Andrew Stevenson must have many happy memories of his Himalayan journeys, despite the tendency towards altitude sickness, which he overcame, and the hard strive to reach Thorong La, and leave the most difficult climbing behind. His memories will also be of his encounters with other trekkers and of the usually charming and friendly Nepalese people, especially the 12 year old Dipak who spent some days excitedly 'guiding' him. I am sure he would have found peace and much comfort in the environment of the Himalayas.

I followed the maps with intent as the journey progressed and eventually closed a book I have so enjoyed. I am delighted and proud to possess an attractive hard bound edition of Annapurne Circuit: Himalayan Journey. I am also pleased to see it is now available as a paperback - a wonderful gift, especially with Christmas and the new Millennium on the not too distant horizon.

This is definitly THE BEST contemporary adventure travel book I have read to date. Outside of the more "classic" authors (i.e. Joseph Conrad, Graham Greene, and even Matthiessen) most of the stuff put to print in the last 20 years is drek. But not this book. First, it is not pretentious and annoying like so many others. Stevenson is not condencing nor a know it all. He writes from the heart with great observations, humour and intellect. Let me tell you a little story. I was on the Annapurna circuit Feb. 1999, and saw his book at the bhaati he visited in Kagbeni. Inspite of my "bad" experiences reading recent advernture travel books I mustered the perseverence to set aside my Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness (specifically chosen as my literature accompaniment for this journey) and began reading. After spending a good hour with the book I made up my mind to pick up a copy when I return to Pokhara. Now at home, in Tel Aviv, I just finished the book: it helped me relive many of the same experiences, observatiosn and questions about life the author so pointedly brings to light. Highly recommended -:)

This delightful travelogue explores a popular trekking route in Eastern Nepal that has rarely been written about. Stevenson relates a journey that is rich with colourful characters, and is seeped in exquisite descriptions of the countryside through which he travels. The book is personally written, as if reading a diary, and it is this intimacy which allows the author's personality to permeate the stories, drawing the reader in alongside him. Thus, the reader accompanies Stevenson, whilst encountering a lively engagement with both internal and external landscapes. "Annapurna Circuit: Himalayan Journey" is an extraordinary achievement, unique in its combination of geographical location and literary style. In particular, his incisive examination of the effects of tourism on the Himalayas makes this account a valuable record of a beautiful and archaic land that may soon be altered irrevocably by the insidious and pervasive influence of western capitalism.

And exciting book to read. The author knows what he writes about
because he is and airline pilot. Some hot sex also, over all a good read.

For Men of the World (or those who wished they were). A GREAT guy type adventure story! Easy to read, tied together well.It has more twists and curves than 20 miles of bad road (or SE Asian Ladies!), yet flows smoothly.
If you have never been "sniff kissed", double crossed, shot at, almost raped or out of even bad luck, don't fret, the author will quickly introduce you to it all in rapid fire action.
Perhaps the best line in the book is in the introduction by "Captain John Jackson Jr," where he describes the Cambodian Apsara female God spirits as " their sole purpose in life, to have eternal sex with Khmer heroes, holy men and of course... pilots."
The flight crew accepts this heavy but delightful duty,(without ever popping a circut breaker!) in fact, it saves their desperate lives. Yo Mamma would blush... Strap in and hang on, for one heck of a rough ride! And an education on large aircraft, weapons, a third world culture, revenge, females and other delightful guy stuff.

So, what's not to like about Apsara Jet? This book has it all-
captivating flying, exciting "blood and guts" and extensive erotic activity. The main character, a former Eastern Air Lines pilot, was down and out on his luck until overcoming the bad guys with an elaborate plot. As a former EAL pilot myself, I found the book inspiring and intriguing. Perhaps the next book by this author could focus on the early demise of Frank Lorenzo. This would surely be a best seller!

This is an outstanding guide for English-speaking developers who must target Asian languages. For those of us who do not read or speak these languages, it tackles some of the scariest issues: different types of characters, when they are used, how they relate to each other, and how they are encoded in software.

