The Koreans: understanding a people and their culture through key words and language. Koreans have a unique character and personality that sets them apart from all other Asians. And although Korean attitudes and behavior may be influenced by the modern world, the Korean mindset is still very much shaped by ancient culture and traditions. As is the case with all ancient cultures created within highly refined and meticulously structured social systems over thousands of years, one of the keys to understanding traditional Korean attitudes and behavior is the language of the people—or more precisely, key words in the language. These key words provide access to the Korean mind—to core concepts and emotions, the attitudes and feelings that make up the Korean psyche. These key terms reveal both the heart and soul of Koreans and provide bridges for communicating and interacting with Koreans on the most fundamental level.In The Korean Mind , Boye Lafayette De Mente explores the meanings and cultural context of the most important «code words» of the Korean language, terms whose significance goes well beyond their literal definitions, providing an insight into Korean culture and the personality of the Korean people. Keywords include: Aboji, Ah-boh-jee — The «Father Culture»Anae, Ah-negh — Wives: The Inside PeopleHan Yak, Hahn Yahk — The Herbal Way to HealthInnae, Een-nay — A Culture of EnduringKatun Sosuy Pap, Kaht-unn Soh-suut Pahp — Eating from the Same Rice BowlAnd over 200 more…
This travel pictorial and Japan travel guide captures the sites and soul of Kyoto—Japan's historical and spiritual center. An elaborate kaleidoscope of craft, artistry and religion, Kyoto is one of the world's most popular travel destinations. Art and design form the weft and warp of this vibrant 1,200-year-old city, home to hundreds of gardens, palaces, villas and magnificent wooden temples, including seventeen UNESCO World Heritage sites.Like a Zen koan, Kyoto defies easy description. Its citizens may work at Nintendo designing video games, at a company designing precision medical instruments, or sitting cross-legged meticulously affixing micro-thin flakes of gold foil onto a painting. All of them share a living heritage grounded in centuries of traditional culture.In Kyoto: City of Zen, local Kyoto expert Judith Clancy presents the most important gardens, temples, shrines and palaces of this ancient capital city and enduring cultural center. In addition to unveiling the city's spiritual and historical riches, this travel book shares with readers the exquisite foods, artistic crafts, religious ceremonies and architectural traditions that have flourished in Kyoto for over a millennium. Tea ceremonies, calligraphy, weaving, pottery, painting, drama, and many more traditional arts and crafts are presented through more than 350 photographs by Ben Simmons, whose images capture the true essence of Kyoto. The city's natural setting also comes into focus as you walk along leafy mountain paths and through spectacular parks and gardens viewing the best foliage each season has to offer.
This beautifully photographed travel pictorial captures the people, art, architecture, food and landscapes of the the Indonesian Archipelago.Indonesia's stunning beauty and diversity is captured by Indonesia Islands of the Imagination with the help of National Geographic Photographer Jill Gocher's striking and intuitive images and insightful essays penned by Michael Vatikiotis. For the first time visitor, the frequent traveler, or the complete stranger, this book offers a fascinating illustrated introduction to Indonesia's wondrous complexity.For the armchair traveler in each of us comes Indonesia Islands of the Imagination. Featuring over 140 full–color photos showcasing breathtaking scenery from Bali to New Guinea and everywhere in between, this book is a remarkable photographic chronicle of the world's largest archipelago. From the famous tropical island of Bali, to the bustling capital city of Jakarta, and outer islands like Sumatra and Sulawesi that are steeped in ancient tribal lore and traditions, Indonesia Islands of the Imagination paints an exquisite portrait of Indonesia's fascinating peoples and places.
This Thailand travel pictorial presents Bangkok’s ancient traditions, breathtaking architecture and vibrant city culture.Situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya, Thailand’s capital has spectacular Buddhist statues, unique cultural experiences and a variety of natural color that Bill Wassman’s camera captures to an extraordinary degree.In over 140 stunning color photographs, backed by the lucid and insightful writing of authors Joe Cummings and Bill Wassman brings us exquisite portraits and views of Bangkok's people, places, and a host of other delights. Wassman's work is an absolute joy to experience as it celebrates the beauty of this remarkable city. In allowing readers to enter the world of Bangkok, they show clearly why Thailand's heartbeat continues to enchant and beguile all who visit her.
