Egyptian Treasures From The Egyptian Museum in Cairo
If you're into Egyptology you may have visited the Temple of Dendur at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, or pondered the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum. I got hooked on Ancient Egypt when I saw the bust of Nefertiti at the Ägyptisches Museum in Berlin (BTW you usually only see her left profile since the sculptor never finished her right eye.)

But for the ultimate Egyptian artifact fix you have to head to Cairo to visit the Egyptian Museum. Here's where the treasures of King Tut can be found. Gold, gold and more gold. But there's more there than the treasures of the Boy Pharaoh. Literally every available inch is filled with objects for you to behold. Unfortunately many of 120,000 items on display are easy to overlook in poorly lit and underlabeled display cases.

On 3 occasions I've had the opportunity to personally delight in the museum's collection, but when I first read this book I felt like I was being treated to a museum I had never been to before. The photography is absolutely incredible. The fine details of each treasures jump off the page. Every previous photo I've seen of these objects pales by comparison. I dare even to say that many of the photos are better than viewing the actual objects in the museum. Three cheers for photographer.

Whether you've been to the Egyptian Museum or one day hope to go there, Egypatian Treasures From The Egyptian Museum in Cairo deserves a place in your travel library.

Queen Salote of Tonga: The Story Of An Era 1900-1965 by Elizabeth Wood-Ellem
As you can probably tell from the site, I'm quite a Tongaphile. I love the country and the people and I can't wait until I head back for the next of many return visits. In order to learn more about their culture I've read almost all of the books in print about Tonga.

This is the book that filled in the blanks in my knowledge base while also introducing me to the always fascinating Queen Salote. The Queen made quite an impression on the world when she showed her respect for other world Royalty by riding in the pouring rain in an open carriage at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth.

As you read this book, she'll also make quite an impression on you as you read about how she governed her island nation for 47 years, raised a family, opened her country to American and British forces during World WarII, and earned the respect and love of the Tongan citizenry.

You'll also get an insight into how Tonga works, the importance of religion and family, the role of the Royal Family and nobles, and an insight into the Tongan people themselves. You'll also expand your Tongan vocabulary.

Unfortunately the hardover edition of Queen Salote of Tonga is out-of-print. The link above will take you to the trade paperback edition.

Travelers' Tales Thailand
If you're an armchair traveler then the Travelers' Tales series of books is for you, and this is the book that started it all. What will you find?

The editors have a great sense for what will captivate and enchant their readers. As a result I haven't been disappointed by any of their books, and I've recommended several throughout Travels With Al. So dig into Travelers' Tales by starting your journey through Thailand.

National Geographic Atlas of the World
When I was 10 or so my father came home from work with a very unexpected present. It was the Reader's Digest Atlas. What an incredible gift! I had always been into maps. Every year we drove from New York to Florida and I proclaimed myself as the person in charge of the AAA Triptiks. Even though my parents did the driving I felt as if my mapreading skills was the reason that we got to where we were going.

The Atlas opened a whole new world for me, both literally and figuratively. I had nations to dream about, deep sea trenches to explore with my fingers (was the Tonga Trench a precursor of my love for Tonga?). The maps of Antartica were especially cool. The atlas was huge and it had a pebbled leatherette cover and the maps themselves had a look all their own. Some 35 years have passed and I still proudly own this dream book. It doesn't matter that many of the country names have changed, the love of travel it inspired hasn't.

I beleive that every home needs an heirloom atlas that can both serve as a source of information and a source of imagination. The National Geographic Atlas of the World is my recommendation for your heirloom atlas. Yes, it's on the pricey side, but it's a steal when you amortize the cost over a lifetime. Why don't surprise your son or daughter with it today.

Frommer's South Pacific
One of the marks of a good guide book is that when you return from a trip, you can reread the guidebook and agree with the author's commments, criticisms, warnings, must-dos and recommendations. Frommer's South Pacific passes this test with flying colors.

This book is more than just a listing of places and a recitation of accomodations. You get the history of each of the island countries, interesting quotes from a eclectic group of speakers, personal accounts of visits to each island, the good, the bad, the ugly and the not-to-be-missed. The warts are interspersed with the boquets which is ideal for the traveler who wants to be informed. And lastly right now I'd rather be one of the snorkelers on the front cover of the guide, rather than typing this review. One can dream can't one?