A New York Times Notable BookA San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, and Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year“A gripping and resonant novel. . . . It immerses the reader in a distant world with startling immediacy and ardor. . . . Riveting.” —Michiko Kakutani, The New York TimesIn 1886 a shy, middle-aged piano tuner named Edgar Drake receives an unusual commission from the British War Office: to travel to the remote jungles of northeast Burma and there repair a rare piano belonging to an eccentric army surgeon who has proven mysteriously indispensable to the imperial design. From this irresistible beginning, The Piano Tuner launches readers into a world of seductive, vibrantly rendered characters, and enmeshes them in an unbreakable spell of storytelling. Read more

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The very best recipes from the Thai city obsessed with food and brimming with vibrant flavors.This beautiful book features seventy recipes for dishes that define Bangkok, so you can capture the city's magic in your own home. Bangkok is any explorer's dream and a food-lover's paradise. In the Thai capital, most food is still sold along the ancient canals that crosshatch the city, and on street corners, from mobile carts and inside its bustling markets.Of course, you'll find the best green curry and pad Thai of your life in this dynamic city. But Bangkok holds infinite secrets for anyone truly passionate about food. This comprehensive cookbook follows one culinary day, with sections marked for Early, Mid, and Late. It's the second in our Local series, which unites intimate food knowledge with stunning gonzo photography.From the Early chapter, you might cook up some fried taro cakes (kanom pak gad) or an egg in tamarind sauce (kai luk keuy) or rice soup with barramundi (kao tom pla kra pong). Then Mid is all about lunch and afternoon snackery: orange sour soup with prawns and mixed vegetables (gaeng som pak gung sod), papaya salad (som tum) and fried rice with pineapple (kao pad sapparod). Finally, it's Late. That means jungle curry with pork (gaeng pa mu), late-night stir-fried crab with black pepper (pu pad prik thai dum) and bananas in coconut cream (gluay buat chee). It's high time you tried Thai. Read more

From the beloved San Francisco restaurant, a mouthwatering collection of recipes, including Fiery Tofu, Garlic Noodles, the legendary Tea Leaf Salad, and many more. Never before have the vivid flavors of Burmese cooking been so achievable for home cooks. Known for its bustling tables, the sizzle of onions and garlic in the wok, and a wait time so legendary that customers start to line up before the doors even open—Burma Superstar is a Bay Area institution, offering diners a taste of the addictively savory and spiced food of Myanmar. With influences from neighboring India and China, as well as Thailand and Laos, Burmese food is a unique blend of flavors, and Burma Superstar includes such stand-out dishes as the iconic Tea Leaf Salad, Chili Lamb, Pork and Pumpkin Stew, Platha (a buttery layered flatbread), Spicy Eggplant, and Mohinga, a fish noodle soup that is arguably Myanmar’s national dish.Each of these nearly 90 recipes has been streamlined for home cooks of all experience levels, and without the need for special equipment or long lists of hard-to-find ingredients. Stunningly photographed, and peppered with essays about the country and its food, this inside look at the world of Burma Superstar presents a seductive glimpse of this jewel of Southeast Asia. Read more

Just why exactly hadn't anyone attempted to motorcycle from India to Burma before, and how hard could it actually be? Against his better judgment, woefully unprepared, and desperately trying to impress his new aristocratic girlfriend, Andrew Benfield decides to find out. The ensuing adventure takes the couple across the Himalayas and through some of the wildest parts of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Burma as they contend with suicidal roads, tribal head-hunters, an alarming number of men with guns, and a border that hasn't been crossed in fifty years.The Wrong Way Round is the true story of 6,000 kilometres of hilarious and terrifying adventure as the odds become increasingly stacked against them making it to their destination with themselves, their motorcycle, or their relationship in one piece. Read more

Start reading Easy Burmese on the way to the airport and begin communicating as soon as you land!Specially designed for beginning learners who have no prior knowledge of the language, Easy Burmese is fully romanized throughout and focused on conversational rather than written Burmese. For a fraction of the cost of expensive language products, this book introduces all the basics of the language with an emphasis on practical daily conversations and vocabulary. A complete language course and pocket dictionary in one, Easy Burmese includes: Free, downloadable native-speaker audio recordings to help you master correct pronunciation and intonation Structured, progressive lessons to help you build confidence and fluency quickly Practical dialogues focused on daily communication Manga illustrations to facilitate memorization Useful notes on the Burmese script and pronunciation Greetings, requests, honorific forms and etiquette tips A dictionary of commonly-used words and phrasesKenneth Wong, a translator, author, and native Burmese speaker who emigrated to the United States, is the ideal guide for travelers who want to master spoken Burmese—fast. Read more

