Journey to Beijing

This book gives an account of some amazing places which the author was fortunate to visit in China--from magical Guilin to historical Zunyi; from the stunning Three Gorges to tropical Hainan; from cities of the eastern provinces to the Avatar mountains of Zhangjiajie; from relaxing Xishuangbanna to hectic Hong Kong and Macau; and in the north from the Mongolian grasslands of Nei Menggu to the heart of it all: Beijing. Many people travel today, with something approaching 10,000,000 people in the air on an average day. Yet this is only a fraction of those who travel by other means. Why? For relaxation? For education? To get away? Or simply to say they have "been there"? On his own travels, the author saw many tourists arrive at a scene, struggle to get to a vantage point, get there, take the obligatory photograph and move on. They have not even looked, let alone appreciated where they are. All they are doing is ticking off places on their "bucket list". In this book, the author is striving to delve deeper, especially when it comes to the significance of Beijing.

Islay and Its Whiskies

For whisky fans and their travelling buddies.

This insightful and well-researched pocket guidebook is all you need to enhance your Islay visit. It is the ideal companion for the Scotch whisky dreamers and those who share a passion for Scotland’s islands.

Pop it in your back pocket and set off. Information at a glance with no need to plan or study beforehand.  

There are 10 world-famous Scotch whisky distilleries to discover, all with useful insider tips clearly listed. Islay’s other treasures are not forgotten either: ancient history, archaeology and Islay’s amazing bird life also feature.

There are suggested daily tour routes around Islay highlighting what to look out for. There are also details of day tours to the nearby Islands of Jura and Colonsay.

The author has been guiding groups from all over the world for almost 20 years and is very much aware of what visitors actually want. This guidebook has it all!

How The Ship Changed My Life

Due to the difficulty to find a job in his city, Goran chooses the type of career that changed his life. He started to work on a cruise ship in the hospitality industry in 2013. He has three contracts in three different cruise ships. He considers this experience the most difficult but also the most valuable that life has taught him.

Working on a vessel requires huge sacrifices like being miles away for more than half a year from family and friends, working with different nationalities and cultures, brutally heavy pace of minimal ten working hours every day and often even more without normal sleeping hours but on the other hand a piece of relaxation that makes it very special such as traveling to various attractive world tourist destinations and creating unforgettable friendships and adventures.

Because of his soccer dream, he left the cruiser in 2016 together with Elizabeth from Peru (back then his girlfriend, today his wife) and since 2017 they live in Munich, Germany. From the first day spent on the ship, during all the rich experiences and adventures until the last disembarkation, through magical Peru and a special proposal on the beautiful Machu Picchu to the current life in Germany, he continues to explore new places and shares his soccer passion.

Ship life inspired him to write this book and motivate people in achieving their biggest goals because he strongly believes that everything is possible if the person really wants it.

Greetings from Morocco

The collection of short stories gives the reader an insight into the Arab world with all its peculiarities and attractions. The author found the themes of the stories on her journeys in Morocco in the period from 2013 to 2018. In her book, she managed to perfectly capture the atmosphere of the various places she visited, as well as the types of people she met. Thus, the reader can get to know the crowd in a big city with its hidden places, as well as the endless and powerful Sahara desert and its inhabitants. Witty stories that are easy to read encourage the reader to think about the differences between the two cultures, about modern way of life in the Western world and his comparison with Arabic world.

Pavla Gambiraza

This is a story of life reflected in an amazing mosaic of colourful experiences. It is hard to say anything about what these pages hold without the risk of revealing too much and ruining the surprise. This book is not only about that surreal African country. It is about the warmth of human nature, leaps and depths of faith, ethereal strings that connect us all, bringing us to the same primordial truth whoever we may be, and from wherever we may come. This is a book you will never forget. So, sit back and enjoy, and welcome to Morocco!

Snježana Djordjić, Profis d.d.o

From Navy Blue Knickers to the Driving Test

This book required a lifetime of experience and sixteen years to write. Mind you, there was an eight-year gap in the middle when the author had to return to full-time, salaried employment. The chapters are presented alphabetically, so in theory it is possible to take any chapter, and read it in its own right. Once a reader has read all twenty-six chapters, he or she will have a sum of all the parts: a completed ‘jigsaw’ of Hal T. Strapel’s story. Truth or fiction? Let the reader decide.

Jane C.:

“In ‘Turning Thai’, I think a very vivid picture of Thailand is presented — it all sounded very exotic to me sitting in dull old middle England. Lots of well-described local colour and all fluently articulated. The author met up with some colourful characters and gives an honest appraisal of how they affected him as a traveller in uncharted territory. There is definitely an eye for detail and the sights, sounds and smells leap off the page. I had a good laugh at the cockroach episode, which sounds very callous of me, but it resonated with me as I had a similar sort of experience in Sicily with a very large spider.”

