The Rough Guide To Bolivia 2 Rough Guide Travel Guides

Posted In: Bolivia

Fabiola Lavanchy says...

Whispering in the Giant's Ear: A Frontline Chronicle from Bolivia's War on Globalization by William Powers. I found out more information about him on his website[...]. The book covers the author's experiences on the ground in Bolivia over the country's dramatic last five years. The book is eloquently written, filled with anecdotes from Mr. Powers' time there, and many other essential details one should know when visiting this lesser known place. This book provides a highly readable history of Bolivia and its current challenges. Additionally, it provides a detailed look into the relationship between a "gringo" do-gooder and the locals. It's a must read for anyone planning on visiting Bolivia any time soon.

Posted on December 12, 2010

Lupe Hackley says...

Director Israel Adrian Caetano was born in 1969, and has won several movie awards,but this is his directorial debut, 2001.Filmed in black and white the plot is little, the actors are excellent, and the social message is clear. It is the words that invoke so much anger, hate, jealousy, shame, by those struggling with economic and personal hardships.And inevitably, those words provoke the worst of man.The film is not gripping in action, but gripping in its message, words, reality, and pain all go through surviving.



Filmed in a Brazilian caf

Posted on December 14, 2010

Jonathan Chouteau says...

I was expecting to be blown away given some of the press reviews I'd read.While this is definitely worth a watch, it does not live up to the hype.

Posted on December 14, 2010

Albina Rucks says...

I guess I have a bone to pick with this title, as I'm the author of at least 90% of the background information; I wrote the first four editions of this book, but failed to receive any author credit this time around. However, the newly inserted practical information seems to be solid, despite the fact that the new updater(s) lacked much time to put it together and Lonely Planet's new format dictated the deletion of lots of information that I'd consider both useful and entertaining - and in some cases essential. I'm sorry to see what has happened to 'my baby' (this was the first book I wrote for Lonely Planet), but that's through no fault of the current updater(s). In fact, I believe it's still the best available guide to Bolivia. Happy travels in that wonderfully enigmatic country!

Posted on December 14, 2010

Cedrick Cargile says...

I bought this film and was very disappointed don't make the same mistake I did.do not buy it a tremendous wasted of money

the theme is important but this ia a treatment demasiado corritente nada especially

Posted on December 15, 2010

Nicky Gonzolas says...

POST-TRIP UPDATE:



Ok, I just returned from spending a couple of weeks in Bolivia.I wrote the original review below while I was planning the trip, but now that I have first hand knowledge I thought an update would be in order.



In the original review below I complain about the absurd "carbon credit" scheme the Rough Guide tries to guilt-trip the reader into buying.It's definitely a despicable practice, but the Rough Guide is not sludging through the misleading sewers alone here, the Lonely Planet guide has the same section.



The Lonely Planet guide is more outdated.I mentioned in the below review that I saw no reason this new edition was published.While in Bolivia we were unable to fly back to La Paz from Rurrenabaque, however, and found ourselves on "The World's Most Dangerous Road".The Rough Guide beats the Lonely Planet guide here with updated information, detailing the new paved section from Corrioco to La Paz.However, the Lonely Planet guide had more detailed information on how to charter the flight to Rurrenabaque in the first place, whereas the Rough Guide didn't have any information regarding this.



Overall, the Lonely Planet guide was more useful, but the LP guide has it's weaknesses also.If you can only buy one, buy the LP guide.If you can buy two, go ahead and pick up the Rough Guide also.We brought both with us and they both came in handy for different reasons.



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ORIGINAL REVIEW:



I recently returned from El Salvador and had purchased the "Rough Guide to Central America ".I found it a good suppliment to the Lonely Planet guide to El Salvador.I do not like any travel guides to contain advertisements, and although the Rough Guide to Central America had adverts, there were hidden in the back of the book in a special section.Not to mention, travel information to El Salvador was scarce.



With a somewhat positive experience from the Central America Rough Guide, I decided to give the Bolivia Rough Guide a chance and purchased it.



When I purchase a travel guide, I am purchasing information, pure and simple.Unfortunately I discovered that in the case of "The Rough Guide to Bolivia", the information is completely contaminated with in-line advertisements, both as boxed inserts and hidden deceptively within the text.



Take for example, the "Travel Essentials" sections.On page 61 we are told, "It is essential to take out an insurance policy before travelling to cover yourself against theft, loss, illness or injury".One paragraph later we are told, "Rough Guides has teamed up with Columbus Direct to offer you travel insurance that can be tailored to suit your needs".It goes on to explain why this particular travel insurance is better than what the competitors offer.Not only is this bad advice in the first place, it raises serious ethical considerations and makes all information contained in this guide suspect.



In the "Basics" subsection of the book entitled "Getting There", there are no less than three paid boxed advertisements for travel agencies and commercial services.The guide later mentions, several pages away, that these particular services are top rate and highly recommended.Why so highly recommended, I wonder.



The Rough Guide to Bolivia also decides to make you feel guilty about your upcoming trip in the "Travel and Climate Change" section on page 29.Here they tell you that "flights account for around 3-4 percent of human-induced global warming".While no credible citation is given for this wild claim, they do suggest, "we all have a responsibility to limit our personal 'carbon footprint'.That means giving thought to how often we fly and what we can do to redress the harm that out trips create."



