Brilliant, witty, perceptive essays about fly-fishing, the natural world, and life in general by the acknowledged master of fishing writers. Proving that fishing is not just a part-time pursuit, At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman takes us through a year with America's favorite fishing scribe, John Gierach, who dedicates himself to his passion despite his belief that "In the long run, fishing usually amounts to a lifetime of pratfalls punctuated by rare moments of perfection."Beginning with an early spring expedition to barely thawed Wyoming waters and ending with a New Year's Eve trip to the Frying Pan River in Colorado, Gierach's travels find him fishing for trout, carp, and grayling; considering the pros and cons of learning fishing from videos ("video fishing seems a little like movie sex: fun to watch, but a long way from the real thing"); pondering the ethics of sharing secret spots; and debunking the myth of the unflappable outdoorsman ("masters of stillness on the outside, festering s holes of uncertainty just under the surface"). With an appreciation of the highs, the lows, and all points between, Gierach writes about the fishing life with wisdom, grace, and the well-timed wisecrack. As he says, "The season never does officially end here, but it ends effectively, which means you can fish if you want to and if you can stand it, but you don't have to." As any Gierach fan knows, want to and have to are never very far apart.

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One year. Six continents. Twenty-two countries. Endless stories to tell. In October 2002, Elliott Hester sold his car, abandoned his apartment, and took off alone on a trip around the world, during which he drifted to more than fifty destinations. Elliott's tales about his travels range from the bizarre to the hilarious to the flat-out shocking. Travel with him as he: * Chases off transvestites in the South Pacific* Gets drunk on Estonian moonshine at the maker's eightieth birthday party* Impersonates Samuel L. Jackson at the 38th International Film Festival in the Czech Republic* Ponders the Finnish tradition of sprinting from steamy sauna to plunge into the frigid Baltic Sea-naked* And much more Only an around-the-world excursion could produce such outlandish, hair-raising, hysterical adventures. And only Elliott Hester could make such vivid observations and write such vibrant insights about life-and people-on the road.

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I want to be more like the islands themselves: warm, spicy, tolerating storms of rain and wind, beautiful, fertile, changeable, adventurous, enduring."In this honest and compelling short travel memoir, the author and her partner, Selena, travel to Kauai, Hawaii's garden island, on their first trip as a couple, staying at a new age-y women's guesthouse. The couple struggle with anger, misunderstandings, and a ghostly presence in the guesthouse that terrifies Selena. Will their trip to Hawaii end up tearing them apart West takes us on a colorful, provocative journey of adventure and personal discovery that unlocks truths about the past and ends in a moment of insight about personal relationships.

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Introducing a brand new Fandex® idea: the travel guide, perfect for families planning a trip and a great souvenir or gift to bring back home. A natural marriage of format and subject, each guide combines unique, individually die-cut cards with full-color photographs and illustrations and a lively, fact-filled text. Launching the travel guides is Washington, D.C, one of the most visited, family-friendly destinations in the U.S. Washington, D.C. is a colorful, history- and fact-packed tour of the nation's capital. Visit Union Station, rescued from decrepitude and now Washington's most frequented destination. The ingeniously designed Pentagon-the world's largest office building, yet no two points are farther apart than a seven-minute walk. Plus Georgetown, the Capitol, the intrigue of Embassy Row, and what really goes on inside the Naval Observatory.

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When Russell Nash was asked to move out to China to commission a mill in Shanghai, he had no idea that it would be the start of a whole new life in the Orient. After having worked for more than twenty years in the animal feed business and watching his children grow up, Russell found himself in a dull life and a stagnant marriage. It was time for a change and a business trip to China was to be the catalyst for Russell's personal revolution. Despite the noise, strange food and the lack of proper queuing etiquette, Russell slowly fell under China's spell and before long found himself returning to the great nation…for good! Entranced by the women, of whom he has plenty of stories to tell, and mesmerised by the unique culture, Russell's adventures abroad are certainly exotic and a world apart from the safe predictable life he'd known in Britain. Funny, cutting, vivid and often explicit, Yellow Fever is the story of Russell's first three years in China and the women who made him want to stay.