John H.:

“I found ‘Bilious Belligerent Bowels’ highly entertaining, particularly when Hal was describing the attentions of the nurse and her colleagues.

Charlie H.:

“I found ‘Queenish Quirks’ an intriguing and easy read that connects cultures in a relatable way.”

Lee F.:

“I enjoyed reading ‘Lust for Lingerie’. It sounds voyeuristic in itself! As a man who spent his working life in ladies knickers I can see the author is knowledgeable!”

Johnny B.:

From London To LA

There are road trips and then there are road trips.

Nearly 2,500 miles east to west across one of the biggest countries in the world along one of the most famous roads in the world firmly puts Route 66 in the ‘you really need to do this’ category.

From London To LA is much more than just a travelogue. Not just a commentary of the journey itself, it also explores the history of places visited along the way as two blokes from London discover the big cities, the small towns, the real wild west and some really quite bizarre curios that couldn’t belong anywhere else other than along Route 66.

Full of information, observations and British humour, From London To LA is a must-read for anyone who is interested in travel, history, geography, Americana and, of course, the Mother Road herself.

Or if you just want a jolly good read…

Filo Fanfare

Unlock the secrets of filo pastry and discover a world of culinary delights. This authentic pastry, dating back to the 15th century, has a rich history that includes the famous baklava, a sweet treat created to commemorate the 40 days of Lent, with its 40 layers of thin, flaky pastry filled with nuts and spices, and soaked in syrup.
From savoury appetizers to decadent desserts, filo pastry is a versatile ingredient that adds a touch of elegance to any dish. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, this fully illustrated book will teach you how to work with filo pastry and create impressive dishes that will delight your senses.
So why wait? Dive into the exciting world of filo pastry and start exploring its endless possibilities today!

Far From Worries

A couple of years ago, the author moved next door to the King of Thailand working as an editor of an online magazine published in Hua Hin, a seaside town. At the time, the king lived there permanently in his summer palace known in Thai as the Klang Kangnon palace, which delightfully translates as ‘Far from Worries’. The book is a chronicle of the author’s year there, but in a larger sense, it is a portrait of contemporary Thailand; part memoir, part history and part travel book.

Etosha Pan

ETOSHA PANEtosha pan forms part of the greater Kalahari basin and is a world heritage site (UNESCO). This book celebrates Etosha’s unique landscape and thriving concentrations of game, including endangered and specialised species. It is a beautiful piece of Africa, a vista of wide flat clay pans, acacia woodlands and natural as well as man-made waterholes.YOU TOO CAN CAPTURE IMAGES LIKE THESE.The field guide contents inform you of where – when – how, with grid reference and details of each image taken.

Dishy Stories

Dishy Stories serves up a smorgasbord of culinary delights, from the exotic Hungarian cherry soup and French potato classics to the comfort of British and Irish game birds paired with fruit. While many dishes like chip butties, sausages with dumplings, and cheese on toast are everyday favourites, they each carry a rich history that often goes unnoticed.This collection is more than just recipes; it’s a journey through the unique and captivating tales behind the foods we love. From the familiar to the gourmet, every meal has a story to tell. With each chapter ending in a recipe, Dishy Stories invites you to explore the origins and narratives of dishes that grace our tables, offering a fresh perspective on the heritage of these kitchen staples. Enjoy the tales and tastes that have woven their way into our lives.

Cooking in the South of France

Marcia Öchsner is a Le Cordon Bleu (Paris) alumni with experience in various restaurants and teaching. During the past twenty years, together with her family, she has travelled around the world and lived in many countries, such as Brazil, Germany, Portugal, Malaysia and Australia, but it is with France that she identifies herself. Cooking in her kitchen in the south of France is her passion, which she often does between long walks.

Coconut 100 Ways

I am so grateful that after many years of dreaming, I finally have the opportunity to have my own cookbook published. As a young girl I always dreamed of this and after a long time with many days spent walking around with notepads and jotting down all the recipes I could remember and those I created, I have finally reached the goal which seemed to be so elusive. Creating dishes has always been something which gave me a lot of joy and has always been and will always be my passion.

I have used coconut in nearly every recipe in some way. It is the most versatile fruit I have ever known. The coconut ‘meat’ is used for medicinal purposes, cooking and beauty products. The shell can be used to make decorative items. The husk for cleaning. So come with me to a small town in St. Thomas, Jamaica, surrounded by rivers and join my neighbourhood as we all get together and cook, drink and have a good time.