No comments about The Seven Sisters of India: Tribal Worlds Between Tibet and Burma (African, Asian & Oceanic Art).

No comments about Away From Home: Letters to My Family.

3 comments about Our Journey from Tibet.

1. I am 33 years old. I read this book for the first time today. These child's courage and bravery in this journey outshines all else. From the beginning to end this small child went through more hardship than most people I know of. What brings this book to light with most people is the quality of the pictures and the words. To be able to put the images that come to mind with pictures of such a dangerous journey is VERY Commendable. It also brings home the environment of what Tibets' children are facing each day. Makes me want to reach out to this child and hug her and tell her that it's over and it wont happen again.



2. Although the book was written for children, as an adult I found it very interesting. The color pictures on every page bring the story to life. I liked the book so much I ordered another one for my niece. She is 9 years old, and is anxious to bring the book to school on a "show and tell" day.



3. Under the occupation of the People's Republic of China, school in Tibet is too expensive for most families to allow their children to attend (Tibetans normally have large families while the Chinese are allowed to have only one child per family). Of course, for those who can afford to attend, the traditional Tibetan teachings are banned. Consequently, the Tibetan Children's Village was established in the city of Dharamsala in India with the motto "Others Before Self." "Our Journey from Tibet" is based by Laurie Dolphin on the dangerous journey taken by a young girl named Sonam to travel from her home in Tibet, through the mountains of the Himalaya in Nepal, to India. There, with other children who had taken a similar journey, Sonam learns about the language, religion, and history of her homeland. Dolphin, who has been a student of Tibetan Buddhism for several years, was inspired by the plight of these children to write this book as a means of helping to preserve Tibetan culture. "Our Journey from Tibet" is illustrated with photographs by Nancy Jo Johnson, who has produced several stories for "Life" and "National Geographic." The book also includes a message from Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, and an afterword by Rinchen K. Choegyal, Minister-in-Charge for Education for the Tibetan government in exile. As much as the story of a young girl having to take a perilous journey, the efforts of the people of Tibet to keep alive their Buddhist religious traditions, to reestablish in exile the monastic institutions destroyed in Tibet under the Chinese, and to teach their children their culture as part of a modern education is equally inspirational. Young students researching the land of Tibet for school would be well served by looking at "Our Journey From Tibet" as well to really get an idea of what live is like for children only slightly younger than themselves living on the other side of the world.

No comments about India Series: Elephanta (India (Antique Collectors Club)).

No comments about Himalayan Circuit: The Story of a Journey in the Inner Himalayas (Oxford India Paperbacks).

2 comments about Norman Lewis Omnibus: A Dragon Apparent; Golden Earth; & a Goddess in the Stones.

1. It's not surprising that reviews here are scarce. Norman Lewis has long been regarded the writer's writer, a man so deft in the application of words to a page that his are works known predominantly to purists and afficionados. A number of his books are out-of-print, and of those that aren't several are handled by boutique houses (hats off to Eland of London). His style is an absolute mastery of concise communication, rejecting of the modern malaise of frippery, affectation and redundant usage. Through a self-effacing eye he draws only details most vivid, and his penchant for the singular circumstance rivals that of any clandestine agent. And all this set off here and there with trace elements of irony and understatement.

   The Omnibus brings together three of Lewis's works on Asia: A Dragon Apparent (Indochina, 1951), Golden Earth (Burma, 1952), and A Goddess In The Stones (India, 1991). It's a great slab of a book and every page of it a joy. Outstanding.




2. I bought this in a bookstore in Chiang Mai, Thailand, prior to a year-long adventure living in Vietnam. Because of the move I was really only interested in the first book, A DRAGON APPARENT, about Lewis's travels in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, but it was nice to have the inclusion of the other two. Lewis was an interesting fellow, and his dispatches from a Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Burma that no longer exist are invaluable. Lewis travelled to these places in the 1950s, before the American war in Vietnam, the Khmer Rouge, and the current dictatorial regime in Burma (now Myanmar). He spent a lot of time with the minority tribes (especially in Vietnam and Burma), many of which no longer exist or exist today in a degraded state as tourist attractions for Westerners. Even when Lewis was there many of these people were marginalized by the national majority and on the verge of extinction. As anthropological studies these books excel. Lewis is also a master of dry observation. On what he feels is a summation of the difference between the East and the West: a man on a bicycle is very nearly killed by a truck on the crowded streets of Saigon; the bicycle is totaled but the bicyclist is uninjured. The truck driver and bicyclist proceed to heartily congratulate each other on the bicyclist's luck at surviving.
   
