June 2019

In the past two decades, Burma/Myanmar has become a front-page topic in newspapers across the world. This former British colony has one of the most secretive, corrupt, and repressive regimes on the planet, yet it houses a Nobel Peace Prize winner who is and in and out of house arrest. It has an ancient civilization that is mostly unknown to Westerners, yet it was an important–and legendary–theater in World War II. A picturesque land with mountain jungles and monsoon plains, it is one of the world’s largest producers of heroin. It has a restive Buddhist monk population that has captured the attention of the west when it faced off against the regime. And it recently experienced one of the worst natural disasters in modern times, one effect of which was to lay bare the manifold injustices and cruelties of the regime. Burma/Myanmar: What Everyone Needs to Know offers a concise synthesis of this forbidding yet fascinating country. David Steinberg, one of the world’s eminent authorities on the region, explains the current situation in detail yet contextualizes it in a wide-ranging survey of Burmese history and culture. Authoritative and balanced, it will be standard work on Burma for the general reading public. (asiabooks.com)

This pictorial record celebrates the cities and temples of Angkor in Southeast Asia. Ever since explorer and naturalist Henri Mouhot rediscovered the centre of Khmer civilization in Cambodia over a hundred years ago, the buildings, which date from the 9th to the 13th century, have become a source of great interest. Each of the significant monuments is illustrated, including the Angkor Wat itself, and the overgrown 13th-century temples of Ta Prohm and Preah Kahn. The Banteay Srei with its intricate carvings in pink sandstone is also included and illustrated in detail. Photographs by Michael Freeman are presented alongside text discussing Khmer society, kingship, religion and culture by Claude Jacques. Appendices include a discussion of iconography and different styles, a list of Khmer kings and a glossary of terms. –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. (asiabooks.com)

This is at once a compendium for designers and an entertaining essay on the architecture of Asia’s most glamorous tropical island by one of its foremost admirers. Landscape and architectural designer Made Wijaya draws on his photographic archives, compiled over the past thirty years, to present a visual study of Balinese architecture: its origins, elements, variations, and vagaries. The book opens with an overview of Balinese architecture and then looks at its basic elements–the walled courtyard and the pavilion. Further chapters examine building materials, ornamentation, and architectural hybrids resulting from other ethnic influences. Richly illustrated with hundreds of contemporary and archival photographs, this unusual book is for anyone interested in ethnic architecture and design. (asiabooks.com)

To ensure that you, the foreign resident, fleeting visitor or armchair traveler, enjoy your stay in Laos, our resident author presents a practical guide to the dos&don’ts of this magical country. (asiabooks.com)

The essays inside are the most informative stories ever written by the Thai authors. Moreover, the book can be used not only for further reference but also for enhancing general knowledge about Thailand, especially for foreign visitors who want to become acquainted with local situations and the Thai way of life. (asiabooks.com)

This book is the result of all our travels in and outside Bangkok and experiences as a passionate Thai food chef in Europe. Its purpose is to provide you with an insight into the Thai street food culture and to share with you our authentic street food recipes. Most dishes are widely available in many food markets and public places around Thailand. (asiabooks.com)

The history of Vietnam is one of spectacular confrontations, both cultural and ideological between the world of the Chinese – a world adopted by the ethnic Viet living in the Red river basin – and the Indian world – facets of which are seen in the Cham, whose numerous small kingdoms were strung out all along the coast from north of Hue to south of Phan Rang. This book will firstly present the history of Vietnam from the 6th to 15th centuries, highlighting the clashes between the two major civilisations which are the foundation of modern Vietnam. The second part will deal with the archaeology of the sites which are a testament to this history. Maps, plans and numerous photographs will help us to experience the history of ancient Vietnam both in its early beginnings and its subsequent evolution. (asiabooks.com)

Most people go to Hanoi to enjoy the food. And in Hanoi, street food is not merely a quaint or exotic culinary excursion – it is at the heart of the culinary tradition and helps to define the culture and rhythm of the city. However, while dining on the street may sound tempting and adventurous to visitors, it can also be intimidating. The aim of this book is to demystify Hanoi’s glorious street food culture. Hanoi Street Food does not only provide you with the places to eat but also with recipes for Vietnamese delicacies such as the Pho but also with other noodle dishes that stand out, but which are not as easily found as the Bun Cha or the Bun Rieu. Each section describes a range of dishes within a particular category. Following each description, the authors guide you to some of their favourite spots where you can try these snacks. (asiabooks.com)

Burma/Myanmar has opened up to tourism in the last year or two and record numbers are now visiting this beautiful, mesmerising country. All visitors to Burma will visit the ancient kingdom of Pagan (now called Bagan), along with the Inle lake, it is the most visited place in Burma and captures the heart and imagination of all who see the sun set on this beguiling landscape of temples and stupas. Pagan is the largest and most resplendent centre of Buddhist art in the ancient world. Construction in the city peaked between the 11th and 13th centuries when over 2,000 temples, monasteries and stupas were created along the eastern bank of the Irrawaddy. Local architects mastered complex brick vaulting techniques unrivaled in Asia, while mural painters and stone carvers fashioned a distinctive style of Burmese art. The pace of building slowed dramatically after the capital shifted to the Mandalay area in the mid-14th century, but the city never lost its special religious and cultural significance, furnishing a field of merit to Buddhists old and new. Burma, now known as Myanmar, was terra incognita for many decades, but the lifting of travel restrictions has made this temple city now accessible. (asiabooks.com)

A lively and easy to read guide to Southeast Asia written by one of the world’s pre-eminent historians of the area. (asiabooks.com)