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After wandering from job to job, Dave Sanders is digging wells in North Dakota. It s the sixties, so the pay is decent for a construction laborer, but Dave soon realizes that digging wells is not something he wants to do. After some minor skirmishes he hitches a ride home with a trucker. He decides that he wants to travel somewhere and talks his best friend, Ben, into going with him. Th ey plan to go to Pensacola, Florida to visit Ben s wife. Before they leave Dave meets the new girl, Kathy, who now lives in the apartment across the hall. After a short, intensely erotic aff air, Kathy leaves and Dave and Ben go to Florida. With the exception of a brief interlude with a young lady at the beach, the trip proves to be a lot less than Dave hoped for. When Dave and Ben return home, nothing seems to go right for Dave, so he decides to take a trip on his own. Along the was he learns new skills that improve his working life, and begins a series of erotic adventures that change his life forever, and lead him to the woman who was meant to be his. Michael George is qualifi ed to write this book because he was a young man during the sixties, and remembers the era well and the adventures on the road. Michael George has had a lifelong interest in the environment. He has volunteered at a national wildlife refuge. He is retired. After a lifetime in Minnesota he now lives near Gainesville, Georgia with his wife of over forty years. His working life was varied, but his main occupations were operating/programming main-frame computers and carpentry. He now enjoys writing, gardening, reading, (he especially loves a good mystery) scrap booking, cooking and outdoor photography.

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Elisa is forced to leave Madrid to travel with her younger sister to the outskirts of the city. The trip is supposed to be the perfect opportunity for the sisters to rebuild their relationship that fell apart once their parents divorced. However, it's tough to imagine what is in store for them during this trip. La oscuridad dentro de ti is a gripping novel of mystery that leaves the reader in suspense.

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American lawyer and man of letters describes two trips through the U.S. taken twenty years apart, observing New England and the Mid-Atlantic regions, mostly, later traveling into the South and Midwest.

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Having completed their overland journey of twenty thousand kilometers (twelve thousand miles) from Cardiff to Singapore, Shaun and his daughter, Hayley, have now flown over to India, to meet up with her two brothers, and also Hayley's boyfriend, for a ten-day exploratory tour of Goa's finest beaches. During this time, our infamous five also pay a visit to an amazing spice plantation, go on an unforgettable crocodile safari, have a stupendous swim under a spectacular waterfall, and ride a gigantic elephant, before the lads finally returned home to the United Kingdom, while Shaun and Hayley continued on with their overland journey. Mumbai was their next port-of-call, where they visited Elephanta Island-the home of the third largest caves in the world, before moving on to Aurangabad, to pay homage to the incredible Ellora and Ajanta Caves-the two largest caves on the planet. Delhi was next in line, including a visit to the breathtakingly beautiful Taj Mahal in Agra, before flying over to Abu Dhabi for a short visit-and then on to South Africa. After taking a cable car to the top of Table Mountain and enjoying panoramic views over Cape Town, our intrepid explorers indulged themselves in a fabulous bus tour around this bustling city, before going scuba diving-with a handful of sharks! Next in line was a thousand-mile bus ride across the plains of South Africa, before crossing borders into Zimbabwe and standing "on top of the world" in the Matobo Safari Park, before being mesmerized by the magnificence of Victoria Falls. To keep the adrenaline flowing, our two adventurers then embarked on a zip-slide across the incredible gorge, which separates Zimbabwe from Zambia, before finishing off their visit with a death-defying, white-water rafting trip over the rapids of the Mighty Zambezi River. Apart from paying their respects at the David Livingstone Museum-and Shaun having his toenail ripped off in Kapiri Mposhi-our weary travelers then traversed another thouand miles of Afri

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A guidebook with a decidedly different approach, the second edition of Mousejunkies is a collection of humorous travelogues and insider how-to secrets compiled after scores of trips to Walt Disney World. The book draws on the insights of a panel of Disney fanatics - The Mousejunkies - following dozens of personal vacations, trade shows and press trips in recent years. This second edition brings everything up to date with countless new tips, tricks, and tales. Mousejunkies provides tips and travel plans told through personal accounts something that sets it apart from all the other guides. All of the most important topics are covered: When to go, where to stay, what to do and where to eat. But readers will also learn how to indulge in an all-day chicken wing and beer football orgy at Walt Disney World, how to extract your family from Fantasmic with your sanity intact, where to catch a mid-afternoon catnap in the theme park, and even how wrong a Disney cruise can go. Mousejunkies is more than one travel writer's experiences at one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. The Mousejunkies are a group of seemingly well-adjusted adults who have found themselves inexplicably drawn to Walt Disney World, again and again. Each has taken his or her own path, finding their way separately. When the smoke cleared, the group found itself back in reality, staring at one another over a pile of discarded annual passes and a useless collection of novelty hats. The stories - wry, humorous and told with an affection gained through years of Disney addiction - paint vivid portraits of a creatively engineered world, where unexpected surprises create lasting memories. The tips valuable information designed to help readers get more out of their vacations are told with a sly wink and the desire to share the secrets that make trips to central Florida more memorable. From touring plans to tongue-in-cheek reviews of the theme parks' restrooms, Mousejunkies provides readers with us

