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 The Most Traveled Man on Earth.

1. Llewellyn Toulmin's The Most Traveled Man on Earth is a delightful book for the seasoned traveler and the arm chair traveler alike. The book is filled with interesting information about little known places in the world and written in very readable style. Toulmin's knowldge and sense humor shine through on every page.



2. The part of the book about the most traveled people is only 20 pages long. The rest of the the book is the authors own mediocre travel stories.



3. I met the author when he came to speak at our travel club. I was impressed with his stories so I bought his book, and if you are a travel fan, you'll really enjoy this. He makes it clear that he doesn't consider himself "the most traveled man on earth" instead he describes the competition for that title, and how ultimately it's a hard definition to really pin down. He relays fascinating stories from his early years (you have to enjoy the one about Haiti and Papa Doc), and then he discusses various modes of travel like tall ships, perpetual cruiser's, and other experiences around the world. The section on genealogy drags a little bit, but if the reader happens to have an affinity for genealogy, this will be another star section of the book. He then discusses road rally's which had more detail than a mere mortal might need, but again, if the reader has any affinity for cars or racing, it's a star section. The book goes on to cover adventures around the world, including "Running with the Bulls" which probably every traveler has given some thought, if only "are those people insane?" It turns out some probably are insane, others are just posers, running the race well ahead of any bulls. Others are macho or completely psycho, or both. There's even a section on disaster preparedness (the author was in that business) and the government ought to tattoo the entire chapter right across "Heck of a Job" Brownie's face. The stories are light reading, very engaging, and pleasant. There are a couple of times where editing would have helped, because these stories were largely written for a magazine and then grouped together, so of course in that context, it's necessary to remind the reader what happened in the last installment, but in the context of a book, it's just irritating. If you have a friend or loved one that's a travel fan, this would make a spectacular gift.

1 comments about Patpong: Bangkok's Twilight Zone.

1. Nick Nostitz in PATPONG: BANGKOK'S TWILIGHT ZONE has written a photo-essay volume that casts some much needed light on a city that paradoxically trumps its myriad sins in a much lighted way but the city itself, its non-sex worker population, and its sustaining ethos and culture needs the very sort of attention that books like this one too often skimp on. The result, therefore, is a re-examination of a city that is probably the most sex-driven in the world. Many of the photos are of good looking Thai prostitutes in mini-skirts, but the cumulative impact grows progessively more saddened and less erotic. The photos are accompanied by small commentaries that shed some minor light as to why these sex trade women peddle themselves. Nostitz indicates that Bangkok had learned that since the end of the second world war its primary coin had to be its women. The corruption of the various regimes since then and the ubiquitousness of rapacious American servicemen and Japanese male tourists fueled the demand for the very women whose salacious pictures form the book. As I took in one picture after another, I could see both the surface allure and the less obvious repellence of the sex trade. Clearly, easy and cheap sex with bar girls, hookers, strippers, and transsexuals are the upside of what a male vistor with liberal spending habits can expect. The downside is the less obvious flirtation with HIV and the general slimy feeling that one gets when one uses money to obtain cheaply what one cannot get more honestly in one's home country. PATPONG: BANKOK'S TWILIGHT ZONE manages to explore both pictorially and verbally the allure that sleaze has for the decent if ignorant male tourist with excessive dollars in his pocket.

No comments about Thailand: A Portrait Of (Portrait of).

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

1. Despite all SE Asia - tsunami affected guides - say: "you can update online" you don't get lot of information on their website.
   Practically half of the areas detailed by this book is affected by the tsunami. The information is good, but not certain due to all the problems in the area. I've been in the andaman beaches and the guide was usefull, but I would wait for next version of this book. Lonely Planet Thailand (the next version, tsunami updated) is ready in august 2005, I think. So it's worth waiting...



2. I started reading Loney Planet years ago when I planned my trip to Thailand and have never been disappointed. I am an author and my memoir, soon to be released, takes place in Thailand in 1993. The beauty then and now has not changed in the outer islands. I would recommend anyone visiting Thailand to read this book first to get a feel of the country and its wonderful people.
   Dodie Cross, Author of A Broad Abroad in Thailand: An Expat's Misadventures in The Land of Smiles.

No comments about Thailand (Countries of the World).

5 comments about Bangkok Inside Out.

1. I've been in and out of Bangkok many times, done most of the typical travel guide must-do's, befriended many Thais in the process and still found in this book page after page of new information about my beloved City of Angels. Bangkok Inside Out is an irreverently fun, funny and informative homage to SE Asia's most quirky capital. Written for the novice as well as for those who have trod the steamy sois night after night, it captures the essence of a unique place and the people who make it so. Whether you're making your first or fiftieth visit, this book is essential.



2. I am a frequent business traveler to Bangkok and this book opened my eyes to many angles of the city I had never noticed or understood before. The authors have really explained just about everything we encounter in this chaotic and confusing metropolis, and they do it in the most entertaining way - with witty prose, humorous anecdotes and many insider tips on what really makes things move. Bangkok Inside Out in at once a light read and an in-depth study of a city, and that's what impressed me most about the book. Few books would think to include 'Seven Eleven', 'Indie Music', 'Pha Yen (Wet Face Cloths)' or 'Taxi Radio Stations" as part of the cultural landscape they describe, but these writers demonstrate why it's precisely such little day-to-day things that shape this city's unique vibe. The accompanying photos are terrific, and successfully portray Bangkok's dark and light moods. I'd strongly recommend this book to anybody wanting to move beyond the Grand Palace and Floating Market version of Bangkok and learn what to really look out for.



