5 comments about WeeBeeTunes Travel Adventures - Get Your Passport!.

1. When I bought this I was thinking that they would have colorful, real pictures of the places travelled to with animated characters to keep the kids entertained (kind of like National Geographics Geo Kids videos). I don't think my kids get the full feel of visiting places around the world through all the busy cartoon animation. Good video, but not what I was expecting.



2. My son is familiar with the World map and the globe and all the seven continents since he was 16 months old. When I learned about this video I immediately purchased it and indeed it's a great complement and supplement to what he's already learned! At 21 months old, he's been around the World vicariously! His favorite of all places is Timbuktu!!! He keeps asking me to rewind back to the country of Mali to see Timbuktu again (5X !!ugh) Then Turkey and then Nepal! And Egypt! ... I had to play this video about 3 times everyday and even I'm enjoying it! -- and oh he loves Paris when it mentioned the Mona Lisa painting and Artists Monet and Renoir since he's already familiar with them also!



3. Our kids absolutely love these. They are very well done and come highly recommended from someone who has bought lots of educational DVDs for my kids over the last 7 years!



4. I bought this item in hopes to expose my kids to cultures around the world, and they are fascinated. I didn't want anything too detailed or "boring" since my kids are still very young. I couldn't have found a better match, my kids sing the songs and tell their stories, now they want to go to the library to learn more about the "race to the South Pole".



5. My children (almost 4 and 5) love this video "as much as Diego". For them that is saying a lot. I love it because it makes geography fun, introduces the continents, and has delightful songs. Each continent is represented by a different animal. The animal takes you on a tour of something on his or her continent. Sometimes they meet (like in Istanbul) at places that are near or in two continents. The songs show the flavor of the area. Some of the places covered are more obscure (the Grand Bazaar) while others are more familiar (London). I thought there was nice variety.

1 comments about Globe Trekker: Central America.

1. This DVD is interesting and shows travel through Mexican towns. It presents history without forcing it on the students. I like the part about the grasshoppers and mole from Puebla - a dish made of chocolate and peppers. The chocolate segments are enticing. The filming is well done. The host is quite comical and gives a light hearted presentation of what appears to a great deal of fun. Great for a Spanish Class, although you need to view to see if all of the parts are age appropriate for your group.

No comments about The Michael Palin Collection.

5 comments about The I'm A Good Little Traveler! DVD Toolkit Series: Shae by Air.

1. We showed this DVD to our 2 year old before our most recent flight and it made a huge difference. We had flown with him frequently while he was a baby, but once he was a toddler, the experience was completely different. My son loves the video and reminds us that "the little girl says no kicking" (the seat in front of him) and that he needs to drink water during take-off/landing to help his "ears popping." Although we had tried to prepare him with these same instructions, it was only when he witnessed Shae's good behavior that he really listened!



2. At first I was a little skeptical about the movie, but it IS targeted for little ones. My 2 1/2 yo DD LOVES this movie, and even though we are back from OUR trip she still requests to watch "Shae". We refered to what we saw on the movie many times on our trip, and my dd was so proud to talk with people about it. She did turn out to be a "good little traveler". If debating about this purchase... give it a chance, your little one will most likely LOVE it!



3. I didn't think i was going to like this dvd. My 23 month old son does not watch tv & occasionally watches baby einstein. This dvd is short (about 10-15 min) & to the point. It follows a little girl through a plane ride. My son really like's Shae & now always asks to watch the dvd. When i tell him not to kick the seat in front he say's "uh oh, like Shae", then stops. So the dvd does have an influence on his behavior during a trip in the car or plane. The music is nice & not annoying like most dvd's geared towards toddler. No annoying catchy song to get out of your head:o) I'm so happy they made this dvd!!



4. I bought this for my 20 month old daughter as we are going to be flying in late September this year. She loved the images of airplanes but she wasn't interested at all by Shae nor by what Shae did. For the price paid, you would expect more commentaries and advices. Furthermore, either that the video was shot long time ago or it was shot in a fake airport terminal and airplane but it wasn't believable at all. Also in the security inspection scene - the mom went through the detector with her long boots on! It was totally not realistic at all so will not be able to prepare the child for the reality of a busy airport with brusque officers, loads of people and long queues. They should remake the film. Or maybe I could do my own film and sell it online. LOL



5. We were gifted this video by a friend. My daughter, then age 3, absolutely loves watching this video. We viewed it over and over again before heading out to Hawaii. When it came time to go through the airport and board the airplane, my daughter did it "like Shea". She's now 4 and continues to ask to watch this video.