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A guidebook with a decidedly different approach, the second edition of Mousejunkies is a collection of humorous travelogues and insider how-to secrets compiled after scores of trips to Walt Disney World. The book draws on the insights of a panel of Disney fanatics - The Mousejunkies - following dozens of personal vacations, trade shows and press trips in recent years. This second edition brings everything up to date with countless new tips, tricks, and tales. Mousejunkies provides tips and travel plans told through personal accounts - something that sets it apart from all the other guides. All of the most important topics are covered: When to go, where to stay, what to do and where to eat. But readers will also learn how to indulge in an all-day chicken wing and beer football orgy at Walt Disney World, how to extract your family from Fantasmic with your sanity intact, where to catch a mid-afternoon catnap in the theme park, and even how wrong a Disney cruise can go. Mousejunkies is more than one travel writer's experiences at one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. The Mousejunkies are a group of seemingly well-adjusted adults who have found themselves inexplicably drawn to Walt Disney World, again and again. Each has taken his or her own path, finding their way separately. When the smoke cleared, the group found itself back in reality, staring at one another over a pile of discarded annual passes and a useless collection of novelty hats. The stories - wry, humorous and told with an affection gained through years of Disney addiction - paint vivid portraits of a creatively engineered world, where unexpected surprises create lasting memories. The tips - valuable information designed to help readers get more out of their vacations - are told with a sly wink and the desire to share the secrets that make trips to central Florida more memorable. From touring plans to tongue-in-cheek reviews of the theme parks' restrooms, Mousejunkies p.

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With the current economy, travel and relaxation may not be at the top of your priority list, but in these stressful times, getting away is one of the best things you can do for your health and family unity. You don't have to go far. Sometimes the best surprises are only a few miles from home. The idea is to get away from "normal" and into "special" - relax the brain. Think about birds or fish or golf. Texas Little Trips suggests places for short trips where you can feel like you're in a world apart from every-day chaos. Enjoy a romantic weekend, shop, eat, talk or play.

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Author Ken McAlpine stands in his front yard one night in Ventura, California, trying to see the stars. His view is diminished by light pollution, making it hard to see much of anything in the sky. Our fast-paced, technologically advanced society, he concludes, is not conducive to stargazing or soul-searching. Taking a page from Thoreau's Walden, he decides to get away from the clamor of everyday life, journeying alone through California's Channel Islands National Park. There, he imagines, he might be able to breathe slowly and think clearly, to examine how we live and what we live for. In between his week-long solo trips through these pristine islands, McAlpine reaches out to try to better understand his fellow man: he eats lunch with the homeless in Beverly Hills, sits in the desert with a 98-year-old Benedictine monk, and befriends a sidewalk celebrity impersonator in Hollywood. What he discovers about himself and the world we live in will inspire anyone who wishes they had the time to slow down and notice the wonders of nature and humanity.

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Luke" Hamilton has been living as a husband and father for the past seventeen years. No one but her wife, Nora, knows she is not the man she appears to be. They have raised their daughters to become honest and hard-working young women, but even with their loving foundation, Amy and Nattie are hiding their own secrets. Just as Luke sets out on a dangerous trip to Fort Boise, a newcomer arrives on the ranch-Rika Aaldenberg, who traveled to Oregon as a mail-order bride, hiding that she's not the woman in the letters. When hidden truths are revealed, will their lives and their family fall apart or will love keep them together? (2nd revised edition)

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The "Exotic Snowbird" series - published in separate e-books with each book based on a different overseas "snowbird" location - is meant for retirees or soon-to-be retirees who wish to travel somewhere other than to the southern United States for the winter. This series will not provide you with tourist and/or travel information, which is easily attainable elsewhere, but instead will offer "nuts and bolts" information on how to live for three months in each of the locations presented: what to do at home to prepare for your trip, how to get an apartment, where to buy your food, how to get around once there, etc. This specific mini e-book from the "Exotic Snowbirds" series offers Peru as a place to spend the winter. It focuses on two different locations within Peru: Arequipa (a city in the Andes) and Miraflores (a district in Lima). Come travel with us and become "exotic snowbirds.

