts and for all who simply love a great read.




2. Houston, Bates and Bell's account of their "53 attempt to reach K2 is absolutely through in its coverage. If this wasn't enough, they manage to allow us to share this epic struggle not only through their clear descriptions of the events but also by giving us their honest emotions. It was truly a well-chosen team who deeply cared for each other. How noble of them to attempt to save their dying fellow climber Gilkey when most would have thought it folly and how miraculous the survival of their big fall. I have a feeling that a weaker team would not have gotten back off the mountain. Excellent book.



3. At 28,250 feet, K-2 is the world's second highest mountain, 800 feet less than Everest. Mentally add 6,000 feet to K-2 for sheer meanness. Everest is considered a "snow" mountain; K-2 has everything. Snow, ice, rock, constant avalanches, loose shale and a generally evil disposition.

   In 1953, an eight-man American team attempted to summit K-2. The book tells us of their meticulous preparations, financing and outfitting. I was struck by the fact the cost estimate for the entire 8-man expedition was $25,000. I recently read the cost for one ~person~ to join an Everest expedition is $80,000!

   The two authors come across as fine, honorable, decent men. The entire team's bravery in adversity is inspiring. After a spell of fine weather during the first part of their ascent, all their luck went against them. One team member became seriously ill and a bitter storm locked them in their "camp" for seven days. The camp was a mere outcropping on a rocky ledge. The wind almost blew them off their fragile platform. They were determined to carry out their dangerously ill member. The task was almost impossible to contemplate, let alone carry out. They were not successful only because the storm was so unrelenting.

   I will not spoil the book for you by describing their descent. The authors will astound you with their story. Highly recommended




4. A 1953 climb still translates in 2002. This is a detailed account cowritten by two of the climbers and is very detailed including the long walk in. I was surprised how little mountain climbing had changed although it did appear distances traveled daily were less as they required 8 campsites to get to the peak. I find books on mountaineering expeditions very interesting although the climbs themselves contain long periods of boredom. This expedition is no different as a brutal storm stops the climbers just short of the summit. The book does a great job detailing how high altitude can effect a climber's body. One of the writers was a doctor.

   Needless to say, the long, unforgiving storm takes it's toll on the men placing them in ultimate peril. Getting down from the high altitude, steep face carrying a wounded member led to the most incredible living disaster I have ever read. Well, living for most of the climbers

   Read this book for adventure and historical climbing perspective.




5. Although I have nothing but the utmost respect for these reknowned climbers and their worthy attempt to summit K2, I did not enjoy this book nearly as much as some of the other climbing epics out there today.

   It is interesting to see the difference in climbing narratives written back in the 50's as compared to those written in the last thirty years or so. It seems like there was a different attitude toward climbing in the 50's and before, one that was more supportive of teamwork and cooperation, whereas many of today's narrations are more reflective of each person being responsible for taking care of him or herself only (such as the '96 Everest disaster). As in the case of Art Gilkey's emergency situation, the entire team without question (at least in this rendition of the story) made the effort to get him off of the mountain.

   I was somewhat bored by this narrative though (except for storm and the famous Pete Schoening team-arrest) and it's one-dimensional portrayal of the team members. It made me wonder if Houston and Bates were telling it like it really was. They were always very complimentary toward everyone on the team. But in extreme, stressful conditions (both mentally and physically) like these, don't people sometimes become short-tempered, or even withdrawn? But perhaps the authors' objective was not to give insight into individual team members and how they interacted with one another, but rather to just tell of their adventure and how, through remarkable teamwork, they were able to survive K2 against the odds, and live to tell about it.

   I also would have liked to see more detailed maps of their route throughout the book, so it would be easier to follow them on their ascent and descent.

   I won't deny that this book deserves a place with the other classic mountaineering epics, due to the extraordinary events that this team lived through. However, I prefer narratives that really tell it like it is, "warts and all." I want to get a true sense of the struggles (to feel like I am really there in the bitter cold), and come to understand each person who makes up the entire team.