The book is marketed as a “hilarious behind-the-brochures tour of the picture-perfect locales [...] from a guy who knows the truth about travel.”

While marketeers of course are experts at making products sound promising, this book is actually quite funny, once you get past the opening prostitute story and ignore the petty you’re-not-a-real-traveller/writer remarks.

Some of the stories in the beginning of the book seemed slightly irrelevant and almost made me give up on the book, but most of the stories are funny and many travellers will nod their heads in recognition to at least a couple of Chuck Thompson’s stories.

The expat stories in particular rang a bell with me and reminded me of my time in China. So in the spirit of the book, over the next few days I’ll be sharing my not so glamorous travel experiences from China.

The book does use some rather coarse language, but if you’re not easily offended and enjoy funny travel stories, you can buy the book at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk (aff. links).

It would also make a nice little Christmas present, if you’re looking for one of those, for adults only though and not for the most prudish of your friends.

Ironically as I fell off my high horse I stumbled over yet another compilation of beautiful photographs, Sacred Earth: Places of Peace and Power, which went straight onto my list.

The book contains photographs of more than 1000 sacred places in 80 countries photographed by Martin Gray over the past two decades.

Some of the photographs used in the book are also available on the Sacred Sites website, where you can also read about what inspired Martin Gray to document these places.

I have been to some of the places featured on the site such as the Swayambhunath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal and Østerlars Church on the Danish island of Bornholm, but many of the beautiful places I have never heard of before.

If you fall in love with the photos as well, you can purchase Sacred Earth: Places of Peace and Power at Amazon (UK residents can buy the book at Amazon.co.uk ), and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that one of family members fancies getting me this book for Christmas.

Note: The above contains affiliated links.

My favourite online bookshop, saxo.com (no affiliation, just pure old fashion recommendation), has just reminded me that the World Book and Copyright Day 2007 is coming up on 23 April.

Many bookshops will offer some sort of bargain on World Book Day, so you might want to track down that travel book, you’ve been wanting to read.

Initially the date threw me, as the UK celebrated World Book Day on 1 March. But after a little research it turned out that the early UK celebration is to ensure that the day happens in term time. So, not so much a World Book Day then, more a UK Book Day – a bit like the US Baseball World Series.

Most other countries will be celebrating on the official date, 23 April, declared by UNESCO back in 1995. The aim of the day is “to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright”, (source: UNESCO).

According to UNESCO the World Book Day is now celebrated in more than 100 countries, so chances are it’ll be celebrated wherever you might be this coming Monday.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m heading on over to check out Saxo.com’s World Book Day offers. I have a list as long as my arm of travel books that I’d like to read.

Technorati Tags: travel, books, World Book Day

Walk Easy Door Guard – I swear by this little beauty. It’s a small metal lock that you can use as an extra lock on most doors when e.g. you’re sleeping in your hotel room. I’ve only seen it for sale at the Nomad Travel Store, where I bought mine, (no, I don’t get paid to send you there).

Hiking poles – I would have struggled without them, when I went hiking in Austria in the height of the summer. I bought my pair for a very reasonable price in St. Johann in Austria, but I quite fancy this Kaito Anti-Shock Hiking Pole with Compass and Thermometer, HP1. (aff. link) from Amazon.

Walking trousers – I bought two pairs of UV and water resistance walking trousers, which have served me well this year in both Austria and on our South Downs Way walk. One I bought in a shop in London and the other from my favourite travel clothes store Rohan, (no, I don’t get paid to say that).

South Downs Way guide – by Paul Millmore, without which we would have lost our way many more times than we actually did on our South Downs Way walk. I bought my South Downs Way (The National Trail Guides) (aff. link) from Amazon.

Snorkel mask – I finally found a mask that fits my face. Most masks are too big for me, but Simply Snorkel sorted it for me. Again I don’t get paid to say this or to send you to their site, but I cannot recommend them enough. We have bought two masks and snorkels from Simply Snorkel and on all occasions they have provided a superb service.

Aquapac – which kept our valuables dry when the ocean lured us in for a swim this year. I can’t remember where I bought it, but Amazon sells it here Aquapac BELT PAC with BELT (825) (aff. link).

JULBO sunglasses – It has taken me years to find a pair of sunglasses that curves enough to protect my eyes from the sun. Most glasses are too wide for my face, which means the sun can get in from the side. I bought mine in St. Johann, but a similar pair Advance Sunglasses by Julbo (aff. link) is sold by Amazon.

Your best buys?

So there you have it, my best travel buys this year. Not that I need any temptation, but feel free to comment on your best travel buys this year.

What would I like for Christmas?

Well, there is one thing at the very top of my list of travel things, I would like for Christmas. Before I say what it is, I’d like to say that there is no chance I’m getting it, so no need to leave me comments calling me a greedy so-and-so. But I would love this beauty: Nikon D200 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-70mm AF-S DX f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED Nikkor Zoom Lens (aff. link).

Technorati Tags: Best travel buys, travel, walk easy door guard, hiking poles, walking trousers, South Downs Way guide, snorkel mask, aquapack, julbo sunglasses, Nikon D200