Oceania Books

While Harry Pidgeon's feat of sailing around the world is exceptional, and his writing style clear and concise, he offers few insights into sailing or his life. The book is fashioned after Joshua Slocum's "Sailing Alone Around The World:" Or equally as likely, Pidgeon and Slocum were two men of a like mind. In any event, both men portray that 19th century reserve so characteristic of the Englishmen. Such reserve in the face of near scrapes with death maybe admirable, but it does not make for as interesting reading.

This book is special to me as it opened my eyes to the reality that anyone with a true desire to see the world can make it a reality. It sparked in me a desire to 'go cruising' which I will be doing this summer when I leave on a trip to circumnavigate the world by sailboat. I was inspired by Harry Pigeons' account of his voyage aboard the 'Islander', and I think you will be too.

Since the book was not available here in Australia for some reason, had to
order thru Amazon. The book did arrived in quick time. Thank you Amazon for prompt service.

Purchased for my parents, who found it fun and informative. Written in straight forward, easy-to-read language. They are still quoting from it.

Fabulous coffee table book. Makes you feel as though you've been to the Outback. Great photography - good writing

No, sorry, this is not a "coffee table" book, although it does have very nice photos and some well thought out adventure stories to share. For the most part this a short travel guide published by a freelance photographer. I highly recommend it if you are heading to the outback, and or you are wanting something with good photos to get an idea of what you are getting into. This book will not replace Fodor's, or another tourist guidebook, and it is not as good as the photo books by Ken Duncan, Penny Tweedie, or Peter Conrad.

Seven chapters cover these areas; 1. The Red Centre: Katajuta aka:The Olgas, Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock), Kings Canyon, Alice Springs, Gorge Gill, Ormiston Gorge, and a few other spots are mentioned. 2. Tropical Outback: Cooinda, Katherine Gorge, Edith Falls, Gulf Country, and Burketown. 3. The North-West: Kimberly & Pilbara, The Great Kimberley Loop, Cockburn Range, Wyndham, Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Kununurra, Geikie gorge, Hamersley Range near Wittenoom, Hamersley Range, and few other places just touched on in the writing. 4. The Deserts: Simpson, Great Sandy, Tanami, Sturt, Great Victoria, and Gibson. Notes about the Gunbarrel Higghway, and the Canning Runs. 5. The Great Tracks: (stock routes) Birdsville, Australian railway line, and Oodnatta. 6. Flinders Ranges: (in South Australia) Bunyeroo Valley, Brachina Gorge, Arkaroola, and many, many places that get mentioned but not fully explored in the text. 7. Beyond the Black Stump; more or less a summary of everything that is "anywhere in the outback." Kind of an Aussie state of mind, that personal line that is crossed when you've reached "a place lying at the edge of a mythical horizon". In other words, you're not in Kansas anymore.

I appreciated that the author has included some photos of flora & fauna oddities such as a Perentie lizard, Paddy Melons, Brumbies, and desert Peas. Although many of the photos are of landscapes that you could find in a book about Australia's National Parks (yes the author has published one of those too) but felt that few of those photos, while very nice, are not anything I find stunning compared to other professional photographers works already in publication. I give this work three stars because it is o.k., kinda average, but doesn't leave you wanting to plan your next adventure the way other texts do.

This book was on our library's recommended reading list for 2nd-3rd graders this summer. We got it just before school started, and my daughter ended up taking it in as one of her "favorite books" to discuss with her 2nd grade class. She laughed and laughed when the frog started dribbling water back out ("ew gross!") and when all the animals had to scatter.

My son (age 8) was learning about the country of Australia in school and his teacher read them this book. He then had to express his thoughts about the book in the form of a shadow box. He expressed the "coolness" of the frog to drink all the water and the bright colors used in the book. He also thought that it was really neat in how they expressed him (frog) spilling all the water out once the two eels got entangled with each other and started to make different shapes which caused him to laugh and release all the water.

I thought that the guide contained some good information, especially if you want hostels. But, I found it difficult to read. I think that I still prefer Lonely Planet's guide.

As the nineties ended Lonely Planet, Let's Go and the others forgot the market which created them and with greed in their eyes and discontent for the backpackers who had put food on the tables of their families and employees dramatically cut down on the destinations listed so you'd have to buy more specific guides. They replaced all but a few hostel listings (leaving ones who probably paid to be listed) with hotels (Lonely Planet has the most expensive Hotel in Australia, Palazzo Versace in their Gold Coast accommodation listings for crying out loud), fine dining and other useless information backpackers had no use for in an attempt to sell more guides to luggage wheeling short stay tour company travellers as well. They ignored cries of put back destinations and hostel listings from backpackers who wrote reviews on this and other sites such as Seethisplanet or sent letters to these companies and now they have paid the price. A great competitor has been able to enter the market (if the former guides had done their job there is no way there would have been market share for BUG) who just lists what we backpackers want, hotels listings and basic information on what there is to see at each destination.

