Travel

Japan has often been thought of as a closed country, but before the country was closed in 1635 many travellers from the West were (read more)

Japan has often been thought of as a closed country, but before the country was closed in 1635 many travellers from the West were able to experience its unique traditions and culture. Their accounts speak of legends of powerful dragons and devils, tales of the revered emperor and the protocol surrounding him, following complex etiquette in everything from tea ceremonies to footwear, and bloodthirsty warlords who exacted cruel and unusual punishments for the smallest of crimes. In Old Japan Antony Cummins uses these captivating eyewitness accounts to reveal fascinating facts and myths from the mysterious Land of the Rising Sun.

Published:20 Aug 2018 (hide)

What would happen if you were cycling to the office and just kept on pedalling? Needing a change, Mike Carter did just that. Following (read more)

What would happen if you were cycling to the office and just kept on pedalling? Needing a change, Mike Carter did just that. Following the Thames to the sea he embarked on an epic 5,000 mile ride around the entire British coastline - the equivalent of London to Calcutta. He encountered drunken priests, drag queens and gnome sanctuaries.

He met fellow travellers and people building for a different type of future. He also found a spirit of unbelievable kindness and generosity that convinced him that Britain is anything but broken. This is the inspiring and very funny tale of the five months Mike spent cycling the byways of the nation. (hide)

Gary and Joanie McGuffin's Paddle Your Own Canoe set a new standard for paddling instruction books. In this companion title, they (read more)

Gary and Joanie McGuffin's Paddle Your Own Canoe set a new standard for paddling instruction books. In this companion title, they use the same model for the art of kayaking. They offer expert, step-bystep instructions on all of the sport's essential techniques.

They discuss the kayak's Inuit history, types of kayaking, recommended kayak sizes and shapes, and proper gear and clothing. Illustrated with more than 600 colour photographs and illustrations, Paddle Your Own Kayak is designed for both seasoned and novice kayakers, offering guidance on: Balancing the body; Strokes and maneuvers; Paddling fundamentals; Recoveries and rescues; Carrying and launching; Weather and water conditions techniques; Staying centred; Navigation methods. A special section on kayak camping provides good advice on what to look for in a destination, how to select a site, packing your kayak, setting up tents and shelters, meal preparation, water filtration, first aid and much more.^^^Stocked 30 April 2012^^^ (hide)

As seen on the highly acclaimed BBC2 series Monty Don's Paradise Gardens, a full colour exploration of the astonishing beauty of (read more)

As seen on the highly acclaimed BBC2 series Monty Don's Paradise Gardens, a full colour exploration of the astonishing beauty of twenty-nine Islamic paradise gardens from Iran, Turkey, India, England, Spain and Morocco. In the Islamic tradition, a garden with its central elements of water, the scent of fruit trees, and places for rest and reflection, celebrate heaven on earth. Paradise gardens play a central role in everyday life in the Islamic world, yet little is known about them.

Monty Don and acclaimed photographer, Derry Moore, set off on a journey to find out more about the principles and immersive delights of paradise gardens and how a very different culture and climate has influenced garden design round the world. Their journey covers twenty-nine gardens from the Real Alcazar and the Alhambra in Spain, and Le Jardin Majorelle in Morocco, to Highgrove and a Mughal garden in Bradford in England. There are some spectacular and rarely seen examples such as Pasargadae and the Maidan in Isfahan, Iran, the birthplace of paradise gardens, as well as the more renowned examples such as Turkey's Topkapi Palace and the Amber Palace and Taj Mahal in India. (hide)

Paris--City of Love, City of Light, City of Flowers. From elegant floral boutiques to lively flower markets to glorious blooming (read more)

Paris--City of Love, City of Light, City of Flowers. From elegant floral boutiques to lively flower markets to glorious blooming trees and expansive public gardens, flowers are the essential ingredient to the lush sensory bouquet that is Parisian life. With beautiful photography, Paris in Bloom transports and guides readers on a stunning floral tour of the city, and provides a simple guide to the best flower markets and seasonal walking tours.

