No comments about A Travel Companion to the Northern Areas of Pakistan.

1 comments about Heirs to Tibet.

1. This book is dated, it was written in the mid 80s and some things have changed. However, Andrew Powell's writing is so good that one finds it as captivating as a novel. Though at times he seemed to skim the surface a bit more than I'd like, the book was consistent in it's approach from start to finish, and the turns of phrase and colorful adjectives employed by Mr. Powell often made me laugh with rememberances of my own visits to the locations he reported from, and my own experiences with Tibetan people. Overall I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to truly understand the situation in Tibet. Even though the information is somewhat dated, it perfectly captures the thoughts and opinions at the time it was written and provides a very sound overview including history of the Tibetan struggle and dispersion of Tibetans in India.

2 comments about The Treasures and Pleasures of India: Best of the Best (Impact Guides).

1. Rarely does one discover a guidebook that delivers exactly what it promises. This is the perfect reference for the discriminating traveler who enjoys quality, wishes to discover the best shopping sites and wants just enough sightseeing to satisfy their cultural requirements. Traveling with a group of people this book soon became singled out as the preeminent guide for our purposes. The authors descriptions are very accurate and in keeping with my own experiences. Upon my return I can now reread the book and relive my travels.



2. Do you want to bring back a trunk or two full of Silver (real), rubies, pashminas, hand painted bone china and live like the maharanas in the Palaces? Well then this is the book for you. Its simple, but I would never have known to go to these stores and find such treasures without this guide. Who would have thought we would see a silver covered canopy bed for $3000! Its obvious that expensive hotels are nice, but not so obvious where to get good deals on products. You feel like an "expert buyer." I only wish they had more info on "what makes rubies or silver" real or valuable as without this book it seems so easy to fall into fakes (esp Thailand). Instead of half of the book being about haggling, if there were details on good books to read up on about: carpets, jewelry, silver, whatever can be bought in that country, this series would be much better than what it is. Obviously, you can never get a good deal unless you know about what you are buying but it could also be a primer on luxurious things for the armchair traveller.

No comments about Khmer Mythology: Secrets of Angkor.

No comments about Timeless India (Timeless).

No comments about Travels in the Himalayan Provinces of Hindustan and the Panjab: In Ladakh and Kashmir; in Peshawar, Kabul, Kunduz, and Bokhara. >From 1819 to 1825. Volume 2.

3 comments about Blue Guide Southern India.

1. Just returned from my trip to Southern India. I made the mistake of taking only one guidebook with me as they were all quite heavy and unfortunately this was the one I chose. This book is totally useless for a trip to India. Its emphasis is primarily on history and the sites of interest in this region of India. Take with you either Lonely Planet or Rough Guide instead and use the Blue Guide as an adjunct.



2. If you plan on carrying one guide book to Southern India with you on your trip, make sure this is not the one. Gives very detailed descriptions of the historical sites, which is valuable on it's own, but absolutely no assistance with the practicalities of travelling around the country. It will not give any information with regards to hotel, restaurants, local customs, etc. as one would find in those published by Lonely Planet or Rough Guide. Unfortunately this was the guide I grabbed to take with me and it was not helpful at all with assistance once I entered the country.



3. I have spent something like 50 years writing books on India and traveling there. I went to Madura first in 1959. Took a boat once in 1960 from Madras(now Chenai) to Singapore for $10 along ( a 14 days deck passage trip)with 1400 Tamil workers, who wre headed for new lives in Singapore. Ah, the old days ...
   
   Reading these book reviews herein posted I can only lament at the fools, nerds, idiots and generally feckless whimpy and clueless people who now "travel" if that is what you can call travel now to unbelievable, otherworldly places like South India.
   
   This book by George Michel is absolutely the best South Indian Guide ever written on South India ....which takes up the sites, and culture of India that has ever been written. Period. If you want cheap eats and cheap kips buy Lonely Planet, or the Rough Guide. They are your meat and quite good meat at that. If you want to know about South India buy George Michel's book Southern India.
   
   Let me quote one of the clueless and brainless reviews herein posted on this "review column".
   
   By A Customer
   
   "Just returned from my trip to Southern India. I made the mistake of taking only one guidebook with me as they were all quite heavy and unfortunately this was the one I chose. This book is totally useless for a trip to India. Its emphasis is primarily on history and the sites of interest in this region of India. Take with you either Lonely Planet or Rough Guide instead and use the Blue Guide as an adjunct."
   
   And if you are an intrepid soul - if you want another great book - try to scout up the hard to find Murray's Guide to India (begun in the 1880s) called A Handbook to India, Ceylon, etc.( John Murray).
   
   ...

No comments about The Travels and Journal of Ambrosio Bembo.

No comments about A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush.

No comments about Rajasthan, 3rd (Footprint - Travel Guides).