No comments about Rome and Environs: An Archaeological Guide.

4 comments about Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands, 13th ed.

1. Great guide to VI. Get this printed guide. Don't waste your time and money on the Cruising the VI DVD. Everything you need is in this printed guide.



2. The guide was tremendously helpful in planning our cruising trip around the BVI's. I recommend it for everyone who is relatively new to boating in these waters.



3. Did not like the way the author designed the book, full of VI advertising. Artikels are shallow. Hope that the essentials are accurate as I am on may way to the BVIs.



4. This guide only gives basic information about cruising the Virgin Islands. It's not much better than the free guides that are given out and supported entirely by ads. It only gives information on islands where a commercial interest has supported the write up. It only gives a mention of islands or anchorages where some one is collecting a fee, so if there is a secluded spot that is free you won't read about it here. It doesn't provide any critique on establishments so you won't know if you are walking into the best restaurant on the island or a complete dump. I don't know if there are better guides for the Virgin Islands but it is a poor example of a cruising guide.

1 comments about Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island (Regional Guide).

1. We used this during our trip and enjoyed it a lot, most especially their restaurant recommendations. Their choices in Halifax and Charlottetown were right on. Their B&B recommendations were good too. I recommend carrying this with you on your trip.

4 comments about Bali and Lombok (Eyewitness Travel Guide).

1. I grew up in California, and continue to love the scenary and the people there. I thought it was the best place on earth, until I made it to Hawaii. Wow! Do I love Hawaii! I was convinced it, too, was the greatest, until I arrived in Tahiti. Now there's a really awesome place!! When I got back, I spoke with my cousin, the world traveler. She said, "You'll really love Bali, it's much more beautiful than Tahiti." So far, I haven't been able to test her views, but this book certainly helped me to see the many beauties of Bali and the neighboring island of Lombok (which she didn't tell me about).

   The scenery, animals, arts, temples, crafts, costumes, and dance are vivid, colorful, intricate, and involved. This guide to the two islands features over 700 color photographs that give you a sense of this beauty in very many ways. Even the smallest images are crisp and distinct.

   The book is also a good size to slip into a pocket while traveling, so that you don't have to be burdened with excess weight or bulk. That will help, because this guide has many details of streets, restaurants, and the insides of temples that you will wish to refer to when you are in Bali or Lombok.

   This guide has the details of all of the festivals on the two islands, which are reportedly a high point of any visit there. You also get lots of detail on local history and traditions (which will be unfamiliar to many in the United States).

   The book breaks the two islands into regions so you can get a flavor of how being in one area compares to another. For example, you can go as an eco-tourist, as a cultural tourist, a scuba tourist, or a plain old beach tourist (but there is good surf for those who like surfing and wind surfing). Bali offers lots of variety for those with different tastes and preferences, and the guide makes it clear how to plan for each. Golf has even made its way to Bali.

   I was also glad to see that the book contained many website addresses to obtain additional information.

   I cannot report on the accuracy of what is here, because I have not been to Bali. On the other hand, the information made sense in terms of what I know about other islands, and Hindu and Moslem countries.

   This guide is so rich in photographs and detail that I can have quite a few "trips" just by reviewing the material here. So even if I don't make it to Bali for a few more years, I will have enjoyed some of the wonders of this wonderful island. I hope you will have the same opportunity.

   After you finish enjoying this delightful guide, I suggest that you think about where else you know little about and might like to see. If your time and budget do not permit much travel, you could perhaps use these DK Eyewitness Travel Guides to provide pleasant diversions in the meantime. Then, when you are ready to go to a new place, you'll have an informed view of which one to pick.

   Grasp the potential all around you, with all of your senses!




2. Bali and Lombok are just two islands in the Indonesian archipelago... and one of the most popular tourst destination. This book is crammed with wonderful information as well as photographs by well known photographers, maps, drawing etc... of Bali and Lombok. I found it very wonderful that it covered both aspects of Bali and Lombok's culture regarding religion, music, dance etc... The book is much different from Lonely Planet with maps in colour with icons regarding the village and what the villages are well known for. For example the village of Taro in central Bali in Gianyar Regency is famous for it's white breed of Cattle and there is a little bit of information talking about that village. The book covers all of Bali as well as Lombok.

