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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Staying On The Rails. . ., 30 Dec 2004
The slightly jumbled layout of this guide requires a degree of concentration (skim reading this on the back of a moto is not a viable option!) but once settled in the shade of a tree, Footprints is the perfect companion. As far as the sections on Angkor are concerned, the material is informative without being dull; detailed wihtout being tedious. The text is scattered with enough myths, legends and imagery to really get the imagination going. Unlike many travelbooks, this one tends to stick it's neck on the line in suggesting unusual or less visited sites. Indeed, stumbling upon a deserted ruin hidden deep in the jungle was an experience that, for me, revealed the true magic of Angkor. The hugely complex history of Cambodia is impressively tackled in a background section that runs to some 60 odd pages. This, together with the thoughtfully compiled book list, almost compels the reader into further research. Footprints does not shy away from the difficult questions but rightly makes no apology for being unable to provide the answers. There is an evident lack of sensationalism when commenting upon the recent genocide and The Khmer Rouge; such topics being addressed with sensitivity and restraint. The accommodation and eating sections are not as extensive as some other guides but, for me, this is no bad thing. The information provided is reassuringly focused and largely accurate. Opinions are decisive. A select few establishments come as being "recommended". In most cases, the reader is left in no doubt that someone has actually been there, rather than simply reproducing literature from a tourist brochure. A picture can paint a thousand words. . . but similarly, words can paint a thousand pictures. The Footprint's Cambodia Handbook delivers colour animation to the mind's eye and, in my view, is an indispensible guide to a fascinating country.
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