2 comments about Still Cruising- A Family Travels the World: Australia to Asia, Africa and America.

1. This is an excellant follow-up to the book, "Just Cruising." It is written in everyday language with descriptions and annodotes that puts the reader in the boat with the Copelands. As in her first book, Mrs. Copeland covers the subjects most sailors are interested in and leaves out the mudane. No maps and positions, no how to repair or replace, just good fun on a trip around the world. Read, "Just Cruising," first and then this book and you'll be packing the kids and heading for the boatyard...



2. I read Liza's first book "Just Cruising" and couldn't wait to read the sequel. I really enjoyed reading about her trip around the world. I wanted to leave my job behind and join her family. What an exciting life!

No comments about Uluru: Australia's Aboriginal Heart.

No comments about Must-See New Zealand (Must-See Guides).

No comments about New Zealand: The Artist's View.

1 comments about Cruising the South Seas.

1. This is a modern reprint of 11 gay stories by Stoddard, originally published in South Sea Idyls, 1892 and island of Tranquil Delights 1904. The stories are based on Stoddard's early experiences in Polynesia with very friendly, bisexual/ homosexual young men of his acquaintance. A few of the stories are very frank, but involve nothing more (in public) than affectionate caresses and kissing, etc. Truth to tell, they are rather boring, but do convey a dreamy atmosphere of south seas paradisiacal delight and hunky, affectionate Polynesian young men, made all the more poignant when one remembers that within a generation or two Europeans would slaughter most of the natives, or confiscate their land, resulting in the death of 90% or more of them, and their enforced christianization in religion and morals, etc.
   
   After you finish the stories, you may enjoy Stoddard's novel For the Pleasure of his Company, also available in a cheap modern reprint.

5 comments about Lonely Planet Bali & Lombok (7th ed).

1. I was so excited about my recent trip to Bali that I used 4 guidebooks. Lonely planet was one of the most useful - it pointed out the tourist traps as well as the great spots. Many of the recommendations are more suitable for backpackers than mid range travelers, but the maps are excellent and the coverage of the entire island is good. Bali will not be the most beautiful place you've visited (it is still a third world country)but it will be the most interesting,especially if you work at understanding the culture. I found the Moon Travel Guide,Bali Handbook, published out of Emeryville California to be the best Bali book. It had the most descriptive narrative (over 300 pages) of Bali's culture, history and customs. However, it is not widely distributed, but is worth searching out.



2. As a resident of Bali year-round, the number one complaint by almost every lonely planet carrying visitor is how inaccurate and outdated the lonely planet guides are. Whether it is Thailand or Indonesia, information that is needed on a daily basis is history by the time the lonely books reach the traveling consumer. Bookstores throughout Asia are piled high with lonely planets discarded by weary travelers eager to lessen their load. Lonely planet books do offer historical perspectives that can also be found on the internet, but the insider's information the first time traveler needs to save money and sanity their first days in Asia is sorely lacking. Updated info on how to avoid being ripped off from lodging to transportation to moneychanging is of primary concern to almost all visitors to Bali that we meet. Books as heavy as bricks with pretty pics are nice but hardly handy when you are in need of fast, accurate information. Try "The Beginners Guide to Bali" on cd-rom- it has weekly updated info and prepares the first time traveler to Bali for the unexpected.



3. As a resident of Bali year-round, the number one complaint by almost every lonely planet carrying visitor is how inaccurate and outdated the lonely planet guides are. Whether it is Thailand or Indonesia, information that is needed on a daily basis is history by the time the lonely books reach the traveling consumer. Bookstores throughout Asia are piled high with lonely planets discarded by weary travelers eager to lessen their load. Lonely planet books do offer historical perspectives that can also be found on the internet, but the insider's information the first time traveler needs to save money and sanity their first days in Asia is sorely lacking. Updated info on how to avoid being ripped off from lodging to transportation to moneychanging is of primary concern to almost all visitors to Bali that we meet. Books as heavy as bricks with pretty pics are nice but hardly handy when you are in need of fast, accurate information. Try "The Beginners Guide to Bali" on cd-rom- it has weekly updated info and prepares the first time traveler to Bali for the unexpected.



4. We have just returned from Bali (October 2000) and strongly recommend taking this LP with you. I have been a bit skeptical about the info of some LP's (Mexico-we hardly used it!) but in Bali whoever put this one together knew their stuff. FORGET THE PRICES MENTIONED, they've at least doubled for meals accomodation etc , but then so has the amount of rupee you'll get!! One interesting note. We took a taxi to the Temple of Gudang Kawi, an 11th century temple. LP justifibly raves about it. The only other tourists there we saw were holding a LP. Local tour operaters didn't seem to think tourists would be interested in it and must take them to more boring temples!(and believe you me, they get boring!)



5. I found this book quite informative and useful in its information about many different aspects of visiting Bali. The book provides wonderful cultural insights, historical background and detailed information.

   The only major discrepancy we came across, for instance, was that the book said that Kuta has problems with tourists being hassled by street vendors, but when we went in April, we found that the main street in Kuta (where the Matahari Department Store is) quite the opposite. It turned out that the officials had just recently come down on the street vendors and put a stop to harassing tourists there. Instead, when we went to the center of town in Ubud, we were hassled a great deal by taxi/moped drivers to get us to hire them; this caught us off guard.

   In response to concerns that the book isn't current on it's information, I feel that you shouldn't rely on a guidebook for prices, and that as a whole Lonely Planet Bali & Lombok gives the information that you need to know. It tells you in great detail about what there is to see and do, and where things are and how things work. I mean afterall, by the time any book reaches publication, isn't a lot of the information out-of-date? Otherwise, a book would never get published; it would be a newsletter.

   I gave this a rating of 4 stars only because when we went to Bali, we didn't travel enough of the country (and we didn't get to Lombok) to give the book 5 stars.

1 comments about Australian Wine: A Pictorial Guide.

1. This is a great book for planning a trip down under. Very good maps and information without to much fluff. I sure wish I had it to plan my next trip, but Joel Daphyne has borrowed it and not returned it.

No comments about The Barossa Valley: Australian Wine Regions.

No comments about Tracks.

No comments about Victoria.