book or no book?

volga_volga · Jan 23rd, 2004, 21:05

the last 24 hr before departure... thinking whether to buy a book about travel in india or not... to read on the plane (although will probably be watching movies), in the hotel (although will probably be on the internet or watching indian TV), on buses/trains (although will probably be staring at people/surroundings)... so?

I thought a book about travel in India would be inspirational. But will I need inspiration while already there?

and if yes, which book?

normally I don't buy travel books before departure - think that I want a surprise don't want any expectations - nor after coming back - think that I don't need to read someone else's journey being still full with my own's

beach · Jan 23rd, 2004, 21:32

Most of the questions I think you've answered correctly all by yourself

The LP is helpful if you are totaly inexperienced, but not for the inspiration!

SHIMLA · Jan 23rd, 2004, 22:58

You've already half-decided not to !

And at this stage, its the correct decision.

Enjoy your travels and note down your daily experiences.

At the end of your trip, you may have your own book !

aach · Jan 23rd, 2004, 23:00

Yah, write your own book! But I always bring a few books along (not India themed) for when I need that escape. I just bought "How to Lose Friends and Alienate people" by toby Young and "Blindess" by Jose Sarameco. I'm book-crazed and will pack my books with me throughout the entire trip.

However, if anyone is interested, my friend belongs to some online "bookclub" thing where you leave books you've read and recommended, in specific spots around the world and then post the location on the site - like a parkbench in Battery Park in NYC. Then whoever happens to be close by, goes and trys to get the book. Apparently, you can do this around the world. If you are interested, PM me and I'll ask her what the website is. Neat concept for a book swap!!!!

mdchachi · Jan 23rd, 2004, 23:51

Well if you haven't read any of the scam threads yet here and at thorntree.lonelyplanet.com, I would print them out and read them on the plane. You don't want to be too surprised.

volga_volga · Jan 24th, 2004, 01:13

talking about LP, I find them too damn practical, I don't want anyone tell me how long exactly my bus ride will last - I am not planning a business meeting am I? and which guest house to stay at what cost... I would rather find one on arrival. Get cheated, but this is the way you get experience, isn't it?

so I am officially anti-LP guide. Guide only, I love the Thorn Tree, it is more sponteneous.

volga_volga · Jan 24th, 2004, 01:16

and if I buy a guide book it is always with good colour pictures - if I like the way the place looks I'd go there. My india guide is the opposite to LP but with lots of pics and was 5 pounds off list price :-)

talking like a seven year old ain't I?

mdchachi · Jan 24th, 2004, 01:34

I think the ones full of pictures are best during the planning stage -- deciding where you want to go. But these tend to be heavy so maybe not best to travel with. LP/RG is good for the practical stuff -- how to get from airport to city, how to mail something, lodging possibilities.

Judging from the number of people trying to take advantage of tourists I can't imagine what might have happened if I hadn't read anything in advance. I'd be a sitting duck.

bijapuri · Jan 24th, 2004, 01:35

oh, I just remembered a scam tried on me at Bandipur a few years back: was approached by a driver,who tried to get us to go on "night safari," caliming the game would be frozen by headlights. We begged off, but a couple of young travelers went for it. Came back mad as hell, realized they'd been had!
I try to use old historical narratives as guides. Hotels arre everywhere

and as for books, It's become a ritual for me to bring a (different) book of short stories by Joseph Conrad for the plane. Makes me feel like I'm on a tramp steamer instead of an airplane. Once in India, my bookbag runneth over1

DianeN. · Mar 4th, 2004, 16:22

[

However, if anyone is interested, my friend belongs to some online "bookclub" thing where you leave books you've read and recommended, in specific spots around the world and then post the location on the site - like a parkbench in Battery Park in NYC. Then whoever happens to be close by, goes and trys to get the book. Apparently, you can do this around the world.

