Utopia Guide to Asia : the Gay and Lesbian Scene in 16 Countries Including Philippines, Sri Lanka, Mongolia and Nepal [Paperback]

John Goss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 5, 2006

Utopia has assembled the world's first ever travel guide to 16 countries in Asia. Inside are complete listings for Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines and Sri Lanka, plus "best of" listings for select major cities in a dozen other Asian countries. Details include organizations, bars, discos, accommodations, spas, restaurants, and more. A special section of the book highlights groups, clubs, and businesses that are especially welcoming for women. Enjoy hundreds of savvy comments and recommendations from locals and travelers alike. The Utopia Guide to Asia is a landmark survey of Asia's vibrant gay and lesbian life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Utopia Guide to Asia, sixth in a series from a prominent social organization for gays and lesbians in Asia, offers some of the most specific and pragmatic information available, from lodging, restaurants and bookshops to places where travelers can meet local gays and lesbians or find AIDS/HIV resources.

It culls "best of" listings from earlier Utopia guides to China, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, and Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The addition of Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines and Sri Lanka results in an encyclopedic resource for gay and lesbian travelers.

The book focuses strictly on the gay scene, assuming that readers will do their homework with a good general guide. Despite a smattering of ads playing up washboard abs or mounds of soap suds, Utopia's declared purpose is positive alternatives, so listings steer clear of prostitutes and pornography. The book describes bars, discos, cabarets and spas, noting whether the place is gay friendly, gay only or mixed.

Comments from Utopia members enliven the listings enormously ("It's a straight place, but lately not that straight," "On the side of the temple, in the afternoons, some men are always there to meet other men," "Beware of hustlers in Rizal Park.")

Country sections begin with cultural tips and attitudes toward homosexuality, including advisories when appropriate. Even where homosexuality is under wraps or even illegal -- Laos, Malaysia, Burma, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam -- these resources can lead to a good time for visitors who respect local customs.

As with many resources for gays and lesbians, information is skewed toward gay men. This one, though, includes a chapter for women with nearly 40 pages of general information, women's nights at clubs, organizations and Internet links, organized by country and city. -- San Francisco Chronicle, Sep 28, 2006

From the Back Cover

"These fun pages dish out the spice on even the most buttoned-up spots in Asia." -- TIME Magazine TIME Traveler "A really good place to start looking for information... excellent coverage of gay and lesbian events and activities across Asia." -- Lonely Planet

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: Lulu.com (August 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1847288812
• ISBN-13: 978-1847288813
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,726,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #74 in Books > Travel > Asia > Mongolia
  • #77 in Books > Travel > Asia > Sri Lanka

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too much info found only online, January 5, 2007

By 

Tom "cybrarian" (Richmond, CA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Utopia Guide to Asia : the Gay and Lesbian Scene in 16 Countries Including Philippines, Sri Lanka, Mongolia and Nepal (Paperback)

The concept was great but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. This book covers gay life in East Asia. The main problem is that it seems to have been printed directly from a website. For example, all of the "email" links are still in the text underlined like an email link online. However, the email address is not actually spelled out. There are also editing errors such as a reference to helping "keep our Singapore listings up-to-date" on the first page of the Manila chapter, and the pages on Tokyo all have the heading "Jakarta". The info looks fine but there definitely needs to be some editing before the next issue is published.