1 comments about Samoa; A Photographic Essay..

1. Just like the book says it is full of photographic pictures. Outstanding scenery and beautiful people. Author & photographer did an excellent job in portraying the Samoan lifestyle, custom, family, etc.

2 comments about Islands in the Clouds: Travels in the Highlands of New Guinea.

1. I've been to Papua New Guinea, and I found this a very enjoyable read. Isabella Tree lets you get to know the people she meets, and her writing style really takes you along with her. This is just a short note to say "give this one a try."



2. Islands in the Clouds is one of the better travelogues to come out as part of the Lonely Planet Journeys series. Tree gives a good overview of the history, sociology and culture of the highlands of Papua New Guinea in an well-paced, beautifully written tale. Adding to the value of the book is its Tok Pisin glossary, which makes for a nice introduction to the pidgin/creole language of PNG.

No comments about Sidney Nolan: Desert & Drought.

1 comments about Lonely Planet Diving and Snorkeling Chuuk Lagoon, Pohnpei and Kosrae (Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Guides).

1. I purchased this book as part of my preparation for a diving trip to Chuuk Lagoon. It contains many excellent colour photographs of wrecks, coral, artifacts and local inhabitants. I found the brief history that accompanies each of the wrecks featured especially interesting. Likewise the diagrams of some of the wrecks, along with their various inclinations on the lagoon floor is fascinating.

   Invaluable for such a trip are the scale maps of the lagoon and islands which pinpoint the location of the wrecks and other major features/landmarks. Further, the book grades each of the featured sites using the Pisces Rating System for Dives & Divers and the Dive Site Icons, both of which I found gave an excellent feel for the dive.

   Finally, the overview of the area given in the first few chapters is a nice touch. It contains a brief history of the area, information for travelling to Chuuk, items to bring, weather, food, shopping etc.

   In this book, author Tim Rock, has improved greatly his previous work on Truk Lagoon in 1994. I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone planning a trip to Chuuk, or, who simply wants to read about The Most Spectacular Wreck Diving in the World (In my opinion).

No comments about Where to Wear Australia 2006: Fashion Shopping From A-Z (Where to Wear).

1 comments about New Guinea: An Island Apart.

1. Combining exceptionally beautiful photographs with well-written essays on natural history, this book is one of the best introductions to this amazing island.
   Of particular interest is "Chapter Eleven: The End of Isolation" which considers chances of survival of New Guinea's unique biodiversity, taking into account the very different political and economical conditions that prevail in West Papua and Papua New Guinea.

No comments about Six Months Off.

No comments about Australia (Eyewitness Travel Guide).

1 comments about Pacific Rising: The Emergence of a New World Culture.

1. I first read PACIFIC RISING in 1991, the year of publication and felt it was the absolute best overview of the Pacific I'd ever read. I'm not sure I've changed my mind, despite the intervening years. Mr Winchester, who lived in Hong Kong, connects Peru with Indonesia; Korea with Seattle; Guam with Panama. The book is filled with anecdotes and factoids, all of them interesting and worth knowing, but he never loses an academic focus. This is an absolute must for anyone who wants to understand what "the Pacific" is all about.

No comments about Insight Illustrated Australia (Insight Illustrates).