5 comments about Travelers' Tales Thailand: True Stories.

1. Well..frankly i didn't finish the book but after several pages reading i know it explain how thailand is, explain thai people really well. and i know just because well i'm one of them, i'm thai



2. I usually don't do much preparation for international travel because my husband and I are so busy. We end up missing out on experiences during our travels simply because we didn't prepare. We definitely didn't want to miss out on anything in Thailand. This book was an excellent and easy read. I feel like I've already been to Thailand even though we're not going for another three weeks. Through the short stories and sidebar comments, the reader is presented tons of information about food, culture, and do-and-donts. Plus, this is a much nicer way of learning about Thailand vs reading a guide book that really just consists of lists upon lists. My only concern is that some of the excerpts used as short stories were originally published decades ago. However, I enjoyed reading them anyway since it offers more background info on Thai culture. I highly recommend using this book to prepare for a trip to Thailand along with a traditional guide book. I also recommend this to anyone who leaves to read and learn about other cultures. I definitely plan on purchasing Travelers' Tales, if available, for the next country we visit.



3. I've traveled to Thailand twice and studied Thai language for a year and a half at university. This book, for my money, is the best introduction available to the land, people, and culture of Thailand. It is not a straightforward travel guide; it is a way into the country without being explicit. As a westerner, from the essays contained in this book, I learned so much about a culture - and land - that is so different than the culture and land of the United States. Topics range from religion, agriculture, politics, and customs, to the bar scene, prostitution, and nature, etc etc etc. After reading this book you will come away with a fuller sense of who Thai people are and what Thailand is as a nation.
   
   My favorite story is 'Mein Gott, Miss Siripan' by Susan Fulop Kepner. I love this piece so much I must have read it about twenty times now. It recalls the story of Kepner's beginning struggles learning to speak Thai while living in Bangkok on business. Her characterization of the fierce and indomitable Miss Siripan - her language teacher - is a classic; one of the most memorable characters in all of literature. Kepner, by the way, is now professor of Thai language at Berkeley. If anyone knows her or will meet her soon, please tell her that I am a HUGE fan of her writing! Khap khun!



4. This book arrived in great condition. It is a very helpful guide to first time visitors to Thailand



5. This is a hybrid bewteen guide book and an anthology of travel stories. Quite a novel concept, except that it doesn't work so well as a guide book. There are only a couple of dozen pages on visas, weather and other practical issues towards the end of the book. This book works much better as a collection of beautifully essays - some of the best work by authors like Pico Iyer, Joe Cummings, Ian Buruma and many others.
   
   These essays are highly varied in terms of style and theme. Some are downright romantic and introspective. Some provide a little insider's information on things that most tourists miss out. Some are incisive social commentaries which touch on subjects which may be considered taboo by the sensitive Thais. The editors have attempted to organise the articles in 4 main parts, namely:
   
   1.Essence of Thailand
   2.Some Things to Do
   3.Going Your Own Way
   4.In the Shadows
   
   The 5th part only has one essay. The way these parts are named may cause some confusion. For instance, "some things to do" may contain Pico Iyer's musings on the impact on Thai tourism.
   
   I would give it 5 stars for the great prose, highly enlightening pieces like "Who Was Anna Leonowens" by William Warren and the brutal honesty of many of the articles that are not afraid to go against everything the travel brochures tell us. It's an extremely goo read for people who wish to explore the kingdom or stay awhile. But for the somewhat misleading format and arrangement, I would minus one star.

4 comments about Lonely Planet Thailand's Islands & Beaches.

1. The Lonely Planet travel books are really the very best choice. This new edition of "Thailands Islands and Beaches" covers areas up to date after the tsunami. It is complete and informitive. I go to Thailand every year and always bring my Lonely Planet.



2. This book is particularly helpful as it contains many detailed maps. As well, the accomodation section is very useful for the traveler who does not have any set plans as it helps to show several different price ranges from budget to high end & includes phone numbers & websites of them frequently.
   there are also tips for every type of traveler here in very detailed sections on every province in thailand. although it says islands & beaches there is a very good section on Bangkok city itself which is good as most people start & end up their Thailand vacation there anyway & spend some time in the city.



3. One of the worst guide books I have ever read Sparse inaccurate information. Even though published March 2004 tells readers a Tuk Tuk in Patong Beach costs 10 baht (it costs 150 baht!)Full of broad information obviously culled from other (older) guides, not learned by personal experience. Garbage. Don't waste your money.