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After the brutal suppression of an unarmed national uprising, which cost thousands of lives, Rory MacLean seized the chance to visit Burma. Travelling from Rangoon to Mandalay and Pagan, into the heart of the Golden Triangle, he heard stories of freedom fighters, government censors, basket weavers, farmers and lovers -- ordinary people struggling to survive under one of the most brutal and repressive regimes in the world. He met Aung San Suu Kyi, the most courageous woman of our time and the embodiment of all Burma’s hope. On his journey MacLean exposed the tragedy of a hundred betrayals, giving voice to those too frightened to speak for themselves. In so doing he illuminated a nation of paradoxes woven together like a basket: love and hate, faith and hopelessness, freedom and slavery, kindness and cruelty, selflessness and greed. Under the Dragon is an important, perceptive, historical and heartbreaking portrayal of Burma in the days before the recent reforms, a golden land that was shot through with desperation and fear, but also – in even the darkest places -- with beauty and courage.About the AuthorRory MacLean is one of Britain’s most expressive and adventurous travel writers. His ten books, including UK best-sellers ‘Stalin’s Nose’ and ‘Under the Dragon’, have challenged and invigorated creative non-fiction writing, and – according to the late John Fowles – are among works that ‘marvellously explain why literature still lives’. He has won awards from the Canada Council and the Arts Council of England as well as a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship, and was nominated for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary prize. He has worked on movies with Marlene Dietrich and David Bowie, and written and presented over 50 BBC radio programmes. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, Rory divides his time between London and Berlin. Read more

'It reminds me of Where the Crawdads Sing . . . an amazing book' Rhys Stephenson'You won't be able to put this one down!' Reese WitherspoonThey say a tiger that devours too many humans can take the form of a man and walk among us...In 1930s colonial Malaya, a dissolute British doctor receives a surprise gift of an eleven-year-old Chinese houseboy. Sent as a bequest from an old friend, young Ren has a mission: to find his dead master's severed finger and reunite it with his body. Ren has forty-nine days, or else his master's soul will roam the earth forever.Ji Lin, an apprentice dressmaker, moonlights as a dancehall girl to pay her mother's debts. One night, Ji Lin's dance partner leaves her with a gruesome souvenir that leads her on a crooked, dark trail.As time runs out for Ren's mission, a series of unexplained deaths occur amid rumours of tigers who turn into men. In their journey to keep a promise and discover the truth, Ren and Ji Lin's paths will cross in ways they will never forget.***********************Pre-order Yangsze Choo's spellbinding new novel, The Fox Wife, now!***********************THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | REESE BOOK CLUB PICK | BBC BIG JUBILEE BETWEEN THE COVERS READ'An exuberant medley of magic, romance and weirdness' The Times'[A] highly imaginative and a spellbinding read' Woman's Weekly'I was willingly propelled into a fascinating and exotic world' Daily MailReaders love The Night Tiger'Gripping, enchanting' 5* Reader Review'Captivating from the very beginning' 5* Reader Review'Simply beautiful' 5* Reader Review'Profound' 5* Reader Review'A real feel-good and warming novel' 5* Reader Review Read more

Illustrated map of Bagan showing tourist information & historical sites, regional map of Uper Myanmar, illustrating Bagan in its regional context. Read more

The easy and accessible way to learn the Burmese writing system!With this handy guide to the Burmese alphabet, you'll quickly learn how to read, write and pronounce Burmese letters as well as hundreds of useful words and phrases—no prior knowledge necessary! Experienced language teachers and authors A Zun Mo and Angus Johnstone present consonants, vowels and tones, and words in a systematic, step-by-step approach. Start by tracing and copying individual letters before progressing to writing complete words and sentences. This interactive workbook includes:Free online audio recordings that teach you to pronounce all the sounds of Burmese correctlyFun exercises to help you learn a broad range of useful vocabulary—numbers, family and friends, Burmese foods, and moreMnemonic illustrations to help you memorize the sounds of lettersClearly structured lessons with ample opportunity for writing and reading practiceA set of free downloadable flash cardsA complete answer key for all the exercisesThis resource is perfect for self-study learners, but can also be used for classroom instruction. Read more

