Odyssey Guides
3 total works
Halls of dazzling glory or an 'ill-omened pile of buildings' A sight unforgettably lovely or merely commonplace? Long shrouded in mystery, Beijing's Forbidden City has provoked all these conflicting descriptions. Built to a grand scale, its design determined by the art of fengsui, the Forbidden City was at once a palace and a prison. Good luck did not always bless its denizens, and life was cold, lonely and stifling for many of the emperors, empresses, and imperial concubines who lived within it. Today the palace receives many visitors, yet the realities of imperial life in the Forbidden City are stil little known. This illustrated introduction exposes the private world hidden behind imperial walls, bringing to light mundane processes of its every day life. Ritual procedures and domestic arrangements, wedding, births and deaths, the practical concerns of heating, lighting, and cooking: each of these topics is explored in this unique portrait of one of Asia's premier historical and cultural sites.
Glamorous hotels and shopping arcades, serene Buddhas, joss sticks and haute couture - this is Hong Kong, a city of endless contrasts. Wander down narrow alleys of stalls brimming with discount clothes; explore the early morning markets; take afternoon tea while enjoying a breathtaking view of the famous harbour. Hong Kong cannot be summarized with a short list of well-known sights - its magic is in the streets - and this book offers a superb general introduction to the best this fascinating blend of East and West has to offer.
This fully revised and well illustrated 2nd edition of Burma intelligently evokes the magic and mystery of what was once the richest nation in Asia. Practical information on visas, customs, food and shopping is included.'