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The? Exotic Snowbird? series - published in separate e-books with each book based on a different overseas? snowbird? location - is meant for retirees or soon-to-be retirees who wish to travel somewhere other than to the southern US for the winter. The series will provide retirees with? nuts and bolts? information on how to live for three months in each of the overseas? locations presented: what to do at home to prepare for your trip, how to get an apartment, where to buy your food, how to get around once there, etc. This specific mini e-book from the? Exotic Snowbirds? series relates to Cuenca, Ecuador, recently named the number 1 retirement hotspot in the world. Start planning for your unique retirement today!

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Steven and Jonathan's relationship has been tumultuous of late, due to Jonathan's traveling. When Jonathan needs to cancel the ski trip they'd planned with friends months ago, a huge fight results in Jonathan walking out, leaving Steven heartbroken. Steven goes to the cabin to wait for his friends, but he's worried they won't be able to drive through the heavy snowstorm. To his surprise, Jonathan shows up instead of his friends. Will their troubles keep them apart, or will the snowfall and a gift from Hong Kong pave the way for their happy future?

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The sequel to Amber Allure's Best Seller Passion. Although Jesse McIntyre slings drinks in a gay bar, up until recently, he kept to himself and stuck to his rule never to hook up with customers. He'd been down that road before and bore the physical and emotional scars from it. The last thing he'd wanted was to fall for Robert Bauer, the wealthy businessman with the sexy smile who started frequenting the bar. They were opposites in every way, so Jesse never dreamed Robert, the pressed and polished owner and CEO of a multi-million dollar corporation, might be interested in a tattooed, college drop-out bad boy like him. But when fate threw them together for a long weekend, they finally gave into the passion that had been brewing, and the resulting explosion rocked their worlds. Now, five months later, though the fire's still burning sinfully hot between them, the realities of their opposite lifestyles begin to take a toll. Robert's constant business travel weighs heavily on Jesse. When he realizes they're having more phone sex than real sex, and he's sleeping alone the majority of the time despite the fact he and Robert are supposedly living together, he worries there's more behind Robert's trips than just business. Jesse's sure Robert's avoiding him, avoiding them, but through the years his lover has built so many thick, protective walls to guard his emotions, Jesse finds it tough to get past them and discover why. He loves the man like crazy, and doesn't doubt Robert loves him, too, yet will love be enough to overcome whatever is haunting Robert and heal the rift that's slowly tearing them apart? Genres: Gay / Contemporary / BDSM

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In 1975, I was fifteen years old and cruising through life without a worry in the world. Life was about football and music, AC/DC's High Voltage LP cranked up to full blast on my sister's portable record player. 1975 was a good year. Twenty years later, I found myself living in Tokyo, and still without any major worries to show that I had grown up. I hadn't carved out a stellar career in business or as a family man with a home, two cars and a dog. I hadn't travelled the world beyond my regular trips back to Australia for Christmas. I was happy to go to work, have a drink with friends on weekends, and mark my time until I would return to Australia as a retiree and live out the rest of my days as a withered old soul on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. But then one day I woke up and I was forty-four years old. The universe suddenly turned on me. My partner of five years suggested we get married, which actually sounded like a good idea. Then, naturally, she suggested we start a family, as our biological clocks were ticking down - hers for childbearing and mine for child-rearing: arthritic knees. Again: not a bad idea? But, as nothing seemed to happen, she suggested we buy an apartment and commit ourselves to a double-income-no-kids mortgage, which we did. That, of course, did the trick and in a matter of months, we were pregnant. I was about to turn forty-six. We're Pregnant and I Can't Speak Japanese is my log of the months I spent as an expectant father tagging along on my wife's pregnancy. For the first time in my life, my future was directly going to affect someone else's future, which was a frightening thought. 1975 seemed like a long time ago.