4. I bought this travel guide for my upcoming trip to Thailand. I plan on spending 3 weeks, one in massage school in Bangkok and the rest at various dive sites in the South. So far this book has been very thorough on what to expect from Thai food, culture, etc. This is a great reference/guidebook. Supplement it with more current reviews/prices on-line.

5 comments about Butterfly: An Erotic Odyssey - Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines (Sex in Southeast Asia).

1. Wow, just finished Steven Yang's book called Butterfly. And, yes, it's true! I know because I live in the Philippines.
   Steven did a great job with his descriptions of ladies and sex, but I would have liked more "cerebral" stuff. By that I mean: more philosophy and feelings, more "what's it all about", more "humanity", and more artistry. He did some of that in a few places in the book and it made him more of a real person (that you could relate to, rather than just Joe average looking to relieve some pressure). Anyway, in the "softer" parts of the book he came through with the same feelings I have about Asian women: I just love them.
   All in all, it was a great snapshot of one cultural aspect of SE Asia. I hope to see more from this author, including the "photos" he took while on his odyssey.



2. Ever wanted to live that other life. Well now you can, from the safty of your home. Just try and find this info anywhere else, and you cant. Learn the subtelties of dating many women.



3. I bought this book after it was included in a search for men's erotica here on Amazon (of which there seems to be a lack of for straight guys).
   
   The book started off well and it was really interesting learning about the bars and what goes on over there as well as the people he meets and the places he goes.
   
   After that the book gets repetitive with the author getting up, finding a girl, bringing her back to his hotel, doing her, him going to sleep, and then doing it all again the next day. Many times the sex scenes were not that descriptive and sometimes very short - I suspect because the author has done so many girls it is nothing special to him anymore.
   
   Finally when he goes to Cambodia it gets interesting again for a little while because he describes the places that he goes and the people he meets, then it gets in to that "Ground Hog Day-ness" with him just getting a girl, shagging her, and then doing it all again the next day.
   
   After Cambodia he goes back to Thailand where more of the same happens until near the end of the book where he starts describing just going to the beach meeting groups of girls, talking with, and having parties with them.
   
   Note that the author never travels to the Philippines, he has a paid for girlfriend over there and whenever he got a crappy coc sucking he would mention her and how well she did it.
   
   While sometimes interesting I did not find this book erotic at all; it does not contain any elements needed for eroticism, there is no longing, no sexual tension, no naughtyness - it's all paid for and far too easy. If you are easily turned on then this book might do it for you, but I found myself far more turned on by the descriptions of nakedness and sex in books by the likes of Wilbur Smith.
   
   I actually stopped reading this book twice, because there is no real plot you can quite easily do this - there is nothing to make you read "just one more chapter" before you go to sleep, which for some people might be a good thing.
   
   Printing and binding was all good.



4. i had been to the PI once and had been longing to check out thailand. this book provides you with very good info and a good approach to sport f ing. prices what to look for where to look. thanks steve very well done



5. I've gone to these places and did some of the things Steven did. I only wish I did more of them. This book is the best accounting of a s ex trip. I take alot of them and would reccomend this book as a guide book to anyone who wants to do the same.
   
   Jim Clarey
   Hoboken NJ

5 comments about Thailand (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. There are detailed graphics, maps, and explanations of cultural issues not found in other guide books. However, they exclude major attractions and maps and attractions can be severely inaccurate. It's good for preparing a trip, but it's too heavy and not helpful enough to bring with you.



2. This is a great book with beautiful pictures, maps and nice glossy color pages. The only problem being that it is out of date! Having said that, I would not recommend it for your guide book if travelling to Thailand. Wait for an updated issue.
   I am well travelled in Thailand and some of the descriptions in the book make me feel like I was travelling in Thailand 20 years ago! Hope this helps...



3. I found Eyewitness Travel Guide for Thailand very informative, and easy to read. It had tons of pictures, facts, FYIs, and did I mention pictures? Like Eyewitness I agree that a picture is worth a thousand words. I also bought Lonely Planet's Travel Guide for Thailand, but liked Eyewitness' much better. Lonely Planet's Travel Guide had a more standard layout for the abundant amount of facts, but was limited on the pictures. The phrase at the bottom of Eyewitness' book holds true, "The Guides That Show You What Others Only Tell You."



4. This is a good quality book, something you could open and open again.
   Highly recommended!



5. Love these Eyewitness Guides and received the item in perfect condition, just in time for the weekend, a fire in the fireplace, a warm blanket, a cup of hot chocolate, and away I went to Thailand! Thanks for making an Ohio winter almost bearable!

5 comments about Thailand Fever.

