No comments about Thailand Travel Map (Globetrotter Travel Map).

5 comments about To Asia with Love: A Connoisseurs' Guide to Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam..

1. ...although I happen to be packing it around with me on a 6-month trip. As I move from country to country, I discard my Lonely Planet or Rough Guide at the border, but even when my bag is bursting at the seams, I hold onto this book for the practical, personal recommendations and high caliber of writing, and for inspiration. Written by 50 different people who have lived or traveled extensively in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos, the passion and enthusiasm they share for this fascinating region is contagious.
   
   To put the book in its proper context (I'm paraphrasing here from the excellent foreword), the editor invites us to imagine attending a dinner party with a group of intrepid, experienced Asia-philes and whiling away an evening collecting their stories, insider tips, and invaluable advice. Such an invitation may not appeal to someone who is merely "doing Asia" and wants only a directory of services and costs. But readers who have lived in Asia (or would like to) will relish it, as will every traveler who dreams of having a knowledgeable friend in each of these countries. To Asia With Love is a wonderful resource and worthy travel companion, a journey to a land that unfolds itself "slowly-slowly". My only complaint is that I still want more....



2. When I read this book, I felt like someone was whispering secrets in my ear. Sure, you should bring along the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide to give you directions to the closest bank, but is that trip to the bank the experience you will most fervently remember about your travels in Asia? I doubt it. You're likely to remember, however, "clambering over a dam" in Cambodia to find the lonely temple Ta Nei, or sitting at a table made from a tree trunk in Northern Laos eating "phar nam" (watercress salad) made by the daughter of the last king's personal chef. This book is for people anxious to go beyond the run-of-the-mill guidebook information. It's for people in search of the special experiences that make these countries so extraordinary. If you're that kind of traveler (or armchair traveler who simply likes good writing), then you should buy this book.



3. Imagine lush, evergreen forests with waving palm trees under the warm, humid tropical weather. Imagine a hutted village with friendly locals and curious children with perpetual shy smiles and sparkling eyes devoid of the mundane dim of city-life; old ladies lingering on the streets with their handmade wares. Imagine yourself sitting cross-legged on a rattan mat enjoying a full meal of spicy South East Asian delicacy that cost less than half a cheeseburger; or lying on a white sanded beach surrounded by crystal-clear sea that seems to be frozen in time.
   
   Yes, imagine. That is the operative word that To Asia With Love begins with.
   
   Spanning Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, author Kim Fay, an avid traveler herself, collected anecdotes and travel tips from Asia-lovers and skillfully compiled these snippets into a very readable book, helped much by seductive and poignant photographs. This book tells you where to get the best chow, see the most attractive sights, buy the most impressive souvenirs, and even how to get a holiday from your holiday, in case you decided to become an expatriate. For those inclined as such, even where to visit the most historical sites. Because they were written by different individuals; young and old; from loaded to clam-less, the information is extremely varied and colorful.
   
   What makes To Asia With Love stand out, compared to run-of-the-mill backpackers' experiences strewn about the internet is that the articles were actually written by veteran travelers; most of them bestseller authors in their own right. They provide interesting insights which are both informative and humorous.
   
   For example, suppose the delicious dumplings you tasted at a nondescript stall in Phnom Penh turns out to be disappointing the following week, it is because the ownership has changed and will likely change again based on the rotating fortunes at the local gambling dens. Aside from the local loan sharks, I don't think anyone else would know these behind-the-scene goings-on; except maybe the foolhardy expatriate dumpling-hunter in the person of Nami Nelson.
   
   Of course, beneath the fantastic tales are the nitty-gritty details. What is the best way to travel? How to book tickets? What are the regional time differences? What are the languages spoken? These questions and more that one could hardly pump up in the excitement of `go first, think later' mode, are explored by those who have done it all.
   
   Western travelers respond differently to what are seemingly destitute socio-economic conditions in these countries. The feelings generated could span a spectrum from utter indifference to the `guilt syndrome'. And if one stays in a place long enough, the urge to respond becomes increasingly stronger. In this, To Asia With Love proves to be more than just a fanciful title in the chapter `Paying It Forward.' Littered with touching anecdotes, it advises travelers on how to give back to the countries they enjoy; be it helping out in a foundation or eating at a charity-linked restaurant.
   