   Denpasar Bali's capital contains many sections like the Museum... the market and so many places of interest. For Kuta its beaches which are popular with many Australians and well known for the surfs... Gianyar regency in central Bali was well known for it's cultural and artistic creation. The famous village of Sebatu and Peliatan are famous for their Legong Kraton dancers... wonderful and graceful like butterflies or heavenly nymphs... Klungkung regency in east Bali was home to the powerful rulers with the title of "Agung Dewa" and most revered... Klungkung was a historical city and site where the golen age of Balinese history began the mass exodus of many Hindu-Javanese fleeing Islam came to the royal court bringing their traditions and tansplanting it in Bali while the ancient art form disappeared from the island of Java as a whole...

   Lombok hasn't been developed to tourism yet but it is slowly starting to. The island is very lovely with it's lush green rice fields and wonderful people who are of Balinese race and Sasak origin... They produce wonderful crafts like clay jars, pots, weaving etc... If you want to know more you will need to read or grab hold of the book yourself...

   There is even a section on food and the types of food eaten with lovely photographs of food and things to buy in Bali... This is great and I guess it is too good to be true too... Excellent work and research I must say went into making this book...




3. Colorful guidebook has marvelous images that create an immediate illustration of Bali and Lombok.

   While the practical references are a bit truncated (foreign embassies listed are only Australia and USA; hotel & restaurant listings are scanty), the cultural & special interest tips are excellent.

   The guide works its magic by tying photos to text. The reader can zero in on an image and immediately see the relevant text. This is a highly practical format, leaving no mystery as to whether some place or item may be of real interest to the individual reader. Therefore, reader can figure out what he/she wants to see & do without slogging through chapter upon chapter of text.

   I spend a lot of time in Bali and I think this is probably the most useful guide for the average traveler to Bali & Lombok. It has quite a few entries....

   If you have a limited amount of time in Bali, and an even more limited amount of time to prepare for it, this guide will suit you very well indeed!




4. The Guide is great to get an overview over the many attractions in Bali - lots of pictures and some nice overview maps of the island's regions. However, the descriptions are on the short side and it does not contain detailed street maps that could be useful for orientation. But overall a nice introduction!

4 comments about A Geography of Oysters: The Connoisseur's Guide to Oyster Eating in North America.

1. Jacobsen has turned the art of eating oysters to a higher level.
   
   You can't wait to finish the book so you can start trying out his great recommendations. Whether you're an oyster novice, blindly feeling your way around the oysters beds, or, a seasoned connoisseur, this book is a must read. Great work Rowan!!



2. This book was one I bought as a potential reference book, however once i picked it up I just kept reading it. This is far from a dry review of oysters it is funny and insightful. My oyster vocabulary has blossomed.
   
   Three friends have requested that I stop talking about oysters and buy them a copy for their birthdays.
   
   It tells about the oysters and then how to get them delivered to your door for dinner. I love this book.



3. I love oysters. I don't know why, but I just do. Every now and then I get strong cravings and I just have to have them. I also have a lot of books about oysters because of it. "Consider the oyster" a great book, and others. But they are all mainly cook books with very little detail about the oyster, where it comes from and it's history.
   
   This book is incredibly well written, witty at times and very informative. You can learn how oysters are farmed and their various techniques. Things I didn't even find on wiki. I learned how they get to harden those shells. I purchased some Carlsbad Blondes, and those shells would just snap in half. Terrible oysters. I know why because of the book.
   
   I'm not sure how the author did it, but it seems he has had the incredible opportunity to sample a great many oysters. I can see his tax return $1000 spent as "research" for his book. What a great way to do research. Upon one of the authors great descriptions, I ordered three dozen Hama Hama's. They were fantastic.
   
   The author picks five or six farms and gives incredible detail about the location, the owner/farmer and his/her history and the oysters themselves. This is a book to own now, because it is relavent now with the current oyster farmers listed. It is a chance to learn about the worlds best and to learn how to sample them.
   
   The only thing I would have loved to see in the book, would be a travel guide on how to visit the various farms the author so nicely listed. That's one of the things I plan on doing is to travel up and down the coast visiting oysters farms along the way. I would have loved this book to have a guide like that.
   
   There is a section on "what kind of oyster" person are you? But I didn't find that very useful or informative. A very minor drawback for an incredibly informative book on oysters. Every connosieur(sp?) should have a copy. A book for oyster lovers by an oyster lover.



4. It is salty, sultry and seductive and it is always cause for a celebration."
   
   Rowan Jacobsen knows his oysters, and this wonderful one-subject book can make you an expert too.
   