2 comments about Globe Trekker: Ultimate China (Double DVD contains 3 episodes!).

1. I rented this movie from Netflix, and only half of it worked. The southwest China half was fine, but the central China half froze my computer. I'm sure you will get a fully working dvd from Amazon, one that was not already viewed by dozens of people.
   
   This is the second dvd I've seen starring Justine Shapiro. The first one was a visit to England, and I found that one ordinary and not particularly interesting. This is a different story. This is really an excellent show. Southwest China is much more interesting to learn about than England.
   
   If you think Tennessee is country, you need to see southwest China. It makes Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas look like Las Vegas or Manhattan by comparison.
   
   Justine mixes with the regular people. She rides on their sleeper trains and buses, and on horses and bikes. She eats their food, which includes dogs, snakes and frogs. She takes us to their markets.
   
   After seeing this video, there's one thing I didn't get from the England video. I really like Justine Shapiro. She has guts, she's independent, she's sweet, she's pretty.
   
   She also takes us to big cities in China, and they are very interesting to see.
   
   I found one part of the film disturbing. She has some health problems and goes to a medical center. She gets acupuncture. We see the doctor shove needles into her skin. We hear her say that she doesn't know why she's doing this. We do not hear her say that it did a bit of good, and I think she would have said that if it was worth anything.
   
   I tried acupuncture myself, and it made me sweat a stream, and nearly pass out. It is powerful, and I suspect that the doctor put way too many needles into me, and that I'm ultra sensitive to it. When he saw me passing out, he whisked almost all the needles out of me with one sweep of his hand, and I had to lay down on my back for a half hour before I could drive home. Then he asked me to make an appointment for a second visit. That was one of the funniest suggestions I ever heard.



2. I am planning a trip to China and have been trying to learn more about the people and the culture of China and found this to be an excellent source!! The discs contain 3 different episodes dealing with different regions of China. The first 2 were excellent and they interact with the locals and try local foods. They go beyond the big cities and into the heart of China and parts of the country most people will never see. I was a little disappointed with the third episode but all in all found it well worth watching if you are interested in China and Chinese culture today.

1 comments about Living Landscapes: World's Most Beautiful Places.

1. Good news: This is one of the few good landscape DVDs that don't require you to have a HD or BluRay player. The landscapes truly are beautiful and are REAL, unlike some of the DVDs I've purchased in the past that only had animated nature scenes, even though they proudly proclaimed on the packaging "Shot in HD!" (I'm looking at you, 'Living Art' DVDs!).
   
   Bad news: You can't turn off the music on this collection and just listen to the natural sounds. You can hear them (barely) in the background, but the music track drowns it out. Just be aware of that if you wanted to hear the sounds of the ocean, or the birds of the forest.

3 comments about America's National Parks and Forests.

1. This DVD is outstanding for two reasons: (1) the unbelievable quality of the videos and (2) the amazing diversity of the sites it covers including Acadia, Big Bend, The Grand Canyon, Mt. Rainier, Yellowstone, Yosemite etc. Plus it has a bonus of some of the best parks in the world including Banff, The Great Barrier Reef and even the secret of Machu Picchu. What a travel guide! What a deal!



2. If you look at the "review "below, it might surprise you that according to his logic he must work for a competitor because on the same day he attacked this park DVD, he promoted a park DVD by "Finley Holiday" (according to his logic a positive review and certainly a positive review combined with attacks on competitors must mean you work for that company). Unbelievable! And the company he is promoting has 151 DVDs mainly on the national parks, but they only had a handful of positive comments. I'll repeat again - they have 151 different DVDs and they could only get a handful of positive reviews. And what is even more amazing, is that most of these positive reviews were written the same day by the same guy - and they were almost identical (search Amazon DVDs using the name "Finley Holiday" and then see the Jan 3, 2006 reviews on Bryce Canyon, Carlsbad Cavern, Grand Teton, Death Valley, Arches, etc).
   
   Regard America's National Parks and Forests DVD just read All Movie Guide comments: "This hour-long video offers viewers a tour of some of America's oldest and most renowned natural and man-made wonders, including the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Bruce Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, Crater Lake, Yosemite, Yellowstone, and other National Parks. Extensive wildlife and recreational footage is included as well, making this an appropriate primer for families wishing to survey the country's natural attractions before traveling to them." And All Movie Guide is an independent reviewer. "Anyway, I just thought I'd set the record straight for future unsuspecting buyers who really want to learn and discover our national parks."