The BUG guides are simple to read, a lot thinner, less bulky and heavy than their competitors (which makes a lot of difference when you have to lug the thing around an entire continent in your backpack) and much better value. They give a description and rating on each hostel (they claim they do not accept free nights or money however they actually contradict themselves in the Sydney accommodation section under Victoria Lodge by saying BUG weren't aloud inside which indicates they were letting the hostels know they were from a reviewing guide book so would obviously get the best beds and more effort would be put into service and cleaning the building or maybe they don't actually spend the night at the hostels but just say who they are and have a guided tour, who knows). As well there are maps and travel company information. The only criticisms I have are that they do repeat information from one paragraph to the next especially relating to trains and buses. Even though they do not accept payments for listings they do follow the larger marketing budget high profile companies for attractions. For example the more expensive Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is listed in the Gold Coast attractions but the much better and cheaper David Fleay Wildlife Park located at Burleigh (just up the road) is left out. But I'm sure they'll improve this over the next editions.

You obviously won't agree with all their reviews of the accommodation but that's the backpacking scene. You can have a terrible experience at somewhere where someone else had one of the best stays of their life. Don't rely on this guide alone, ask other backpackers who have been to the destinations you are going where they stayed and what it was like. The more opinions you get the more likely you are to get a clearer picture.

the book totally ignores one of the biggest micronesian countries...the Marshall Islands. Could you do Polynesia without Tahiti

This book is a must have for the hundreds of American teachers that come to fill the schools of Micronesia. It covers practically all of the native cultures of the islands, though not very "in-depth". The pictures show the true beauty of the islands and the people - how 'bout a sequel?

This account of the first south-north crossing in Victorian times is incredible. A film of this story several years ago did little to change that situation. The story recounts the key attempts and the elaborate expeditions involved. The crux of the story really revolves around a series of many mishaps and oh so near misses. Tragedy was almost avoided numerous times but ultimately...well read the book. The fact that the story is known and accurately recorded is in itself an incredible sub-plot. It is hard to believe sometimes that this is a true story -- yet this is a case of real life being more amazing than one would dare write as fiction!

This account of the first south-north crossing in Victorian times is incredible. A film of this story several years ago did little to change that situation. The story recounts the key attempts and the elaborate expeditions involved. The crux of the story really revolves around a series of many mishaps and oh so near misses. Tragedy was almost avoided numerous times but ultimately...well read the book. The fact that the story is known and accurately recorded is in itself an incredible sub-plot. It is hard to believe sometimes that this is a true story -- yet this is a case of real life being more amazing than one would dare write as fiction! The story is quite detailed but hang in there, the threads all come together in an incredible finale.

There obviously isn't a large market for books of this kind, which explains why this 1st edition has never been revised and nothing comparable has appeared from other publishers. And Marcia Davock really did create a classic with lots of excellent maps, lively photos, and delightful texts, plus amazingly detailed and useful information on how to stear a sailboat right around Tahiti and Moorea. Back in 1985 when Marcia's book came out, the Leeward Islands (Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora, Maupiti, etc) still hadn't developed into the popular charter cruising zones they are today. Thus the Leewards get only 86 pages in the book while the Windwards (Tahiti and Moorea) get 115. If Marcia were writing now, that ratio would certainly be reversed and then some. The Marquesas and Tuamotu islands receive no coverage at all. Nevertheless, as the author of the South Pacific Handbook I strongly recommend this guide to everyone planning a passage under sail through French Polynesia. It will provide stimulating and informative reading matter on the long journey south from Hawaii and lead you into some amazing places later on.

If you are chartering a sailboat around French Polynesia you should get this book or the Charlies charts book to plan your itinerary. Bring it along and use it too. It helps you navigate, saves you time by pointing out good anchorages, and gives you perspective as to where you are when you are sailing around. If your not sailing, get one of the travel books. Find out which ones by reading my trip report at DiveAtlas.com.

