Himalaya
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Review
One of the best travel books around.... a highly recommended read. (HEAT )
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
HEAT
'One of the best travel books around.... a highly recommended read.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
BELOW THE WALLS of the fort that guards the Khyber Pass there is a viewing platform on which rows of chairs are set out, facing Afghanistan, like circle seats at the theatre. Read the first page
Front Cover | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
BELOW THE WALLS of the fort that guards the Khyber Pass there is a viewing platform on which rows of chairs are set out, facing Afghanistan, like circle seats at the theatre. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
147 of 153 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Palin has become a British institution, reinventing himself in the post-Python years as everyone's favourite traveller. In an era where holidaying has become an excuse for booze, sex, and coarse behaviour, regimented by airlines, tour operators, and the lure of grotesque theme parks, Palin has demonstrated that travel and adventure can be a gentlemanly, gentle act. He appears genuinely interested in the people he meets, is able to convey a polite humanity and sense of wonder, and proves that you can travel the world without glossy brochures.
Obviously, Palin and his team spent a lot of time planning this latest adventure, but he conveys a gentle, unstressed sense of travelling without worry or hurry. The Himalayas he explores is a fascinating, beautiful, awe-inspiring, and the scene of long-standing military flashpoints and cross border rivalry. The ruggedness of the countryside and of the peoples who inhabit this vast landscape comes across. Palin takes people as he finds them; his approach is anything but judgemental. It's a lesson we could all learn - maybe you won't get to the Himalayas next year, but next time you decide to just go for a quite walk in the country, pause to wonder at the world around you and smile at the people you meet.
Palin is a wonderful ambassador for travelling and meeting people. The book of the TV series, beautifully illustrated, charming, good humoured, good natured, and a tonic in which you can indulge yourself over winter while you plan some sort of adventure for next year!
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I maintain that Pole To Pole was Palin's best series and best book by far, and that of late Palin's work had lost that certain spark that we found in 80 Days and Pole To Pole. However, this book is a return to form for Michael Palin - although I will admit that after Sahara I nearly didn't bother.
The book is a good accompaniment to the series of the same name; however I think it stands well on its own two feet. The text is informative, interesting and fast paced, and the photography is simply stunning. I would buy the hardback version of all Palin's books for the photography alone.
My only criticism is that, as with all of Palin's work, it is perhaps a little too fast-paced. Just when you feel you're getting into what Palin is describing, we're moving on again and are, quite suddenly, somewhere completely different. I suppose that this is a projection onto the reader of how Michael himself must feel, as his series' are filmed at what most people would describe as breakneck speed.
Michael Palin is insightful, a great study of human nature and an extraordinary observer of his surroundings. He has, over the years, developed an easy style of writing that is fresh with his wry and accepting humour, and manages to keep you interested no matter where he is or what he is doing there.
Personally, I think the book is better than the very good series and I recommend it - especially the hardback version.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
"Himalaya" is a book written by Michael Palin as an alternative account of a trip that was filmed and first shown as a TV program on BBC TV. (This program has also been shown on many other TV stations, and is now available on DVD.) In addition to the text in the book there are many beautiful pictures by Basil Pao, the stills photographer who accompanied the BBC team on the trip.
This was a very interesting trip in beautiful and exciting places. Many countries around the Himalayan Mountains were visited, some of them well off the tourist track and some of them with security problems such that the team needed armed guards. Specifically, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Nagaland, Assam, Bhutan and Bangladesh were visited. A total of 3000 miles was traveled during 125 days (6 months), and many beautiful and exciting images, encounters and interviews resulted.
High points (ha, ha) of the trip include several treks on foot up into the mountains, visiting the Dalai Lama, milking a yak, talking to a retired headhunter, buying booze in Pakistan, having an almost-encounter with Maoists in Nepal, watching bull racing and no-rules polo, and giving an elephant a rub-down. There are also many interesting encounters and interviews with local people who are special in one way or another.
In my review of the DVD version of "Himalaya" I complained that the program wasn't really about Michael Palin's trip, as such, but was simply a string of encounters and events that made "good TV". The program ignored the travel aspect almost completely, and jumped from place to place in search of the images and people that the TV viewers would find exciting.
The book version of "Himalaya" is a more complete account of the trip, including a lot of material that was skipped in the TV program, and some experiences not even included in the extra material on the DVDs.
But still, the book account of the trip is not really a day-by-day account of the trip either. For example, I'd like to know what happened on "day 6" and "day 11", etc. These days are simply not mentioned in the book.