The website for the bookclub is http://bookcrossing.com/
It's an interesting concept, and I'm a member. The problem is, leaving books around in Tokyo in most places don't benefit readers that want to read English. I usually recycle among friends. But the website is interesting--check it out. And if you do visit there, visit my page, newbie-in-japan....though it is not interesting and I have not released any books into the wild for a long time.

volga_volga · Mar 4th, 2004, 17:11

I was the one who started this thread... in January. I arrived in Delhi on the 26th of Jan WITHOUT a single book on India. And then on Monday this week I bought my first one: City of Djins...

I thought since I have stayed in Delhi for six weeks plus I may as well read about it

Volga

PS I am planning to finish it before I leave on the 12th next week- which park bench should I leave it on in Delhi?

DianeN. · Mar 4th, 2004, 17:19

Well, when you finish the book...perhaps you can release it into the wild....like Bookcrossings suggests.

I'm a maniac when it comes to books...I haven't even been yet, but I have devoured every book I could find. Today my friend asked me if I was afraid there would be no surprises...but I still think there will be plenty of surprises!

Five more days to go. At the moment I'm reading Seven Years in Tibet. IT has been on my shelf for many years....don't know why I never read it till now. Very interesting. But written in the 50s still has quite a bit of western racism in it....for example: "The Tibetens are a small, happy, childlike people....."

vistet · Mar 5th, 2004, 06:20

Quote:

Originally posted by DianeN.

At the moment I'm reading Seven Years in Tibet. ... But written in the 50s still has quite a bit of western racism in it....for example: "The Tibetens are a small, happy, childlike people....."

... the same way Sherpas have been described up to this day. Sherry Ortner`s book on the interaction between westerners and sherpas (Life and Death on Mt Everest ) contain an interesting description on the relationship between racism and sexism : how the words used to describe Sherpas matched descriptions of children ... and women. This paternalistic language use became knotted when female climbers pushed gender issues up on to the slopes. A Annnapurna expedition in the 80s raised large funds with the T-shirt logoed " A womans place is on top" .

It`s been a long time since I read Harrers book (and the late sequel , Return to Tibet) . When I saw the film again recently I came back to one of my original reflections : it would be nice once to hear fisthand the story of his companion , Peter Aufschnaiter, the man who without much fuss started a new life in Lhasa , married a Tibetan , started a family...

SHIMLA · Mar 5th, 2004, 14:23

Read Ruskin Bond's latest : "The India I love"

Jan 23rd, 2004, 21:05	#1
volga_volga Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,459	book or no book? the last 24 hr before departure... thinking whether to buy a book about travel in india or not... to read on the plane (although will probably be watching movies), in the hotel (although will probably be on the internet or watching indian TV), on buses/trains (although will probably be staring at people/surroundings)... so? I thought a book about travel in India would be inspirational. But will I need inspiration while already there? and if yes, which book? normally I don't buy travel books before departure - think that I want a surprise don't want any expectations - nor after coming back - think that I don't need to read someone else's journey being still full with my own's

Jan 23rd, 2004, 22:58	#3
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,125	You've already half-decided not to ! And at this stage, its the correct decision. Enjoy your travels and note down your daily experiences. At the end of your trip, you may have your own book ! __________________ Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

Jan 24th, 2004, 01:13	#6
volga_volga Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,459	talking about LP, I find them too damn practical, I don't want anyone tell me how long exactly my bus ride will last - I am not planning a business meeting am I? and which guest house to stay at what cost... I would rather find one on arrival. Get cheated, but this is the way you get experience, isn't it? so I am officially anti-LP guide. Guide only, I love the Thorn Tree, it is more sponteneous. __________________ Tibetan Orphanage School in China My other favourite place is Pakistan Travel Forum