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Synopsis - About TurnThe educated, well-travelled John Xavier travels from his continental base to set up a European business centre in Dublin for his employers in the late 1990s. He brings over 100s of young foreign workers with a vision to create the best working conditions possible. Sorcha Cassidy is a new hire to the HR department, having left her low-paid charity job in town, attracted by the possibilities. She joins careerists looking for a bright future and moves out to the developing suburbs. Sorcha starts to become distanced from the life she knew before as she becomes immersed in the new culture. Courtney, an American with connections to the company, has arrived to set up home with her Irish husband and they rent an apartment in the area. Sorcha's neighbours are a Polish and French couple hoping to have a family life in the new country. There are also countless Europeans and Irish locals taking their chance on a bright future. The initial start up bonhomie is short-lived as the parent company announces financial trouble and major cutbacks. The management team slowly fractures and Sorcha's already busy schedule is increased. The combination of work and lack of a personal life hits her hard. Her family history and a concern about making her life work obliges her to do an 'about turn' and reconsider her situation. Religion does not provide any answers and she finds herself attracted to the burgeoning anti-capitalist movement. A trip to the US shows large divisions between rich and poor. She realises that she has little choice but to stay within the system for the time being while consciously working on a plan of her own to create her own ideal existence.

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Now available in ePub format. The Rough Guide to Italy is the ultimate handbook to one of Europe's most appealing countries. You'll find all the detailed information you need from vaporetto routes in Venice to hole-in-the-wall pizza joints in Naples or the best spot to watch the sunset on the Amalfi coast. From the top draws of Rome and Florence to hidden corners of Friuli or Liguria, this guide will help you make the most of your trip to Italy. Be inspired to go diving in Sardinia, climbing on Mount Etna, windsurfing on Lake Garda, or trekking in the Alps. Clear, detailed listings sections will lead you to great accommodations, from swish boutique hotels and quirky B & Bs to idyllic agriturismos, and slick city apartments-as well as to atmospheric osterie, gourmet restaurants, and melt-in-your-mouth gelato. A full-color introduction helps you plan your trip, while readable accounts of Italy's history, art, and groundbreaking film industry will help you get the most from your trip. Full-color and with crystal-clear maps, The Rough Guide to Italy is your essential travel companion. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Italy.

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A chronicle about a trip to Palestine right before the start of the Iraq War in 2002, this story experienced and narrated by one of France's most prestigious contemporary journalists studies the situation of the Christian Palestinian community, a disadvantaged and often forgotten minority within the Arab-Israeli conflict. Combining reflection and travel writing, the author invites readers to acquaint themselves with a Holy Land torn apart by a half century of conflict and submerged in fear and uncertainty. The Christians' daily lives are portrayed in all of their bitterness, but the narration goes beyond a mere recounting of anecdotes in order to show how the Christian community of Palestine finds itself torn between its faith and its undeniable patriotism, a difficult situation that endangers its survival. La crónica de un viaje a Palestina justo antes del estallido de la guerra de Irak en el 2002, este relato vivido y narrado por uno de los más prestigiosos reporteros franceses contemporáneos estudia la situación de la comunidad cristiana palestina, una minoría desfavorecida y habitualmente olvidada dentro del conflicto árabe-israelí. Combinando la reflexión con la literatura de viajes, el autor invita al lector a conocer una Tierra Santa desgarrada por medio siglo de conflicto y sumida en el terror y la incertidumbre. La vida diaria de los cristianos es mostrada en toda su crudeza, pero la narración va más allá del mero recuento de anécdotas para mostrar cómo la comunidad cristiana de Palestina se encuentra dividida entre su fe y su innegable patriotismo, una difícil situación que hace peligrar su pervivencia.

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Four friends, four seasons, four ways to fall in love. Book 1: Seducing SummerWhen a CEO falls in love with her PA, it can only lead to trouble…Callie Summer, CEO of The Four Seasons lingerie business, is in shock. She'd expected her new PA to be a middle-aged frump, but Jean turns out to be Gene, and he's neither middle-aged, nor anything like a frump. When the gorgeous Bond-lookalike insists he'll be the perfect companion on her business trip around the country, Callie agrees to give him a trial. Having recently found her ex in bed with another woman, she's not looking for love. But a little bit of private lusting never did anyone any harm. Once a military journalist with the New Zealand Army, Gene now runs his own security firm. Hired by Callie's mother, Phoebe, to secretly protect her daughter after Phoebe receives death threats against her family, Gene finds his work cut out for him. Callie's as delectable as she is infuriating, and his urge to seduce her fights with his duty to keep her safe. It's not long before they give in to their passion, and the weather isn't the only thing that turns hot and sultry as they travel further north. But Gene can't keep his identity a secret from Callie forever. And when an attempt is finally made on her life, the truth threatens to break them apart. Warning: contains sexual scenes. Adults only.

