5 comments about CHINA: Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong & Tibet.

1. I really enjoyed this DVD. The mix of traditional Chinese cultural sites in Beijing and Xian and the ultra-modern skyline in Shanghai were fascinating.



2. Travel China. Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong & Tibet
   locations & photography are good but not all inclusive. The commentary is sometimes a little hard to understand, and in a few instances is a bit heavy handed.
   Nevertheless the subject matter is very interesting, and well worth watching.



3. This DVD on China is marvelous. I'm a part time travel agent and I love it. I have shown it to a couple of people and they were extremely impressed. Who knows, I might get a few trips booked as a result. The videos were amazing.



4. I greatly enjoyed this video. It was professionally done with beautiful crisp clear photography and interesting commentary. The whole country was well covered and I really enjoyed the section on Tibet as well as Shanghai. I hope to visit this beautiful country some day, and will use this video as my reference guide.



5. This video provides a good basic introduction to the highlights of China for the first-time traveler. It includes the cities mentioned in the title, along with the Panda Breeding Center in Chengdu, the Guilin area and Shuzou. It is relatively recently-produced, so the video quality is good. I found the narrator's voice to be a little annoying at times. All in all, it's well worth buying if you are not very familiar with the country, but would probably be too cursory for those who have been there before or who have done their homework.

1 comments about Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Season 1 - Episode 1: Paris.

1. This is a gem of a dvd it makes u want to go straight to PARIS it shows some of its hidden beauties Bourdain in fine style.

3 comments about Explore the Wildlife Kingdom Series: Lions - Kings of Africa.

1. NOT ALL THAT GREAT QUALITY, I PLAYED IN ONE MY PLAYSTATION 3 & IT IS VERY POOR QUALITY DVD. i THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WITH THE PLAYSTATION 3 BUT IT WAS TH DVD EVERYTHING ELSE PLAYED CLEAR & SMOOTH.



2. I don't regret purchasing this dvd and have watched it several times. Unfortunately the commentary on most wildlife films ranges from insipidly trite to downright annoying - this seems criminal, given the quality of the movie footage and the tribulation involved in capturing it. On this one the monologue is mostly innoffensive.
   
   Although the quality during the introduction has the appearance of an old video, the rest of the film is fine. While not in the same league as, say, Derek & Beverey Joubert, there is some memorable and engaging footage in places and I will certainly be watching it again.



3. I first saw this from a library DVD loan. It was so good that I set out to buy it and put it in my personal library. It IS a good movie on lions, and it in particular follows a certain pride of lions on an African reserve. I must have watched it five or six times in a row when I first got it from the library (Five or six times that night). Now I have ordered it.
   
   I am very particular about the nature/wildlife movies I buy. I try to get the ones that have good, quality color, good text on the subject, that is exciting and holds your attention, shows the true life and pattern of the animal, that while it does show that the animal must hunt in order to eat (it cannot go to McDonalds and order a salad to go) but at the same time, that part is not too gory, the narration does not promote evolutionist ideas (Animals did not evolve and our great, great grandparents did not come from orangatangs), does not elevate the animal kingdom as if they are on a higher plane than humans, while bashing mankind as the "enemy of animal's existance and habitat", etc... and this movie is an EXCELLENT documantary that leaves all that stuff out and just gets you intimately aquainted with this particular African pride of Lions and their life and experiences.
   
   You will like this movie. Still not sure? Do what I did and get it from the Library, look at it and see that it's a great movie, then you will confidently go out and buy it too.

2 comments about Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Season 1 - Episode 11: Japan.

1. Bourdain is the best host out there. This is the only travel show I watch because it is not typical. He is witty, intelligent and funny. He tries to connect to the people he is meeting not just show the most popular spots.
   
   If you like this read any of his books



2. I searched for a long time to find this "No Reservations" episode. The Discovery Channel and Travel Channel websites do not have this episode for sale. The Anthony Bourdain DVD Collections do not have this episode either. Thank you Amazon for offering this for sale.

4 comments about Bike-O-Vision Cycling DVD #5 Yosemite & 49'ers Gold Country.

1. I recently purchased the "Yosemite" DVD to use while getting ready for biking season here in central Minnesota. I totally enjoy the video, the beautiful music and the lack of distracting "coaching", commentary and pop-ups that are found in the other DVDs I use for bike training. (I also appreciate not have to look at the virtual rider's backside all through the DVD.) I would like to see more of the great parks, like Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain and the Blue Ridge added to the series, but this is a great start!



2. I have this and Bike-O-Vision's California Coast. Both are excellent when I want to put some time in the saddle on a cold Minnesota winter's day. Someone else complained and said she bought her husband a Chris Carmichael dvd instead. I have those too, and some Spinervals, and they are great for their intended purpose - a tough work-out and/or a work-out focused on improving one or more aspects of your cycling fitness or skills. But when I want to bike through some gorgeous California countryside on a sunny California day, I put a Bike-O-Vision in.



3. I'm an regular cyclist and workout indoors when the weather's bad. The video is a great compliment to my indoor cycling workouts because the "forward-motion" views keep you wanting to push ahead and do more. I have all their dvd rides and use them daily. Best investment I've made besides my stationary bike. There are so many different scenic rides I don't get bored.
   
   UPDATE: I got the 2005 version of this dvd ride which I loved and just got the 2007 updated version that came out this December advertised on their website - and this ride is even better than their first version!