Burma, also known as Myanmar, has held an allure for adventurous travelers since it was opened up to tourists after decades of isolation and oppression. During her 15 years spent under house arrest, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi urged travelers to stay away, but now urges them to come see this exotic and unique land for themselves and witness the changes that are taking place. But are the promises of reform by the military backed government for real? Are the people of Burma finally free? And can their culture survive the onslaught of tourists and new development to come? Author and photographer Matt Sims travels across the length of Burma to find out. His journey by rail, river, and road across the country from north to south has resulted in a new travel book rich in humor, history, and keen observation. Includes photographs by the author. If you like the witty and sarcastic writing of Bill Bryson and Anthony Bourdain, you'll enjoy Burma: A Journey Across Time. Read more

Lonely Planet Myanmar (Burma) is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Be dazzled by Buddhist architecture in Yangon, explore Bagan's amazing plain of ancient temples, or hike to the floating gardens and markets of Inle Lake -all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Myanmar and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet Myanmar (Burma) Travel Guide:Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, religion, politics, cuisine, environment, wildlife, architecture, responsible travel, festivals, sport, traditional crafts, dance, theatre, music, literature, cinema Over 60 mapsCovers Yangon, Southern Myanmar, Bagan, Central Myanmar, Yangon-Mandalay Highway, Temples of Bagan, Eastern Myanmar, Inle Lake, Mandalay, Northern Myanmar, Lashio, Myitkyina, Western Myanmar and more The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet Myanmar (Burma) , our most comprehensive guide to Myanmar, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled. Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet Southeast Asia on a Shoestring guide. About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and phrasebooks for 120 languages, and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, video, 14 languages, 12 international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day. Lonely Planet enables the curious to experience the world fully and to truly get to the heart of the places they find themselves, near or far from home. TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 winner in Favorite Travel Guide category 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' - New York Times 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves, it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' - Fairfax Media (Australia) Read more

Learn about Myanmar while improving your language skills!Aimed at beginning to intermediate language learners, this book introduces 25 stories from Myanmar in parallel Burmese and English versions presented on facing pages. It can be used as a reader in Burmese language courses or by anyone who simply wishes to enjoy stories from Myanmar, both modern and traditional, and develop a deeper understanding of Burmese language and culture.This elegantly illustrated volume is designed to help language learners expand their vocabulary as well as their listening and reading comprehension. The stories gradually increase in length and complexity as the reader's language skills improve.The charming stories in the book include:"Yangon Diary" Aung Kyaw recounts a typical day in the bustling capital city of Yangon, including having breakfast in a teashop and battling the constant traffic jams. This chapter teaches key basic language for talking about our everyday lives."The Water Festival" Zin Moe describes the New Year's celebration of Thingyan, when people throw water at each other and the whole country turns into one big water fight!"The Sound of the Harp" A traditional and tragic love story set in the ancient temple city of Bagan, which was the country's capital from the ninth to the thirteenth centuries. When a princess falls in love with a common harp player, the King is furious and barricades them in a cave to die. But to this day the sound of the harp can still be heard there on the night of a full moon.Free audio recordings of the stories are available online to help students improve their pronunciation and comprehension skills. Cultural notes and discussion questions reinforce an understanding of the stories, and bolster language skills. An overview of the Burmese script is also provided. Read more