   An indication of the problems of the books can be gleaned from quotes from the jacket and first pages of the book, two of which mention Lewis's ability to make boring or banal things "interesting." There is a lot of banality in these books, mostly in the first book, A DRAGON APPARENT. Although always impeccably written, Lewis can often be more literary than informative or insightful, and there are stretches that are a bit of a slog. Most of A DRAGON APPARENT takes place in Vietnam, but Lewis has very little interaction with the Vietnamese outside of Saigon - from Saigon he soon hits the hills in the south to explore the minority tribes, his main area of interest. While the sections covering the characteristics of the obscure tribes he comes across are interesting (to varying degrees), the Vietnamese, in the midst of a war and an uncertain future, frustratingly get comparatively little coverage. Same goes for Cambodia, though there's a long and strange tirade about the bizarre character of the Khmer rulers and subjects who built Angkor Wat. Getting the least coverage is Laos. Lewis visited at the height of the dry season, and though he remarks that the French colonialists considered Laos the ideal Indochinese post, he doesn't seem to like it very much and can't wait to leave.
   
   A DRAGON APPARENT was my least favorite of the three books in this collection. Some of Lewis's more disparaging comments should be taken with a grain of salt; yet, for someone who's lived in Southeast Asia for a couple of years, many of Lewis's observations (often thinly-veiled insults) are genuine bullseyes. In Laos:
   
   "The other difficulty was that of a slow, progressive,
   and hardly perceptible decline in health; a wasting
   away of the energy and a seeping paralysis of the
   will... Quite suddenly my strength had gone. I could
   only walk slowly and welcomed with relief the hour of
   the siesta. The siesta was slowly eating into the day,
   and now tended to last all afternoon. It was as
   essential as eating and I could never imagine that I
   should ever be able to discontinue the habit, even in
   England.
   
   I first put it down to the special kind of heat, to
   which even the natives of these countries never
   accustom themselves. It has greatly affected their
   history. The mountain people, attracted by the easy,
   abundant life of the hot river valleys, came down,
   settled there, and with the formidable gift of leisure
   built, while their reserve of energy lasted, those
   brilliant, freakish civilizations that were never
   given the chance to grow up. Soon they relapsed into
   peaceful decadence, adopted religions which were
   suitable to their decline, and which also fostered it,
   and became adepts of sleep."
   
   THE GOLDEN EARTH, about Burma, is a superior, more focused book. Though Burma interested me less than Vietnam, I liked this book much more. Because of Burma's long colonization by the British, many people Lewis encountered spoke English, and it is this aspect of being able to communicate that makes this book warmer and more relaxed than its predecessor. Some simple scenes stick in the mind: A jovial Burmese man Lewis meets along the way lets Lewis stay in his house. In the evening at dinner time the host's mood darkens and he begins to grumble to Lewis how much money his father is costing the family by staying alive well into old age. He turns to the kindly old fellow and adds, "You should die, old man. You should die." To which the father slowly nods in agreement. That cracked me up.
   
   The first two books were written at about the same time, in the early 1950s, but the third, A GODDESS IN THE STONES, came out fourty years later. This time in north India and, like A DRAGON APPARENT, interested mostly in obscure minority people, A GODDESS IN THE STONES may be the work of an old man but it is far livelier than the older book about Indochina. Although the interest in unusual customs is still very much present, Lewis is more aware of and interested in chronicling the part the majority-run system plays in disrupting these peoples' lives. This book has a political aspect that is touched upon but not deeply explored in A DRAGON APPARENT.
   
   For me the greatest fault of Mr. Lewis's writing is that he's just too... English. He earns a tremendous amount of respect for going to obscure places to write about the lifestyles of peoples who are in danger of vanishing, but reading Lewis left me wishing he was hungrier. I wanted more immersion and more emotion than Lewis offered. His writing is full of very English detached, detailed, stiff upper-lip observation; while his curiosity and interest are admirable, I wished he would be less clinical and more soulful. Obviously a person does not make such trips without deep conviction and faith in the power of travel, and I don't think one can fail to come away from such trips without deep impressions, but it's hard to glean as much from Lewis.
   
   THE NORMAN LEWIS OMNIBUS impresses with its eloquent prose and insights into vanished cultures, and it is a welcome departure from the glut of shabbily written, narcissistic, and empty travel books that crowd bookstore shelves. Caveats aside, each book in this large, heavy volume is well worth reading, and though this OMNIBUS is out of print, each of the three individual books are still around.

No comments about Royal Rajasthan. Kayita Rani.

1 comments about Kingdoms of Experience.

