No comments about Teaching in Wartime China: A Photo-Memoir, 1937-1939.

4 comments about National Geographic Traveler: Thailand (National Geographic Traveler).

1. The National Geographic Traveler travel guide for Thailand is a bit pricey for travel books of this type, but it is well worth the investment. Unlike most travel guides, this one is rich in beautiful photography. The book offers a wealth of information on the history and culture of the country, and it gives detailed information about each tourist site. The section covering hotel accomodations and restaurants is adequate, but there are other travel guides that do a better job in these departments. However, the great number and high quality of the photographs compensate for other shortcomings and tempt you to see it all for yourself.



2. Buy it for the pictures only. The organization and quality of information in this guidebook is terrible.

   The worst travel book I've ever purchased.




3. This book seems to be mostly fluff and pictures. It's all in full color which makes it appealing to the eye, and the pictures and general information about various locations are interesting. However, it's almost useless in planning a trip.
   
   All the hotels and restaurants are listed at the back of the book (separate from the other information about the cities, which in itself is annoying because you have to flip back and forth), and the selection they list seems completely random. For many cities no hotels or restaurants are listed.
   
   National Geographic would do well to cut down on the pretty colors and pictures and expand the actual information provided in this book. As it is now, it is a waste of money. Buy the Lonely Planet guide if you want practical information that will actually help you to plan and enjoy a trip to Thailand.



4. National Geographic Traveler is the best series of its type, and the NGT Thailand book has the same standards of quality as all the others. It provides an excellent mix of written descriptions and beautiful pictures, both of which are helpful in determining whether to include places on your trip itinerary. The only flaw is that the hotel and meal section is not particularly useful.

3 comments about Frommer's Born To Shop: Hong Kong, Shanghai & Beijing.

1. I purchased Suzy's last edition on Hong Kong, to guide me around this great shopping city. It was very helpful. She tells you the places to forget, and the places not to be missed. When I heard that she was releasing a new edition with Shanghai & Beijing, I purchased it also, for an upcoming trip to Beijing. I was a little disapointed to find that she had trimmed alot off of the Hong Kong section to make room for the mainland cities. But it's still a must have if shopping is on your "to do" list. Suzy seemed to list all the things I wanted to buy on my trip, she does have impecable taste.



2. The author hasn't a clue as to how to negotiate with the Chinese and does not give the correct warnings or prices. She is a "princess". I just returned from my 31st trip to China. There is almost no silk or original merchandise at the Silk Market. However, it is a lot of fun. There is not a shirt or blouse there that cannot be bought for 30 yuan ($3.60). North Face knockoffs can be bought for 130 yuan ($15.60) for their most expensive long jacket. Pearls at the Hong Qiao (Pearl) Market are of very low quality. Most strands cost about 100 yuan ($12). Learn the difference between salt water and fresh water pearls and how to tell the quality difference. Know how to tell if the pearls are fake before you go there. The fourth floor stores are just a different form of marketing pearls so don't be fooled by their nicer western look. Remember that only the store knows their price - and they will only sell to you if they can make a profit. Always walk away after making an what you may consider an absurd offer and after you let them know that you really want to buy the item. Make them make at least two offers before you make your absurd offer. There is not relationship between their initial offfer and what the item is worth. All this takes a lot of time so be prepared. Comparison shop before buying. All stores carry the same items.



3. Suzy's Hong-Kong only book was wonderful. It recommended specific shops, not just neighborhoods, for every type of good imaginable. It also gave fantastic hints like where not to bother looking if you wear a size on the upper end of the spectrum.

   The new book including Shanghai and Beijing is next to worthless. All of the shop recommendations for HK have been ommited. Some of my favorites from "Born to Shop Hong Kong", like Gemsland in the Mandarin Hotel, deserve to be mentioned as providing amazing service, great quality and reasonable prices to every visitor planning on coming to HK.

   I purchased the book in preparation for an upcoming trip to Shanghai. With the exception of the overview of the markets, very little else was of use. There are almost no local shop (non-department store) recommendations and suggestions for totally random (and useless?) things like wedding photos. In fact it only gives shopping suggestions for 9 categories- and included in that 9 are things like Drugstores. How are you going to Shop til You Drop in a drugstore?

   Additionally, the index is horrible. There is a whole paragraph on the Hoabao Building in the Yu Gardens, but good luck finding any reference to it in the index. This is just one example, there are many more.

   I was so disappointed in this book. Entirely way too much time spent on travel logistics. Anyone going to China is not going to purchase this book as their sole resource guide. Leave the logistics to those who do it best, and spend more time on where to shop!

3 comments about Tibet Overland: A Route and Planning Guide for Mountain Bikers and Other Overlanders (Traliblazer Guides).

1. If you are planning to carry out a serious adventure across Tibet and the Himalayas, then this book will be your proverbial Bible. It gives remarkably accurate descriptions of exactly where you will be from day to day, is easy to read and understand, and makes you feel safe in an otherwise difficult environment.
   I am not a serious cyclist, but with this book it was possible for me to cross what is regarded as some of the most challenging and rewarding off-road tracks on earth.
   It offers useful suggestions from what to pack to recommendations of how far to ride per day and it gives you detailed advice on where you can get food and water and even, when availiable, beds.
   This book is pricelss to anyone heading that way...



2. I've done a lot of travelling and mountainbiking throughout the world including the extreme 'Central Otago Rail Trail' and this book rates as one of the best I've read and used in years - the quality of information is outstanding and the author deserves further acolades for what he has done to promote this region of the world.

   I'd recommend this book be read with a Devino.




3. If you have plans to go to Tibet, you NEED to read this book. This is not a Novel, it is a survival book. After reading it I still plan on riding Tibet, but will be doing the fully supported tour. Pay serious attention to the altitude, and read up some other things such as into thin air etc to make sure you understand its effects.

No comments about Goethes Werke: Band X. Italienische Reise. Zweiter Römischer Aufenthalt. Über Italien.

1 comments about Coming Home to China (Posthumanities).

1. Yi-Fu Tuan is a towering figure in cultural geography -- so towering that he rises above the discipline's ceiling and is visible and inspiring as a writer/philosopher to a far broader audience of academics and "lay" readers. You certainly don't need to be a geographer to admire this book for its constant stream of observations and commentary on modern China reflecting Tuan's distinctive sensibility and preoccupations with home and place. Dr. Tuan wrote the book shortly after returning to Wisconsin from his visit to China, which he had not visited in over 60 years. The work is immediate and fresh, not re-worked into thick academic prose. It's a real gift for fans of Dr. Tuan.

1 comments about National Geographic Traveler: Hong Kong (National Geographic Traveler).

1. Honestly, I collect these books cause they're by far the best. You will not be let down. It's worth the money (or even more, considering the bargain you're getting here on Amazon!).
   
   
   I'm a real, true, sincere reviewer. If I like a product, and I think I got a bargain, I do the favor, and write the review.

No comments about Journal of a Tour in the Levant: Volume 1.

No comments about Journal of a Tour in the Levant: Volume 3.

No comments about The Sacred Mountain of Tibet.