Lunde's explanation of the structure and history of Asian written languages is fascinating reading in its own right.

If developing on the Windows platform, I would also recommend "Developing International Software for Windows 95 and Windows NT" by Nadine Kano (Microsoft Press). Lunde's book contains crucial background information regarding Asian character sets, as well as some general algorithms; the Kano book focuses on implementation details specific to the Windows environment.

I've been trying to educate myself on international processing issues for a while now (including Programming for the World : A Guide to Internationalization by Sandra Martin O'Donnell) and CJKV is by far and away the best book on the subject. Although this is not a beginner's book on internationalization (for example, it doesn't completely address cultural issues on internationalization - O'Donnell's book is better at this), Ken Lunde's book is the clear reference on internationalization, and belongs on anyone's bookshelf who is producing software for the global market (that should be anyone who writes software!). Do not assume that this is only a book for Asian computing. It's a book about many of the issues you will face in creating global software. This is a very detailed book which lives up to its promise of educating, and informing anyone involved in global computing.

Buy it - and thoroughly read it!

Like all O'Reilly books - this book is well-written, and easy to digest. Kudos to Mr. Lunde for a great book, and to Tim O'Reilly for recognizing this need.

Truly the complete guide to the subject. As an introduction to Asian languages and their contents and usage this book as proved to be an excllent guide. From the streight forward and understandable explanination of the character and symbol sets to useful guidelines for implementation to the exhaustive list of characters and symbols. I don't see how you can try and deal with these language sets without using this book.

This book is fun and well-written. The author is personally engaging and self-effacing. But the book is not so much about Vietnam as it is about the author herself. She discusses her reactions to the people and the people?s reactions to her. The Vietnamese in the story just play a supporting role, allowing her to display her growth and her misplaced sense of guilt she shoulders on behalf of her own country.

This is not to say that there aren?t some interesting observations made about Vietnam. But they are few. If you are interested in learning about one individual?s growth and experience through immersion in a foreign culture, this would be an excellent book for you. But I would not recommend this book as a vehicle for learning about modern Vietnam. (Look instead to Sacred Willow, Shadows and Wind or Understanding Vietnam).

I couldn't put this book down! This is not a common occurrence with me. I quite often don't finish books that I start. The last one that I read until all hours of the night was "The Poisonwood Bible". Aside from Ms. Sach's wonderful writing style, her Prologue pulled me in and the story never me let go. How I wish I could have been there with her.

It has been a long time since I picked up a book and could not put it down, except to eat and sleep, until it was finished. This is a beautifully written courageous memoir,and the story is totally fascinating. The author immerses herself in the life of Vietnam in ways she might not have planned and finds that in profound ways Vietnam enters and remains in her life. This is a remarkable and illuminating book.

I was a proud member of Co.C, 504th MP Battalion, spending most of my tour in Bong Son in the Central Highlands. This book not only explains the various roles of the combat MP, but it allows us to see what other units were doing.

I was a Military Policeman in Viet Nam. I enjoyed this book very much as it was factual and informative. It's about time the MP's got the recognition they deserve. How can I contact the author?

I was in Vietnam in 1968, 1969 and 1971 serving with the 194th MP Co, 557th MP Co and the 560th MP Co in such places as Bin Hoa, Pr'Line Mountain (Dalat), Phu Tai, An Khe and Pleiku. It is remarkable that the US Army overlooked the Military Police role in Vietnam or at best it was an after thought. Night after night, day after day, I saw my fellow soldiers conduct themselves with dignity, restraint, and sacrifice. Being an MP in Vietnam (were everyone had a gun and knife) required the best of police work and the most a soldier has to give. From delivery of babies along side the road, to law enforcement and breaking up infiltration of the enemy forces and ambushes of convoys, all of these men performed extraordinarily in a harsh and hostile environment that we call war. Recognition for a job well done is long overdue, Thanks, Rick for recording this piece of history.