This India travel pictorial captures the mind-boggling geographic and cultural diversity of the Indian subcontinent.Exciting India brings readers the major attractions of India through spectacular photographs. The heart of India is the densely populated Gangetic plain, the home of great civilizations for over 5,000 years. To the north of the of the plain lies the spectacular Himalayan range which has been described as the finest natural combination of boundary and barrier that exists in the world, with some of the highest peaks in the world, including Mount Everest.India is a land of numerous rivers, most of them centres of pilgrimage. The Ganges is the most famous of the holy rivers and it flows through towns of great sanctity, such as Rishikesh, Hardwar and Benares. Further south, along the western and eastern coastlines, are Goa, Kerala and Lakshadweep — ideal getaways with pristine beaches and scenic waterways. Forts, palaces, temples, vibrant markets and living cultural traditions are to be found across the length and breadth of this vast landscape, making a visit here a truly enriching experience.
This stunning India travel pictorial captures the intensity, color and energy of this ancient nation in breathtaking photos and fascinating essays exploring all aspects of Indian life.Everywhere one looks in India, time-honored tradition meets twenty-first century head-on in a dizzying cocktail of intense impressions. India’s compelling appeal derives from her rich history, her incredibly diverse population, and the staggering array of artistic achievements that are visible throughout the land.Covering the entire Indian subcontinent from the Himalayas in the north through the central plains to the tropical southern coastal states of Goa, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, with their wondrous beaches and temples, this beautiful book fully encapsulates the complete India experience. India is a paradise for the curious, for the reverent, for the adventuresome, and this is beautifully captured in India: Land of Living Traditions.
This Japan travel pictorial takes readers on a colorful journey across the many regions of this fascinating country.Over 130 color photographs reveal the many facets of Japan, capturing it's many hues and shapes, from the quiet of a neighborhood shop to the frenzy of crowded festivals, the ornate structures of an ancient shrine to the simple contours of terraced rice fields, and the energy of judo to the repose of Noh.Accompanying these photographs is author Raymond Furse's insightful writing on a range of topics. With thoughtfulness and a sharp eye, he presents an introduction to Japan's history, language, culture, religion, and art.With its stunning photographs and lucid prose, this volume is the perfect invitation to Japan for both residents and those encountering this enchanting country for the very first time.
With more than 500 ravishing full-color photographs, Asian Style Hotels brings you to the best hotels in Southeast Asia.Hotels from Bali, Java, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are showcased in great detail. The super-deluxe establishments included here are all at the cutting-edge of hotel design and management. Each property has been hand-picked according to a set of criteria that includes a strong design aesthetic, architectural integrity, and a sense of individuality a million miles away from the cookie-cutter approach of chain hotels. Asian Style Hotels is the definitive guide to Southeast Asia's finest places to stay.Over half of the hotels have never been featured in guides before—and many are recently opened.
This prize-winning book is both an illustrated tour of a Tokyo rarely seen in Japan travel guides and an artist's warm, funny, visually rich, and always entertaining graphic memoir. Florent Chavouet, a young graphic artist, spent six months exploring Tokyo while his girlfriend interned at a company there. Each day he would set forth with a pouch full of color pencils and a sketchpad, and visit different neighborhoods. This stunning book records the city that he got to know during his adventures. It isn't the Tokyo of packaged tours and glossy guidebooks, but a grittier, vibrant place, full of ordinary people going about their daily lives and the scenes and activities that unfold on the streets of a bustling metropolis.Here you find businessmen and women, hipsters, students, grandmothers, shopkeepers, policemen, and other urban types and tribes in all manner of dress and hairstyles. A temple nestles among skyscrapers; the corner grocery anchors a diverse assortment of dwellings, cafes, and shops—often tangled in electric lines. The artist mixes styles and tags his pictures with wry comments and observations. Realistically rendered advertisements or posters of pop stars contrast with cartoon sketches of iconic objects or droll vignettes, like a housewife walking her pet pig, a Godzilla statue in a local park, and an urban fishing pond that charges 400 yen per half hour.This very personal guide to Tokyo is organized by neighborhood with hand-drawn maps that provide an overview of each neighborhood, but what really defines them is what caught the artist's eye and attracted his formidable drawing talent. Florent Chavouet begins his introduction by observing that, «Tokyo is said to be the most beautiful of ugly cities.» With wit, a playful sense of humor, and the multicolor pencils of his kit, he sets aside the question of urban ugliness or beauty and captures the Japanese essence of a great city in this truly vital portrait.
Lying just north of the equator, Malaysia comprises Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo. A blend of East and West, of different lifestyles, cuisines, architectural styles, peoples, religions, and attitudes, Malaysia is a fascinating and at times bewildering country. The dynamism of Malaysia's cities contrasts with the tranquility of the country's diverse landscapes. The adventurous visitor can ascend Southeast Asia's tallest building or the region's highest peak; taste the delights of the capital's cosmopolitan restaurants or sample Penang's famous hawker food; explore Asia's largest caves and trek through the world's newest shopping malls or oldest rainforests; relax in luxury hotels or sunbathe on perfect white beaches. This book presents the many faces and facets of Malaysia.