5 comments about Lao-English/English-Lao Dictionary and Phrasebook (Dictionary & Phrasebook).

1. Go to Laos. Meet new people. Use this book to converse/arrange boat rides/get around.

   This book provides an essential resource for travellers to Laos. I would definitely advocate visiting this beautiful country, and when you go, you should bring along this book! James Higbie has made it easy to learn Lao.




2. I have had a great deal of difficulty with this book.

   1. It does not provide a clear or thorough breakdown of grammar.

   2. It does nothing to explain the Lao alphabet to English speakers, nor does it even provide the Lao spelling of any words for reference. (Romanized only)

   3. The phonetic method used is extremely awkward and inaccurate; my neighbors (who are from Laos, who speak and read English fluently) had great difficulty in decifering the system used.

   I am in the process of searching for a better tutorial, and I advise others to do so as well!




3. I think this is the best phrasebook I've seen for the Lao language. I've used it on several trips to Laos and shared it with some Lao friends in America. They were very impressed that the sentences were written as they really say them, not like you see in a textbook. The book is from a New York publisher of language books that publishes books with high standards.

   Other good things I found about the book:

   1. It has a clear, concise grammar section
   2. the selection of words and topics is comprehensive
   3. the book is arranged in a way that is very easy to use
   4. the introductory description of Lao is interesting and informative

   I'd also like to say that the pronunciation system is the easiest I've seen. Tones are marked by lines that show the direction, which makes pronunciation a lot more clear than other books (this is also a problem with Thai). While there is no Lao script in the book the pronunciation can be figured out from the pronunciation chart in the front of the book. I think this book would be useful for people studying Lao, not only for travellers. Thank you Mr. Higbie for a creating a wonderful contribution to my library of S.E.Asian language books.




4. After struggling with inadequate phrasebooks when I was learning Lao a few years ago, I am really glad to finally see a decent one available! Mr. Higbie's phrasebook is great for beginners because it clearly marks the direction of the tones in a way which is easy for people who have no experience with tonal languages to understand. Placing words which have the same phonetic pronounciation but different tones together in the dictionary section really simplifies the language for travellers ('close' and 'far' for example sound the same, with different tones). While living and working in rural Lao for 3 years, I needed to learn to read and write in Lao script, but this is not necessary for travellers. The book is great for anyone wanting to communicate easily and quickly in Lao. Mr. Higbie presents the language as it is spoken in daily life. This book is my first choice and will be the one I recomend to anyone I know going to Lao.



5. I think this is best used as a quick pocket guide. It lacks the actual Lao script/spelling and since there is no formal way of transliterating Lao, pronunciation is left to the reader to decipher.
   
   I do think however, it is a good beginners intro to Lao or for someone who just needs to know some basics. Convenient pocket size.

1 comments about Customs & Etiquette Of Thailand (Simple Guides Customs and Etiquette).

1. Handy pocket size book, 75 page guide on basic manners and behaviour. Gift idea for first time visitors to Thailand.

No comments about Fodor's See It Thailand, 2nd Edition (Fodor's See It).

5 comments about Lonely Planet Bangkok.

1. Compared to LP London and LP Paris I read and have been early this year, I'm a bit disppointed with LP Bangkok. Although it has an amazing section on food/noodles, I'm rather disappointed that the book does not clearly direct and describe to readers how to get to the places/famous spots it suggested!!!! Also the book does not include a map on the Bangkok transit system - making public transit commuting difficult!!!



2. Amazon.com says this book will be published on March 2005. But try to go to Lonely Planet's online shop, then you can see that it has been published on Sep. 2004. Next, bn.com says it's been publised on March 2004. I don't know which is right. But I'm sure that this book came out already.
   
   I gave 5 stars, however, because I knows LP is a great series at least.



3. I was fortunate enough to spend a month in Bangkok and bought both the Lonely Planet and the Moon Guides. I generally read both books before I went anywhere, so I can fairly compare them.
   
   The Lonely Planet guide was always worth reading -- it often added something I didn't find in the Moon guide. The highly detailed map in the back of the book was also quite worthwhile. However, if I had to have just one book, it would have been the Moon guide by Carl Parkes.
   