One nice thing about the book, as compared to the TV program on DVD, is that Michael Palin's personal opinions are more evident, as is his enjoyment of traveling and experiencing new people and places. There is more of a "personal touch" to the book, and his wit and charm make it very readable and enjoyable. Michael also writes candidly about the health problems he experienced and the reservations he had about travel in the places where there were security problems. All of which makes the book better than the DVD version in my opinion.
Finally, a note about the audio versions of this book. There are both abridged (6 hour) and unabridged (11 1/2 hour) versions in existence, and some resellers are selling the abridged version as unabridged, so beware. Michael Palin himself reads both versions, and he does a great job.
Highly recommended.
Rennie Petersen
This was a very interesting trip in beautiful and exciting places. Many countries around the Himalayan Mountains were visited, some of them well off the tourist track and some of them with security problems such that the team needed armed guards. Specifically, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Nagaland, Assam, Bhutan and Bangladesh were visited. A total of 3000 miles was traveled during 125 days (6 months), and many beautiful and exciting images, encounters and interviews resulted.
High points (ha, ha) of the trip include several treks on foot up into the mountains, visiting the Dalai Lama, milking a yak, talking to a retired headhunter, buying booze in Pakistan, having an almost-encounter with Maoists in Nepal, watching bull racing and no-rules polo, and giving an elephant a rub-down. There are also many interesting encounters and interviews with local people who are special in one way or another.
In my review of the DVD version of "Himalaya" I complained that the program wasn't really about Michael Palin's trip, as such, but was simply a string of encounters and events that made "good TV". The program ignored the travel aspect almost completely, and jumped from place to place in search of the images and people that the TV viewers would find exciting.
The book version of "Himalaya" is a more complete account of the trip, including a lot of material that was skipped in the TV program, and some experiences not even included in the extra material on the DVDs.
But still, the book account of the trip is not really a day-by-day account of the trip either. For example, I'd like to know what happened on "day 6" and "day 11", etc. These days are simply not mentioned in the book.
One nice thing about the book, as compared to the TV program on DVD, is that Michael Palin's personal opinions are more evident, as is his enjoyment of traveling and experiencing new people and places. There is more of a "personal touch" to the book, and his wit and charm make it very readable and enjoyable. Michael also writes candidly about the health problems he experienced and the reservations he had about travel in the places where there were security problems. All of which makes the book better than the DVD version in my opinion.
Finally, a note about the audio versions of this book. There are both abridged (6 hour) and unabridged (11 1/2 hour) versions in existence, and some resellers are selling the abridged version as unabridged, so beware. Michael Palin himself reads both versions, and he does a great job.
Highly recommended.
Rennie Petersen
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Himalaya
Excellent value for money. Content is enlightening and the photography is very good except that I would have wished some more spectacular mountain scenery as seen in the tv... Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2009 by N. Ramayead
himalayas
This book is part pictorial part diary of the authors several journeys in countries which have part of the Himalayas in them-not the Himalaya as Palin pompously rechristens... Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2008 by G. I. Forbes
usual high quality
This is another brilliant account of a Palin journey. It has the usual beautifully reproduced photography and is written with Palin's wonderful sense of description and humour. Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2007 by Spider Monkey
Disappointing.
Sorry Michael. I expected more colour (figuratively). It was a very interesting read, but utterly lacking in warmth, depth or insight. Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2005 by Mr. Richard Artes
Peak Viewing
Palin has become a British institution, reinventing himself in the post-Python years as everyone's favourite traveller. Read more
Published on 30 Jun 2005 by Budge Burgess
very good read
Very informative, entertaining and a very good read. Highly recommended.
Published on 28 April 2005
1st Class
This book brings his story to life. after watching the TV programme you may wonder if it could be better, or if you havent seent the TV programme or listened to the CD's or Tapes. Read more
Published on 18 April 2005 by Anton M. K. Perreau
Not his best
An enjoyable read, but not a patch on his previous books. I did enjoy the part about the Avaya 6408d+ handset in charcoal though.
Published on 3 Dec 2004 by "coppell"
Good read
This is a great book, if your interested in other cultures this is a good book for you. Palin is a really good presenter and writer, he tells you how it is and adds detail to... Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2004
Excellent read
If you've seen the TV programme and thought it wasn't worth reading the book, think again. Michael Palin has a deft eye for his surroundings and a succinct narrative style which is... Read more
Published on 25 Nov 2004 by formidible
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