   Be warned. This book is not about going to Asia. It is about going to there again and again, and perhaps even staying there for good. A beautiful collage of travelogues with a seductive theme and convincing pleasures, I think I am going to book the first flight to South East Asia.
   
   Oh wait a minute; I am from South East Asia.



4. I'm disapointed with this book. The information provided is interesting but the way the book is structured is very strange. I can't see any logic there. It would make sense if a chapter (each chapter has a theme) had a section for each of the countries. But no. Eg. you go to chapter on shopping and you have one page of info about Thailand, than a page about Laos, Thailand again, Cambodia, Laos again etc. Very weird.... It makes the book difficult for me to read and stick to....



5. The introduction of this book says its intent was to be like going to a dinner party with a mix of guests who have lived and extensively traveled thoughout Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. At then end of the dinner, you leave with pockets full of tips, advice, and stories.
   
   That is exactly how I would describe this book. It is full of experienced and varied travelers who tell stories about their favorite noodle stand in Bangkok or their favorite secret shopping area in Vietnam or how to best take coffee in Cambodia. It is most definitely not a lonely plant guide book, but it is an excellent read before your trip. Not only giving you valuable insider advice, but also gives you a glimpse at the love that so many others share for this area.

5 comments about A Nail Through the Heart.

1. This is the book! Once I started turned off the phones and the computer!
   Timothy Hallinan takes you to Bangkok and beyond!
   Perfection!



2. I found this story riveting. The quote from a major reviewer that I like is "Many readers are likely to find that good feeling infectious, even as they are horrified by what the region's tragic history over the past half-century has left in its wake."
   
   It's good because I can not put into words so succinctly the darkness and depravity that seems to hover over that region. And somehow Mr. Hallinan has touched on all of it ... and yet at the same time because of his characters, he has conjured up a heart warming story. I think that Rafferty could become the champion of a certain type of horribly abused "child". You can not really give them the title of children because of what he tells us about them ... and perhaps because of that these "children" don't get the amount of help that they need in order to reverse their plight. But this book really brings it to light. That as well as the atrocities that have left their mark, from the Khmer Rouge.
   
   He weaves a great, fast-moving, suspenseful detective story with so much of the feel of Bangkok and so much of the awfulness of what has taken place there. It is so current that upon reading it - later listening to NPR I heard a story truthfully addressing what the book alleged. So to me it became a powerful "fiction" novel. A shocking story with wonderful characters as well as revolting ones. And written so well that you do not feel bad afterwards.



3. Reading this book brought back memories of some lyrics from the "Chess" soundtrack:
   
   One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
   The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
   You'll find a god in every golden cloister
   A little flesh, a little history
   I can feel an angel sliding up to me
   
   One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
   Not much between despair and ecstasy
   One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
   Can't be too careful with your company
   I can feel the devil walking next to me
   
   These lyrics could have been written for this book, and if a movie deal is ever signed, I'm betting they include a version of the song.
   
   Anyway, the story is about a travel writer named Poke Rafferty, who often moonlights as a detective. Poke has friends in both high and low places, and through his research he knows the city and its people only too well. To complete his dysfunctional life, Poke is trying to make himself a family unit out of an unrelated pair of females - Rose, a former exotic dancer from the wrong side of the bar, and Miaow, an eight year old orphan from the streets.
   
   Things happen pretty quickly from here on in - Miaow finds and brings home a stray urchin with a bad attitude and worse history, then Poke takes on an assignment to locate a man who has gone missing, and next thing he knows, he's getting paid big bucks to recover the property of a lady, who just happens to be an intimidating old broad with a sinister secret. At first these are separate cases, but the leads soon begin mixing and the evidence starts matching, and Poke learns that some things are better off buried.
   
   Alternating between dark moods and lurid descriptions, this book dives down to the depths of depravity and man's inhumanity to man, but the underlying story is that of a good man who falls in love with a scarred city, for better or worse.
   
   
   
   Amanda Richards, October 1, 2007



4. Skillfully melding man's inhumanity with a peek at the dark side of Thailand, the author holds our interest. Probably the first of a new series, this works as a fine intro to a new, feet of clay, hero.



5. I didn't like this book nearly as much as the other reviewers. I'm always interested in books with unusual settings, so that was a plus. But Bangkok did not come as vividly to life for me as I would have expected from an author with roots in the city. The writing was decent but struck me as generic at times, as did some of the thriller elements.
   
   But what really irked me were several plot implausibilities that took me right out of the story, especially one towards the end involving Poke, the man who runs the orphanage and Superman. It was a series of, "no WAY he would do that!" contrivances (not just one, "no way!" but three) that were absolutely unbelievable.
   
   I barely wanted to finish the book after that, but I'm glad I did. The final scene, with its examination of Thai spirituality, truly moved me in a way that all of the emotional hot button stuff earlier did not.

3 comments about Let's Go Thailand 3rd Edition (Let's Go Thailand).

1. I bought this book before leaving the US because it was a good price on Amazon. Several people told me afterwards that I should have bought Lonely Planet. I just went into a bookstore in Bangkok and saw that they were right. I purchased a new Lonely Planet at premium price for the rest of the trip.
   
   Let's Go is okay but really only gives the bare minimum. Lonely Planet is chalk full of ideas for activities, warnings for different areas and better information on how to get around. As someone who speaks only a tiny bit of Thai, this sort of information is invaluable and I wish I had it earlier.
   
   Skip Let's Go, Go straight to Lonely Planet.



2. I had an all-too-short vacation in Thailand this year, spending a week in Chiang Mai during the Thai new year. This book was my companion and a crutch for someone who speaks very little Thai, and knew little of the country. No book can take the place of courageously adventuring through a new land, but this one helps negotiate your adventures, helps you understand the people you are visiting, and find your way through a culture with fewer mis-steps, and perhaps helps the traveler avoid offending his temporary hosts.



3. Normally, I would have bought Lonely Planet, but their Thailand book was almost 3 years old, so I went with the more recently published Let's Go. I have never been a fan of Let's Go, but was surprised by how useful this book turned out. It's coverage of the country is less inclusive than Lonely Planet, so it is only really useful for short-term touring of the country. My trip was only 2 weeks long, which was fine for this book. It is printed on very lightweight paper, so the book itself is probably half the weight of the LP guidebook.
   
   While Lonely Planet remains the best source for encyclopedic information such as population sizes for cities, it rarely provides very much opinion. This Let's Go book filled in that gap, providing frank, fair critiques of the various places to travel in Thailand. This helped me figure out if a particular place was worth going to. It was particularily good at steering me away from places that were overly developed or catered too much to the package Luxury tour crowd.
   
   Even if you end up getting Lonely Planet, I still think the Let's Go Thailand book is cheap enough (and lightweight enough) that it is worth taking along as a second opinion.

5 comments about The Dream of a Thousand Lives: A Sojourn in Thailand.

1. This is a wonderfully insightful look into Thai culture. The narrative of the author's personal experience is well crafted and straightforward leaving the reader with a true sense of life in Thailand.



2. This book truly uncovered the beautiful, bucolic experience of the heart of Thailand. This book is not about the fascinating big-city life in Bangkok, so ubiquitous in other travel books about Thailand. In contrast, this book takes you to a Thailand not frequently experienced by tourists...shouldn't be experienced by tourists with little respect and no other expectation beyond "fun" ........ should only be ventured by those willing to absorb (or should I dare say love) a culture and a lifestyle so different that at first, austerity and beauty are not immediately distinct to the mind conditioned to the comforts of "modernized" cities or suburban living (whether in Asia or the West). As a Thai who was educated in the West, this book actually imparted to me a "piece of heart" about my birth country that I did not previously believe to be a possible endeavor for written pages. Thanks Karen....... for doing the impossible! "Kob Kun Mak Krub" for the sincerity so salient throughout every description.



3. From what I've heard people who've known me a long time say I'm "well read". That's easy, for reading is my favorite pastime.
   I'm now over 50 and may have read thousands of books in my lifetime, only 2 of which I read from start to finish without stopping. "The Dream of a Thousand Lives" is one of those two books.
   
   Karen Connelly has a style of writing that can only be described as "a gift" (if not genius). Little wonder that she's won so many prestigous awards at such a young age. This is the first book I've read from her as author. It was such a pleasureable experience that I was almost angry went her story came to its end. The first thing I did afterwards (true) was get on Amazon.com and order more of her work. I can hardly wait for it to arrive!



4. Althought the story has merit, it was hard to read for all the poetic descriptive language. If I were looking for poetry, I would have loved it. I was, however, looking for a good story about Thailand, and had to wade through a too much flowery description. By the end of the book, it was almost a joke.



5. A young highschool girl takes a huge risk on going on a one year Rotary exchange to rural Thailand.Initially the change in culture is beyond her understanding. Rather than bailing she decides to stick it out and the reader gets the pleasure of following along on her adventure. Karen Commelly is able to let us smell,taste, hear and even feel the real "Land of Smiles" and begin to understand its enchantment. My wife and I had just returned from a month in Northern Thailand where we also had begun to understand this strange and wonderful land.

1 comments about Thailand - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette (Culture Smart!).

1. This was a good intro book to Thailand and it's culture with a little Thai history thrown in too. It is a fast read. Our daughter is in Thailand for 6 months through a study abroad program with her college...and my husband and I are planning to go there for 2 weeks this summer. We felt this book gave info that some of the other 'tour' books left out....as the title suggests, it includes customs and etiquette of the Thai people. I'd definitely recommend this book to all traveling to Thailand. (The only draw back is that it was written in 2003 and could be updated a bit.)

5 comments about Bangkok Babylon: The Real-Life Exploits of Bangkok's Legendary Expatriates are often Stranger than Fiction.

1. This book devotes one chapter each to a fascinating cross section of expatriate individuals( mainly Americans ) who, like the author, are now living, or have lived, in Thailand.
   As Jerry Hopkins righly points out,adventurous travellers such as these do tend to be far more interesting than the average person who does not venture far, or for very long, from their native country and it's familair surroundings. This is well illustrated by the amazingly diverse characters and lives vivdly described here. Highly recommended.



2. I lived in Bangkok for a year and experienced many of the things written in this book first hand. Fortunately my wife is Thai and explained a lot of them but this book goes the extra mile and is an interesting and fun read.
   It's easy to be a "fish out of water" in Bangkok if you're not familiar with the customs and etiquette. This book is highly recommended and Vermonter dot com approved!



3. As an expat living in Bangkok, I can assure you Hopkins knows this city well, and the characters he describes are the most interesting bunch of characters you're ever likely to read about. Full of fun and panache on the surface, it also has a core of considerable importance: the fact that a person can reinvent him or herself and probably nowhere as easily as in Bangkok. Highly recommended.



4. A poorly written chronical and a dubious selection of subjects. The first I've read by this author and I found it hard to believe that he makes his living as a writer.



5. Great book with insights on expats that have spent time in Bangkok. Easy to read short stories. Very interesting stories that tells about the lives of expats and how they became that way. It is definitely a chosen way of life.

5 comments about Lonely Planet Thailand.

1. Normally, I look at tour books for the following things:
   
   1. If mentions restaurants then its touristized and Americanized food.
   2. They steer you to expensive hotels and over prices places.
   3. They are rarely updated.
   
   Not this guide! This was really really helpful. I read most of the background and history. It was nice that they had Thai people on writing staff giving a local perspective. The recommendations were dead on for most part.
   
   I liked the fact that they covered all of the regions of Thailand - its a huge, beautiful country.
   
