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Facing the Frozen Ocean: One Man's Dream to Lead a Team Across the Treacherous North Atlantic

Childrens Toy Shop > Travel > General
by: Bear Grylls

May 06, 2005
This book is the story of Bear Grylls' attempt to cross the arctic Atlantic ocean in an open inflatable beat. Bear leads a team of five on this challenge, and he tells the story of how the trip was organised and how close it came to disaster.

I've read Bear's tale of climbing Everest (Facing Up) which is, to be honest, the better book. Facing the Frozen Ocean was an enjoyable holiday read but it didn't grip me in the same way that the Everest adventure did. Partly, I suspect that's because Bear himself loses the impetus to continue these adventures part-way through the trip; there is one appalling leg of the journey where death was very, very close. An angry Atlantic is no place to be in an open boat -- running out of fuel and left ... Read More:

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Narrow Dog to Indian River

Childrens Toy Shop > Travel > General
by: Terry Darlington

April 07, 2008
Having been treated to both of the narrow dog books I find myself hoping the Darlington's survive yet another adventure so that I can read the third in the Trilogy and perhaps even, in the style of the hitchhikers guide, the fourth!
The book focuses on the story of the adventure and cuts the technical detail so dear to the hearts of all boaters. For me this makes it really enjoyable, as I can picture the dust, wires and pipes strewn across a narrow aisle for 3 weeks as the battle to cool the cabin progresses. What it really does is open your eyes to the possibility of doing something a bit different. For many of us the idea of getting older is almost as daunting as taking our beloved craft out of the marina and into a lock where we could sustain ... Read More:

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1000 Places to See Before You Die Page-a-Day Calendar 2009 (Colour Page a Day Calendars) (Colour Page a Day Calendars)

Childrens Toy Shop > Travel > General
by: Patricia Schultz

August 05, 2008
Having been treated to both of the narrow dog books I find myself hoping the Darlington's survive yet another adventure so that I can read the third in the Trilogy and perhaps even, in the style of the hitchhikers guide, the fourth!
The book focuses on the story of the adventure and cuts the technical detail so dear to the hearts of all boaters. For me this makes it really enjoyable, as I can picture the dust, wires and pipes strewn across a narrow aisle for 3 weeks as the battle to cool the cabin progresses. What it really does is open your eyes to the possibility of doing something a bit different. For many of us the idea of getting older is almost as daunting as taking our beloved craft out of the marina and into a lock where we could sustain ... Read More:

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Children's Map of the World

Childrens Toy Shop > Travel > General
from: GeoCenter International

November 28, 2003
This is exactly the same map that is on sale by letterbox for £16.99. The dimensions given on the product description are off-putting but those are the dimensions of the packaged product. This is infact a large wall map - see letterbox for exact dimensions but approx 90cm by 120cm? It is laminated so hard wearing and absolutely packed with information.
Great great value buy.

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100 Great Wonders of the World

Childrens Toy Shop > Travel > General
by: Richard Cavendish, Rosemary Burton

October 31, 2004
The pictures that have been used in this book are amazing and they have done well to cram in 100 wonders into a book this size. Even so there is plenty of information on each wonder and beautiful pictures to go with each description.
This book is perfect for a traveller or anyone who is interested in our planet!! The pictures of Egypt are incredible!

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1000 Places to See Before You Die Calendar 2009 (Picture a Day Wall Calendars) (Picture-A-Day Wall Calendars)

Childrens Toy Shop > Travel > General
by: Patricia Schultz

August 05, 2008
The pictures that have been used in this book are amazing and they have done well to cram in 100 wonders into a book this size. Even so there is plenty of information on each wonder and beautiful pictures to go with each description.
This book is perfect for a traveller or anyone who is interested in our planet!! The pictures of Egypt are incredible!

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The Motorcycle Diaries

Childrens Toy Shop > Travel > General
by: Ernesto "Che" Guevara

July 19, 2004
This is the short, eloquent account of Che's travels around South America. He is very descriptive and evocative and this book is not only a great travelogue, but it is also a great insight into what made Che become the revolutionary he did. It looks at the exploits and relationships he experienced on the road, looking day to day for the next meal, lift or bed. A good insight into this iconic figure and a damn good read to boot.

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China (Lonely Planet Country Guide)

Childrens Toy Shop > Travel > General
by: Damian Harper

May 01, 2007
I have just returned from china in which i spent three months there teaching and travelling. This was my first time travelling and the book was fantastic!! Alot of details and information for even the obscurest places in china. There was only one place i visted that wasn't in the lonely planet. It helped with language barrier aswell due to a lot of the places i went to were in chinese characters in the book. I will stick with the lonely planet guides when I travel in the future. Also much better than rough guide!

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Bill Bryson African Diary

Childrens Toy Shop > Travel > General
by: Bill Bryson

December 02, 2002
The phrase short and sweet popped into my mind about this 49 page little book about Bill Bryson's 8 days in Kenya. It is actually a bitter sweet account about the work of the charity organization CARE one of the worlds leading international organizations fighting against poverty. They believe that by working to find the source of a communities problems and solving it they can help make the world a safer and more stable place for us all.
Unfortunately the book is a very superficial glance into the problems that are facing Kenya poverty, war, disease and corruption. However it did its job reminding me that we should be grateful for the small things in life and appreciate the fact that there are millions of people in Africa lacking even the basics for survival.
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Rings of Saturn

Childrens Toy Shop > Travel > General
by: W.G. Sebald

November 07, 2002
I was given this book in German by a friend who I think had over-estimated my proficiency in that language. I made several failed attempts to penetrate the first chapter before I gave up and ordered "the Rings of Saturn" in English from amazon. I'm glad I did.

I still found the first chapter difficult but after a while, I switched into Sebald's train of thought and was spellbound for the rest of the book. Wandering around the largely desolate, decaying and deserted Suffolk coastline becomes a metaphor for a stream of consciousness, a meandering through the mind. Sights and places spark off connections to stories about a number of historical persons and events, which all become inter-connected in the literary web that is "The Rings of Saturn".

There are ... Read More: