No comments about Sydney (City Guide).

1 comments about Fodor's New Zealand 2008 (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. I can not review the contents of this book because upon arrival to my house, I found it was way too big to travel with. I immediately returned it. If you are backpacking, this is not the book for you.

No comments about Living and Working in New Zealand, 4th Edition: A Survival Handbook (Living & Working in New Zealand).

5 comments about Hidden Tahiti and French Polynesia: Including Moorea, Bora Bora, and the Society, Austral, Gambier, Tuamotu, and Marquesas Islands (Hidden Travel).

1. As a two time, three island visitor to the islands of Tahiti, I did not find this book helpful because it lacks prices and it focuses on upscale lodging/food. On both trips, I've found David Stanley's TAHITI (by Moon Pub.) to be the BEST guide, providing you purchase the most recent edition, as Tahiti's hotels change with the seasons. David Stanley's guides are full of detailed maps, reviews of hikes, beaches, accomodations (from hostels to resorts), food... His advice has never steered us wrong! We owe some great travel experiences to his guide book; TAHITI by D. Stanley is the only one that you will need.



2. We bought 3 books and always seemed to rely on this one. Mr Kay gives great info on restaurants and hidden lodgings, which are the 2 most important topics for us. We actually stayed in one place that he labeled "hidden" and he was right! We could not find the entrance and when we did they were not open to the public, but they decided to let us stay and we were the only guests for a week. No other guide book listed this hidden lodging. Mr. Kay has a more personal approach and gives great descriptions, which the other guide books lack. And as far as not giving exact prices, it's useless to do so as these things change so much anyway. All you need to know is this: you stay in a big hotel where all the other tourists stay you will pay big money for not so much, if you venture out to where the real people live, you pay less and get better service, food, and memories.



3. I chose this book sight unseen because it included the Marquesas which weren't mentioned in the descriptions of most other guides. I cruised the islands on the Tahitian Princess. For each island stop this book was accurate. I followed several tips that maximized the onshore experience.
   
   Most of the islands in French Polynesia are not heavily developed or populated. If you are thinking about a land based vacation I recommend this book because the description of each island and its facilities should give you a feeling of whether you will enjoy your vacation.



4. My husband and I travelled to Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea and Bora Bora. This book was fantastic! I usually only use Lonely Planet tour books when we travel - but I have to say this book was 5 times better than the Lonely Planet Tahiti book! Every island we went to this book directed us to little travelled - non touristy places and we feel we really got to know the islands! I highly reccommend it!



5. Excellent book to have with you as you tour the islands of the South Seas.

5 comments about The Happy Isles of Oceania: Paddling the Pacific.

1. I purchased this books as background research for a project and fell into it completely. Theroux's attention to detail is magnificent, and his delivery of information and insight throughout his travels makes for an interesting and satisfying read. I recommend this book to anyone who dreams of seeing the Pacific Ocean isles but for monetary reasons probably never will get the chance. Theroux puts you there with him on his journey, and it is definitely worth the trip.



2. Paul Theroux is a great travel writer, and among my favorite books is his look inside China in "Riding the Iron Rooster." This book, however, centers on his adventures paddling his way around the South Pacific. Among the places Theroux visits are Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, the Marquesas, and Easter Island; in all, he travels among fifty some islands, from large areas to tiny islets without habitation. Using a traditional form of transport to the area (well, an updated version anyway), he covers a huge area of water and land that few people (except those native to the area) ever see.
   
   His reporting style is the true measure of his worth: Theroux has an unflinching eye for both the beauty and the horrors of the places he visits. You won't get a romanticized version of these locations (no Peter Mayle here), but you will learn a lot about the people and places of the South Seas. His traveling style is fearless, and this is apparent from many of the adventures he chronicles in this volume. Theroux sets out to meet the people of the islands without knowing what their response to him might be, and it is not always a welcoming one.
   
   I highly recommend any of Theroux's books, including his novels. However, it's in his tales of travel in which his true skills shine. His gift to readers is that he reports the truth as he sees it (good and bad), and he isn't afraid to make you uncomfortable. The adventure will not be what you expect but you will enjoy it all the same. In "The Happy Isles of Oceania," his unflinching eye will take readers to fascinating places they are unlikely to visit on their own, and it makes for some unbelievably wonderful reading.



3. Theroux is a master observer with a keen eye and a sharp wit. In this book he delves deep into Polynesia and Oceana and it's characters and culture.
   
   He uses a collapsible kayak that he packs from place to place to help him get away from the troubles in his life. Along the way, he has plenty of encounters. The result of which is a funny and interesting look behind the scenes and in out of the way places at the way people on these islands live, what they believe and how they go about their lives.
   
   It's a great read, and has inspired more than a few of my own adventures !



4. Good grief, if I wanted a tale filled with hours of tooth-gnashing hatred and bitter invective I can just go to work. It's certainly not the sort of atmosphere I enjoy when reading a travelogue to try and escape my workaday existence.
   