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Just as Tuesdays with Morrie affectionately presented unvarnished truths from a mentoring relationship between teacher and student, Over Salad and Hot Bread explores the life lessons that surface through the bond of two very different women.A simple story of friendship, and so much more, this poignant, beautifully written book explores the relationship between two women, years apart, who are drawn together by a love for writing and road trips. The younger woman is an on-the-go mother/author/speaker, while the older is a free-spirited world traveler who was far ahead of her time. This gentle memoir captures the tough and tender moments of their friendship through a series of vividly crafted stories sure to ring true to anyone who's had a friend. The friendship that developed took both women on a journey of the heart-a journey that led one all the way to her forever home and the other to lessons she never thought to learn. As you read the story of Mary Jenson and Nancy Bayless's kinship, you'll find your own heart opening to-and searching for-friendship of the richest kind.

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Berlitz Handbook Vietnam is the ultimate practical, inspirational guide to this alluring destination, with 304 pages combining authoritative narrative detail and stunning color photography, as well as clear, detailed mapping of the major cities and regions. What sets the guide apart is the illuminating Unique Experiences section, packed full of practical advice on how to make the most of all the opportunities unique to Vietnam - from setting sail on a tour of the extraordinarily picturesque Halong Bay and sampling unique food and drink, to exploring the country's wildest forests and mountains. The guide starts with a rundown of Vietnam's Top 25 Attractions, ranging from the wonderfully atmospheric back streets of Hanoi's old quarter to the mysterious Cham ruins at My Son, and the sands and watersports of Phan Thiet. In the Trip Planner you'll find itineraries outlining how best to maximise your time, whether you"re embarking on a leisurely three-week tour taking in the main sights via the Reunification Railway from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, or a more niche itinerary exploring the country's mountains and the hill tribes that live in their misted valleys. The Places Section tackles each of Vietnam's regions in turn - starting with the northern capital Hanoi and taking in the northern hills, incomparable Halong Bay, the rich Central region encompassing unmissable Hue and Hoi An, the long, tropical coastline and finally the vibrant capital Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and the lush Mekong Delta. Each chapter is color-coded for easy reference, and features everything you'll need to know about the sights and attractions in the area, as well as maps to help you get around and carefully chosen listings of the best places to sleep, eat, drink, and get active. The Places section is interspersed with fully mapped tours, suggesting walks including the most interesting parts of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and Cultural Spreads that give a striking insight into an element of the country's culture, from its colourful festivals to the legacy of French colonialism and the American War on present-day Vietnam. Further practical advice is provided in a chapter dedicated to accommodations, transportation, health and safety, money and budgeting, responsible travel, and family holidays. The Setting the Scene chapter is devoted to Vietnam's historical and cultural background, plus information on the country's cuisine. Finally, a handy 8-page Phrasebook section provides a wealth of language expertise for which the Berlitz brand is famous.

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In June 2003, the Three Gorges Dam opened and a reservoir the size of lake Superior began to form, inundating 372 miles of China's Yangtze River Valley. As 1,500 cities, towns and villages disappeared beneath the dark waters, more than a million people were being moved. Around the reservoir, huge construction projects are still transforming the landscape; mighty dikes, long bridges, apartment towers, and sprawling cities are springing up. Between 2000 and 2003 Linda Butler made eight trips to the Yangtze to photograph the people, the human environment, and the natural landscape before, during, and after these changes. She spent long weeks in the busy cities and remote villages. Lyrical photographs of dramatic vistas are paired with images showing the ravages visited on this region by coal mining and erosion. Intimate shots of interiors reveal the contents of homes and stores, a table set for an impromptu meal, or a shop counter scattered with seed packets and posters of Mao. Informal portraits of local inhabitants preserve a record of the people as they carry pigs to market, load all their household furnishings onto a boat, or play badminton on a village street. Accompanying the images is the photographer's travel commentary, which reads like a dynamic series of short stories. Butler's words reveal the invisible stories of the common people as they struggle to come to terms with the destruction of their homes and lives. Since ancient times, the Yangtze River itself has been like an unpredictable neighbor-sometimes generous, but at other times wreaking havoc on the lives of others. Perhaps because the river people have lived near such volatility they have developed a profound resilience in the face of adversity. Yangtze Remembered is both a measured and a passionate book. The powerful images reveal much that we have never seen before and cannot ever see again.