1. This is a very accessible account of a second British attempt to summit Everest via the North East ridge organized by Malcolm Duff in 1985. A previous attempt in 1982 led by Chris Bonington (see Everest: The Unclimbed Ridge by Chris Bonington for more information about that attempt) had resulted in the tragic loss of two climbers, Joe Tasker and Peter Boardman. Since the author of the book, Andrew Greig, had only recently begun climbing, we are intiated into the inner world of the British mountaineering society at almost the same time that he is being initiated. This account focuses on the inter-relations among the diverse personalities of the climbers recruited for this attempt. In addition, to the authors first hand accounts and summaries of the various stages involved in organizing an expedition of this magnitude, we are given numerous journal entries from the other participants. I feel that this is an important dimension that is not always found in other books of this type. Typically, books on mountaineering are written by a single author even though numerous individuals have been involved in the climb. In this book, we are not limited to the author's opinion of how some of the other members were affected. Rather we can understand how they responded to the demands being placed on them in their own words. Another interesting aspect deals with how this diverse group of people come together to work as a team and how they are haunted by the memory of Joe Tasker and Peter Boardman. While no one in this group summited, personal bests for highest point attained were set by most of the participants. For those that climbed into the Death Zone (see Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer and The Death Zone by Matt Dickinson), there was the realization that they were able to function at that level without supplemental oxygen. The book is very enjoyable and accessible. The commercialization of Everest has become a much debated topic since the tragic events of 1996 (again, see Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer). This book shows us what Everest was like prior to the hand-held guided tours that seem to be so favorable today.

1 comments about The Rough Guide to Goa 6 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. 
   QUICK INFORMATION
   
   The Rough Guide to Goa is firstly what it says it is - A guide. It has been put together to help and advise you with resourceful information for your forth-coming travels. This guide I would say would be exceptional for backpackers and holiday makers travelling only in Goa. If you are looking to travel other places in India please look to a more suitable book to cover your whole scope.
   
   When purchasing and selecting any travel books always look to see when the book was printed, this edition that I am reviewing is the 6th edition printed January 2006 this would be the most recent and up to date book in the Rough Guide to Goa series. Even though this book is a year old it still supplied me with all the information I needed books in this series are normally updated every two years.
   
   Just having returned from Goa myself, I found this edition to be excellent value for money all information given is extremely well written, descriptive, easy to understand, maps were detailed and were shown to be very useful and informative. For holiday makers it gives you some great tips if you decide to venture outside of your accommodation and take a closer look at life beyond a beach holiday, for backpackers or people just turning up for a few weeks wandering around, it can supply you with a quick fix in your moment of need.
   
   PLACES COVERED
   
   Panjim and central Goa, North Goa, South Goa, Around Goa, Mambai (Bombay) each place is also extensively covered with the history, the religions of Goa, Environmental issues in Goa, Natural history, Goan music and dance, Books. Language: Hindi, Konkani words and phrases, (food and drink terminology).
   
   BOOK OVERVIEW
   
   This book is beautifully laid out, we start with an introduction Where to go, When to go, Things not to be missed, I would advise you read this thoroughly before your visit so that you can make the most of your travels it supplies you with information on your expectations while in Goa. This is followed by the Basics, Getting There, Visas and red tape, information on websites and maps (please use websites extensively before you travel very handy for backpackers on the move) Insurance, Health (medical information please check all key points in this section before travelling) Costs, Money and banks, Getting around, accommodation (covering all ends of the scale) eating and drinking this covers places from the top end to a local shack on the beach. Communications and the media, Festivals and holidays, Cultural hints and etiquette, shopping and souvenirs, Crime and personal Security, Travellers with disabilities, Travelling with Children, Women and sexual harassment and lastly the directory (Things advisable to take).
   
   MY TIPS
   
   Going to brief over a few areas, Goa's number one income is made from Tourism therefore it's very commerical to other parts of India. I suggest reading this book thoroughly before travelling all website are handy for extra information, when travelling around word of mouth is the biggest source the people are lovely and will always go out of there way to help you with information. The hotels for Luxury Retreats are normally based to the South of Goa, The parties for the Backpackers look to the North. Markets (a definite for all) Nothing like the hustle and bustle great for a taste of India and you can pick up just about anything on the cheap of course haggling is part of life please stay light hearted about it all, the big flea market Anjauna (North Goa holiday makers can still stay in the South and travel North to the markets for the day they are easily excisable) Wednesday Mornings early till evenings the only draw back is the prices tend to start high some tourist will pay beyond (or will not haggle) to get what they want, always haggle, prices can start from as much as 4 times to high, but haggling remains all part of the fun to get your best price. The Mapusa Market (Friday Mornings) is good for Fish, Fruit, Spices, Sausages and other fresh produce sold along side tourist goods. There are also Nights Markets held inland from Baga that are really good but a favourite is Ingo's at Arpora which has a good mix of live music along side traders selling clothes. Fabrics can be bought and clothes can be made very cheap. You will no doubt at one point on your trip also be pestered by hawkers mainly on beaches begging or selling their wears it's just part of life in India. Temples and ruins are also a must again haggle your prices for trips (taxi drivers can vastly vary). As always enjoy yourself but stay sharp and keep your wits about you especially in crowded areas.
   
   There's also very many amazing beaches, so have a wonderful time relax and enjoy.
   
   A.Bowhill

No comments about Raghu Rai's India: Reflections in Colour.