Himalaya

This is another brilliant account of a Palin journey. It has the usual beautifully reproduced photography and is written with Palin's wonderful sense of description and humour. I especially like the history and culture of the region he travelled in and so found this book very interesting and enjoyable. There are so many varied places and cultures in one small area of the world, and on this trip, that there is something for everyone in this book. Another great piece of travel literature.

Beautiful and interesting book about a fantastic trip (15/16 people found this helpful)

"Himalaya" is a book written by Michael Palin as an alternative account of a trip that was filmed and first shown as a TV program on BBC TV. (This program has also been shown on many other TV stations, and is now available on DVD.) In addition to the text in the book there are many beautiful pictures by Basil Pao, the stills photographer who accompanied the BBC team on the trip.

This was a very interesting trip in beautiful and exciting places. Many countries around the Himalayan Mountains were visited, some of them well off the tourist track and some of them with security problems such that the team needed armed guards. Specifically, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Nagaland, Assam, Bhutan and Bangladesh were visited. A total of 3000 miles was traveled during 125 days (6 months), and many beautiful and exciting images, encounters and interviews resulted.

High points (ha, ha) of the trip include several treks on foot up into the mountains, visiting the Dalai Lama, milking a yak, talking to a retired headhunter, buying booze in Pakistan, having an almost-encounter with Maoists in Nepal, watching bull racing and no-rules polo, and giving an elephant a rub-down. There are also many interesting encounters and interviews with local people who are special in one way or another.

In my review of the DVD version of "Himalaya" I complained that the program wasn't really about Michael Palin's trip, as such, but was simply a string of encounters and events that made "good TV". The program ignored the travel aspect almost completely, and jumped from place to place in search of the images and people that the TV viewers would find exciting.

The book version of "Himalaya" is a more complete account of the trip, including a lot of material that was skipped in the TV program, and some experiences not even included in the extra material on the DVDs.

But still, the book account of the trip is not really a day-by-day account of the trip either. For example, I'd like to know what happened on "day 6" and "day 11", etc. These days are simply not mentioned in the book.

One nice thing about the book, as compared to the TV program on DVD, is that Michael Palin's personal opinions are more evident, as is his enjoyment of traveling and experiencing new people and places. There is more of a "personal touch" to the book, and his wit and charm make it very readable and enjoyable. Michael also writes candidly about the health problems he experienced and the reservations he had about travel in the places where there were security problems. All of which makes the book better than the DVD version in my opinion.

Finally, a note about the audio versions of this book. There are both abridged (6 hour) and unabridged (11 1/2 hour) versions in existence, and some resellers are selling the abridged version as unabridged, so beware. Michael Palin himself reads both versions, and he does a great job.

Highly recommended.

Rennie Petersen

Disappointing. (5/13 people found this helpful)

Sorry Michael. I expected more colour (figuratively). It was a very interesting read, but utterly lacking in warmth, depth or insight. The tv presenting Michael Palin does is fantastic, rich in culture and human interest, but this book is devoid of both. I found it very lacking in everything I would expect after seeing his tv series: just not enough human nature in there. I just finished reading Ewan Macgregors book about motorcycling around the world, and it is a much more interesting read: he manages to convey much more depth of emotion and culture about the people he meets. Mr Palin does not. For example: 'the women spectators who have to watch... are not allowed inside the prayer hall.. and have to watch from outside'. I want a little more than that! How do they feel about it? Some comments on the cultural differences?
Just going somewhere and writing about it just aint enough these days: leave that to Alan Whickers in the 70's. We need more now.
Can I give you a tip Mr Palin... less facts, more detail. Concentrate more on describing one scene, and skip all the boring travel details. We don't really need to know.

Peak Viewing (11/11 people found this helpful)

Palin has become a British institution, reinventing himself in the post-Python years as everyone's favourite traveller. In an era where holidaying has become an excuse for booze, sex, and coarse behaviour, regimented by airlines, tour operators, and the lure of grotesque theme parks, Palin has demonstrated that travel and adventure can be a gentlemanly, gentle act. He appears genuinely interested in the people he meets, is able to convey a polite humanity and sense of wonder, and proves that you can travel the world without glossy brochures.

Obviously, Palin and his team spent a lot of time planning this latest adventure, but he conveys a gentle, unstressed sense of travelling without worry or hurry. The Himalayas he explores is a fascinating, beautiful, awe-inspiring, and the scene of long-standing military flashpoints and cross border rivalry. The ruggedness of the countryside and of the peoples who inhabit this vast landscape comes across. Palin takes people as he finds them; his approach is anything but judgemental. It's a lesson we could all learn - maybe you won't get to the Himalayas next year, but next time you decide to just go for a quite walk in the country, pause to wonder at the world around you and smile at the people you meet.

Palin is a wonderful ambassador for travelling and meeting people. The book of the TV series, beautifully illustrated, charming, good humoured, good natured, and a tonic in which you can indulge yourself while you plan some sort of adventure for yourself!

very good read (3/15 people found this helpful)

Michael Palin

Reader Reviews:

usual high quality (5/5 people found this helpful)

Beautiful and interesting book about a fantastic trip (15/16 people found this helpful)

Disappointing. (5/13 people found this helpful)

Peak Viewing (11/11 people found this helpful)

very good read (3/15 people found this helpful)

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