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Farewell to faux pas! Minding your manners is an acquired skill, but what serves you well elsewhere could trip you up in Japan. Save yourself possible embarrassment with Etiquette Guide to Japan. An inside look at Japanese social graces, it answers all the questions of the thoughtful traveler. Although often overshadowed by a modern facade, long-standing traditional aspects of Japan's culture still influence the country and almost everyone in it. Concrete evidence of this traditional culture can be seen everywhere-in the ancient arts and crafts that are still important parts of everyday life, in the many shrines and temples that dot the nation, and in the modern comeback of traditional fashions such as kimono and yakata robes. To many Western visitors, however, the most obvious example of this traditional culture's strength is the unique etiquette of the Japanese. Like many nations, Japan has experienced vast political, social, and economic change over the past century. But enough of Japan's traditional etiquette remains to set the Japanese apart socially and psychologically, and to make success in socializing and doing business with them a special challenge for Westerners. This updated and expanded edition of the classic etiquette guide addresses all the newest developments, trends and protocols.

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More than just a book about living without a vehicle, Urban Camping also focuses on the Tombrowski family's resulting smaller footprint living and frugality. By not owning a vehicle - the family's initial austerity measure - their life has been shaped in profound ways. Peter and Andrea Tombrowski and their two young children have lived without a vehicle in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, since 1998. Their stomping grounds, once a suburb of Calgary, is the setting for the adventures, challenges, trials and joys of their 13-year journey. For this family, 'urban camping' means living well with limited resources in an urban environment. (No, the family doesn't live in a tent; they pay rent.) Part One of the book focuses on the family's smaller footprint living, small apartment, public transportation, travelling with children, employment, food, weather, clothing and equipment choices. Part Two of Urban Camping details seventeen trips the Tombrowski family has made over the past decade. Read about how they shop for groceries, why "fast food" isn't very quick for them, three-hour commutes to the doctor's office, their travels to distant relatives, along with descriptions of other treks. These trips reflect the family's hands-on reality and demonstrate what is possible when individuals transcend the challenges in their life. The driving (no pun intended) motto behind the Tombrowski's physical, emotional and mental resilience is: Work with what you have, stay positive and make things happen. In light of the world's ongoing economic crisis, Peter and Andrea Tombrowski ask: "What part of your life can you forgo that will challenge you to become more skilled at living and surviving your life better?

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Bestselling author Janelle Taylor's novels of romantic suspense deliver it all - desire, deception, and thrilling danger. In Haunting Olivia, a magazine editor travels to her childhood home in Maine - and into a labyrinth of deception and fear. A Face From The Past. Olivia Sedgwick never really knew her wealthy father, and she can't imagine why he bequeathed his summer cottage to her. It's a cozy little place, but Blueberry, Maine, holds only bittersweet memories for Olivia - heartrending memories of Zach, her long-lost first love, and the child she gave up for adoption. But what begins as a brief trip north to inspect her new property becomes a journey of revelation when she runs into Zach himself - and their beautiful daughter. And A Threat To Her Future. Zach is stunned that Olivia has returned to the small town where they fell in love. But what's more shocking is the realization that her father lied to them both, driving them apart all those years ago. Rebuilding their relationship offers a temptation that neither of them can resist. But someone is determined to break apart their small family once more, and will stop at nothing to do it.

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How did we evolve? Did we have help? In a world torn apart by cataclysmic climate changes, survivors learn answers to these immortal questions as they join together based on their love of various dog breeds. Two voices, the weimaraner Haint and his mistress Amanda, tell the story of how each in their own way come to the realization of what they mean to each other. Along the way, Haint explains how his species came to help humans along in their evolutionary development. Haint also reveals that the world is becoming inhabitable for humans and dogs so he and his kind must make the decision whether to save themselves and what they have learned over the thousands of years on Earth or stay and take their chances with the doomed humans. Amanda, accompanied by her friends Kern and Liddy and their canine familiars Haint and Cloudy, travel across a landscape with violent weather and competing tribes as they look for a way to save their "breed" from drought. During the trip they take on an enigmatic young girl who is much more than she appears. Haint is the story of lives entangled over thousands of years and hundreds of lifetimes as dogs and humans discover the depths of their love for each other.

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