1. This book is informative on a number of different levels. It helps to identify key differences between the Thai culture and western culture, and gives you the information you need to speak with your significant other about on these differences. My fiancee and I wrote and talked for months before reading this book. I could not figure out why she did not have an opinion on many things I thought were important, and kept saying "up to you". The answer to why she said this so often alone was worth the price of the book, but it gave me many more answers, and an understanding of the Thai culture you only start to glimpse if you read the internet. My fiancee also read the book (in both Thai and English), and said it gave her a much better understanding of some of the things I did where she thought I was being rude or pushy. If you have a significant other who is Thai, BOTH of you should READ THIS BOOK! It will save you hours of frustration, and give you an understanding and a basis of discussion you may never arrive at otherwise. The Thai culture is WAY different than Western culture, and their culture deserves understanding at the very least, and respect for many of their customs. They have a way of dealing with people that I personally find refreshing.
   
   On the down side, I thought the Western lifestyle was a bit too generalized, but it did give the basics for understanding so you could talk with your significant other about those differences. It also assumes that your significant other is in the Thai sex industry, which is not the case with me. It does not really discuss how Thai people deal with that industry, nor how a different background might mean different rules apply. However, again, it provides you an excellent foundation for understanding and discussion, which is about all a book can do.
   
   If you are reading this, then I wish you luck on the journey you are about to undertake. With patience and understanding, you will be rewarded with a wonderful, smart, funny and warm companion who would give their life to you. The key is patience and understanding, and this book goes a long way towards starting that process. Read it! Highly recommended, from both the Thai and Western points of view.



2. Bought 2 copies, fast read. Sent it to friend in Thailand to hear the other side of the story and to discuss when I get there. I learned a lot and hope she can too.



3. This is an interesting read but there are better publications out there such as `Money Number 1`, and `The Fool is Back`..I found the information in the book useful but i didnt care much for the format in that each side of a page was written in both English and Thai. The book is therefore aimed at a very small market.



4. A friend of mind gave this book to me and my husband (who is also Thai) as a gift along with the book Thai Law for Foreigners. He thought that it would be fun for us to read because it's in Thai. Even though the book is for Western - Thai relationship, it's good for us because there are things that we can learn about ourselves. Being in the U.S. for along time (15 years) makes me forget some of my culture and adopt many western cultures. It's clever to have the book written in two languages.



5. I was hoping that this book would provide insights into the Thai culture itself, but it was more like a guide to women in general, which I personally think is too broad of a subject to have a guide too!
   
   There are some bits of information that could prove helpful to a Western man trying to understand his Thai girlfriend, I'll admit, but in my opinion this book won't save a relationship with one foot in the grave... maybe just smooth over an already good one.
   
   One positive thing about this book though is it's a great language learning tool as the whole thing is written in English and Thai. So you can go through and try to translate the Thai with the answer key right there!

5 comments about A Chant to Soothe Wild Elephants.

1. Excellent! A well written and high engrossing read. Part autobiographical, part travelogue, and a highly adventerous recollection of Jaed Coffin's experience as a Buddhist monk. Jaed writes with pure honesty and an exacting recollection of his thoughts while undergoing his explorations. Required reading for anyone interested in better understanding Southeast Asian culture and ways! Highly recommended.



2. Jaed Coffin brings the reader along while he is at a pivitol point in his life. He gives a full access account of his thoughts, passions, and even doubts about his place in this world. The honesty and raw emotion that Coffin writes with pulls you in this well written first novel. I was amazed that this author has been through so much at such a young age. He is truly going to be one to watch.



3. Jaed recounts some fascinating experiences succinctly and artfully, some you would never expect of a Buddhist monk. What I found lacking was the dropping of some important motifs, specifically whether he pursued his Buddhist practice to any degree after he returned from Thailand, and how he ultimately regarded his romantic interest in Lek. For someone who belittled American culture so much (and I'm not criticizing him for that), Jaed was very American in pursuing an idealized quest abroad, abandoning it within a season, and going on to describe his next projects as though the pipe dream never happened. If the experiences were so fascinating and important, what were the ultimate impacts of them on his life and why?



4. This blend of memoir, cultural observation and travelogue follows the journey of a half-Thai American man who left his privileged New England college to become an ordained Buddhist monk in his mother's native Thai village. His spiritual and social journey comes to life in this account of a young man caught between two cultures and very different worlds. To call it a 'memoir' is too simple: to limit it to travel sections of libraries is too confined. It's an involving gem of a read.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



5. Jaed Coffin grew up in Maine, the son of a Thai mother and a white American soldier. His parents divorced when he was an infant and until her father died, his mother brought him and his sister on several visits to her ancestral home town. Growing up with roots in two cultures, he felt--as young people often do--rooted in neither.
   