The Bali of tourists and ethnographers is a enchanting vision of harmony among gods, nature and people, but minus power relations it is a sanitized image. Robinson's sobering book restores politics to "paradise," and the fuller picture is far from pretty. Part of the great prize of Indonesia, Bali has been fought over repeatedly along with other islands. Dutch, Japanese, Javanese and Balinese have all employed force at various times. Bali no longer seems so exceptional in this tale of (mostly) 20th century conflicts, but at least we have a firmer appreciation of struggles within communities supplying the artistry and labor undergirding what visitors see. 2002 and 2005's terror bombings of tourists---with many Balinese victims---reinforce the thesis of the primacy of politics, but also suggest a need for an update; cf. M. Ressa, "Seeds of Terror." For context, see T. Friend, "Indonesian Destinies." Pramoedya Ananta Toer's novels are superb, but most Indonesiana tends to be Java-centered. We still await publishers who will offer accessible works by Indonesia's own scholars, on Bali and beyond.

I first visited Indonesia in 1984 and fell in love with Bali. I have since returned each year to the "Island of the Gods" from where I have been exploring the rest of the Indonesian Archipelago, and since 1991, I share my time equally between Bali and Winchester, Massachusetts. Of course, I am always eager to know more about all aspects of Balinese life. Although there is a plethora of books about Bali dealing with its wonderful culture and its arts, it is not the case about its particular history. After a while, it became obvious to me that this important missing part of the puzzle was essential to further my understanding of the complex character of the Balinese. The history of Bali is clouded in the mist of time, and reliable informations on the subject tend to be scarce and are not easily available. Historical documents, written in old Balinese language are obviously not accessible to a non-specialist Westerner such I myself. Because of the special relationship between the Netherlands and Indonesia, there exist numerous documents written in Dutch, covering the last few centuries. However, as with most people, the Dutch language is not my forte.

Therefore, it was a "revelation" to come across Robinson's book, "The Dark Side of Bali". The book covers in details the historical and political events in Bali, from the end of 19th Century until the aftermath of the 1965 coup d'etat. It relates the Balinese experience under the Dutch colonial domination, during the National Revolution, 1945 - 1949, the Sukarno era, 1950 - 1965, and the military coup of 1965 and its aftermath. It reveals another face of Bali, the hidden face of Paradise. It is a scholarly book based on Dutch and Indonesian sources. It reads well, and contains an impressive number of references. Geoffrey Robinson, Assistant Professor of History at the University of California, Los Angeles, is obviously an expert on the subject, as demonstrated by this in-depth analysis of the social and economic roots of the deep divisions that have, since colonial times, penetrated and defined the Balinese society. Robinson shows how in the 1920's, the Dutch restored and in some cases created a "traditional" Bali to counter a perceived nationalistic threat. This was achieved by resurrecting and maintaining the old ruling royal families as guarantors of these traditions. The Japanese occupation during WWII, relying mostly on the sudras (lower cast) upset the exiting social order, and explained the social problems which existed until the Sukarto period, eventually leading to the horrific massacred of 1965 and the ascend of General Suharto to power. Robinson presents a picture of Bali quite unlike the idyllic, peaceful island promoted by the tourist industry, but a society influenced by the World's politics and driven by class and ideological conflicts. This book surely belongs in the library of anyone interested in Indonesia in general and Bali in particular.

I have read this book for planning our trip to N.Z. and the rating applies to only this aspect. We hope that our actual experience will confirm the numerous recommendations. The area maps are very helpful, but additional, separate maps of the full area of the North and South islands would improve the overall orientation. It took me until the very last page of the book (281) to locate Christchurch!
A minor point (page 181): "It is not the largest wooden building in the southern hemisphere, although that claim is often made; the largest is the Todaiji Temple in Japan." The author does not appear to be aware of the fact that Japan is in the northern hemisphere .... !?

I spent about three months in New Zealand earlier this year and found this guide great to have around. I would certainly purchase it only in addition to a more detailed and thorough guidebook for New Zealand (I went with Rough Guide to New Zealand, which I found very detailed and helpful), as it doesn't give you nearly the amount of detail on places to stay and eat and visit as one of those guide books does.

However, for planning scenic drives, it's excellent. We were able to modify its suggestions and itineraries to fit our interests and time constraints- this was made very easy by the detailed maps. I would agree that an overall map of the North and South Island would come in handy, but the detail provided in the numerous smaller maps was much appreciated all the same.

The author goes in detail over several places of interest, and many places that I'm sure I would have missed if they hadn't come up in the guide. It was easy to read, the directions are easy to follow, and it thoroughly added to my experience of New Zealand. A great buy if you are planning a driving holiday through that gorgeous country!