   I understand that the South Pacific is not the ideal place, but it is depressing to read Theroux' constant struggle to express any sense of joy in his travels or the people he meets along the way.
   
   For an alternative, more light-hearted, still realistic take on the South Pacific with far less spleen, I highly recommend Tony Horowitz' "Blue Latitudes".



5. It's been some years since I read this book but it still comes back loud and clear - what a bitter person he was. He "toured" the South Pacific right after he got divorced - and he distrusted and hated everybody. The book was published as we (me, wife and 2 teenagers) we sailing thru the SoPac in our sailboat - and having a wonderful time with the people, the islands, the beautiful environment - where people were happy and environmentally concerned - and this was 1991-1995. We loved it all and he was a bitter fool to miss it all.

3 comments about South Pacific & Micronesia (Multi Country Guide).

1. I used this Guide to plan my travels in the Western Pacific and although it is a bit 'old' I found its information is still mostly up-to-date and really useful. Great tips that correspond to real places, foods and opportunities. Have already planned on several more Pacific islands using this guide's tips.



2. All the information that you will need to travel through the South Pacific. Outstanding as usual.



3. I've been to French Polynesia using this LP. The guidebook was helpful (all places I've stayed in were found in LP). Contact information was correct and full. But somehow almost every emotion/opinion described in my LP never matched my own :) However, one would not invent a wheel by saying that French Polynesia is not a place where standard expectations for price/performance can be met.

1 comments about Fiji (Country Guide).

1. If you're goint to Fiji, this is the book for you. This recently updated guidebook is very comprehensive and provides excellent information on Fiji. I strongly recommend also buying the Fiji map, too.

4 comments about Tramping in New Zealand (Walking).

1. This is a great book for planning a tramping trip to New Zealand, although it's a bit too much to carry while actually hiking. The book contains good references and maps to the most popular tracks, and some of the lesser known tracks. If your tight on cash, I recommend going to the visitor centers in New Zealand and picking up the DOC pamphlets they supply. D.O.C. has detailed pamphlets on pretty much every track in New Zealand and they only charge about 50 cents (US) for each one. But if you want to plan a trip from home, this is the book to get, it's far easier to understand than the other New Zealand tramping books, and gives good information on what you need to bring. It also gives good info on the New Zealand back country hut system. Buy a hut pass, they're only 35 bucks (US) for a year. It even supplies some decent fly fishing tips for the rivers that border some of the tracks. But be warned that almost every other tourist hiker in New Zealand also has this book, so if you really want to get away from people, you'll have to do some bushwacking.



2. This edition is far better than the previous editions. It's new organization and additional information sections are a marked improvement. A new section on Flora and Fauna gives a highlight of any New Zealand tramp. This book acts as an excellent reference book while tramping. Of course, if the book contained every piece of required information, (i.e. highly detailed maps and every step of the way instructions) it would require 1000's of pages. The authors surmount that difficulty by including instructions on how to obtain additional necessary information. The book is perfect for those that are looking into or planning a backpacking trek to New Zealand.



3. By far the best guide available about tramping opportunities in NZ. The track guides are pretty accurate and provide a good overview of what to expect.



4. The book had all the basic info. you need for hiking in New Zealand. It's easy to read with a couple of nice pictures. Enjoy!

5 comments about Straying from the Flock: Travels in New Zealand.

1. Dr. Elder has written a fine travel memoir that made New Zealand come alive for me prior to my trip there. The title is a great metaphor for the book. New Zealand is far away, physically and psychically, from his home in New York. Dr. Elder enriches his adventure with historical background on the places that he visited such as the biographical sketch of Captain James Cook which is part of the chapter (titled "Meeting Captain Cook) about the Marlboro Sounds.
   Some reviewers have called this book a "guide book," and it has a great deal of useful information, but I consider it fine travel writing. I suggest that those interested in New Zealand read this book first and then get a copy of the Lonely Planet guide when they're ready to go.



2. I bought this book because it was the first novel I have ever seen about New Zealand. Basically every other book has been a travel guide, some of which are useful, but none of which are a narrative of a person's experience in New Zealand. Alexander Elder is a frequent traveler to New Zealand and he relates his story of traveling from the south tip to the northernmost tip of the country over the course of eight weeks (with a few days in Fiji and Australia). He meets new people and visits old friends along the way.
   I really enjoyed this book, my only issues were that I couldn't completely relate to his way of traveling. He travels in a style where laying down several hundred dollars to get a guided trip a few times in a week is no issue. I tend to be on a much more restricted budget. He also has a bit of a different attitude than myself, more strict about superb service and attention than I probably would be, but it's his story not my own :)
   He does give a good impression of the hospitality that is present in most New Zealanders as well as the beauty of the land itself. I often felt like I was right along side of him during his trip.
   This is a good read for anyone interested in New Zealand, especially being a tourist there. He also provides a link to his website where he posted the photos (non-professional) that he took during the course of this trip, a nice little addition to enhance the story.