   While at Middlebury College Coffin studied philosophy and, he writes, "had become obsessed with Buddhist thought and secretly imagined that my cultural background entitled me to privileged insight into ancient sutras." The reader might have preferred more on his spiritual path as a prelude to Coffin's decision to go to Thailand and be ordained as a monk. It may have been a question of family or cultural responsibility, like compulsory military service, but that is not conveyed in Coffin's writing.
   
   A Chant to Soothe Wild Elephants: A Memoir is Coffin's story of life in the temple as a chanting monk. He writes in an observational fashion and the details of this culture shock are vivid. He spoke very little Thai when he immersed himself in temple life, nor was his understanding of Buddhism extensive. And, it must be said, his commitment to the celibate life was not deep.
   
   The writing is crisp and descriptive but the main character of this memoir remains something of an unknown. Coffin writes of his "not sure heart" and after ten weeks, decides to go back to the U.S. and finish college; or maybe that was always his intention? There's a further decision to be made, about a Thai girl named Lek, and again the decision process is not explored for us.
   
   I give this book four stars for the lucid language and the wonderful story of Thai village and temple life. The fifth star will be added when Jaed Coffin digs more deeply into the motivations behind his characters. I hope he does that in a future work, so I can enjoy more from him.
   
   Linda Bulger, 2008

No comments about Frommer's Thailand (Frommer's Complete).

5 comments about Thai: Lonely Planet Phrasebook.

1. This is an excellent phrase book, easy to carry, easy to read and broken into easy to find section. Combined with a short language program this book carried me across Thailand comfortably. I mentione the language program because the pronunciation is a bit tricky to break down phonetically, altho Lonely Planet does a great job of it. I have used lonely planet phrase books for all of Asia and Northern Africa, but I must admit I use Rick Steve's phrase books for European travel. Lonely Planet Guide Books are also very good, especially for the bargain traveler.



2. I bought this book before spending 3 weeks in Thailand last year. I only cracked it a couple of times and had difficulty deciphering the phonetics. However, having just completed a Beginning Thai course offered by my county's adult ed department the book makes a lot more sense to me and I find the grammar notes and pronunciation easier to understand. I am headed back to Thailand next week and feel a lot more confident that I will be able to communicate if/when I come across non-English speakers. But for as good as this book is, I agree with the other reviewer that it helps to at least take a basic Thai course or listen to CDs like Pimsleur so you can hear the language. And as others have noted, top marks for including the Thai script along with the English phrases so you can just point if necessary.



3. This is a great little reference book if interested in learning Thai. Using some kind of on line or person audio assistance is necessary since Thai is tonal.



4. I am a huge fan of lonely planet guidebooks however I am not a big fan of phrasebooks in general. I have this phrasebook and can honestly say that i have never used it. The problem with phrasebooks is that no 2 are alike. Different phrasebooks give slightly different pronunciations (and with Thai slightly different tones) but again this all has to do with translation from one language into another which is not the best way to learn a new language( acquisition is proven to be the most effective but takes time!). However with this said, phrasebooks are practical for people who do not have time to study a particular language such as Thai which is very difficult for westerners and lonely planet is just as good as any other phrasebook that I have seen on the market to meet the needs of holiday travelers.



5. I've been to Thailand twice now and am planning to live there for a few years. This book has taught me the basics and beyond. I recommend it because the tone marks and pronunciations are easy to understand and the book teaches you the rules so that you can figure out different variations of a word. There is also an English/Thai, Thai/English dictionary in the back and the book is small enough to fit in your pocket. Thai script plus phonetic thai is included. The only downside I can see is that the words are so tiny that it's sometimes hard to see thai script vowels and tonal marks.

5 comments about The Hedonist: World Travel Guide.

1. 
   I searched Amazon forever for a singles vacation guide and finally found this little nugget.
   
   The only Bachelor's travel guide you'll need. Take Conde Naste, Lonely Planet, and add women, sports, and testosterone and you've got the Hedonist. These are all party cities, mostly tropic locations, with great fishing and golf at each. Complete travel advice on each city; customs, visas, sports companies to use, taxis, hotels, and the underground clubs to visit. For daytime activity, you'll find all the tourist stuff as well. Short, sweet and to the point. I've taken two trips and the advice was spot on, plus this book is witty and interesting; a hoot to read. All original, there's nothing copied here. This is the only book of it's kind. Highly recommended.