   Carl's explanations always seemed a little bit richer, and a little bit more in touch. His introduction to the Thai language left me much better equipped to try my hand, and his culture and language sections also stood out. The overall impression, true or not, is that Carl has a deeper understanding and familiarlity with the Thais and Bangkok than Joe. But to be fair, I was happy with both books, and happier still that I had brought both with me.
   
   Its too bad that the Moon guide is harder to find than Lonely Planet's .... but I definitely recommend it.



4. As a frequent visitor to Thailand I recently used this latest guide for Bangkok from Joe Cummings (plus his assistants) and found it to be more than adequate. If anything, I would personally like more hotel recommendations for each area of this city, those one could call "a find". I found some on my own by walking the area I stayed in and moved to one of them as Joe was too kind in the description of hotel I first stayed in.
   
   Be sure to call about open times for restaurants as two I went to were closed earlier than was given in the guide (no fault of Joe's I'm sure).



5. I took this book everywhere I went. It gives you a great perspective on the things you will find, things to look out for, and a great guide on how to get to the places you want to go.
   
   I went on business to Bangkok, and during the 3 days that I had to go around, this book helped me find those things that mattered most.
   
   I think it is a great read for anyone who is planning to go to amazing Bangkok and it is a must when travelling around in the city. Lonely Planet books are seriously great!

3 comments about A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

1. This book is a great book for a variety of reasons. Most of the pictures are good and the text is generally accurate. The reason I like this book is because Asia is so poorly researched and the wildlife, especially herps, is poorly studied and published. In general, this book provides a small glimpse to this great and undiscovered area of the world. Now, if only the amphibians were shown!



2. This is a pocket size field guide. Don't expect a big or even medium size book. But for its small size it has much value as a traveler's guide. If you plan to go hiking or explore an exotic destination like Thailand, this book can be very important. We tend to forget that snakes are more common in other parts of the world. A field guide with many color photographs of snakes (in particular), lizards, and turtles can be very helpful in identifying which are venemous and dangerous. All photographs are accompanied by a brief description. Furthermore, it was made small specifically for explorers and field researchers. You will not have to carry many large books on the field. Even if you are just into reptiles, this book is a great buy because it is one of the few to touch this area of the world.



3. According to the author every venomous snake in peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand is in it. Besides the photos this is a good reason to buy it.

1 comments about Michelin The Green Guide Thailand (Michelin Green Guide: Thailand).

1. The start rating system is good as always
   yet its not easy to plan a trip with this guide - mainly in the north
   There is not so much information about organized one day tours and how to get from one place to the others - in a way that helps organizing and planing a tour

No comments about A Broad Abroad in Thailand: An Expat's Misadventures in the Land of Smiles (A Broad Abroad).

No comments about Insight Map Thailand: Fleximap (Insight Fleximap).

5 comments about Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Thailand (Diving & Snorkeling).

1. Used this diving guide when I was in Koh Samui in July this year, very informative and all the info was up to date

   Scotty Mackenzie




2. This book is the only one we recommend to all our customers. The authors live and work here and the information is accurate. Great photos of the marine life.

   Even though we work here, we still use the book as a reference and it's always close at hand in our office.




3. I was hoping that this book would be like the travel books that lonely planet puts out with opinions on dive operators, places to stay etc.....but the book is a run down of dive sites more than anything else....It helps with dive site selection but it just isn't what a lonely planet book is for me.



4. Good book,
   
   clear info as needed.
   
   info corresponds to reality



5. As always Lonely Planet Snorkeling and Diving guides are the best.
   Only reason I didn't give it a 5 was the fact it was a little outdated.
   I think they will be making a new one soon, since this one is no longer in print.

1 comments about Thailand's Luxury Spas: Pampering Yourself in Paradise.

1. This is yet another book by my favorite author on the subject. It's a very engaging read, filled with information on herbal healing and therapies. Of course, the images are seductive as only relaxation in paradise can be. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves travel, wellness and a bit of escapism.