   Their helpful tips to avoid problems were dead on. I confirmed it with the locals while there. Khup un khap (Thanks in Thai)



2. I just returned from a month in Thailand and found the Lonely Planet Guide to be very impressive. Several things to remember is that:
   
   a) if the publishing date is 2005 the content is probably several months to a year older.
   b) if you have local friends and/or family the guide will still be useful but not nearly so compared to a traveler who is on their own. You might keep thinking why the guide doesn't cover something that your in country friend gives you great info or insight into. Relax, the LP guide, despite its heft can only provide so much info.
   
   Comments on LPs logistics and highlights...
   
   1) Logistics.
   Negative. There wasn't a lot of coverage given on the new low fare airlines that are now available but this might be because these airlines did not exist in force when the research was done.
   
   Positive. I traveled on local bus, long distance bus, train, taxi, moto-taxi, sky train, subway, regional airplane and even tuk-tuk. The guild had very precise information on how to get around locally and through out the country. This was probably the most helpful part of the book with information I was not able to find easily elsewhere. (Always keep in mind that prices and times will change though.)
   
   Highlights.
   Negatives. I could tell that the writers have a particular perspective on what is a highlight and what is not. They love the Wats or temples. I admit that many are incredible and worth the journey. But there are many, many, many of them. After seeing a few Wats, Wat fatigue set. The point is to keep your own interests in mind and not let the guide pick too much of what you decide to do.
   
   Positives. I enjoyed many of the suggestions in the book including the cooking school in Kanchanaburi, walking the alleys of Chinatown in Bangkok, a particularly spectacular guest house in Koa Tao, etc.. My highlights were definitely not the guide's highlights but were found in the guide.
   
   Thailand has a lot to see and the LP guide does an admirable job within the limits of the print format. Now get out there!



3. I travel a lot and, as a consequence, i do purchase a lot of the guides by Lonely planet. That Thailand guide is an excellent guide that gives you info you are looking for, historical highlights, maps and short stories, and, is not 'dry' as other guides.
   
   If you never had it and you are going to Thailand - get it - it is a must.



4. I have read this booking and really love it, I am Thai citizen, but some part which Joe has written in the book is reflect the real thing, something which I never look down and realize (I think insider might see different from outsider). That's really true.



5. I've used a lot of lonely planet guides in my travels, but I found this one a bit less useful than other LP country guides. It just seemed like the detail was missing, especially in regards to beaches and water activities. It almost seems like you need to buy this guide for 'most of Thailand' and then the seperate guide for beaches which is just asking too much. Could have more detail on major attractions like the Grand palace (how about a map?) and more detail on things like snorkelling / diving / surf spots on maps like they do for the Hawaii guide

2 comments about Fodor's Thailand, 10th Edition: With Side Trips to Cambodia & Laos (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. Excellent information and up to date compared to other guide books. easy to use. A lot of information. I haven't done my trip yet so cannot say how accurate it is but I am going to several places based on this guide book and feel confident that I have made the right choices.



2. I bought this book based on the Fodor reputation of providing detailed, quality information. Sadly, after reading the parts pertaining to the "Southern Beaches" I was left with no greater understanding of where to go and what to do. If you are looking for a general info book on Thai places to visit and culture, it's a good read. Outside of Bangkok and Chang Mai, the info is limited. As far as accuracy is concerned, I haven't gone to Thailand yet so I cannot comment on it (going in May). I've found plenty of web sites that give you the "real deal" on Thailand, shopping guides, suggested prices, web links to see these hotels and other points of interests. If you know where you are going, PLEASE spend the money on a specific book to that city or region. Fodors is simply too generic since there is so much to cover anyway. An ok read for additional ideas but definitely not an inclusive book!

3 comments about National Geographic Traveler: Thailand, 2d Ed. (National Geographic Traveler).

1. just as you would expect of national geographic...beautiful and full of useful info...National Geographic Traveler: Thailand, 2d Ed. (National Geographic Traveler)



2. National Geographic guilde books are unique and provide the BEST information on the local sites and geography. Don't leave home without it!



3. This has been a fabulous book. Better than I expected, which is crazy since Nat'l Geographic always puts out great stuff! I just didn't expect not only info. about the country, but also its history, popular tourist spots, maps, all kinds of stuff. we got alot more than what we expected for the money.