   He focuses on taste. "Different oysters suit different occasions and different people. If you haven't yet been wowed by oysters, you may well have been dallying with the wrong ones." One of the most useful sections urges you to discover what kind of taster you are; Jacobsen then recommends the types of oysters you should try.
   
   For example, I personally enjoy oysters with wine. "For the Wino: Those potent, briny, musky oysters are as overblown as an Australian Shiraz. You like to savor oysters with wine, so you want subtle mineral flavors, not metal and salt and mud.
   
   "Kumamotos are Sauvignon Blanc's best friend; their clean melon flavors bring out its fruit. Westcott Bay Petites and Stellar Bays are both creamy and mild, not too salty, with no clashing bitterness. Eastern oysters are tougher matches for wine, but buttery Watch Hills have a full-bodied flavor that can be terrific with sharp, flinty wines, and Rappahannock Rivers bring out the minerals in some white wines. Beausoleils have a supreme lightness that is heaven with Champagne."
   
   He makes specific suggestions for other types: the Shrinking Violet (or beginner), the Brine Hound, the Sweet Tooth, the Grail Seeker (or most adventurous), the Connoisseur, and six other types.
   
   He describes many different types of oysters and where they are found. His list of 12 oysters you should know include: Beausolei, Belon or European Flat, Colville Bay, Glidden Point, Kumamoto, Moonstone, Nootka Sound, Olympia, Penn Cove Select, Rappahannock River, Skookum, and Totten Virginica. (These oysters and many more are described fully in his book and also on his website: Google " oysterguide " to find an extraordinarily rich source of oyster information.]
   
   Jacobsen has sound arguments for observing the "R Rule" of eating oysters only in months with that letter because oysters from warmer water do not taste as good and can be a health risk when not cooked. Those who resist the notion of eating a living creature should remember: "Left in their natural environment, most oysters would be eaten by something: why shouldn't it be you?"
   
   Virtually all oysters are now farm raised. Jacobsen is eloquent on why oyster farms are ecologically friendly. "Oyster farms are thriving in Virginia, New York and New England. On these aquaculture operations, billions of oysters spend one to three years in metal cages that function as artificial reefs. They filter water. Their shells provide habitat for numerous species. Sport fishermen have learned that striped bass, shad and other species congregate around them.
   
   "Aquaculture has a bad name. We picture fish farms with tons of feed being dumped into the water, creating the same algae-promoting conditions as pollution from cities and terrestrial farms. But the situation is reversed with oyster farms, because oysters are little filters. The farms provide far more water-cleaning benefits than all the government programs put together, don't cost taxpayers a cent, and support coastal economies. They also make better oysters: a farmed oyster is plumper, sweeter and prettier than its wild cousin." [From a piece on "The New York Times."]
   
   Jacobsen provides excellent advice on shucking oysters. "The New York Times" recently alerted me to "a new protective glove knitted from a polyester fiber used for bulletproof vests. It provides a nice cushioning and a line of defense when gripping a craggy oyster and inserting a knife. It is made by Microplane, the company known for its graters, and is labeled as ''cut resistant.'' I liked it for opening clams, too."
   
   For further reading (or not), Jacobsen discussed three books in an interview with "Seven Days". Oysters by Joan Reardon "is a cornucopia of the worst oyster dishes imaginable. Oyster mousse, oyster pancakes, oyster croque monsieur." Consider the Oyster by M.F.K. Fisher "is the classic". The Oysters of Locmariaquer by Eleanor Clark, "which won the National Book Award back in the '60s, is the best."
   
   Jacobsen provides a couple of dozen recipes, much oyster lore, and an enormous amount of pleasure in these pages. You don't have to be a connoisseur to enjoy this excellent guide to oysters.

5 comments about Top Secret Tourism: Your Travel Guide to Germ Warfare Laboratories, Clandestine Aircraft Bases and Other Places in the United States You're Not Supposed to Know About.

1. Whether or not I actually visit the germ warfare labs, clandestine aircraft bases, test sites, and missile launch complexes described here is beside the point. After reading way too many travel books' samey descriptions of cafes and museums, this thing is the antidote, and a really fun read to boot. And I do think I'll check out the suspicious Marana Airport with its "mothballed commercial jets glistening in the Arizona sun" one day!