Jan 24th, 2004, 01:35	#9
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,601	oh, I just remembered a scam tried on me at Bandipur a few years back: was approached by a driver,who tried to get us to go on "night safari," caliming the game would be frozen by headlights. We begged off, but a couple of young travelers went for it. Came back mad as hell, realized they'd been had! I try to use old historical narratives as guides. Hotels arre everywhere and as for books, It's become a ritual for me to bring a (different) book of short stories by Joseph Conrad for the plane. Makes me feel like I'm on a tramp steamer instead of an airplane. Once in India, my bookbag runneth over1 __________________ Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. Barack Obama lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Mar 4th, 2004, 17:11	#11
volga_volga Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,459	six weeks later... I was the one who started this thread... in January. I arrived in Delhi on the 26th of Jan WITHOUT a single book on India. And then on Monday this week I bought my first one: City of Djins... I thought since I have stayed in Delhi for six weeks plus I may as well read about it Volga PS I am planning to finish it before I leave on the 12th next week- which park bench should I leave it on in Delhi?

Jan 23rd, 2004, 21:32	#2
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,234	Most of the questions I think you've answered correctly all by yourself The LP is helpful if you are totaly inexperienced, but not for the inspiration!

Jan 23rd, 2004, 23:00	#4
aach Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 18	Yah, write your own book! But I always bring a few books along (not India themed) for when I need that escape. I just bought "How to Lose Friends and Alienate people" by toby Young and "Blindess" by Jose Sarameco. I'm book-crazed and will pack my books with me throughout the entire trip. However, if anyone is interested, my friend belongs to some online "bookclub" thing where you leave books you've read and recommended, in specific spots around the world and then post the location on the site - like a parkbench in Battery Park in NYC. Then whoever happens to be close by, goes and trys to get the book. Apparently, you can do this around the world. If you are interested, PM me and I'll ask her what the website is. Neat concept for a book swap!!!!

Jan 23rd, 2004, 23:51	#5
mdchachi newbie-wallah Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: MI - USA Posts: 150	Well if you haven't read any of the scam threads yet here and at thorntree.lonelyplanet.com, I would print them out and read them on the plane. You don't want to be too surprised.

Jan 24th, 2004, 01:16	#7
volga_volga Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,459	and if I buy a guide book it is always with good colour pictures - if I like the way the place looks I'd go there. My india guide is the opposite to LP but with lots of pics and was 5 pounds off list price :-) talking like a seven year old ain't I?

Jan 24th, 2004, 01:34	#8
mdchachi newbie-wallah Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: MI - USA Posts: 150	I think the ones full of pictures are best during the planning stage -- deciding where you want to go. But these tend to be heavy so maybe not best to travel with. LP/RG is good for the practical stuff -- how to get from airport to city, how to mail something, lodging possibilities. Judging from the number of people trying to take advantage of tourists I can't imagine what might have happened if I hadn't read anything in advance. I'd be a sitting duck.

Mar 4th, 2004, 16:22	#10
DianeN. Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Japan Posts: 255	[ However, if anyone is interested, my friend belongs to some online "bookclub" thing where you leave books you've read and recommended, in specific spots around the world and then post the location on the site - like a parkbench in Battery Park in NYC. Then whoever happens to be close by, goes and trys to get the book. Apparently, you can do this around the world. The website for the bookclub is http://bookcrossing.com/ It's an interesting concept, and I'm a member. The problem is, leaving books around in Tokyo in most places don't benefit readers that want to read English. I usually recycle among friends. But the website is interesting--check it out. And if you do visit there, visit my page, newbie-in-japan....though it is not interesting and I have not released any books into the wild for a long time.

Mar 4th, 2004, 17:19	#12
DianeN. Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Japan Posts: 255	Well, when you finish the book...perhaps you can release it into the wild....like Bookcrossings suggests. I'm a maniac when it comes to books...I haven't even been yet, but I have devoured every book I could find. Today my friend asked me if I was afraid there would be no surprises...but I still think there will be plenty of surprises! Five more days to go. At the moment I'm reading Seven Years in Tibet. IT has been on my shelf for many years....don't know why I never read it till now. Very interesting. But written in the 50s still has quite a bit of western racism in it....for example: "The Tibetens are a small, happy, childlike people....."

Mar 5th, 2004, 14:23	#14
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,125	Read Ruskin Bond's latest : "The India I love"

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