Bill Shields has been passing himself off as a former Navy SEAL for a number of years. Obviously, the publishers don't care that he is a liar. His name is in the Hall of Shame at VeriSEAL.org and will remain there. Our specialty is uncloaking those who claim to be members of our Special Operations Forces who never earned the right.

Bill Shields is the best poet writing in America today. He might be the best poet in the world and I don't say that lightly.
This book devastated me. It doesn't get any better than the poems of Bill Shields. In 20 yrs if he's not being taught in American Lit courses at Universities all across the country then there is no hope for the written Word in the 21st century. If you don't have this book, GET IT NOW! And all of his other books as well. Bill Shields is the real deal.

This book hit me like a punch in the stomach by Tyson. This is the closest definition of what I felt while I read each line and each verse by Bill Shields. This is simply an awesome book. Mr. Shields reveals all his pain while we become helpless and frozen by the narrative and the poems. After I read it, I kept remembering whole passages and it became a part of me also. I don't think I can recommend this book enough, but I warn you: it will change you and affect you. If it doesn't, you're already dead.

Great fun to read. I highly recommend if you're thinking about goin there, or even traveling in general. It's puts you right in the mind of the adventurer, and more than anything, lets you realize the world around you.

I have read the original publication and not this updated version, however, if it's anything like the original (which I'm sure it is in addition to some extra essays), then it's worth buying.

The beauty of the original book is the 'every day-ness' quality of the stories - and it's not located specifically in the tourist culture. So the reader moves beyond temples, Patpong Rd and the like to get a better idea of greenies abroad, farang's forming special and unusual relationships and the power of indigenous religion/practise (yep the noun) in every day life.

I admit that it's a hard read at times as some of the stories get bogged down in fairly dense narrative, whilst others flow. Still, it's worth pursuing and the cover has been changed from the original. Anything with a comment by/from Ian Baruma is worth buying, he's a top quality writer and despite his Japan associations, he does travel to other parts of Asia and perceptibly discusses their 'ins' and 'outs' (ie Angel Dust: An Asian Journey/Odyssey).

I'm off to Thailand yet again and will enjoy picking this up and selling my old copy.

I read this book after my first trip across Thailand and found it to capture the essence of the country better than anything else I've read. By looking at this fascinating place from so many angles and points of view, you can really get a rounded view. A great read to gain insight before you go, or to understand what you've seen and experienced after being there. Everyone will like some stories more than others, but that's part of the charm--you're bound to find more than a few stories that really carry you away, make you laugh, or make you see the people, places, and religion in a new way.

Tim Leffel, author, The World's Cheapest Destinations

Leigh Wade, a young half-assed, arrogant kid tells us of his journey from being a swaggering know-it-all ("Tan Phu," volume 1 of this trilogy) to becoming a terrified -- and, incidentally, brave, U.S. Special Forces soldier fighting a war no one wanted. In the second volume, "The Protected Will Never Know," Wade's voice had matured, but there was still a scared kid beneath the more assured outer man. The descriptions of "insertions" behind enemy lines, while a nearly everyday occurrence to these young men, are chilling. And now comes "Assault on Dak Pek," and its descriptions of horrific battles and the understated heroism of these Special Forces. The voice has matured and the weariness and futility of the war no one could win comes through. This trilogy gives the reader a rare opportunity to experience Wade's coming of age and to feel how the overweening demands of war nearly destroyed him. We live with him through the frustrations of his return to an unwelcoming homeland. By pure chance, I was in Washington, D.C. the weekend of the dedication of the Viet Nam Ware Memorial. From the back steps of the Museum of American History, I stood watching the smartly uniformed troops marching in strict cadence. The street was lined with ramrod straight service men and women saluting as each unit passed. But I still get goosebumps when I remember how the small straggling group of View Nam veterans, most dressed in jeans, some with long hair, some in wheelchairs pushed by comrades, passed. A drumroll of heartfelt applause thundered up the avenue as they came. The onlookers in the bleachers stood up and cheered. Leigh Wade should have been in that group of survivors. I highly recommend this book to both adults and teenagers considering the military as a career.