2. As I read this book, I constantly had the theme from "The X-Files" running through my head.
   
   This book lists places in the US that are or have been significant "restricted-access" sites. Arranged alphabetically by state, each place has a several-page writeup as to the history of the place, how to find it, and also a description of the location. In most cases the sites are secure government or private facilities and visitors are not allowed.
   
   The list of sites includes places involved in testing of nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction, military test sites, surveillance centers, continuity of government facilities, training grounds, etc. It is easy to speculate about all sorts of wild suspicions simply because we cannot get a look inside the perimeter. But in my opinion, most of these places are probably not doing anything nefarious or involving space aliens, etc. However, reading about all these locations one after another does impress one with the amount of covert information, control, and power being accumulated by the federal government which could easily be immune to public or constitutional oversight, and used improperly for criminal or tyrannical ends. On one hand, this is sobering. On the other, one might take comfort in knowing that the government has such extensive capacity to monitor potential threats to the country. It all depends on one's perspective and attitude toward the government.
   
   The sites are identified by icons on each state's map. I think it would have been helpful to have a "legend" page telling what each type of icon represents. After reading about all the sites, one can make a guess what the icons represent, but it would have been nice to state it explicitly. It would also have been interesting to have a one-page map of the whole US with all the sites' icons listed, and maybe a series maps of the US listing all of the icons by type on each page.
   
   I think it would also have been nice to have some biographical information about the author, and his credentials and background for compiling all this information. But perhaps with the amount of latent paranoia running through the book, it's understandable that this is omitted.
   
   I would have liked to have photos for each site, at least of the sign or approach road of the site, or a bird's eye view via public satellite, etc. The only entries that contain this type of illustration are the ones for Edwards Air Force Base in California and Area 51 in Nevada. Along with this, it may have been interesting to have included online URL's for any websites regarding these locations. As I read the book I often thought that the content of the book would make a great website with links to info about each site.
   
   Overall, I found the book very interesting. This would be the perfect gift for conspiracy theory buffs and/or those interested in UFO's, terrorism, espionage, etc. It would also make a handy source of inspiration for someone writing high-tech thriller or science fiction novels. As a travelogue, though, it has limited interest since at most of the sites there's nothing that you can see without potentially getting arrested. Some of the facilities do broadcast mysterious radio transmissions which a radio buff might be able to tune in to.
   
   One thing that surprised me was reading about the broad powers that are available to FEMA in the event of a "state of emergency." I got a laugh, however, from the author's comment in the "getting a look inside" entry for FEMA: "FEMA's sites currently offer no public tours. When they want you to see the inside of any of their facilities, they'll know where to find you..."
   
   If you really want to feel paranoid, read this book and then read a copy of "Inside Secret Societies: What They Don't Want You to Know," by Michael Benson.
   
   Additional Note: readers of this book who are interested in visiting these kind of locations may want to check out Ellsworth Air Force Base, near Rapid City, South Dakota. Outside the base main gate, there is a public museum with a replica B-2 bomber on display along with a retired B-52 bomber. When I was there two years ago, one could pay to take a guided bus tour onto Ellsworth Air Force Base itself. The culmination of the tour included entry into a retired Minuteman missile training facility. You can go down in the silo and look at the full-size replica of the Minuteman missile in its silo, and think about the Cold War and what might have been. (Or might be again...)



3. This was a fun read. A little over the top at times with the conspiracy theory stuff but I think that is what kept it interesting. Not a lot of information on each sight listed in the book but that is a combination of the style of which the book was written as well as how little our government actually wants us to know about what is listed in the book. I found out about this book through Wired Magazine.
   
   I gave the book 4 stars because it doesn't compare to the great works of our world, but better than your average book for the spook nut in all of us.
   
   The only downside to this book is that now I've got Amazon convinced that I am a conspiracy nut and I can't get the spook books off my recommended page...



4. I'll admit it: I bought Top Secret Tourism because I loved the full title... Your Travel Guide to Germ Warfare Laboratories, Clandestine Aircraft Bases, and Other Places in the United States You're Not Supposed to Know About. It lives up to its title. Helms did his homework on this one. It's an eyeopener, just how many billions taxpayers spend on top secret facilities in this country, how World War II created what Helms calls Top Secret America when previously there was no national security state. Helms traveled all across the country to get as close to as many of these facilities as he could, including the famous Area 51 in Nevada. Particularly disturbing is the access one can get to former--and still radioactive--atomic test sites from the 1950s. Top Secret Tourism isn't for everyone, but if you're into military stuff and secret stuff, you'll love this one... and wait'll you read about HAARP!