3. This video impressed me very much. The music is wonderful and I really liked the way it brought me close to nature - the sound of the streams, the lush green forests, the winter snow in Yellowstone and the wild animals. It made me feel very relaxed. What wonderful places! How I wish I could go there! But it's impossible for me now because of my studies. What a pity. I miss beautiful natural places and the scenes from the national parks made me feel very comfortable and peaceful.

5 comments about Music in High Places - India Arie (Live in Brazil).

1. I am a fan of the entire "Music In High Places" series, so this met my expectations to the fullest.
   
   Watching india.arie perform in these beautiful places is both relaxing and inspiring.



2. the DVD is excellen.INdia arie is really a great performer..with heart and sould..she delivers and you won't/can't be dissappointed..



3. I was determined that this would be a piece of crap for 7 dollars but when i watched this DVD for the first time, i realized it was unlike any other. i was expecting a standard musical perdormance, but like always, India Aire surprises you with a personal and beautiful experience...if you are a devote fan, this is an epic choice.



4. I first came across the MIHP series when my wife gave me the "India Arie in Brazil" DVD for Christmas. I have always enjoyed India's music and musical style, so she figured it would be a good present. It has turned out to be one of the best Christmas presents ever!! I watch it all the time!!!
   
   I was blown away by the sound, scenery and the talent of India Arie. She has an amazing voice and tone that really sits well with me. To me, her voice is 100% pure. Devoid of big time rifts and show-off styles like many of the more famous performers in the spotlight. What makes this DVD great is the fact that India Aire really felt at home in Bahia. She really appreciated the culture, the music and the history of Bahia. She even sang with some of the local talent and let the musicians play with her band.
   
   The way the DVD is produced makes you feel as if you are right there with India, as she just breaks out in a song. I've seen the MIHP "Brian McKnight in Brazil", and I didn't like that one nearly as much as this. For one, the music in McKnight's DVD sounds as if he is in a studio even though he is singing in front of a group of locals. Also, he had the typical American (Wow, you people really live like this...) condescending attitude that Americans take with them when visiting other countries, which was very annoying. As a result of watching both DVD's, I love India Arie more and like Brian McKnight a whole lot less.



5. I love this dvd!! it is gorgeous to look at and to listen to. India's voice is amazing!! She draws you in with the warmth of her gift,and paints a perfect picture with her words. I can feel the words of each song because they are sung with a deep conviction of her spirit.
   Do not let this dvd escape you!!!

5 comments about Globe Trekker: Argentina.

1. This DVD is dated as a 2004 release and maybe the DVD was released then but the video was defintely filmed at least five years earlier.
   
   The video is not very helpful and full of false information about the country, particularly the cost of traveling. Justine Shapiro states that it is VERY VERY EXPENSIVE to travel in Argenitna. It was back then when the video was made, mostly in 1997, but now after the devaluation in 2001 Argentina is considered one of the most inexpensive travel destination in the world.
   
   It was shot in 2004 and contains the latest information for tourists, such as the CURRENT price of hotels, food, etc.
   
   If you are interested in visiting Argentina and really want to know how it is NOW I recommend you consider the "Best of Buenos Aires" video on Amazon.



2. Justine Shapiro is really charming and made me laugh in several instances. This video is superbly shot, and even myself, as a local argentine, found it entertaining and informative.
   
   The reviewer before me was too harsh to give it a single star. Just discard any references you hear on the video about prices (for that, look around in travel web sites, and ANYTHING taped will get outdated over time).
   
   Yes, this video was shot back in ~2000 when the country's currency, the peso, was artificially pegged to the US dollar, and neocons were running the country, overvaluating our currency (which as you might imagine caused the exports of anything almost impossible, as everything was cheaper imported rather than locally produced).
   
   After the sad events of late 2001 and early 2002, the local currency was devaluated and that artificial economic policy of "1 peso to 1 dollar" was abandoned. After a brieg period of chaos, the country started recovering and now (2005/2006) exports are booming, job creation is on the rise, tourism is booming, and exports (both agriculture and industrial) are at an all time high. Plenty of factories have re-opened its doors and in some sectors of the economy employers are having a hard time finding people for the positions.
   
   (...) the peso is now at around $3 pesos per US dollar. (...)
   
   (...)
   Hope this helps.



