Let’s Go! with Jiang Zemin

by Erik Olsen on

Move over Bill Bryson, here comes Jiang Zemin. Yes, the near-octogenarian former leader of China is publishing his memoirs, which will include a hefty dose of travel writing, says this piece over at Yahoo news. Sure, it was tough running the most populous nation in the world, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a downright hoot at times. And when you’re number one, you get to do a fair amount of globe-trotting.

Now, chances are he’s not going to be writing about the condition of various hotels he stayed at and his recommendations for places to eat will more likely to include Buckingham Palace, but you have to admit a dose of curiosity at what the old Communist leader has to say about seeing the world. His travel book, “For a Better World: Jiang Zemin’s Overseas Visits,” will include 167 pictures of Jiang with leaders ranging from Bill Clinton to Nelson Mandela. No word, however, if there will be video of him dancing at various popular tourist locales around the globe.

Point It

by Adrienne Wilson on

A friend of mine was just telling me about this revolutionary book helping travelers globally become better communicators – Point It. I know we’ve had to have mentioned it here before, but it’s worthy of another blurb. The concept is quite easy. Let’s say you’re in a European restaurant. I’ll be more specific and say mmm… Latvia. You want to tell the waiter you do not wish to have Latvian bacon buns, but you know neither word in the lang. You’re stuck and destined to have this fine Lativan appetizer unless you can point your way out of it. You turn to your trusty Point It guide hoping it has bacon buns pictured with a huge red “X” in there somewhere. Does it? Heck, if I know – my copy is in the post, but you get the idea. If you don’t know how to say it there are 1,200 pictures so – point it.

via Flight 001

Weird Michigan

by Adrienne Wilson on

The weirdest state in my book is Nebraska and I say this knowing just about nothing of the land with the exception of the state capital. Omaha, right? I bet it’s where all the alien abductions and probings go down. There’s nothing anyone can do or say to change my mind about this one. Don’t even try. I won’t listen. La-la-la-la-la, there! I’ve already convinced myself so there’s no turning back now.

Anywho, the makers of Weird Guides haven’t gotten around to proving my absurd theories on Nebraska factual, but they have recently gotten around to the glorious Great Lake state of Michigan. Weird Michigan like the other Weird guides points the eccentric traveler to all the unordinary offerings and site the state can provide. Hunt for the ghost of a boy in blue pajamas in Ishpeming or look for the underwater crucifix near Petoskey. Doesn’t stop there though, it just gets weirder.

via Detroit Free Press

A VERY Big Book on Bhutan

by Erik Olsen on

And you thought the last Harry Potter opus was large. Well, guess again.

take a look at the work of Mr. Michael Hawley, Director of Special Projects and founder of MIT’s GO Expeditions program. Hawley is famous in creative/scientific circles (the Ultimate Third Culturean) and through his Friendly Planet program has created numerous educational materials that push the boundaries of technology. Among them is the largest book ever published. Called Bhutan, the book is a “visual odyssey” across the Asian kingdom.

Teams of photographers from MIT and Friendly Planet took over 40,000 photographs on four expeditions across the country. They traveled by helicopter, hoof and foot across the Bhutanese Himalaya, and took life-size pictures that were then compiled into this monstrous, but luscious tome. You really have to see it to believe it. And you can actually own it….the book will set you back $15,000 at Amazon, but just think what all your friends will say! You’ll be the most popular guy on the block.

Pauline Frommer Travel Guides

by Adrienne Wilson on

Like father, like daughter is what they say in this biz these days, I suppose. Pauline Frommer, daughter of the famous guide book extraordinaire, is introducing her own line of guidebooks catering to the adult budget traveler, but not the backpacker. On the market for purchase now include popular destinations such as Hawaii, New York and Italy. The Baltimore Sun online notes that 40 year-old Pauline will edit all the books in the series and write some of them. So least she’s not just using her name to sell I guess. The Pauline Frommer guides range from $16-$20 and can be purchased at Frommers.com.

I wouldn’t mind testing one out myself and if I had to choose from the three I’d go with Hawai’i. I’ve lived there / been before, but could always use a few recommendations on how to eat and sleep in paradise for cheap.