3. 
   This is a wonderful travel narrative: entertaining, informative, fun. As I eagerly turned pages, I felt I was taking a "virtual trip" to NZ (both North and South islands), and one that provided me a sense of familiarity when I made an actual trip there in March 2008. Dr. Elder shares his quirky observations about the people, "straying from the flock" alternative lodgings like homestays and farmstays, the country's history, the local food and wine, and some key destinations on both islands. His highlights of places to see -- like Auckland, Queenstown, Rotorua -- and activities unique to each guided me in planning my own itinerary. The only aspect of the book that proved somewhat "dated" was the reported cost of everything. Clearly, when Dr. Elder made his trip, the exchange rate was much more favorable to the US$ than it is has become in the last year or so. (For example, when he paid NZ$100 for something, it cost him less than US$50. That would translate into about US$80 in today's market.)
   In summary, for anyone contemplating a trip to NZ, or just curious about this faraway land, I recommend this book as an essential part of your research and planning.



4. I'm off to NZ in a few weeks and was excited by the other reviews of this book. It sounded like a magical tour through a magical land. And while the stories were somewhat compelling, I found myself constantly waiting for something deeper, more profound, more passionate. The descriptions and especially the emotions in the writing were very superficial. Eventually I got tired of reading about all the wine and food and put the book down. Each day is it's own 2-4 page chapter which leaves the book with an unsettled feeling. Yes, I appreciated getting to know a little about a lot of things. But all in all, I thought the book was flat.



5. I wish my armchair grew wings and flew me to New Zealand, with the book's author as an engaging, enchanting guide! I followed his journey across that country and was transported into landscapes and homes he so vividly described.

5 comments about Four Corners: A Journey into the Heart of Papua New Guinea.

1. This is by far the BEST travel adventure book I've ever read. The first chapter is so intense I guarantee you won't be able to put the book down! Without giving away anything from the book (you can read the description on Amazon yourself), I'll tell you this book is exciting from the first page all the way to the last. Does this woman have a death wish traveling alone through Papau New Guinea? I've read her other book, "The Cruelest Journey" and that was also incredible. I can't wait until she writes another book!



2. WOW! This book blew me away, and like the title of my review states, there were several times throughout where my heart was literally pounding. Any writer who can transport a reader like that knows how to write. This book is definitely among my "Top 5" favorite travel narratives.
   
   Some reviewers suggest that there was too much inner reflection on the part of the author regarding why she was in PNG and what she was trying to reveal about herself. While this was definitely a thread running through this book, I do not believe that it takes away from the overall "picture" in any way. Any traveler who embarks on a similar trip and who doesn't reflect on why they're doing it has simply been on vacation. Those that do choose to reflect have been on a journey.
   
   If you are a seasoned traveler to PNG, like one reviewer annoyingly overstates, why would you want to read a travel narrative by someone else about the same place? Being there is always better and I make it a point to not read books about places that I have already visited extensively. What would be the point? So, if you've spent a good deal of time in PNG you probably will not get much from this book. If not, then I highly recommend it! * Side-note: Just because you've been to a place does not neccessarily make you qualified to review a book that takes place there.
   
   While I agree that some of the situations that Ms. Salak gets herself into do seem very dangerous she herself is honest about the immensity of these situations and does not try to down-play them in any way. Lucky for readers because this makes the book that much better. The suggestion by one reviewer that Ms. Salak in not respectful of PNG and the people that she meets there is unfounded and I do not recall anything in the book indicating that this was the case. This book is not a "PNG how-to" and the suggestion that the author's journey is irresponsible (and even unbelievable) is ridiculous, she is simply telling her story and it is fabulous! If you are looking for something to help you travel in PNG then pick up the Lonely Planet guide. If you're looking for a great adventure story that takes place in PNG then this is the book for you.
   
   I have resisted reading Ms. Salak's second book, "The Cruelest Journey" for some time now because I will then have nothing of hers left to read and that's a depressing thought! I eagerly await more work from this author!!



3. The book is full of personel feelings. I read travel journals and that is what I am looking for. If I want a guide I buy a guide. I admire writers who leave the reader with an understanding of who they are as well as where they are. Ms. Salek does a fine job doing just that.



4. This book was fabulous. It kept me riveted from page one. What Ms. Salak accomplished in New Guinea (with her intelligence, guts, wit, courage and luck) is truly amazing. Hands down the best book I read all year. A true travel adventure.



5. I have read both of Kira Salak's books and thoroughly enjoyed them. I am hoping she will write another one soon. Four Corners was great and I was able to compare much of my trip to hers (although mine was not quite as adventurous). I don't feel she spoke too much on the dangers of PNG, as one reviewer wrote. The dangers are very real and different than other countries. I also enjoyed the excerpt on her travels through Mozambique included in this book. She has a gift for writing. Hurry up Ms. Salak and write another book soon!