3. Seeing this Globtrekker travelogue again on TV reminded me of how well it portrays the beauty and immense scale of this amazing country. It also superbly communicates the warmth and generosity of its people. Disregard another reviewer's grousings about the economic inaccuracies (yeah, so what?--it's actually much cheaper now to visit Argentina), and just sit back and enjoy sweeping views of Iguasu Falls, the Argentine cordillera, windswept Patagonia, and the Perito Moreno glacier. Justine Shapiro has just the right balance of wonder and wimsy to pull off this travelogue. I especially like her good-humored response to a pass made at her in Buenos Aires, and her imitation of a penguin walk on the beach in Patagonia. This is a real fun video and will make you want to visit this great country.



4. This video was made before 2001 and the economic crash, so they keep talking about how expensive it all is. Not up to date at all. They need to make a new one. However, they do highlight great things to do.



5. I bought this DVD as a gift for my parents, hoping to entice them to visit my us after we move to Argentina this summer. I was surprised when they told me that the show had completely turned their stomachs with vivid portrayals of killing and gutting a cow, ripping off it's hide and opening the stomach to show what's inside. The host also brands a cow, and you hear it moaning as you watch her, in shock, asking herself WHY she had ever agreed to do such a thing. I think this would be a fine video to watch for "documentary" entertainment, but if you are trying to convince the average 70 year old traveler (or anyone who is not gung-ho on livestock) to go to Argentina for a holiday, this is NOT the DVD to choose! We're going to look for another, more "travel-friendly" program to show to the rest of the family instead.

5 comments about Michael Palin - Sahara.

1. I had the great priviledge to see Michael Palin's Sahara on the (real)BBC in Oxford (England) in 2002 with an Algerian friend. Unfortunately the BBC showed the production in the wee small hours ---but staying up all night was well worth loosding a little sleep. (Now, having recently purchased the DVD, I've had another grand experience with Michael as my guide.)
   
   We were greatly pleased to see that Palin chose to go into Algeria, despite the dire warnings about the dangerous conditions (due to the great unrest and genocide occuring at that particular time) because it is truly a beautiful country-land of contrasts! We enjoyed taking a trek through the Ahaggar region (Palin refers to it in English as the Hoggar), hearing that, despite what is said in the press, the Sahroui refugees were not kept in Tindouf against their will and were treated well by the Algerian government, and the mini-stroll through the Casbah in center Alger (Algiers in English) was a delight-if too brief. Oran (pronounced 'Waahran'-say it slowly and do pronunce the 'h'!) has an enviable spot on the beautiful hilly coastline above the even more beautiful Mediterranean. We were delighted to hear the journalist who accompanied Palin in the Casbah say-typically Algerian-'inch'Allah'with reference to a possible future event. We were sorry that Michael did not venture a little south of Alger to visit Algeria's vast array of Roman ruins, and isntead chose Libya for this. Bravo to Michael for showing the rest of the world at least a glimpse of our beloved Algeria. Be cooled by the oasis outside Hassi Messaoud -a breath of fresh air!
   
   The funniest statement of the film was when Palin alluded to the "longest bus ride" he'd ever taken when going accross the falt and palid Libyan desert.
   
   The journey Palin took with the touaregs is spectacular. Myriads of camels, a ton of dunes and sand, and the comraderie of the berbers of the desert. Be sure to look for the baby dorcas gazelle!
   
   From England to Gibralter (where the Barbary baboons hobnob with the gentry) thorugh the vast and breathtaking Sahara (of which Alogeria calims mmore than a lions-or is that camel's?-share, with glimpses of all the countries which share this most wonderful of all deserts. Meet the inahabitants along the way. You will have a wonderful surprise, and perhaps learn that people are people no matter where they call home.
   
   As Palin says, "See what is similar, not what is different" of these people.
   
   Enjoy your journey in this enchanted place!



2. BRAVO - MAGNIFICO!
   
   Michael Palin has done it again; taken a trip and brought his fans another video travel masterpiece!
   
   See what it's like, or at least similar to, backpacking through a vast and intriguing country, the Sahara Region, with a few side trips to cities, yes! I said cities, and a few tourist sites; Micheal Palin seems to prefer checking out what life is really like in these far-off places.
   
   Michael Palin does not march from one traditional tourist trap to another: that's what makes his travel videos so great! Very little time is spent at the regular tourist sites.
   
   Michael Palin's best laid plans are not alway's realized, and that's just another plus: hey, sometimes one must adapt; little or big, unexpected experiences can be fun!
   
   All of Micheal Palin's previous travel tapes are FANTASTIC, and now we have Micheal Palin's "Sahara."
   