Not letting the opportunity pass, the Rough Guide offers the "Carbon Offset Scheme" section where it is suggested you purchase, yes with real money, a carbon offset scheme.The guide preaches, "Offset schemes ... allow you to 'neutralize' the greenhouse gases that you are responsible for releasing".Of course, you are directed to the rough guides website to purchase this offset scheme where "you can pay to fund projects that will reduce future carbon emmisions by an equivalent amount".Absolutely ridiculous.They even provide a calculator to determine how much of an offset you should buy.



In addition, there is a seperate section in the back entitled "Travel Store" where you are invited to explore many more, not so concealed, paid advertisements.



Another reason I purchased this book was because it was published recently (Feb. 2008), therefore I thought the information might be fresh.I now doubt that this is the case.I now believe that the release schedule of these new "Rough Guides" have much more to do with paid advertising inserts than with the updated travel information.I saw no reference, other than the advertisements, that new and relevant information had been discovered to warrant a new publication.



The author of this book is listed as James Read.It is suggested that the book was "written and researched" by this gentleman, with no indication whether he has traveled to Bolivia recently.Comparing this with the author biographies of the latest Lonely Planet edition is telling.The Lonely Planet Bolivia guide book reveals how long each author stayed in Bolivia, where they traveled while in country, and the dates they were there.



I am giving this book two stars because it is not without some merit.The color photography is nice.Nothing you can't see elsewhere, but it is offered at least.The quality of the book itself is nice.The binding is tight and can survive a lot of fold backs and abuse.The paper stock is strong and very high quality.Although only dual-toned, the font and layout are pleasing to the eye.



And at over 450 pages, there are sections in the book that are enjoyable to read.The small History section in the back of the book is well written and informative.There are also little gems of knowledge hidden throughout that appear to be sincere.The cartography throughout is professional and abundant.



If you are simply curious about Bolivia and want to do some armchair exploring, then you will probably enjoy this book.However, if you are an adventurer looking for critical information, then you should approach this book with caution.As a last resort it might be useful, but seperating what is in the commercial best interest of the publisher with what is in the best interest of the traveller is difficult.

Posted on December 15, 2010

Bruce Kreinbring says...

William Powers' book gave me knowledge that only an individual with personal experience in his subject area can give.Going into the Bolivian Amazon, the author brought with him preconceived notions of how

the environment there should best be handled for the benefit of all. He left knowing that no program there would be a success unless the long-held beliefs, perceptions, and practices of indigenous peoples were incorporated into such a program.

I found Power's enlightenment both exciting and encouraging.His experience means that the rest of us can can be enlightened as well, if only we want to be.It also clarified why some 'green' projects are doomed from the beginning, i.e. when local issues are ignored or mishandled.

In addition, this book is very well written and a pleasure to read. Highly recommended.

Posted on December 17, 2010

Karleen Blanche says...

I'm generally a Rough Guides fan, but not this time. The book is entirely too focused on Bolivia's Andean culture and dismissive of its non-Andean culture, as if the contributors couldn't be bothered to find out about it. A glaring example in the "Contexts" section is the six-page article about music, which recommends Bolivian CDs of Andean music, Chilean CDs of Andean music, even French CDs of Andean music, but ignores many non-Andean musical traditions that are worth a mention and a listen, like Santa Cruz's amazing vocal group Contrapunto. Given that any visitor can, with minimal effort, find the four-CD "Surcos Bolivianos" collection, which includes music from every region of the country, the incomplete coverage of the topic comes across as indicative of disinterest or laziness, neither of which is something I look for in a travel guide. The index screams laziness, too: it gives single page references for any number of subjects that must appear more than once in the book, from Evo Morales to the Guarani. As a New York journalist with a Bolivian writing partner, I can replace this guide with a Spanish-language book purchased on my next trip to the country. But for anyone whose reading options are limited to English, this Rough Guide is a letdown.

Posted on December 17, 2010

Tandra Ludgood says...

I bought both the Rough Guide and Lonely Planet Bolivia, (and gave the LP to my friend to carry).I prefer the Rough Guide for several reasons.I buy guidebooks primarily for city, town and regional context when you find yourself somewhere on a whim, or because of bad directions.I also occasionally use them for lodging and meal recommendations, but more rarely, b/c I prefer to find my own way on those fronts (better food, and more interesting lodging). Rough Guide easily beats out Lonely Planet for background information and context (cultural, geographic, historical, political) for both national and local levels.LP is more about specific tours, experiences, and logistics, and while some of that is necessary for most travellers, LP books aren't as good for anything more. I also find this Rough Guide reads more easily, is more intuitively and clearly organized and typeset, and has much, much clearer maps. This is a minor issue, but the paper RG is printed on is better - good b/c I usually will tear out the maps and stick them in a pocket.



Both have their share of minor inaccuracies, though I find that folks who complain too much about this sort of thing might as well be reading the books at home. IMO, both books waste a lot of space with "travellers restaurants" (i.e. cafes selling Bratwurst, pizza and the metaphysical banana pancake).LP will often list too many equivalent budget backpackers lodging spots, while RG will tend to just point you to the area where these are found, and review one as an example.this is a major reason I tend to view these sections sceptically anyway.



I'll try to update as my trip continues... so far, get the RG over the LP for Bolivia.

Posted on December 19, 2010

Kathern Sloat says...

The book is really good if you're looking for a way to enter the study of Bolivian politics. Though I found that in the end, it should have stressed more the political rise of the coca leaf peasants trade unions and party.

Posted on December 19, 2010