1 comments about San Francisco, Chinatown: A Walking Tour.

1. As a professional tour director and author I'm always on the lookout for good reference books to popular cities for my tours. I am often asked to do walking tours of the Chinatown area in San Francisco and this guide is the one I refer to. It is also useful in understanding other Chinatowns in North America. It's laid out and written very well. I hope she does an updated version in 2002 or 2003.

2 comments about Far Beyond the Garden Gate: Alexandra David-Neel's Journey to Lhasa.

1. From early childhood, Alexandra David-Neel dreamed of traveling and exploring faraway places. "I craved to go beyond the garden gate, to follow the road that passed it by, and set out for the unknown," she later recalled. "I dreamed of wild hills, immense deserted steppes, and impassable landscapes of glaciers!" As a child, she traveled away from her ordinary life through books and museums, discovering a passion for Buddhism and Asian culture. Her talent as a singer, sent her to India, Greece, and North Africa to perform with opera companies, but that didn't satisfy her wanderlust. Finally in 1911 at the age of forty-three, she left her husband and home in Tunis, North Africa to begin the journey of her dreams. She would travel to the sacred and secretive city of Lhasa, the Forbidden City in Tibet. "Many travelers had been stopped on their way to Lhasa, and had accepted failure. I would not... I would reach Lhasa and show what the will of a woman could achieve!" Using his trademark eloquent prose and artwork, along with some of Alexandra David-Neel's own words, Don Brown weaves a clever and fascinating story in his latest picture book biography, Far Beyond The Garden Gate. Mr Brown's engaging text is filled with imagery, magic, history, mystery, and intriguing facts and details, and complemented by evocative illustrations in soft, dreamy hues. Together word and art transports the reader to Tibet for the arduous adventure of a lifetime. With an Author's Note to augment the story and further enlighten, Far Beyond The Garden Gate is a marvelous introduction to both an amazing woman and little known country that will whet the appetite of kids 8-12, and send them out looking for more.



2. while giving a slide lecture at the great neck public library on our biography THE SECRET LIVES OF ALEXANDRA DAVID NEEL I was handed you excellent children's book. You distilled just the right information with lovely pictures to show how fabulous her journey was.Our biography deals with her life and includes her journey which was amazing considering the Lhasa was so forbiddena at that time. CONGRATULATIONS1

2 comments about We're Riding on a Caravan (Travel the World).

1. This is a lovely, lyrical book that tells the story of a family's journey along the silk road, to buy and sell and trade goods along the way. The illustrations are gorgeous, the story satisfying. Each time my children and I read this book, we find something new that we like about it.



2. This book tells the story of a Chinese family of traders who travel the Silk Road from Xian in the East to Kashgar and back again. The illustrations are watercolours with rich colour and extra detail is added to the goods bought along the way. The background although usually simple and serene shows changes in the countryside travelled through. I feel the book conveys the romance, excitement and history of the Silk Road to children and adults. I have read it to my class at school and have accompanied it by excerpts from Yo-yo Ma's "Silk Road Journeys."

1 comments about Sailing Through China.

1. A funny account of one man's cruise down the Yangtze with a group of American millionaires... Insightful, biting humor. An accurate description of tour-isms.

No comments about Central China.

3 comments about Talking to High Monks in the Snow: An Asian American Odyssey.

1. I was reading "Growing Up Asian American" and had it for over a year. Recently I have been wanting to hear more from other Asian Americans and so, resumed reading the excerpts authors shared. I read Ms. Minatoya's story and was disappointed that there wasn't more! So the next day I went and bought Talking to High Monks in the Snow. And I have just finished reading it. It's one of those books that I come across infrequently, the kind that I absolutely MUST get to the last page before I go to sleep. Because of school I longed for the moments when I could sit and enjoy my newfound treasure, on trains, breaks, at home. Ms. Minatoya is subtle in her writing but it sure hits you when you're through with the sentence. I felt the pangs of pain and embarassment and degradation when she did. It brought back sad memories. The great thing though is that she isn't sappy and she doesn't want my pity just because I relate to her. Ms. Minatoya is eloquently matter-of-fact. With each section of her book, I was amazed more and more. I wished I went to all the places she has been to, Boston, Japan, China, Nepal, and done the things she has. Actually, I admire her because she was and probably still is BOLD and DETERMINED. She has gone to all these countries and actually lived and worked there, not just visit as a tourist. She has taught and communicated deeply with people in these countries. Thanks to Ms. Minatoya, I have this urge to start a club at my college. A reading and discussional group for Asian Americans and non-Asians. I feel that many in my school and city do not appreciate our rich heritage as much as I wish they did. A club that will teach and show through discussions, reading, and debate, the sincere, talented, proud people such as Ms. Minatoya. Talking to High Monks in the Snow is a truly wonderful book for Asians and non-Asians alike. Before I read it for the second time...Thanks Amazon for letting me share my thoughts!

   Debbie Yeung




2. I would suggest that you read this only after reading The Strangeness of Beauty, which is a wonderfully written novel.



3. Traveling always brings a new dimension to yourself. This is an odyssey of a Sansei(the third generation of Japanese-American) woman, who has been wondering about who she is and where she belongs.
   Like Amy Tan's "The Opposite of Fate", she wrotes about her background (her immigrant grandparents, Nisei-Kibei parents, sister and herself) and her identity crisis.
   After growing up, she went on a trip to Asia (Japan, China, and Nepal) and met nice local people, and found some family secrets and her new Asian identity. Eventually, she comes to feel more comfortable to be Asian-American.
   I recently happened to take this book while traveling in Seattle. I'm so glad to find such an amazing book.

1 comments about Spirit of China 2008 Wall Calendar.

1. I am a student of Chinese painting and calligraphy. I gave this to my Chinese teacher and he loves it. The images are so gorgeous, they have inspired some of my own paintings. The images are not actual, but are manipulated into form by layering photographs. I call it artistic license and the results are magnigicant.

No comments about The Great Wall of China.

No comments about Northern China Map.

No comments about Zagat Shanghai Restaurants & Hotels: Pocket Guide (Zagat Survey: Shanghai Restaurants).