Premium account Joined: Jun 02 Points: 12920 Posts: 217
Posted: 2002-10-02 09:15:00
Hi Kathy,
I think you can't go past the Rough Guides or Lonely Planets. I think that Rough Guides aims a fraction higher than the shoestring traveller whereas with the Lonely Planet this is more their market.
I always read both before I go anywhere and take one copy with me and photocopy the relevent sections of the other and pass them on to fellow travellers as I finish with them. They are always appreciated.
Cheers,
Kerrie
P.S Check out the Lonely Planet Queensland 2002 edition for the hotel that I manage, it's the Chateau Beachside entry in the Surfers Paradise section :-)
Kerrie and I think alike. I use LP and Rough Guides a lot for background research. Many of the other "popular" guides are too US-flavoured for my liking. (I wonder if THAT will get any unsolicited responses?)
I've also used Moon and Footprint guides for various destinations in Asia - very detailed and a great source for inspirational journeys off the beaten track.
I think it's widely acknowledged that no ONE guide provides everything. It's a bit like a good soup - combine the bits you like and tailor to your taste. We're so lucky to have all this information. Can you imagine what it must have been like for early explorers?
As far as writers go, I've read so many I liked but two recent standouts are worth a mention:
1) Paul Theroux's "Pillars of Hercules"; NOBODY writes like this guy. A wonderfully unique and unflappable traveller.
2) Alec Le Sueur's "Running a Hotel on the Roof of the World"; you'll wet yourself reading this unique view of adapting to working life in Tibet. Fantastic.
--- Dave Underwood Freelance Travel Writer & Photojournalist
Premium account Joined: Aug 02 Points: 3944 Posts: 97
Posted: 2002-10-05 17:45:00
But, undedd, when you mention Theroux you should also talk about his book "The Great Railway Bazaar", it's a book what makes dreams. I wanted to pack and to just hit the train.
hieronyma
--- "To Live In One Country Is Captivity", John Donne, "Change", 1635
Premium account Joined: Aug 02 Points: 3944 Posts: 97
Posted: 2002-10-05 21:44:00
Oh, I forgot abnother one by Theroux.Was the one I metioned concerned with journeys by train through Asia, so is the one "Riding the Iron Rooster, concerned with journeys by train through China. Written at the end of the eighties it gives a vivid picture of the then new China. Exciting and informative. Since then I am dreaming of travelling from Mongolia through China and off to Tibet by train. hieronyma
--- "To Live In One Country Is Captivity", John Donne, "Change", 1635
Premium account Joined: Aug 02 Points: 3944 Posts: 97
Posted: 2002-10-06 13:02:00
Hi, Kathy,
I just found a website <wwww.uni-marburg.de/geographie>, sounds interesting: Maps, information about weather, maps, healthy travelling, also possibilities to download (free) articles, even feminist geography.
And maybe "A Rough Guide Special" is interesting for you too: "More Women Travel". Mine I bought 1995, there probably is a new edition.
hieronyma
--- "To Live In One Country Is Captivity", John Donne, "Change", 1635
I've been reading "Exploring New York City" by Fodor and it's pretty good! I'm not sure how they are with other cities, but I especially like the paper it's printed on, stupid, i know, but true ;)
--- work some, TRAVEL MORE! http://www.spikedp.c--om/sheila/
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