3. After just a couple of hours with this book, I learned more about the culture of everyday citizens than I did in two days of exploring on my own. Quick and insightful bits about the city, it's customs and people. The end essay, while interesting did not fit the same format of the other entries.
   
   If you are visiting this marvelous city, this book is a must. I hope the authors plan on doing the same for other Asian cities.



4. This appears to be a good book..BUT the list price of this book from the manufacturer is actually $19.97 and NOT $27.99 as Amazon would have you believe.
   
   I actually wrote to their Customer Service and they said it doesn't matter because their final price is cheaper.
   
   Anyhow, just don't pay attention to that false 34% discount price.



5. I have read it all and heard it all about Thailand, mostly banalities: "It's so nice and peaceful, the people are so nice and smile all the time, I love the food!"
   Finally, someone wrote something different about Thailand that pays tribute to its complexities and nuttiness. "Bangkok Inside Out" by Daniel Ziv and Guy Sharett is an engaging, easy-to-read book that covers the less-covered aspects of Thailand that make the country and the people so lovable. From transvestites to beauty contests for chubby women to more serious aspects like amulets and the street dog problem, the book is perfect for the well-seasoned traveler or arm-chair one. I am half-Thai, half-American, which doesn't necessarily make me an expert on Thailand or the culture; however, anyone attempting to learn more about it must read "Bangkok Inside Out".

1 comments about Michelin Thailande/ Thailand.

1. This is the most useful map I could find about Thailand, but it's not the most comfortable or durable one, for convenience go for the B & B Map (check out my review about that map).

   The best and unbeatable advantage of this map (yet) is that the names of the places on the map are written both in English AND in Thai. Clearly, this is a valuable asset in a country where many locals don't speak (not to say read) the language. For this plus point this map is the best choice hands down.

   Downsizes:

   This map is big due to its scale of 1:1,400,000 (the biggest in the market) that can be a little clumsy at certain times but allow the existence of many details. Take into account the fact that it's not laminated (unlike the runner up B& B) and therefore not waterproof

   Another disadvantage is the fact that there are no city maps alongside the main Thailand map as there are in the maps of most of the competitors. About that I can reveal the fact that in the main cites and islands you will get free copies of similar maps - so the only map you'll really need is the full-size map of Thailand.

1 comments about Thailand Guide, 2nd Edition (Open Road Travel Guides Thailand Guide).

1. I'm going to Southeast Asia next month. I wasn't quite sure how to pack, so I consulted various travel guides: Lonely Planet, Moon, Insight Guides, etc. Open Road's Thailand Guide was the only one to give me detailed, practical informatin on what to bring.

5 comments about Footprint Thailand Handbook, Fourth Edition.

1. In the style of the Footprint Series the Thailand Handbook is an exhaustive source for even the most ambitious of travellers. It is the best source for practical information on hotels, transportation etc. It is not, however, as easy to use or as visually pleasing as many others. For those who want to have all the information with them on their trip, this will be the book that makes it into the luggage. Not for those who have trouble with fine print.



2. Forget Insight, Travel Bug and even Lonely Planet. They are all too heavy to carry on your destination. Leave them behind next to the armchair. Real travellers will want any book from this series: They are small, written on thin tissue paper, and print tightly spaced. The Thail book, which I am updating every two years has so much practical information, from hotels and fax numbers, to suggested itineraries, and maps. Indispensible to the travelling traveller.



3. When I left for Thailand, I was uncertain that this book would provide the information I needed to navigate Thailand. I quickly discovered this book had a wealth of information. The book led me to many relatively undiscovered towns, hotels, and restaurants, all of which provided a truly rich traveling experience. As for its practicality, the book is lightwieght, durable, using small fonts to pack data in. When in the company of those carrying Lonely Planet, I found others consistently closing their books in favor of the recommendations in my Footprint guide.



4. Overall, I'm very pleased with Footprint Guides, and this one has the usual excellent set of information & opinions. But,I was disappointed in the amount of stale information in this book. It's just been published, but half the restaurants we selected from it turned out to be out of business. I know restaurants come and go, but some of these had been out of business for years. Maybe we just had bad luck, but there was enough out-of-date info that I'm wondering if they cut some corners to get a new edition out so everyone (like me) would discard their previous edition and run out to get this one.



5. We have been to Thailand twice this year (Feb 06 and Dec 06) and I used the guidebook to explore Bangkok in depth the first visit and nearby attractions on the second visit. The recommendations on attractions and hotels are great. The restaurant guide is adequate, but I think Bangkok is simply too hard a city to have a restaurant guide that is either current or comprehensive.
   
   On the flip side, at least one of the maps was very misleading at best or incorrect at worst. On the way to Hua Hin, the map states the highway (No. 4) goes through town, but it fact, it is a limited access expressway some 10 kilometers west of town and there is only one exit to get to Hua Hin. This caused us to take a 20+km extra trip to reach town.
   
   Overall, the guide is a compact and surprisingly effective. Footprint guides are of a high quality as also evidenced by the other guides (South India and Cambodia) I travelled with.