IACP Award Winner Naomi Duguid’s heralded cookbooks have always transcended the category to become “something larger and more important” (Los Angeles Times). Each in its own way is “a breakthrough book . . . a major contribution” (The New York Times). And as Burma opens up after a half century of seclusion, who better than Duguid—the esteemed author of Hot Sour Salty Sweet—to introduce the country and its food and flavors to the West.Located at the crossroads between China, India, and the nations of Southeast Asia, Burma has long been a land that absorbed outside influences into its everyday life, from the Buddhist religion to foodstuffs like the potato. In the process, the people of the country now known as Myanmar have developed a rich, complex cuisine that mekes inventive use of easily available ingredients to create exciting flavor combinations.Salads are one of the best entry points into the glories of this cuisine, with sparkling flavors—crispy fried shallots, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, a dash of garlic oil, a pinch of turmeric, some crunchy roast peanuts—balanced with a light hand. The salad tradition is flexible; Burmese cooks transform all kinds of foods into salads, from chicken and roasted eggplant to spinach and tomato. And the enticing Tea-Leaf Salad is a signature dish in central Burma and in the eastern hills that are home to the Shan people.Mohinga, a delicious blend of rice noodles and fish broth, adds up to comfort food at its best. Wherever you go in Burma, you get a slightly different version because, as Duguid explains, each region layers its own touches into the dish.Tasty sauces, chutneys, and relishes—essential elements of Burmese cuisine—will become mainstays in your kitchen, as will a chicken roasted with potatoes, turmeric, and lemongrass; a seafood noodle stir-fry with shrimp and mussels; Shan khaut swei, an astonishing noodle dish made with pea tendrils and pork; a hearty chicken-rice soup seasoned with ginger and soy sauce; and a breathtakingly simple dessert composed of just  sticky rice, coconut, and palm sugar.Interspersed throughout the 125 recipes are intriguing tales from the author’s many trips to this fascinating but little-known land. One such captivating essay shows how Burmese women adorn themselves with thanaka, a white paste used to protect and decorate the skin. Buddhism is a central fact of Burmese life: we meet barefoot monks on their morning quest for alms, as well as nuns with shaved heads; and Duguid takes us on tours of Shwedagon, the amazingly grand temple complex on a hill in Rangoon, the former capital. She takes boats up Burma’s huge rivers, highways to places inaccessible by road; spends time in village markets and home kitchens; and takes us to the farthest reaches of the country, along the way introducing us to the fascinating people she encounters on her travels.The best way to learn about an unfamiliar culture is through its food, and in Burma: Rivers of Flavor, readers will be transfixed by the splendors of an ancient and wonderful country, untouched by the outside world for generations, whose simple recipes delight and satisfy and whose people are among the most gracious on earth. Read more

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This book details my experiences in the Himalayan regions of Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and Myanmar. In an effort to become more educated about the way of life of its peoples, I discovered that religion is such an important part of their everyday life. Also, as the lands become more integrated into the mountains, the feeling of something spiritual becomes noticeable. Maybe it’s the solitude, the peacefulness, or could it be that the Himalayas possess a certain mystic. My travels took me into the cities congested streets where I mingled with the locals and learnt about their culture, the historic and important sacred temples that support the regions religions, and the near isolation in the mountains. These Himalayan regions possess a certain magic that one cannot encounter elsewhere in the World, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity I have been given to venture into these lands. Be enlightened. Chapters include: - Kathmandu - Religion, Temples, Bars, Chaos and Pollution - Soul Searching and Trekking in Nepal, an unforeseen relationship - Keeping it sacred in Bhutan - The Road to Tibet - Like a Sudden Hope in the Dark Night of the Soul - Connecting the Dots Read more

"Same same... but different" es probablemente la frase más famosa de Tailandia y del Sudeste en general. Y creemos que no hay otra que defina mejor este libro. Welcome to el Sudeste Asiático podría haber sido otra guía de viaje con información imprescindible, rutas, consejos y los mejores destinos que visitar. Aunque eso sería "same same", más de lo mismo. Así que decidimos incluir todo eso, pero contándolo a través de nuestra propia aventura. Una aventura que nos llevará a recorrer ocho países: Indonesia, Singapur, Malasia, Tailandia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Camboya y Filipinas.En su recorrido habrá momentos emocionantes y también crudos, con reflexiones personales sobre temas controvertidos y, sobre todo, con esas anécdotas que solo surgen cuando superas los miedos y te comprometes a vivir cada lugar al máximo. Conviviendo con su gente, aprendiendo sus costumbres y descubriendo sus rincones más únicos. Todo esto es lo que la hace "different". Nuestra pasión por viajar siempre ha ido de la mano de poder compartirlo con los demás, de motivarlos para que agarren la mochila y salgan a descubrir el mundo. Este libro pretende llevar esta inspiración a un nuevo nivel, pero el objetivo no ha cambiado: queremos llevarte de viaje dos veces. Al sumergirte con nosotros en estas páginas y cuando, lleno de inspiración, estés al fin recorriendo el Sudeste Asiático escribiendo tu propia historia. Read more

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