In this insightful travelogue, American war veteran Phil Karber takes you on a journey down the roads, rivers and rails of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. He writes insightfully about the political effect of the Vietnam War on the people and places, adding a whole new perspective on the region’s history and culture. Accompanied by a friend, London artist Simon Redington, they follow the Mekong River from China to Saigon, to the infamous Tiger Cages on Con Son Island, and to the city sidewalks of Hanoi, where the author lived for five years. Along the way, the stories will capture your imagination and transport you to a beautiful region, undaunted by war and poverty. Indeed, this book brings to life the harsh realities of the region’s history, culture, politics and people. Together with its unforgettable images of locals, veterans and expatriates, this transcends normal expectations of travel literature.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Phil’s book is intimate, informed, colorful, and most of all, real, a marvelous tour... of the Southeast Asian landscape.” --Richard Bernstein, Berlin Bureau Chief, New York Times
“A rare blend of history, war remembrance and modern observation driven by a deep desire to understand...” --Kay Johnson, Vietnam correspondent, TIME magazine
“A rare blend of history, war remembrance and modern observation driven by a deep desire to understand...” --Kay Johnson, Vietnam correspondent, TIME magazine
About the Author
Phil Karber was born in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas on Halloween, 1951. In late 1998, he was residing in Hanoi, Vietnam, where he took five years to write this book, The Indochina Chronicles. He is married to Joellen Lambiotte, who works in international reproductive health, has two grown children, Maggie and Wes, and a grandchild, Parker. Following a successful career in business, and sending the children off to university, he joined Joellen in Nairobi, Kenya in the mid-nineties. While living there he wrote his first book, Yak Pizza to Go! He now divides his time between his residence in Bangkok, Thailand, and the developing world destinations to which he frequently travels.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
IndoChina by an Insider,
By
This review is from: The Indochina Chronicles: Travels in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam (Paperback)
The IndoChina Chronicles, a travelogue good enough to be a historical novel, captures the sights, sounds and the people of the area more richly than most travel books. Phil Karber, a dedicated world traveler, returns to where he started his travels as a soldier during the Vietnam conflict. Phil takes you beyond the big cities and tourist spots to the villages and byways of the region. Experience life (and death)along the Mekong with Phil and his trip companion, Simon, as they travel with the locals. Witness emotional encounters between American veterans and their former foes as they all seek to put the war behind them and build better lives. And life is improving in Indochina. The scars of war are gradually healing over. But Phil won't let you forget the horrors that the war brought. His extensive research provides an historical perspective for almost every town he visits. The intensity of the battle of the Tet Offensive in 1968 as told by a participant is especially compelling. In all, the reader will experience a vibrant culture brought to life by a traveler who can't seem to experience enough of it, a traveler deeply sympathetic to the land and its people. Savor it as you would a fine wine, sip by sip, or as Phil and Simon often do, with a nice spliff.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reading this book is like sailing down the Mekong yourself,
By
This review is from: The Indochina Chronicles: Travels in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam (Paperback)
Indochina Chronicles is simply a wonderful travel book--you can practically taste the food Phil Karber eats and smell the smells. Everything is vividly described, so that you feel as if you're making the trip yourself. The book is really three books in one--part travelogue, part voyage of self-discovery, and also a series of fascinating anecdotes and stories explaining the people and the history of Indochina in an unforgettable way. It was a real pleasure to read.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fascinating Journey of Redemption,
By Dr. Sig Van Raan "Journeyman" (Cambridge, Ma.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Indochina Chronicles: Travels in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam (Paperback)
A journey of redemption for all of us who fought in or against the war in Indo China. Phil Karber does not hide his own personal sadness and outrage as he shows how that war physically and emotionally traumatized an entire region of the world ( as well as an entire generation of young Americans back in the 60's and 70's) And he does this by telling a tale of a journey filled with humor, poignancy, drama, vivid descriptions of places and people and a glimpse of his own comming to terms. His writing, both inspiring and entertaining allows the reader to visit these countries as if he's sitting with you over a beer and sharing it personally with you. This is must reading for all of those who came to terms with "Vietnam" as well as for those who see Iraq as this generation's Vietnam. Phil is an eloquent spokesman for those many quiet, sweet and peace loving citizens of Vietnam Cambodia and Laoas as he relates their stories. And in so doing he presents these countries as intriguing and inviting places to visit.
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