Leigh Wade's third book on his experiences in Vietnam is a "must" for all serious historians and readers of the Vietnam War. His trilogy, beginning with "Tan Phu" and "The Protected Will Never Know", is brought to a conclusion in "Assault on Dak Pek". From 1963 to 1971, the author shares with his readers his experiences of being a member of the United States Army Special Forces A-Team. We, as Americans, should always be proud of the courage and bravery that these men displayed in the face of death. After reading all three books, I have much respect for the men who so bravely serve our country.

Talk about a surprise. This book was nothing like what I expected and yet FOR SOME REASON i liked it. I was assuming this would be a book written about a single action, graphic in its detail, and filled with warfare throughout...but that is not the case. The summary tells of a bloody bunker to bunker clean up and weeks of heroic action filled fighting but that is not what i found. Yes the book has this but it fills a much smaller portion of the book than I thought it would. Most of the book is filled with the ordinary, day to day life of a special forces soldier and yet, maybe, this is the reason that I liked it. I for one like a book to be action packed but there was just something about wade and his experience, even his visits to town or his quiet patrols, that was extremely interesting. For the first time I got a look at life for a viet vet outside the normal experience. Wade spent time in Thailand, especially Bangkok, and his experiences there are far from ordinary and far from boring. And even when, in 1970, Wade was back 'in country' he retells all of his experience, terrifying or monotonous, in an extremely interesting fashion. And to put the icing on the cake Wade gives a postwar history of himself and gives us a first hand account of the battle against normalcy in America when he returned that in some ways was tougher than his battle in Vietnam. His rejection by so many he had fought for effected him for decades and this narration is extremely useful to both the Vet and non-Vet. He concludes by giving his advice on how to return from war without bringing the war with you...great stuff.
So in summary, even though it was not as action packed as I had envisioned, for some reason I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I have no doubt you will too!!!! Pick this cheap book up cuz it is a winner.

Who cares if the king of Laos died 23 years ago or 21 years ago? I was hoping to learn more about the country, history, and people, but this was the wrong book. This guy goes on a crusade that never gripped me; the minor details he mentions in passing were much more interesting than his quest. There must be more interesting books about Laos than this.

Upon reading Christopher Kremmer's book, one feels that he has thoroughly researched his information - as is apparent through the numerous interviews he reports throughout - but without sacrificing the novelistic beauty of his writing to a dry academic account. Kremmer is in Laos ostensibly searching for the fate of the last Lao King, who was spirited away by the Communists after the Lao Revolution and whose fate has never been made public. Although this search is the coil around which the book revolves, his many other experiences are bright and brilliant. An Australian, Kremmer's style is low-key and without much of the typical arrogance that might be ascribed to Westerners in developing countries. His conversations with Lao people in the present are seamlessly interwoven with depictions of complex Lao history.

The only criticism I can offer is that Kremmer's focus on the issue of the last king is sometimes neglected. This might be because there is practically no information about the king or the crown prince's fate. However, it was distracting and in the late stages of the book - despite enjoying his adventures for what they were - I was demanding to know what had happened to the royal family. In this sense, the book is like a cliffhanger with no resolution. At the time of publication, there was still no official statement about the Lao royals.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Laos after the revolution. More than just a search for the last king, Kremmer has written about the country today, the social and economic effects of the revolution, and cultural aspects.

Here is a book written by a US journalist based in Vietnam suddenly obsessed by the disappearance of the royal family during the last revolution. It's a sweet little book that suffers for the journalist's attempt to write using more adjectives and longer sentences and for its meandering narrative. Having said this it does make for a pleasant read on the way to a visit of Laos, for example, and as mentioned in one of the other reviews, it is often the side comments that offer the most interesting colour to one's view of Laos.