2. I bought this on referral, and would recommend it to anyone. My friends and I were trying to decide between Costa Rica and Cabo, and the book was spot on accurate for both locations. (we couldn't decide, so we went to both!) If you have the money, Cabo is pricey, but the golf and fishing are fantastic. They have a million dollar marlin tournament in October, and the book even recommends the best boats to charter if you want to enter.
   
   For a vacation, The Hedonist is very accurate, funny, and gets right to the point for what guys want; helps you find and choose the fishing, golf courses, nightclubs, girly clubs, hotels, local touristy stuff, you name it. Prices and locations for each.
   
   You'll get a big kick reading about the wild, fascinating stuff that goes on in some of the lesser know cities. We haven't decided on the next spot, but it sounds like they are all worth visiting some day. Great book.



3. This book was referred to me by a frequent overseas travel buddy of mine. What can I say, it's been a life changer. I now take vacations every 6 weeks out of the country. This is a point and click travel guide for sports, fun in the sun, and women by the dozens...it gives perfect advice for any bachelor looking to kick start his life on some spectacular vacations in paradises around the globe. Living in Miami, I can pop out Friday at noon and return on red-eye Sunday night flights and live an alternative life that no one knows anything about. I've had so much fun, and so many life-changing experiences with beautiful, fun loving women overseas, I've ceased dating in the US. American women used to offend me. Now they're comic relief. I suppose it's just the nature of the beast. For some men, after a couple dozen beers, a pig can be mildly appealing when the light hits their snout just right. They're just not for me.
   
   This book really opened my eyes to a better life, better sports activities, beautiful scenery, and vivacious, sexy women without an entitlement complex and attitude problems. I could go on, and on, but if you're not happy with your sex life, and tired of being treated like a third class citizen by bitter, beefy women, pick up the Hedonist and you will never look back.



4. I saved plenty of money using this guide, and after two vacations can say it's quite accurate, and helps you find the best party spots without jacking around. If you're single, this book is what you want. It's a first hand insider's scoop that you won't find the inside scoop in any other book; what to do, places to avoid, etc.
   
   I checked Lonely Planet and Fodor's at the bookstore and it was very generic and geared towards families. The Hedonist is great for sports nut like me, and obviously great for meeting local women. Definitely saved me tons of time so I could cut to chase as soon as landing. It's big fun reading about all the other cities; some places I'd never heard of but sound like they need further research. Highly recommended.



5. I was soo surprised on how accurate this book really was, It was almost like Brett had just left Rio the week before I got there. I just returned from Carnaval 2008 and I had the time of my life! This city is a true male twenty-somethings bachelor's paradise. One of my male friends that travels the world put me on to this book while I was there, and it officially became a checklist. Truly unbelieveable how accurate and precise this book is, and is highly recommended to anyone who wants to be in this "secret society". Just follow the rules to this book, or add them to your current agenda, and you too could have the time of your life in one of these many great cities, just like I did in Rio. I'm buying the book for future destinations, and I've also purchased his other book "The Professional Bachelor", which are now known to me as the The "Red" book, and the "Black" book. Both are must haves and I hope Brett keeps all these goodies coming in the future!

5 comments about Thailand (Country Guide).

1. For my first trip to Thailand 10 years ago, I purchased just about every guide book available. Only one book has stood the test of time - Lonely Planet Thailand. Over the years, I have picked up new editions as they have become available. From personal experience, I would argue that the quality of my trips has increased along with the quality each subsequent edition. As tourism, culture and economics in Thailand evolves, so too does Lonely Planet Thailand, keeping pace with changing social trends, places of interest, as well as places to avoid. All this, of course, in addition to the vast body of information critical to planning where to stay, what to eat and what to do while in-country. More than a strong recommendation, this book is a must-have for any traveller to Thailand.



2. Very useful for new tourists. Book is organized by location and subdivided by events, sights, restaurants, hotels and more. It has a detailed map and lots of pictures too. It gives a good honest summary about different locations, what's worth your time, and what to be careful about as well. Very useful- highly recommended.



3. 
   This very recently updated guide is the best I've seen. If you only want to rely on one guidebook, this is it.



4. I have bought many guidebooks over the years and would say that lonely planet has the best. No, it is not one of those guidebooks filled with pretty, glossy photos but a clear, concise guidebook with pertinent information designed for all travelers whether you are a budget traveler or a jetsetter. Very user friendly, always updated. If you are only going to use one travel guide, cut to the chase and pick up lonely planet.



5. Lots of information. The websites are in general up to date. There is a lot to see in Thailand so this book covers a lot of the popular areas.