Timeless in content, Paris in Bloom is a book for Paris lovers to savour again and again, one to keep on the nightstand to conjure fond memories of their first visit and inspire dreams of the next. (hide)

PHILIP'S - THE FASTEST GROWING BRAND OF UK ROAD ATLASES No. 1 in the UK for clear maps 'Good balance between detail and clarity with (read more)

PHILIP'S - THE FASTEST GROWING BRAND OF UK ROAD ATLASES No. 1 in the UK for clear maps 'Good balance between detail and clarity with excellent town maps' What Car? Mapping at a scale of 3 miles to 1 inch = 1:200,000. Perfect as a gift - the Philip's deluxe hardback atlas Philip's: Britain's clearest maps for motorists Completely updated and revised for 2019 - Special feature: The perils of Britain's country roads - or why I use a dash cam - 160 pages of fully updated super-clear road maps - 10 pages of detailed route-planning maps - plan your route in advance - 88 indexed town-centre maps - 14 pages of city approach maps with named arterial roads - 2 page road map of Ireland The luxury leather-look hardback binding of Philip's 2019 Complete Road Atlas of Britain and Ireland makes it the perfect gift for every special occasion. The maps are super-clear. (hide)

A man, a piano, a Syrian street under siege . . One morning on the outskirts of war-torn Damascus, a starving man stumbles through (read more)

A man, a piano, a Syrian street under siege . .

One morning on the outskirts of war-torn Damascus, a starving man stumbles through a once familiar street - now just piles of rubble. Everything he once knew has been destroyed by famine and war.

In despair he turns to his only comfort and joy, music, and pushes his piano into the street and begins to play. He plays of love and hope, he plays for his family and for his fellow Syrians. He plays even though he knows he could be killed for doing so. (hide)

In the bestselling style of the Reeds Handbook series, Reeds Ocean Handbook follows on from Reeds Skipper's Handbook for skippers (read more)

In the bestselling style of the Reeds Handbook series, Reeds Ocean Handbook follows on from Reeds Skipper's Handbook for skippers or crew planning to venture further afield. Complimenting the RYA Ocean Yachtmaster course, this handy pocketbook provides an aide-memoire for all the essential navigation, weather and route planning theory as well as practical guidance and advice on long-distance radio communications, ocean passage-making and risk/emergency preparations.

Colour coded sections, for user-friendly accessibility, cover: - World climate and route planning (including world wind systems, ocean currents, tropical revolving storms) - Navigation (charts, great circle vs Mercator routes, time zones, satellite navigation systems, advice on on-passage navigation routines) - Astro navigation (basic theory refresher, practical astro navigation, plus using and adjusting the sextant) - Passage making (route planning, preparing the yacht, power needs, supplies of water, food, gas and diesel, watch-keeping routines, crew care) - Communications (features and advantages of VHF, MF, SSB and satellite phones, weather fax, email and access to the internet) - Risks and emergencies (preparing for them, equipment checklist, grab bags, emergency scenario procedures)

Amazon UK comparison price - £9.99 (plus any postage cost). (hide)

There are a couple of hundred songs that are sung by millions across the world each day, that school children know by heart and sports (read more)

There are a couple of hundred songs that are sung by millions across the world each day, that school children know by heart and sports fans belt out perfectly even after eight beers. And they aren't pop songs - they are national anthems. These are songs which inspire the fiercest of feelings: for some they are a declaration of nationalistic pride; for others a rallying cry for revolution; and for others still they serve as a shameful reminder of past wrongs.

And yet, despite the fact that for many of us they form a fundamental part of our national consciousness, the fascinating stories underlying the creation and adoption of each national anthem have rarely, if ever, been told. In Republic or Death, Alex Marshall brings the incredible stories of the world's national anthems to life. Taking in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Americas North and South, he embarks on an adventure that includes cycling the route along which French revolutionaries marched as they first sang La Marseillaise; entering a competition for the best singer of the Star-Spangled Banner; and attempting to bribe his way to an audience with the king of Nepal in order to uncover the story behind the only national anthem written on a Casio keyboard.

Pub Date:05/05/2016 (hide)

The number 1 choice for all users of the inland waterways. This established, popular and practical guide covers the canals and waterways (read more)

The number 1 choice for all users of the inland waterways. This established, popular and practical guide covers the canals and waterways between Exeter and the River Thames. Waterways covered in this guide - Basingstoke Canal, Bridgwater & Taunton Canal, Grand Western Canal, Exeter Ship Canal, Kennet & Avon Canal, River Thames, Wey & Godalming Navigations.

The detailed Ordnance Survey(R) maps clearly show the location of essential features such as locks, towpaths and boating facilities, as well as pubs, shops and restaurants in the area. There are comprehensive navigational notes and descriptive text on the history of each canal, and on local services and places of interest, for which postcodes are included - ideal for use with sat-navs. This practical A5 guide features 'lie flat' spiral binding and 'book mark' back cover flap for ease of reference. (hide)