4. 5 stars for the scenary/2 stars for the music.
   
   The background music is (very pleasant) classical music.
   
   If you want to buy this DVD to exercise to (like I did), you probably will not want to exercise to classical music.
   
   Ideally, there would be no music (just the sounds of nature). Having said that, one can simply turn the sound down or off.
   
   Ken Fagan
   Traducteur Droit Immobilier
   www.droit-immobilier-traduit.com

5 comments about Four Seasons of Relaxation.

1. This is a Super ( no pun intended ) video that depicts the best parts of being alive. Very relaxing to watch and listen to any time of the day and is great background music for any time of the day or night. Must see and hear this one.



2. Thank you for producing a wonderful video and reminder of the importance of nature, music, and relaxation in our harried lives.



3. I've had the pleasure of enjoying Christian Super's music for many years in various projects. This video offers an opportunity to hear the musicality of his performance in a setting that fits it perfectly. The images reflect the spell the music weaves, creating the promised relaxation beautifully. I highly recommend this DVD.



4. I wacthed this DVD with my wife and after a day of dealing with kids and the like, we simply relaxed on the sofa and let the pictures and music smooth out the whole day.
   
   Highly recommended if you need to eliminate some stress.



5. I recieved this as a gift very relaxing and wonderful music. Nice to watch or just listen to.

1 comments about Maui: Island of the Sun.

1. What an amazing DVD! The best of the best on Maui. Restaurants, activities, best beaches, tours and more. Everything you need to know about Maui before you travel or after you've returned to re-live an amazing vacation.
   
   Absolutely stunning photography in this DVD as well as one of their other tiles, Seascapes & Sunsets.
   
   I highly recommend both.

No comments about Great Lodges of National Parks: The West & Pacific Rim.

3 comments about Rick Steves' France and Benelux, 2000-2007.

1. Know before you go! The perfect way to prepare for a visit to France and Belgium is to see what to expect. Rick Steves shows you.



2. Has there ever been another travel guide more amiable, more informative, more eclectic and just plain likeable than Rick Steves? This somewhat nerdish but pleasant looking fellow will immediately win the viewer over with his charm, humor and smoothing, layback manner. However what will keep you watching program after program is his consummate knowledge of the sites and people he visits.
   
   While each journey is only 30 minutes in length Rick has a unique talent of synthesizing the many facets that make up a people and place. He leaves no stone unturned in his analysis; historical background, spiritual heritage, cultural underpinnings and political legacy are all equally touched upon to give the audience a fuller understanding of the rural and urban landscape.
   
   However not not an individual to dwell too much on the past, he provides a delightful tour of the markets, music, restaurants and nightlife. The kind of information would really want to know if you're out for a good time.
   
   The production values are also wonderful offering fanstastic visuals that are worth watching even if there where no commentary. Traveling with Rick Steves' is the next best thing to being there.
   
   This particular DVD contains eight episodes, thirty minutes in length. Imagine four hours in France and Benelux await, better get started!



3. Been thinking about a vacation to France, the Netherlands, or Belgium? Never done so before? Not sure where to begin? Rick Steves series on European travel (here, France and the "Benelux" region, a term coined by The Economist Magazine back in the 1940's to describe The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxemburg) is perhaps one of the best ways to start. Rick is your travel companion, and his friendly, affable, and matter-of-fact approach will appeal to anyone wishing to make such a trip but a bit apprehensive about just how to pull it off.
   
   Steves approach is a good one. Each episode is only about 30 -40 minutes in length, and covers some of his highlights picks for the region under discussion. We know immediately than any of these locations would take years of intensive visits to get to know completely, so Steves doesn't attempt to cover too much in such a short time. Rather, he gives you a pleasant, and often stunningly beautiful, tour through the region, pointing out favorite restaurants, hostels, bed and breakfasts, sights, and so on. Even the experienced traveler should enjoy the presentation, which is kept family oriented and points out things that should be on anyone's "short list" for the trip. This particular disk does not focus on Paris, so if you are wishing more information specifically on this city, this disk may not be your best bet. But you WILL get a nice sampling of some of the myriad regions of France, so varied in characteristics that it surprises you that you are in the same county.
   
   These videos are terrific for getting your juices going on planning a trip. But if you have never made a trip to the region before, you should follow up with some of the terrific guide books by DK, Knopf, and others to get more detailed information. But for early "start up" thinking, brainstorming, or just to have the family together see what Europe has to offer, you can't beat Rick Steves. Fun, fun, fun.

5 comments about Experience Italy! - DVD Exclusive Travel Video (2007).

1. This was a big help to me planning my trip to Italy. The hosts are very knowledgeable and personable. Gave me a lot of helpful info and beautiful pictures. Great!



2. Would have been confused about bus, train, tickets if they wouldn't have showed me on the video.........I really like the DVD.



3. The video is a great overview of Italy. The part about taking the trains was especially helpful. If you are going to Florence, Rome, or Venice, it will help you decide what you want to see.



4. This DVD gave a broad overview of some of the major areas of Italy utilizing local tour guides and was even humorous in parts. It was especially useful when it focused on travel tips such as how to use the train system, but I would have liked a little more depth regarding other tips like the best month/day/time to visit tourist areas, the pros & cons of using a tour group, a local guide or going it alone, etc. I'd say it was probably worth the price.



5. This DVD has been very helpful in my recent travel to Italy. The scenery is beautiful, and the suggestions provided were very useful. Thanks so much :-)