5. This is one of those books you have to get for the conspiracy theorists in the family. Fun book to read and have.

4 comments about Hiking & Backpacking Big Sur: A Complete Guide to the Trails of Big Sur, Ventana Wilderness, and Silver Peak Wilderness (Hiking and Backpacking).

1. The book was wonderful to have on our trip to the Central Coast. Objective information with enough opinion and subjective information to help us decide where, how, when for each hike. The back of the book with the top list organized by theme was very helpful. One way the book could have been better is with a cross-reference chart... so if you want both "ocean" and "redwoods" as themes you could look it up, instead of a bunch of page flipping. The author does a good job appealing to a wide range, level of hikers, rare in a guide book.



2. This book isn't great, but it is very good.
   
   Pros
   1. It is inspiring. I feel like I want to go do the hike after I read the description
   2. Good pictures. Some have people in them and these are done very well.
   3. Good descriptions. These aren't little one page jobs.
   
   Cons
   1. Pictures - The pictures are black and white, not color and I think color pictures can mean everything. But this does not detract that much from this fine book



3. This is a great book. A friend and I had a trip to Big Sur planned and the book came several days before so that I was able to study up and enjoy the area even more!



4. Best Big Sur Hiking/Backpacking Book Out There! I'm a local, I try to get into the mountains whenever possible & this book is the bomb. I've checked out a few others & this is the best by far.
   
   
   It has detailed topographic maps with trails drawn in & great descriptions of each trail including elevations @ points along each trail. Elevations are critical because the Sur is all about elevation 0-5150 ft.
   
   Great book, if your considering a book about all Big Sur has to offer beyond Highway 1 this is the book.

2 comments about Time Out Cape Town: Winelands and the Garden Route (Time Out Guides).

1. I spent a month in Cape Town and this guide was always by my side. Excellent guide with wonderful endearing side bars on locals-it gives you a great sense of Cape Town and its local flavour. All the sections are dead on. I found the dining and shopping extremely helpful with its guide to what is uniquely Capetonian. This is by far the best guide to Cape Town out now. The writers and contributors for this guide should be commended.



2. As many other Time Out Guides, the Cape Town one didn't let me down. It is a very reliable and updated source on best hotels in town, best shops, best restaurants, bars, and so on, for all budgets. I believe it enhanced greatly my experience of knowing new places. I took my Time Out Guides with me to NYC, New Orleans, Buenos Aires and Cape Town and I must say their recommendations rarely disapointed me. They also have a comprehensive session on tours, museums or sight seeing, but they are not the most complete in the market, though.

5 comments about Pocket Map and Guide Amsterdam (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. I just returned from Amsterdam. The Pocket Map and Guide is a must have item for anyone visiting Amsterdam. It's small and convenient size allows you to keep it handy. I refered to it constantly the entire time I was there. It's index by streets allows you to quickly pinpoint your current location and route to take to your destination. The information contained in the individual area sections covers the major monuments, museums, churches, markets, and sights; plus offers good recommendations for cafes, bars, and restaurants by neighborhood. I highly recommend it and found it was the best source for finding my way around the city on foot.



2. I have also purchased the larger guide book and found that the pocket guide book was useful as a companion mainly for its concise map. It did give me a quick reference for main landmarks but I think one may need the larger book to give more detailed information.



3. This guide is great for 3-4 days and longer: great map, easy to use, all main attractions, opens and closes easily for quick reference. I was in amsterdam one month and used this guide more than the others i brought.



4. I just took a trip to Amsterdam for Spring Break, and although I had two other guides with me, this one came in handy mostly because of the size and the map that was very helpful when we got lost in neighborhood during a downpour of rain. I've used it the most and found it easy to read. Some of the other information in there besides the map is helpful, but since it is a small pocket edition, you might wanna pick up a bigger guide. So anyway, great book!



5. I bought several other pocket maps for our trip, but this was the one I used the most. Only one other was as good- and my definition of good is whether or not I can identify even the smaller roads. This one had enough detail to get us around for four days. The guide portion was interesting enough to read through, but I always do my own research on vacation destinations, so this didn't help me all that much.
   
   It was small enough to fit in my pocket and in my very small purse. The map refolds easily. The only complaint is that it's easy to rip and had we had any serious rain, this book wouldn't have made the trip.

No comments about Southern Belly: The Ultimate Food Lover's Companion to the South.