   For those who have never seen a Micheal Palin travel video, I recommend buying them all (1.Around The World In Eighty Days; 2.Pole To Pole; 3. Full Circle; 4. Himalaya; and 5. Sahara) then sit back and enjoy the expertly filmed travels of this one-of-a kind explorer/traveler. For those of you who thirst for entertainment, I've led you to water, whether or not you drink is up to you.



3. Tragically, it is not easy to get access to BBC shows in the USA. There are some truly great series, for example all the travel series done by Michael Palin (some more amazing than others, but all very good). You might recognize him from his days as a star in Monty Python or from the film "A Fish Called Wanda." Part of what makes him a great travel series host is that he retains his humor while exploring extremely fascinating parts of the globe. His series are very balanced, informative, and entertaining all at the same time.
   
   The most refreshing thing about his series is that they are not presented as "look at all these great touristic places I have been," but rather the camera is more of a silent witness to his adventures. It really just follows him as he sets out to do his carefully researched itineraries ("Around the World in 80 Days," "Pole to Pole," "Full Circle," "Sahara," "Himalaya") or themes ("Hemingway Adventure," "Palin's New Europe"). His style is both objective and subjective. Whilst retaining a journalistic like objectivity he also lets you know how he subjectively feels about the places he visits and about how he personally feels in regards to his personal health both physically and psychologically: he shares his apprehensions, feelings of triumph or defeat, relief or disparity, amazement and disappointments, mourning or elation or even neutrality, sickness and homesickness or feelings of health; in other words, his style is to bring the richness of a written travelogue to film. You get the feeling that you are watching his diary; for example, when he does his post trip/editing room voice-overs and other commentary, he adds his comments from it.
   You see him get altitude sickness in the Himalayas ("Himalaya"), and you see him participate in a bizarre yet hilarious crossing-the-international-date-line ritual performed by the ship crew on his way from Japan to the USA (in "Around the World in 80 Days.") Moreover, the trips have quite large budgets so there really is no limit to what kind of itinerary he can dream up. In "Around the World in 80 Days" he set out to literally circumnavigate the globe, but not just in a ship, he uses any means of ground transportation he can find, which includes joining ship barges. The one stipulation is no air transportation. In other series his itineraries are equally as grand: in "Full Circle" he makes a trip around the Pacific Rim and has the unique privilege of hiring a helicopter to see some difficult to get to parts of far eastern Russia and after, true to Palin style, learns Russian drinking songs from the pilot while drinking vodka with him; in "Pole to Pole" he takes the only commercial plane that flies from South America to the South Pole, a ticket that is prohibitively expensive for your average traveller.
   
   It was very easy for me to get addicted to Michael Palin's series and I had the fortune of living in China where bootlegs of anything are easy to come by when I did. In the USA, his shows are difficult to come by. I know that the complete box set of all the series he has done so far (he has at least one or two more left in him) is sold at a bargain price in the UK. But for people living in the USA who cannot stand the fact that those DVDs are (probably) regioned to the effect that they will not even work on our DVD players here even when legitimately purchased and imported to the USA, perhaps the best alternative is to turn to the internet (cough, torrents, cough).
   
   FYI The BBC shop in the UK sells a 16 disc box set with all his travel series he has ever done for 40 pounds (about 80 dollars). It is so outrageous that DVDs are region coded so that they can price discriminate against the American audience.



4. An excellent series. I would have given it 5 stars, but it didn't quite measure up to the very high standard set by Around the World in 80 Days. I have already pre-ordered Michael Palin - Pole to Pole and am eagerly awaiting its delivery.



5. Once again the superb ex-Monty Python turned globetrotting national British icon Michael Palin invites us all to join him on his journeys around the world. This time the destination is the biggest desert in the world, the Sahara, and its surrounding countries.
   As usual the witty and insightful narration of Mr. Palin, as well as his encounters with local people and ex-pats from around the world makes for an interesting and inspiring series about this very inhospitable yet beautiful and little understood place. If nothing else, the series gives food for thought about how people live their lives in other parts of the world. At least it did for me.
   
   I will admit that "Sahara" is not the best of Michael Palins travels. There is a quality or feel about it that just doesn't really make you feel the same elation you normally would, watching Palins programmes. This is not to say that "Sahara" is bad television. By no means. Not being the best doesn't mean that it's bad. Perhaps it has to do with the sameness of the places he travels to in this series. There is little but sand, which maybe in some way makes it less fascinating. I don't know.
   
   As usual with the Palin travel DVDs there are a plethora of extra material in the form of clips that didn't make the final cut. a video diary, and of course an interview with Michael Palin.
   
   Not the best, but still very, very good. Highly recommended.